Meerkat Crochet Pattern 4

Meerkat
A crochet pattern by June Gilbank

© 2014 June Gilbank
Meerkat
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Materials
 All instructions are applicable for any worsted weight yarn. You will need much less than 1 skein of yarn in a
light brown/beige and a dark brown shade.
 Suggested hook size (see Gauge, below): E US/3.5mm
 For my Meerkat, I used Red Heart Soft yarns (Wheat and Chocolate).
Size
Approx 9" (23cm) tall. (Your gauge and yarn choice will affect the finished size slightly.)
Gauge
Gauge is unimportant for this pattern, provided the pieces are crocheted sufficiently tightly that they will not
gape visibly when stuffed. To test a swatch, crochet the first 3 rounds and then push a piece of fibrefill behind it:
 If the stitches stretch open too much and the fibrefill is clearly visible, reduce the hook size.
 If you cannot insert the hook into the previous stitches, reduce your tension (crochet more loosely) or
increase the hook size.
Notions
 Polyester fibrefill stuffing
 2 eyes (approx 10mm diameter): animal (safety) eyes recommended
Alternatives: black buttons or beads, felt circles, or embroidery
 Yarn needle to weave in ends
 Stitch marker
Terminology
Standard/US UK/Aus
ch chain chain
hdc half double crochet half treble crochet
sc single crochet double crochet
sl st slip stitch slip stitch
st stitch stitch
invdec invisible decrease. For instructions, see www.planetjune.com/invdec
Note: If you prefer, you may use a standard sc2tog decrease in place of each invdec.
magic ring The magic ring method gives a better finish as it doesn’t leave a hole in the middle.
For instructions, see www.planetjune.com/magicring. If you prefer, you may substitute:
Ch 2. Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. for Make a magic ring, ch 1. Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring.
Notes
 Do not join at the end of each round; rounds are worked in continuous spirals.
 Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. Move the marker up as you start each new round.
 Always change colour in the last loop of the stitch before the colour change: www.planetjune.com/colour
www.planetjune.com -1- © 2014 June Gilbank

Meerkat
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Colour code
A light brown or beige yarn (used throughout unless otherwise specified)
B dark brown yarn
Head & Body

worked from top down
With A, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) six times. (18 st)
Rnd 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st) three times. (21 st)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st) three times. (24 st)
Rnd 6: B: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st,
A: sc in next 3 st, invdec,
B: 2 sc in next 2 st,
A: sc in next 14 st. (26 st)
Rnd 7: sc in each st around as follows: 1A, 4B, 3A, 4B, 14A. (26 st)
Rnd 8: A: sc in next 2 st,
B: sc in next 3 st,
A: sc in next 3 st,
B: sc in next 2 st, invdec,
A: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 13 st. (26 st)
B: sc in next 2 st,
A: sc in next 3 st,
B: sc in next st, invdec,
A: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st. (28 st)
With A:
Rnds 10-11: sc in each st around. (28 st)
Rnd 12: (invdec, sc in next 4 st) three times, (invdec, sc in next 3 st) twice. (23 st)
Rnd 13: sc in next 2 st, invdec, (sc in next st, invdec) twice, sc in next 3 st, invdec, sc in next 5 st, invdec, sc in next
st. (18 st)
Rnd 14: sc in next 2 st, invdec, sc in next st, invdec, sc in next 11 st. (16 st)
Stuff head and attach animal eyes (if using) two rounds below the top of each dark eye patch, and one stitch
away from the inner edge of the patch (Figure 1).
Rnd 15: sc in each st around. (16 st)
Rnd 16: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) twice, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st)
twice. (20 st)
Rnd 17: sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next
12 st. (22 st)
Rnd 22: sc in next 8 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 13 st. (23 st)
Rnd 24: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 16 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st. (25 st)
Figure 1: Position of eyes, two rounds down and one stitch

away from the inner edge of each dark eye patch.

Meerkat
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Head & Body (contd)

