Hamster

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn in brown or desired hamster color
• Small amount of pink yarn for the ears and nose
• Crochet hook appropriate for the yarn thickness
• Safety eyes or black beads for the eyes
• Fiberfill or stuffing
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Instructions:

Head and Body:

1. Start with brown yarn. Make a magic ring and crochet 6 single crochet (sc) stitches into the ring. Pull the ring tightly to close the opening.
2. Round 1: Work 2 sc in each stitch around (12 stitches).
3. Round 2: Sc in the next stitch, 2 sc in the following stitch Repeat from * to * around (18 stitches).
4. Round 3: Sc in the next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the following stitch Repeat from * to * around (24 stitches).
5. Rounds 4-7: Sc in each stitch around (24 stitches).
6. Round 8: Sc in the next 2 stitches, sc2tog (single crochet two stitches together) Repeat from * to * around (18 stitches).
7. Round 9: Sc in each stitch around (18 stitches).
8. Insert safety eyes or sew on black beads between Rounds 6 and 7, leaving a few stitches between the eyes.
9. Stuff the head and body firmly with fiberfill or stuffing.
10. Round 10: Sc in the next stitch, sc2tog Repeat from * to * around (12 stitches).
11. Round 11: Sc2tog around (6 stitches).
12. Fasten off and weave in the loose end.

Ears (make 2):

1. With pink yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 6 single crochet (sc) stitches into the ring. Pull the ring tightly to close the opening.
2. Round 1: Work 2 sc in each stitch around (12 stitches).
3. Round 2: Sc in each stitch around (12 stitches).
4. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Nose:

1. With pink yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 4 single crochet (sc) stitches into the ring. Pull the ring tightly to close the opening.
2. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly:

1. Sew the ears onto the top of the hamster’s head, slightly angled.
2. Sew the nose onto the front of the hamster’s face, centered between the eyes.
3. Use brown yarn to embroider a mouth or nose details, if desired.
4. Weave in any remaining loose ends and trim them.