The basic shape is simple and quick to knit, with colors being the main difference between each animal. The pattern is knitted flat and then seamed, and the headbands have a built-in lining so that the reverse of the colorwork is hidden and won’t get caught on little fingers.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 20” circumference
Gauge: 19 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st
Materials
Yarn: Studio Donegal Soft Donegal (100% merino wool; 207 yards [190 meters]/100 grams): 5207 Báinín (MC, 1 ball), 5202 Khaki (CC1, 1 ball), 5253 Black (CC2, 1 ball), 5241 Pink (CC3, 1 ball), 5230 Orange (CC4, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) 24” straight
Notions: US size 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook, markers, scrap yarn, tapestry needle.
Special Stitches
K2, P2 Rib
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Rep Row 1 for patt.
Pattern Notes
This pattern begins at the bottom edge, up to the top and then folds down to work the lining. The colourwork parts are worked in intarsia style as the floats would be too long, so make sure to roll off a few small balls of CC1 and CC4 before you start knitting.
The eyes are small crochet circles but could be embroidered on if preferred.
Instructions show the colours for the fox first, with colours for the deer in brackets.
Pattern
CO 84 sts in MC.
Rows 1-4: Work 4 rows in K2, P2 Rib.
Rows 5-16: Follow the chart over 84 sts for 12 rows, joining in CC4 for Fox (CC1 for Deer)
Rows 17-22: Beg with a k row, work in St st for 6 rows.
Rows 23-26: Work 4 rows in K2, P2 Rib.
Row 27: Purl 1 row.
Rows 28-31: Work 4 rows in K2, P2 Rib.
Rows 32-44: Beg with a p row, work in St st for 13 rows.
Break off CC4 (CC1) and join in MC.
Rows 45-48: Beg with a k row, work in St st for 4 rows.
Rows 49-52: Work 4 rows in K2, P2 Rib.
BO in rib.
Eyes for Fox (make 2)
Use crochet hook and CC2.
Row 1: Work 6 sc into a magic circle.
Sl st to first sc.
Fasten off.
Nose
With CC2 for Fox (CC3 for Deer), CO 4 sts.
Row 1: (Kfb, k1) twice. (6 sts)
Rows 2: Pfb, p3, pfb, p1. (8 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: P2tog, p4, p2tog. (6 sts)
Row 5: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
BO purlwise.
Fox Ears (make 2)
With CC4, CO 13 sts.
Rows 1-4: Beg with a k row, St st 4 rows.
Row 5: K1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1. (11 sts)
Rows 6-8: Beg with a p row, St st 3 rows.
Row 9: K1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1. (9 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1. (7 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1. (5 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Break off CC4 and join CC2.
Rows 16-18: Beg with a p row, St st 3 rows.
Break off CC2 and join MC.
Row 17: (K1, m1) twice, k1. (5 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: K1, m1, k3, m1, k1. (7 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K1, m1, k5, m1, k1. (9 sts)
Rows 22-24: Beg with a p row, St st 3 rows.
Row 25: K1, m1, k7, m1, k1. (11 sts)
Rows 26-27: Beg with a p row, St st 2 rows.
BO purlwise.
Ears for Deer (make 2)
Make as for Fox but work Rows 1-16 in CC1 and Rows 17-27 in MC.
Antlers (make 2)
With MC, CO 12 sts.
Rows 1-4: Beg with a k row, St st 4 rows.
Row 5: K5, m1, k1, m1, k6. (14 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K5, m1, k3, m1, k6. (16 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K5, m1, k5, m1, k6. (18 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K5, m1, k7, m1, k6. (20 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K5, sl next 9 sts onto a spare piece of yarn, k6. (11 sts)
Rows 14-18: Beg with a p row, St st 5 rows.
Row 19: K1, (k2tog) to end. (6 sts)
Break off a long length of yarn, thread through rem sts, pull up tightly and fasten off.
Rejoin yarn to rem 9 sts with RS facing.
Rows 1-4: Beg with a k row, St st 3 rows.
Row 4: P1, (p2tog) to end. (5 sts)
Break off a long length of yarn, thread through rem sts, pull up tightly and fasten off.
Finishing
Fox
Using photos as a guide, sew eyes onto Fox Headband.
Use MC to work a few small sts for the whites of the eyes.
Fold ears in half so cast on and bind off edges meet. Seam row edges. With RS facing outwards, sew across cast on and bind off edge.
Position ears along the purl row ridge on the top of the headband and sew in place.
Sew the nose to the center base of the intarsia section.
Seam row edges of headband.
Fold in half so that cast on and bind off edges meet and sew together.
Deer
Use CC2 to embroider the eyes, using the photo as a guide.
Sew nose to center base of the intarsia section.
Make up ears as for Fox.
Seam row edges of the spur on the antlers, then seam the long row edge. With RS facing outwards, sew across cast on edge, then sew antler to purl row ridge. Complete as for the Fox Headband.
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