Fox Pin Tutorial

I've created my first ever crochet pattern !!! 

A tiny fox pin, a big deal for me, so please be kind :)

You could create a hair slide as I have here, or perhaps use it as a brooch, attach to a keyring, or use it to embellish another item. I also have another tutorial coming up soon for a larger version.

For this tutorial you will need brown, white and black yarns, I have used dk weight and a 3mm hook, but you could use any size yarn and use and appropriate size needle, e.g if using american worsted weight you could use a 4mm hook but your fox will be a little larger.

I have also used UK terms through the tutorial, so:
double crochet (dc) is US single crochet, half treble (htr) is US half double crochet.

Slip stitch: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Double crochet: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Half treble: Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

 To Begin: Create a magic ring, sometimes known as a magic circle. 

There is a great video tutorial on how to do this Here.

 Make sure to create a slip stitch when making your magic ring.

 Make 6 dc into ring.

 Pull your circle mostly closed but not over tightening, don't join with a sl st here.

 Make 2 dc into the top of each of the 6 dc you made in the first round.

 Sl st into next stitch, and finish tightening the magic ring.

 Into the next stitch make 1 sl st and 1 htr

 Next is a picot stitch. Chain 2 then sl st into 2nd chain from hook,

 making sure to go through both loops of the chain.

In the next stitch make 1 htr and 1 sl st.

 Make 1 sl st into the next stitch, and in the following stitch make 1 sl st and 1 htr.

 Another picot so, 2 chains and sl st into 2nd chain from hook. 

 Into next stitch crochet 1 htr and 1 sl st changing over to white yarn.

 In white, make 1 dc in each of the next 3 stitches.

 In the next stitch make a sl st switching to the black yarn,

 leaving the white yarn behind for now.

 In the same stitch make a htr

 In the next stitch make a htr and also sl st, changing back to the white yarn again.

In white yarn, dc into the next 2 stitches. 

 Sl st into the next stitch which should be at the base of the first ear, and fasten off.

Tug all the strands of yarn nice and snug and sew in all ends before blocking.

You can if you wish embroider eyes, or sew tiny beads on, before attaching to perhaps a pin, fastener or keyring, maybe even using as an embellishment to another project.

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial, I'm looking forward creating and publishing more of my ideas soon.