The Crochet Red Dog Cuddler makes the perfect handmade gift! Below you'll find the free crochet pattern and step by step tutorial!
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Pattern Design + Construction
The dynamic duo of the Red and Blue Dog Cuddlers make excellent gift ideas for little ones! The small size is perfect for a crochet lovey; however, you can easily increase the size by using bulkier yarn and a larger crochet hook.
The basic stitches used make this pattern fun for beginners, but the tapestry crochet technique can be more intermediate level. This red dog cuddler consists of the front and back panels, which are crocheted in flat rows. We'll crochet the eyes, nose, eyebrows, spots, legs and tail separately and attach using a tapestry needle. The front and back panels are stuffed and joined together using a round of single crochet. The finished Red Dog Cuddler measures approximately 5.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall.
Pin this Crochet Red Dog Cuddler Free Pattern to your crochet board on Pinterest for later!
Yarn:
We'll be using medium Worsted Weight (4) Yarn for this Crochet Red Dog Cuddler pattern. This is my favorite yarn weight to work with for crochet rag dolls. It's versatile and wears well while also being soft and cozy which is perfect for a stuffed animal or plushie pattern! You could easily substitute brands of worsted weight yarn as long as the ounces per gram are similar.
For this tutorial, I used the following yarn:
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color White
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Black
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Cafe Latte
I Love This Yarn, Medium 4, 7 oz / 199 g, in the color Light Peach
I Love This Yarn, Medium 4, 7 oz / 199 g, in the color Ivory
I Love This Yarn, Medium 4, 7 oz / 199 g, in the color Burnt Pumpkin
Additional Crochet Supplies:
If you make a purchase using these links, you're supporting this blogger at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Size G (6) Crochet Hook - https://amzn.to/46R67Mp
Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle - https://amzn.to/2VWOFb4
Scissors - https://amzn.to/3m5VPo8
Stitch Markers - https://amzn.to/3CRYkQU
Stuffing - https://amzn.to/3sKYsgr
Stitches:
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
Chain
SC - Single Crochet
HDC - Half Double Crochet
DC - Double Crochet
INC - Single Crochet Increase
DEC - Single Crochet Decrease
Magic Circle
Slip Stitch
For the printable, ad-free PDF pattern: CLICK HERE.
To pin this pattern on Pinterest for later: CLICK HERE.
How to Read The Pattern for the Front and Back Panels:
For the front and back panel portion of the pattern, we will be using the tapestry crochet technique. This technique calls for changing colors frequently so it is important to know how to read the pattern before beginning.
This entire pattern is worked in SC unless otherwise specified. For simplicity, 'SC' has been omitted in the written pattern and replaced by the letter of the yarn color we will be using.
For example, R6 means place one single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches using red yarn.
To Change Colors:
On the last stitch of each color:
insert your hook, Yarn Over pull up a loop
drop that color on the back side of the work
pick up the next color
Yarn Over and pull the new color through both loops.
then you'll begin the new color's sequence
Carrying Colors on the Back Side:
In order for our project to turn out correctly, we have to make sure the color changes of the yarn are carried on the back side of the work. The back side will alternate facing toward you or away from you depending on if you're on an even or odd row, since we turn the work after each row.
Color Legend:
P - Peach
R - Red (I'm referring to the burnt orange as red)
C - Cream
Red Dog Cuddler - Free Crochet Pattern
Front Panel - Red Dog
with peach yarn, chain 22
Rows 1-7: P5, C11, P5, chain 1 (21 stitches)
you can tie off with C at this point
Rows 8-15: P21, chain 1 (21 stitches)
Rows 16-25: R7, P7, R7, chain 1 (21 stitches)
tie off with both R & P and weave in
Ears
with peach yarn, join to the 2nd stitch in on row 25
Rows 1-2: SC 5, chain 1 (5 stitches)
Row 3: DEC, SC in the next 3 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 4: DEC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 5: DEC, SC in the next stitch, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Row 6: DEC, chain 1 (1 stitch)
Tie off and weave in; repeat on the other side
Ear Border:
with Red yarn, join to the first stitch in Row 25
SC around the ear, ending in the 7th stitch of Row 25
Tie off and weave in; repeat on the other side
Eyes:
White Base:
With white yarn, chain 4
Row 1: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 2: INC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Rows 3-5: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 6: DEC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 7: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Continue around the eye with a SC border.
