tater

Rumor has it that Tater's actual name is something like Clyde or Dan; nobody can really remember for sure. He just bears such a striking resemblance to a tater tot that the nickname stuck. Thankfully, he's a friendly and easygoing fellow, so he doesn't mind.

FINISHED SIZE: 2G in/7cm tall (May vary depending on your hook size, yarn type, and tension)

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

MATERIALS

• Lion Brand® Vanna's Choice® 3.5oz/100g, 170yds/156m (100% acrylic) — one skein each: #806-100 White (Color A), #860-306 Tangerine Mist (Color B)

• Size D-3 (3.25mm) crochet hook

• Yarn needle

• 6mm safety eyes (2)

• Pink embroidery floss (for nose and mouth)

• Polyester stuffing

• Wooden stuffing stick

• Stitch markers and pins

Head and Body

In Color A:

Rnd 1: Ch 5. Starting in second ch from hook, sc 3. In 4th st, sc 4. On other side of foundation chain, sc 2. In 3rd st, sc 4 — 13 sts.

Rnd 2: Sc 4, sc 3 into next st, inc in next st, sc 5, inc in next st, sc 3 into next st — 19 sts.

Rnd 3: In first st, change to Color B; sc 2 more in same st for a total of 3 sc in the first st. Sc 3 into next 3 sts, sc 2, inc in next 2 sts, sc 8, inc in next 2 sts, sc 1 — 31 sts.

Rnds 4-5: Sc in all 31 sts — 31 sts.

Rnd 6: Sc 2, (inc in next st, sc 1) 5 times, sc in remaining 19 sts — 36 sts. Pause here to place eyes and embroider nose and mouth. Eye placement: between Rnds 2-3, 6 sts apart.

Rnds 7-16: Sc in all 36 sts — 36 sts.

Rnd 17: Sc 2, dec, (sc 4, dec) 5 times, sc 2 — 30 sts.

Rnd 18: (Sc 3, dec) 6 times — 24 sts. Begin stuffing.

Rnd 19: Sc 1, dec, (sc 2, dec) 5 times, sc 1 — 18 sts.

Rnd 20: (Sc 1, dec) 6 times — 12 sts. Continue stuffing.

Rnd 21: Dec in all sts — 6 sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch and use yarn needle to weave tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pulling tightly to close the hole. Weave in tail.

ASSEMBLY

Pin and sew pieces to body as shown.

Ears (Make 2)

In Color B

Rnd 1: Start 6 sc In an adjustable ring — 6 sts.

Rnd 2: (Sc 2, Inc In next st) repeat 2 times — 8 sts.

Rnd 3: Sc In all 8 sts — 8 sts.

Rnd 4: (Sc 3, Inc In next st) repeat 2 times — 10 sts.

Rnd 5: Sc In all 10 sts — 10 sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch and leave a tall for sewing. Do not stuff.

Feet (Make 4)

In Color B:

Rnd 1: Start 5 sc In an adjustable ring — 5 sts.

Rnd 2: Sc In all 5 sts — 5 sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch and leave a tall for sewing. Do not stuff.

Tail

In Color A:

Rnd 1: Start 6 sc In an adjustable ring — 6 sts

Rnds 2-3: Sc In all 6 sts — 6 sts.

Rnd 4: In first st, change to Color B. Sc in remaining 5 sts — 6 sts.

Rnds 5-7: Sc in all 6 sts — 6sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch and leave a tall for sewing. Do not stuff.

waffles

Waffles spends most of her day lounging around in her cat bed with a good book. She's a voracious reader! She doesn't mind sharing her comfy spot, as long as you don't mind listening to her read out loud.

FINISHED SIZE: 2½ in/6.5cm tall (May vary depending on your hook size, yarn type, and tension)

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

MATERIALS

• Lion Brand® Vanna's Choice® 3.5oz/100g, 170yds/156m (100% acrylic) — one skein each: #860-100 White (Color A), #860-306 Tangerine Mist (Color B), #860-153 Black (Color C)

• Size D-3 (3.25mm) crochet hook

• Yarn needle

• 6mm safety eyes (2)

• Pink embroidery floss (for nose and mouth)

• Polyester stuffing

• Wooden stuffing stick

• Stitch markers and pins

Head

In Color A:

Rnd 1: Ch 4. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 sts. Sc 4 into next st. On other side of foundation chain, sc 1. Sc 4 into next st — 11 sts.

Rnd 2: Sc 10. In last st, change to Color B — 11 sts.

Rnd 3: Sc 1. In next st, change to Color A. Sc in next st, inc in next 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts, inc in next 2 sts. Inc in last st, changing to Color B in second sc of the increase — 17 sts.

Rnd 4: Sc 3 into first st, sc 3 into second st, changing to Color A in third sc. Sc 3 into next 2 sts. Inc in next 3 sts. Sc in next 7 sts, inc in next st. Inc in next st, changing to Color B in second sc of the increase. Inc in last st — 31 sts.

Rnd 5: Sc in first 5 sts. In next st, change to Color C. Sc in next 7 sts. In next st, change to Color A. Sc in next 15 sts. In next st, change to Color B. Sc in next 2 sts — 31 sts.

Rnd 6: Sc in first 2 sts. Inc in next st, sc 1. Inc in next st, change to Color C in next st. (Inc in next st, sc 1) 3 times. Sc in next st. In next st, change to Color A. Sc in next 14 sts. In next st, change to Color B. Sc in next 2 sts — 36 sts. Pause here to place eyes and embroider nose and mouth. Eye placement: between Rnds 3-4, approximately 4 sts apart.

Rnd 7: Sc in first 7 sts, change to Color B in next st. Sc in next 10 sts, change to Color A in next st. Sc in next 14 sts. In next st, change to Color B. Sc in next 2 sts — 36 sts.

Rnd 8: Sc in first 7 sts, change to Color B in next st. Sc in next 10 sts, change to Color A in next st. Sc in next 17 sts — 36 sts.

Rnds 9-12: Continuing in Color A, sc in all 36 sts — 36 sts.

Rnd 13: Sc 2, dec, (sc 4, dec) 5 times, sc 2 — 30 sts.

Rnd 14: (Sc 3, dec) 6 times — 24 sts.

Rnd 15: Sc 1, dec, (sc 2, dec) 5 times, sc 1 — 18 sts. Begin stuffing.

Rnd 16: (Sc 1, dec) 6 times — 12 sts.

Rnd 17: Dec in all sts — 6 sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch and use yarn needle to weave tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pulling tightly to close the hole. Weave in tail.

Body

In Color C:

Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in an adjustable ring — 6 sts.

Rnd 2: Inc in all 6 sts — 12 sts.

Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc in next st) 6 times — 18 sts.

Rnd 4: Sc 1, inc in next st, (sc 2, inc in next st) 5 times, sc 1 — 24 sts.

Rnds 5-7: Change to Color B in first st. Sc in next 10 sts, change to Color A in next st. Sc in next 12 sts — 24 sts.

Rnds 8-9: Change to Color C in first st. Sc in next 5 sts, change to Color B in next st, sc in next 4 sts, change to Color A in next st, sc in next 12 sts — 24 sts.

Rnd 10: Change to Color B in first st. Sc in next 3 sts, dec. Sc in next 4 st, insert hook into FLO of next 2 st, YO with Color A and pull through to decrease, continuing with Color A. (Sc in next 4 sts, dec) 2 times — 20 sts.

Fasten off with a slip stitch, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff lightly.

Leg 1

In Color A:

Rnd 1:...