May Amigurumi CAL Mini Pigs Week One

Welcome to another exciting month of the Furls Amigurumi CAL! Spring is in full swing, it's still showering and it's still flowering and I dunno about you but all the bright colors are giving my creativity and motivation a hefty boost! I'm so stoked to be hosting the crochet-along for May and I can't wait to share my new crochet babies with you--

Listen, if you haven't seen all the little videos and pictures of miniature pigs, do yourself a favor and find some because mini pigs are honestly the most ridiculous things and I'm sure you'll agree that you need one. So make one with us!

These miniature piggies are close to life-sized, which means great piggy hugs!

MATERIALS

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky in (A) Blossom Heather, (B) Oyster Heather, and (C) Mineral Heather [nose, main body and spots, respectively]

Furls Alpha Series olivewood crochet hook size G (4.0mm) or G+ (4.5mm)

Stuffing

10mm plastic snap-in eyes

Yarn/tapestry needle

Sewing pins (optional)

Stitch marker (I use a small scrap of yarn)

ABBREVIATIONS

Part I of the CAL includes the head and body of the piggy, Part II will add the ears and legs (the tail is part of the body!).

There are no color charts for the spots because every piggy's spots are unique and this design reflects that. Pool your color in wherever feels right! You may want to make a solid colored piggy first to get a feel for the pattern before bringing randomized color changes in. 

With color A, ch 3

1.  2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 4 sc in last ch, rotating your work so you're working along the bottom of the chain (see picture), 2 sc in same ch space as 1st 2 sc (8)

2.  2 sc in each of the 1st 5 sc, sc in next sc, slp st (loose) in next sc, sc in last sc (13)

3.  *3 dc in 1st st, sc in next 3 sts*, rep *-* around, remove marker (leaving the last sc unworked)

Here's what we've got so far. Each round is in a different color to illustrate structure.

SWITCH to color B

4.  replace marker and working in BLO, sc dec, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, sc dec, sc in next 3 sc, sc dec, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc dec, sc in last 2 sc (17)

5.  now in both loops, 2 sc in each of the 1st 2 sc, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc in next sc, sc dec (20)

6.  sc in 1st 6 sc, slp st (loose) in next 7 sc, sc in last 7 sc (20) 

You'll notice at this stage that your pig snout is looking rather sad and undefined.

Let's fix that. 

REATTACH color A to the front loops of round 4 (at the beginning of the round):

slp st in 1st 2 loops, ch 1, slp st in next 6 loops, ch 1, slp st in next 6 loops, ch 1, slp st in last 5 loops, FO. Now it looks like this:

(Again, funky color to illustrate the structure.) 

Tie the two yarn ends snugly together and weave them in, or use your crochet hook to pull them through to the back and tuck them inside the snout. Tah dah! Now we can return to our regularly scheduled pattern.

7.  sc in 1st 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*, sc in next 8 sc, rep *-*, sc in last 3 sc (24)

8.  2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, *2 sc, sc in next 2 sc* rep *-* 6x, sc in last 2 sc (31)

9.  sc in 1st 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 11 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc* rep *-* 3x total, sc in last 11 sc (35)

10.  sc in 1st sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*, sc in next 20 sc, rep *-*, sc in last 2 sc (40)

11.  sc in 1st 16 sc, sc dec, sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc* rep *-* 3x total, sc dec, sc in last 9 sc (41)

12.  sc in 1st sc, [sc dec] x2, sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, sc dec, sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc* rep *-* 3x total, sc in next 3 sc, sc dec, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last 5 sc (42)

13.  sc in each sc around (42)

14.  sc in 1st 14 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, sc in next 11 sc, rep *-* 1x, sc in last 9 sc (46)

15.  sc in each sc around (46)

Put snap-in eyes between rounds 11-12. The left eye should be between and covering the decreases on the left side of the face, the right eye should be just above the decreases on the right side of the face (see picture).

(See those decreases below the right eye?)

16.  sc in 1st 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc*, rep *-* 4x total, sc in next 9 sc, rep *-* 3x (53)

17.  sc in 1st 7 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, sc in next 33 sc, rep *-* 1x, sc in last sc (57)

18.  sc in 1st 19 sc, sc dec, sc in next 10 sc, sc dec, sc in next 11 sc, sc dec, sc in last 11 sc (54)

19.  sc in 1st 20 sc, sc dec, sc in next 18 sc, sc dec, sc in last 12 sc (52)

20.  sc in each sc around (52)

21.  sc in 1st 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 19 sc, sc dec, sc in next 5 sc, sc dec, sc in last 17 sc (52)

22.  sc in 1st 23 sc, [dc dec] 7x total, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last 3 sc (47)

23.  sc in 1st 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in last sc (51)

24.  sc in 1st 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, now in FLO, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc* 2x, 2 sc in next sc, now in both loops sc in last 17 sc (58)

25.  sc in each sc around (58)

26.  sc in 1st 29 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last 19 sc (60)

STUFF the pig head firmly. You’ll bloat the shape here a little bit but you’ll fix that with some basic needle shaping when you’ve got your whole pig bean finished.

27-44.  sc in each sc around (60) 

45.  *sc dec, sc in next 9 sc*, 6x, sc in last 3 sc (54)

46.  sc in each sc around (54)

47.  *sc dec, sc in next 7 sc* rep *-* around (48)

48.  *sc dec, sc in next 6 sc* rep *-* around (42)

STUFF the rest of the pig firmly.

49.  [sc dec, sc in next 5 sc] 4x, ch 9, slp st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, 2 sc in each of the last 6 ch (tail made!), rep [brackets] 2x (36)

If following the pattern directions for round 49 places the tail anywhere other than lined up with the snout, just adjust the location of the bolded section of the pattern so that it is centered on the body in relation to the face/snout. 

50.  *sc dec, sc in next 4 sc* rep *-* around (30)

51.  *sc dec, sc in next 3 sc* rep *-* around (24)

52.  *sc dec, sc in next 2 sc* rep *-* around (18)

53.  *sc dec, sc in next sc* rep *-* around (12)

54.  sc dec around

FO, leaving a long tail.

Sew any remaining hole closed and poke the needle all the way through the body (this is why I like to use a long tapestry needle) until you reach the face, just above one of the eyes.

Weave the needle through the sc stitch just above the eye and pull through. Poke the needle through the face across to the stitch right above the other eye, and weave the needle through that stitch. Pull through.

Poke the needle back through to the first side and pull the yarn snug (slowly and not too snug! Watch the effect and stop when you like it!). This will help to redefine that adorable face you had before you stuffed the piggy. 

Weave in the end and there you have it, a wonderful pork bean!

Stay tuned for Part II next weekend where we'll be making the ears and legs! 

If you have any questions, comments or corrections regarding this pattern please feel free to contact me (littleravenfiberarts@gmail.com), I’m here to help! (Don't be discouraged if I don't respond right away, I will be off world traveling until June 1st and may not be able to reply!)

Make sure to pop in to the Fun With Furls Facebook Group to share your piggy photos and admire everyone else’s crochet handiwork too!  

Happy Crocheting! 
Brenna