Basic rules for crocheting a giraffe toy

Products made from yarn delight not only children, but also adults. Any holiday or everyday life can be brightened up by a homemade animal. A crochet giraffe is a simple toy that will appeal to beginners and knitting masters. If you show a little imagination and decorate it as you wish, you can use it to decorate a child's room, bedroom, or kitchen.

Necessary tools and materials

Knitting requires special materials that are traditionally used in the manufacture of toys.

Selecting yarn

Every child likes to play with new toys in their own way: bite, squeeze, sniff. Therefore, yarn must meet all safety requirements. Many companies produce natural yarns in balls, skeins or rolls.

The threads should differ in the following:

• Be soft and pleasant to the touch.
• Be hypoallergenic.
• Have a pile that does not separate from the main thread when pressed lightly and not too hard (i.e. does not delaminate).

The most popular options among needlewomen are the following threads:

• "Iris", "Lily", "Violet", "Yarnart Jeans". This is a thick yarn suitable for making fancy animals and other items. Among the main advantages, experts highlight quality, low price and safety for children.
• "Softy", "Angora Ram", "NAKO Paris". Fluffy threads suitable for making soft toys. They have the same advantages as the previous group of threads.

Choosing a hook

Crochet hook sizes resemble the metric system for measuring width, sometimes called gauge. They generally range from 1mm to 20mm in diameter and 120mm to 160mm in length. Larger specimens are rare. When knitting a pattern, you should use the recommended tool size and yarn thickness to ensure that the finished product is guaranteed to have the correct size, shape, and texture.

The size of your crochet hooks can make a big difference to your finished project. Using a large hook will give your project an open, airy look due to the space created between the stitches. Conversely, small hooks will result in tighter, more compact stitches and a smaller overall size.

Filler for toys

To give shape to toys, filler is used. There are many varieties of it now. They differ in properties, texture, density. Natural filler in the form of wool, fluff, feathers will not be the best option for stuffing soft toys. Although these materials are of natural origin, they often lose their shape, forming lumps, which make it quite difficult to return the product to its original state. Therefore, it is worth using synthetic material for stuffing: holofiber or sintepon. They are widely used in handicrafts. Their advantages are light texture, durability and ease of care.

Accessories

Any knitting will require additional materials: satin ribbons, "eyes" (made of plastic or metal), floss, fabric of different shades and textures. Such elements must meet safety rules and requirements.

Knitting rules

You can crochet a giraffe without any special knowledge or skills. It is enough to follow the rules, as well as the order indicated in the diagram. Below are approximate algorithms of actions for creating a giraffe. They use the following symbols:

• sc – single crochet;
• уб – decrease loops;
• pr – increase loops;
• ka – amigurumi ring.

Knitting a giraffe head

The image below shows the sequence of actions for creating the giraffe's head. It should turn out round thanks to the loops with a yarn over. The rows should be knitted carefully, without missing a single one.

Knitting legs

The image below shows the sequence of actions for creating the giraffe's legs. They should be done with a tight knit.

Knitting horns (2 parts)

The production of these components of the animal toy is similar to the legs. The finished elements must be stuffed with filler, and the opening must be sewn up.

Knitting giraffe ears (2 parts)

The image below shows the stage of creating the animal's ears. There is no need to stuff the details with felt or any synthetic material.

Knitting a giraffe's body

The image below shows the stage of creating the animal's body. Light filler will help to give the detail volume and softness.

Paws-handles (2 parts)

The image below shows the step of making the handles. They can be sewn together or crocheted.

Muzzle

The final detail will be the animal's muzzle. For it, you need to knit 5 rows:

1. 5 single crochet stitches.
2. Increase stitches by 5 (10).
3. 1 single crochet and increase stitches by 5 (15).
4. 2 single crochets and increase stitches by 5 (20).
5. 3 single crochets and increase stitches by 5 (25).

This piece is tied or sewn in the middle of the head.

Various decorative elements or hand-made blanks (for example, a pyramid in paws) can be used as decorations. Any materials can be used, but they must meet safety requirements. This will make it much easier and more pleasant for children to perceive the texture of the product. You can also sew a heart or a star. Popular wardrobe items include hats, pants, skirts, vests and jackets. This helps the child develop imagination.

Popular schemes and models

Both experienced craftswomen and beginners will love the step-by-step instructions below on how to crochet a giraffe. They will not require much effort, time and materials for their implementation, and the result will please both children and adults in any case.

Plush giraffe

For this work you will need plush yarn, as it has thick threads that “spring” when knitting.

