Amigurumi Morris horn pattern

[cdave]

A little while ago Sarah McIntyre lamented that she didn't know how to crochet and wouldn't able to learn in time for BICS. She wanted to make a pair of horns for her book launch.



But I know how to crochet! So I knocked up a pair, finishing them on the train to Birmingham, and gave them to her on Saturday. I think she liked them, she certainly wore them all weekend :)

(I forgot my camera, so I'll update this post if I manage to get hold of a photo of jabberworks wearing them).



I'm using the US definitions here, as that's what most patterns seem to use.

Key
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
cs = chain stitch
sc2tog = single crochet the next two loops together (decrease)
2sc in next stitch = single crochet then go into the back of the same stitch (increase)
(3) = When you have completed this round, you should have 3 stitches.
4 sc = 4 single crochets
6 * pattern * = repeat "pattern" 6 times

All with DK yarn.

To make a (inside out) horn:
Red yarn
(3) 4 cs, sc2tog (first and last, giving you a loop of three)
(6) 3 2sc in next stitch
(7) 3 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 1 sc
(9) 2 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 3 sc, 2sc in next stitch
(11) 3 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 3 sc, 2sc in next stitch, sc
Change to pink yarn
(12) 5 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 5 sc
(13) 5 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 6 sc
(14) 6 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 6 sc
(15) 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 6 sc
Pick up red yarn
(16) 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 7 sc
(16) sc2tog, 6 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 7 sc
(17) 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(17) sc2tog, 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
Pick up pink yarn
(17) sc2tog, 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(17) sc2tog, 7 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(18) 8 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(18) sc2tog, 8 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
Pick up red yarn
(18) sc2tog, 8 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(18) sc2tog, 8 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 8 sc
(19) 8 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 9 sc
(20) 9 sc, 2sc in next stitch, 9 sc
Leave enough red yarn trailing to sew up with later.

To make the tuft of hair:
Create a small mat with black yarn.
6 cs
6 cs
6 cs
Leave enough yarn trailing either end to tie it onto the base later.
The centre of this mat has 12 sitches.
Leave the first and last.
For the 2nd and 11th stitch. Take two small lengths of yarn, roughly an inches long. Pick up the stitch, and pass the wool through, leaving you with 2 Vs. Tie them in place.
For the 3rd to 10th stitches: Take two small lengths of yarn, roughly 2 inches long. Pick up the stitch, and pass the wool through, leaving you with 2 Vs. Tie them in place.
This should be dense enough that if you tease it upards it stays in place.

Putting it together
Make two horns, and the tuft of hair, and buy a solid platic hairband.
Turn the horns right side out, stuff, place against a hair band and sew the bottom with a needle.
Tie the tuft on, at the top centre of the hairband.


Standard Fan Art Disclamer: All characters remain the property of their respective authors, and I have neither asked nor obtained permission to use them.

Cross posted from Scratch UK

Comments

[jabberworks.livejournal.com]

That is so brilliant! :D

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Aaah!

[cdave]

I don't actually think like that, but that's how people expect to see patterns.

I know the following about crochet:
If you just do single crotchet stitches in a spiral you get a tube.
If you add two through every stitch this "increase" gives you a disc.
To get any other angle is simply a matter of chosing how close to a disc or tube it is at that point and setting the ratio of increases to singles accordingly.

In English the horn is:
I want a rounded top, rather than a pointed top. Therefore "increase" in every stitch.
Next I want it to curve gently, so "increase" on every fourth stitch.
When that gets big enough (judged by eye) the point of the horn is done.
Next I want a gradually increasing tube, so "increase" once each circuit.
By making sure that I put the "increases" in line with the "increase" from the previous round, I'll cause the horn to bend. Like a tree trunk with wedges driven in all on the South side.
Further down I don't want the tube to expand at all, but I still want to add the gradual curve, so use a "decrease" on the opposite side to the "increase".
Then I just swapped the yarn over often enough to get the 5 stripes.

I must have crocheted the equivilent of 2 whole second horns, as I didn't write the pattern of the first horn down, and couldn't get the diameter right.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Makes good sense. With something simple like that, the verbal explanation is easier to follow (to me at least).

[arborophile.livejournal.com]

Thats Brilliant love! :)