R1with orange: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7(5 sc, inc) ×6(42)
R8[cream] 2 sc [orange] 1 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 7 sc [cream] 1 sc in same st, 3 sc(48)
R9(BLO)3 sc in cream, 40 sc in orange, 5 sc in cream(48)
R10–114 sc in cream, 38 sc in orange, 6 sc in cream(48)
R124 sc in cream, 37 sc in orange, 7 sc in cream(48)
R13–145 sc in cream, 36 sc in orange, 7 sc in cream(48)
R154 sc in cream, 37 sc in orange, 7 sc in cream(48)
R16[cream] 3 sc [orange] dec, 6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 4 sc [cream] 2 sc, dec, 3 sc(42)
R173 sc in cream, 33 sc in orange, 6 sc in cream(42)
R182 sc in cream, 34 sc in orange, 6 sc in cream(42)
R192 sc in cream, 35 sc in orange, 5 sc in cream(42)
Size before assembly: about 6.7 cm at the widest, 5.7 cm long; 19 rounds. Multi-colour rounds are listed stitch by stitch from the round-start marker; keep the round start on the piece's centre front line (as it sits on the finished toy). The order is for right-handed crocheting (right to left on the outside); left-handed: reverse it.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff firmly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with cream: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(1 sc, inc) ×3(9)
R3(2 sc, inc) ×3(12)
R42 sc, (inc, 3 sc) ×2, inc, 1 sc(15)
R5(4 sc, inc) ×3(18)
R618 sc(18)
Size before assembly: about 2.4 cm at the widest, 1.8 cm long; 6 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Insert the safety nose/eyes now, while the piece is open (positions: see “Face”). Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with brown: 4 sc in MR(4)
R2(1 sc, inc) ×2(6)
R3(2 sc, inc) ×2(8)
R42 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, 1 sc(10)
R5(4 sc, inc) ×2(12)
R63 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc, 2 sc(14)
R7[orange] 6 sc, inc, 7 sc [cream] 1 sc in same st(16)
R8–914 sc in orange, 2 sc in cream(16)
R103 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 3 sc(14)
Size before assembly: about 2.5 cm at the widest, 3.3 cm long; 10 rounds. Multi-colour rounds are listed stitch by stitch from the round-start marker; keep the round start on the piece's centre front line (as it sits on the finished toy). The order is for right-handed crocheting (right to left on the outside); left-handed: reverse it.
Change to orange (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R3).
Change to orange (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R9).
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff it lightly — a thin layer, just enough to hold the walls apart: the ear about 10.8 mm thick, with thick rounded edges. Then shape it into a spoon: push the front wall toward the back wall — a concave spoon about 2.4 mm deep in front, a rounded back; about 25 mm wide. Keep the opening a curve, hollow side forward, not a straight line.

R1starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc 2, 3 sc in the last ch; continue along the other side of the chain: sc 1, 2 sc in the last ch (the one you made the first sc in)(8)
R2inc, 1 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc(12)
R31 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(16)
R4–516 sc(16)
R61 sc, (dec, 2 sc) ×3, dec, 1 sc(12)
Size before assembly: an oval about 2.4 × 1.6 cm at the widest, 1.9 cm long; 6 rounds. The piece is oval: the rounds go around the chain, and on the finished toy the chain (the long side of the oval) runs side to side; the starting chain is at the front of the piece (on the finished toy). The round-start marker is in the middle of a long side (the piece's centre line), while R1 starts at a turn: after R1 shift the round start — sc 1 more (not counted in any round) and place the marker there. The increases fall on the turns.
With brown: ch 4.
Change to orange (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R2).
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with caramel: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R4–618 sc(18)
R7(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R8dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 2.4 cm at the widest, 2.2 cm long; 8 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with chestnut: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R524 sc(24)
R6(BLO)24 sc(24)
R7(2 sc, dec) ×6(18)
R8(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R9dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 3.3 cm at the widest, 1.8 cm long; 9 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (lightly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with brown: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(inc ×2, 1 sc) ×2(10)
R310 sc(10)
R42 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec, 1 sc(8)
R5–88 sc(8)
Size before assembly: about 1.3 cm at the widest, 2.7 cm long; 8 rounds.
Change to orange (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R2).
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 12 mm (on the head): in round 14, 9 st apart (count along round 14: about 4.7 st each side of the centre front line).
Safety nose, oval, 7×5.5 mm (on the snout): between rounds 1 and 2, on the centre top line . Colour brown #4a2f26.
Embroidery in brown thread (on the snout), straight stitches through: (between rounds 2 and 3, on the centre bottom line ) → (between rounds 3 and 4, on the centre bottom line ).
Embroidery in brown thread (on the snout) (2, symmetric: the toy's left side is described, the right is its mirror image), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, on the centre bottom line ) → (in round 4, 1 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 4, 1.5 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ).
Fringe (on the ear) (2: one on each ear; the left one is described, the right is its mirror): cut 14 pieces of yarn (brown) about 29 mm long; fold each in half and attach with a lark's head knot (pull through a stitch with the hook) along in round 2, on the centre front line -> in round 3, on the centre front line, evenly spaced. Trim to about 4 mm.

Squirrel with an Acorn

What you'll need