The color scheme can be selected from the one shown in the picture. If desired, it is permissible to use other colors (combinations). Also for the animal you will need a thick needle, scissors, felt, "eyes", a knitting tool and a marking ring.

Step by step instructions:

1. In the 1st row you need to knit 6 single crochet loops into a ring.
2. In the 2nd row you need to add 6 loops, and then knit 12 with a single crochet.
3. For rows 3-7, take yarn of a different color and knit 12 loops from it using a single crochet.

This is the leg. Next, you need to continue the process and make a second copy of the same. Then you need to smoothly move on to the body:

1. 1 row – 12 single crochet stitches, increase, 12 single crochet stitches, increase.
2. 2nd row – 6 single crochet stitches, increase, 14 single crochet stitches, increase, 6 single crochet stitches (30).
3. Row 3 – (4 single crochet stitches, increase) multiply by 6 (36).
4. Rows 4-7 – 36 single crochet stitches.
5. Row 8 – (4 single crochet stitches, decrease) multiply by 6 (30).
6. Row 9 – 30 single crochet stitches.
7. Row 10 – (3 single crochet stitches, decrease) multiply by 6 (24).
8. Row 11 – 24 single crochet stitches.
9. Row 12 – (2 single crochet stitches, decrease) multiply by 6 (18).
10. From rows 13 to 18 – 18 single crochet stitches (this is how the neck is formed).

The head needs to be made in a circle. For this, you will need 4 loops and an increase with each row (from 2 to 10). Next, you need to stuff it with felt and sew up the opening. The same actions are repeated with the other finished parts. You can immediately sew them to the body.

Rainbow Giraffe

The rainbow giraffe will require the use of several bright and saturated colors. The materials can be used as desired or as in the previous example.

Before you start making an animal, you need to decide on its dimensions. You can use those indicated in the previous example. The main requirement for needlewomen is not to mix up the alternation of colors. When increasing the dimensions, you need to recalculate - multiply the data (numerical indicators) by 50 or 100%.

The finished parts need to be fastened together. Before this procedure, you need to make sure that they have all acquired volume (were stuffed with felt), and the "voids" are removed or sewn up.

At the end of the work, the products can be decorated according to your own taste, guided by personal preferences.

Giraffe amigurumi

Amigurumi is a combination of two Japanese words: "ami" and "nuigurumi". Both words are combined into this concept, which literally means a crocheted toy. Crocheting allows you to get a thicker and denser surface of the product compared to other techniques. This technique was invented by Japanese craftswomen and quickly spread throughout the world due to its simplicity.

To make an amigurumi giraffe you will need yarn (worsted, acrylic or cotton), scissors, a needle, threads, and additional accessories.

Step-by-step instructions for making a toy:

1. The needlewoman needs to choose the size of the future animal.
2. The ears, horns and muzzle are knitted according to the rules specified above in the previous MK.
3. The handles are knitted separately (1 row – 2 loops, then 6 rows – 6 loops each, then 6 rows – with a decrease of 6 loops each). They are not stuffed with felt.
4. The body should be solid (with legs and neck). You can make 2 identical parts and then sew them together after stuffing with felt.

The body is knitted like this:

1. Rows 1-15 – 7 single crochet stitches;
2. Next comes the increase of 15 loops.
3. Rows 16-35 – no changes.
4. Then divide the fabric into 2 components (legs) and knit them with the same number of loops (12 rows).

The finished product is shown in the picture below.

Cute funny giraffe on joints

Whimsical animals have become fashionable thanks to the use of joints in their design. They can be used to make movable toys easily and simply. Joints are complemented by balls, knitted and stuffed with soft filler. In the product, they serve as a neck, arms or legs, horns or ears. They are made according to the above MK on the amigurumi technique.

Tools used:

• The threads are soft and pliable.
• Convenient knitting tool.
• Needle.
• Scissors.

Features of work:

• You will need balls for the head (medium size), body (large size), muzzle (small size), as well as the neck and legs.
• The number of loops is taken according to the dimensions determined by the needlewoman.
• All elements must be stuffed with felt and the opening must be sewn up.

All parts of the animal must be fastened together. The finished product is shown in the picture below.

Knitting a giraffe can be easy and enjoyable. Older children can gradually get used to the creative process. Creating your own project will be an excellent developmental training for a child.

You can go further in your experiments and make a crochet giraffe rattle for children or as a keychain - it all depends on the size of the product. If you choose long items, you can decorate curtains, headboards of a child's bed with them. Short items are best for decorating everyday and festive things.

A cheerful and funny giraffe can be made by needlewomen from any color scheme. If you have experience, you can create a real masterpiece if you add author's elements to it.