Zane the Zebra
Height: 14″ standing
Skill Level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Zane the Zebra
He may not be black and white, but
one thing is clear: with his purple
stripes and mohawk on fleek, Zane
the Zebra is the coolest cousin in
the equestrian family!
You will need
3.5mm (E) hook
15mm safety eyes(buy here)
Yarn needle
Fiber fill
Disappearing ink marker(optional – buy here)
Yarn (acrylic, weight 4)
Dark purple(I used RHSS – Dark Orchid)
Medium purple(I used RHSS – Medium Purple)
Light purple(I used RHSS – Pale Plum)
Instructions
1. Be sure to read the “notes” section at the bottom of the pattern before proceeding.
Head
1. With dark purple yarn:
01. ch5, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 2,
3sc in the last ch [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc [26]
04. inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times [32]
05. inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc [38]
06. inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times, inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times [44]
07. *sc 10, inc* 4 times [48]
Now sc 9 additional stitches. Consider this the official end of round 7. This ensures the color joins will be
along the bottom of the head and won’t be as visible. Continue with round 8 as normal.
Switch to medium purple yarn:
08. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
09. *sc 5, dec* [36]
Switch to light purple yarn:
10. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
11 . sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
12. sc in each st around [30]
13. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
Switch to light purple yarn:
14. *sc 5, inc* [42]
15. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
16. *sc 7, inc* [54]
17. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
18 – 19. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
20 – 21. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
22 – 23. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
24 – 25. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
26 – 27. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
28. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
29. *sc 7, dec* [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
30. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
31. *sc 5, dec* [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
32. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Stuff head ¾ full. Decide on placement of eyes, sew between the two spots to sculpt the head. Insert eyes
and secure backings.
33. *sc 3, dec* [24]
Switch to light purple yarn:
34. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
35. *sc, dec* [12]
Finish stuffing.
Switch to medium purple yarn:
36. dec in each st around [6]
Close with an ultimate finish.
Ears (make 2)
1. With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. *sc, inc* [9]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 2 times, sc [12]
04. *sc 3, inc* [15]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 2 times, sc 2 [18]
06. *sc 5, inc* [21]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07. sc in each st around [21]
08. *sc 5, dec* [18]
Switch to light purple yarn:
09. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 2 times, sc 2 [15]
10. *sc 3, dec* [12]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
11 – 12. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
Body
1. With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07. *sc 5, inc* [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
09. *sc 7, inc* [54]
10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
11 – 12. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
13 – 14. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
15 – 16. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
17. sc in each st around [60]
18. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
19. sc in each st around [54]
20. *sc 7, dec* [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
21. sc in each st around [48]
22. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
23 – 24. sc in each st around [42]
Switch to light purple yarn:
25. *sc 5, dec* [36]
26. sc in each st around [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
27. sc in each st around [36]
28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Switch to light purple yarn:
29 – 30. sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
31. *sc 3, dec* [24]
32. sc in each st around [24]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill.
Arms (make 2)
1. With dark purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
06 – 07. sc in each st around [24]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
08. sc in each st around [24]
09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
Switch to light purple yarn:
10. sc in each st around [23]
11. sc 21, dec [22]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
12. sc in each st around [22]
13. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
Switch to light purple yarn:
14. sc in each st around [21]
15. sc 19, dec [20]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
16. sc in each st around [20]
17. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
Switch to light purple yarn:
18. sc in each st around [19]
19. sc 17, dec [18]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
20. sc in each st around [18]
21. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
Switch to light purple yarn:
22. sc in each st around [17]
23. sc 15, dec [16]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
24 – 25. sc in each st around [16]
Switch to light purple yarn:
26. *sc 2, dec* [12]
27. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip
stitch closed.
Legs (make 2)
1. With dark purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
07 – 08. sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
09. sc in each st around [30]
10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
Switch to light purple yarn:
11. sc 27, dec [28]
12. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
13. sc 25, dec [26]
14. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
Switch to light purple yarn:
15. sc 23, dec [24]
16. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
17. sc 21, dec [22]
18. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
Switch to light purple yarn:
19. sc 19, dec [20]
20. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
21. sc 17, dec [18]
22. *sc 7, dec* [16]
Switch to light purple yarn:
23. *sc 2, dec* [12]
24. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip
stitch closed.
Tail
1. Cut 12 strands of dark purple yarn, approx. 6” long
With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. sc around [6]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03 – 04. sc around [6]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05 – 06. sc around [6]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07 – 08. sc around [6]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Root in strands
of dark purple yarn to flat end, secure and trim as desired.
Notes
Abbreviations
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
BLO: back loop only
dec: invisible decrease
Changing colors
When changing colors, I recommend using Planet June’s no-cut join method. See the last photo in the slideshow
toward the beginning of the post to see what the inside of your work will look like as you switch colors.
How to indent the eyes
Note: The video above shows a fox, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns. My newer patterns indicate
exactly where you should place your safety eyes, and instruct you to mark those stitches accordingly. This is one of
my older patterns and it doesn’t indicate where to place the eyes. I plan to update my older patterns when I have a
chance, but for now use your best judgement. 🙂
Step 1 – Cut a strand of yarn approximately 12″ long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread the other end
through your yarn needle.
Step 2 – Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and sew between the two spots where you’ll be
placing your safety eyes.
Step 3 – Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents.
Step 4 – Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.
How to add hair for the mane and tail
Note: The photos above show a horse, but the technique is the same. 🙂
Step 1 – Cut 10″ long strands of yarn. How many depends on your personal preference, but I ended up using well
over 100. As you can see in the 4th photo above, I only rooted hair on every other round, but filled in the gaps with
one strand of yarn on each side.
I recommend finding a book or DVD case to wrap your yarn around several times, then cut along the top – it makes
the process of cutting yarn strands much faster and it’s easier to produce a consistent length.
Optional: Use a ruler and a disappearing ink marker to draw a rectangle on the head as a guide for where to root the
mane. You can do the same for the tail by tracing something circular (about 1.5″ in diameter) on the rear.
Step 2 – Fold a strand of yarn in half, insert your hook under a stitch in the head or body. Use your hook to catch
your yarn strand and pull through a loop, then pull your tail ends of the strand through the loop.
This video illustrates the technique perfectly, except I insert my hook front-to-back instead of side-to-side.
Step 3 – If giving your creation to a small child, be sure to secure each strand of hair with a knot so it can’t easily be
pulled out.