When you arrive back where you began the border, slip stitch and tie off with a long tail
Black Center:
With black yarn, in a magic circle,
Round 1: SC, HDC, DC, HDC, SC, HDC, DC, HDC (8 stitches)
Pull tight, slip stitch into the first stitch of the round
Tie off with a long tail.
Eye Assembly:
Using the long black tail and a tapestry needle, attach the black center to the white base. Tie off with black on the back side of the eye and trim any excess black yarn.
Nose:
Snout:
with cream yarn, chain 7
Rows 1-6: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (6 stitches)
Snout Border:
Continue around the square with a SC border.
When you arrive back where the border started, slip stitch, tie off with a long tail.
Nose:
Using light brown yarn and a tapestry needle, stitch on a little triangle nose toward the top right of the snout square. Tie off on the back side and trim any excess.
Eyebrows:
With cream yarn, chain 5
Row 1: slip stitch in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Tie off with a long enough tail to attach.
Front Panel Assembly:
Using a tapestry needle and the long tails, attach the snout, eyes and eyebrows to the front panel. I like the snout slightly overlapping the eyes. Tie off on the back side and trim any excess yarn.
Back Panel:
With peach yarn, chain 22
Rows 1-15: P21, chain 1 (21 stitches)
Rows 16-25: R21, chain 1 (21 stitches)
Ears, continue with R
Rows 1-2: SC 7, chain 1, turn (7 stitches)
Row 3: DEC, SC in the next 5 stitches, chain 1 (6 stitches)
Row 4: DEC, SC in the next 4 stitches, chain 1 (5 stitches)
Row 5: DEC, SC in the next 3 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 6: DEC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 7: DEC, SC in the next stitch, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Tie off and weave in.
Join to the other side and repeat.
Spot:
With red yarn, chain 4
Row 1: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 3: INC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Rows 3-7: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 8: DEC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 9: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Border:
Continue around the spot with a SC border.
When you arrive back where the border started, slip stitch, tie off with a long tail.
Back Panel Assembly:
Using a tapestry need and the long tail, attach the spot to the back in the center of the peach color. Tie off on the back side and trim any excess yarn.
Legs:
with cream yarn,
Round 1: in a magic circle, SC 6, pull tight (6 stitches)
Round 2: INC in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3: SC in each stitch (12 stitches)
on the last stitch of round 3, switch to peach yarn
Rounds 4-7: SC in each stitch (12 stitches)
slip stitch, tie off with a long tail
Tail:
with cream yarn,
Round 1: in a magic circle, SC 6, pull tight (6 stitches)
Round 2: INC in each stitch (12 stitches)
Rounds 3-6: SC in each stitch (12 stitches)
in the last stitch of round 6, switch to peach yarn
Rounds 7-12: SC in each stitch (12 stitches)
slip stitch, tie off with a long tail
Assembly:
Line up the front and back panels of the crochet red dog cuddler (make sure the correct sides are facing out).
Using red and peach yarn, we're going to join the front and back panels with a round of single crochet. I recommend starting at the red portion on the right (front facing you).
The only exceptions to the SC border will be:
Slip stitch at the inside corners of each ear.
Chain 1 at the top of each year and at the bottom corners.
Pause before closing entirely to add stuffing.
Tie off and weave in the ends.
Feet & Tail Attachment:
Using the long tails on the feet and tail, stitch the openings closed so they lay 'flat'.
Then attach them to the body.
Weave in and trim any excess yarn.
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Chat with you soon,
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(You're welcome to make and sell items using my patterns but do not use my pattern or pictures and claim them as your own. Clearly credit the design to me and provide a link back to my pattern. ©2023 Heather Corinne)