Rnd 25: sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 st. (27 st)
Rnd 33: sc in next 5 st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) three times, sc in next 4 st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) three
times, sc in next 6 st. (33 st)
Rnd 34: sc in next 6 st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) three times, sc in next 3 st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st)
three times, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st. (40 st)
Rnd 35: sc in next 8 st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 st) twice. (44 st)
Rnd 36: sc in next 16 st, invdec, sc in next 5 st, invdec, sc in next 19 st. (42 st)
Rnd 38: sc in next 16 st, invdec, sc in next 3 st, invdec, sc in next 19 st. (40 st)
Rnd 43: sc in next 10 st, invdec, sc in next st, invdec, sc in next 8 st, invdec, sc in next st, invdec, sc in next 12 st.
(36 st)
Rnd 44: sc in next 5 st, (invdec, sc in next 2 st) three times, sc in next 3 st, (invdec, sc in next 2 st) three times, sc
in next 4 st. (30 st)
Rnd 45: sc in next 5 st, (invdec, sc in next st) three times, sc in next 3 st, (invdec, sc in next st) three times, sc in
next 4 st. (24 st)
Rnd 46: sc in next 2 st, (invdec, sc in next st) three times, sc in next 2 st, (invdec, sc in next st) three times, sc in
next 2 st. (18 st). Stuff body through hole.
Rnd 47: sc in next st, invdec three times, sc in next 3 st, invdec three times, sc in next 2 st. (12 st). Add additional
stuffing if necessary.
Rnd 48: invdec six times. (6 st)
Fasten off, stitch the remaining hole closed and weave in the end.
Muzzle
Rnd 2: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st. (8 st)
Rnd 4: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st. (10 st)
Rnd 5: sc in each st around as follows: 3A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A. (10 st)
B: 2 sc in next st,
A: sc in next 3 st,
B: 2 sc in next st,
A: sc in next 2 st. (12 st)
Rnd 7: with A, 2 sc in next st. (2 st, plus 11 unworked)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of each yarn to attach muzzle to head.
Ear (make 2)
With B, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in magic ring. Pull magic ring tight, but do not join first stitch to last stitch. (3 st)
Rnd 2: ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn, hdc in first st (at base of chain), 2 sc in next st, 2 hdc in last st. (6 st)
Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach ear to head.
Note: For a photo of the finished ear, see Figure 9, p6.

Meerkat
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Arm (make 2)
worked from paw to shoulder
Rnd 4: 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st. (7 st)
Rnd 8: sc in next 2 st, invdec, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st. (10 st)
Rnds 9-10: sc in next st, invdec, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st. (10 st)
Stuff arm then continue.
Rnd 13: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st, invdec, sc in next 4 st. (12 st)
Rnd 14: sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st, invdec, sc in next 3 st. (12 st)
Rnd 15: sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st, invdec, sc in next 2 st. (12 st)
Hold the arm so the hand bends down at the wrist and the arm bends up at the elbow (Figure 2). Flatten the
upper arm so it forms a flat vertical shape that will sit flat alongside the body (Figure 3).
Stuff the flattened upper arm very lightly through the open end so the elbow area is stuffed but the couple
of rounds closest to the open end are completely unstuffed, then continue.
Rnd 16: sc in next 6 st, invdec three times. (9 st)
Rnd 17: invdec, sc in next 3 st, invdec twice. (6 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach arm to body.
Figure 2: Hold the arm so you can see the bends at the Figure 3: Flatten the arm above the elbow so the upper
wrist and elbow (marked by arrows). arm becomes a tall, flat, vertical shape.
Foot (make 2)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach foot to body.

Meerkat
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Tail
With B, make a magic ring, ch 1.
With A:
Rnd 27: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st) twice. (12 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach tail to body.
Finishing
Eyes
If you did not attach the eyes earlier, attach them now, using the face markings as a guide to their positions. The
eyes should be positioned two rounds down and one stitch away from the inner edge of each dark eye patch
(see cover photos and Figure 1, p2 for reference).
Muzzle
Stuff the muzzle, then orient it so it is the right way up - the dark brown patches should be closer to the top of
the muzzle (Figure 4). Position the muzzle over the face so the dark brown patches on the muzzle cover the
lower inner corner of each dark patch on the face (Figure 5). Using a yarn needle and the long yarn ends from
the muzzle, sew the muzzle to the head all around the open end of the muzzle, sewing the light areas with the
light yarn and the dark areas with the dark yarn.
Tip: To keep the muzzle in position, first stitch the top of the muzzle to the face at the height of the eyes so that , from
the front, the dark patches on the muzzle are level (Figure 6). Next, stitch the dark areas so the dark patches on
the muzzle and head meet smoothly. Finally, stitch around the bottom of the muzzle.
Figure 4: Orient the muzzle so the Figure 5: Position the muzzle so the Figure 6: Check the dark patches on
dark patches are level , and sit closer dark patches cover the lower inner the muzzle are level ( dotted line)
to the top of the muzzle (marked by corner of each face patch, forming then stitch the top of the muzzle to
arrow) than the bottom. one continuous block of colour. the head at eye height (see needle).

Meerkat
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Nose
Using a yarn needle and a length of yarn B, embroider the nose at the top of the muzzle with a horizontal stitch,
made one stitch above the centre of the muzzle’s magic ring (Figure 7, a to b).
Your first stitch (Figure 8) will make the nose look very small, but don't worry: stitch over the same stitch, from
a to b, about 6 or 7 times, until the nose looks large enough (see cover photos for reference).
Figure 7: Nose position. Arrow marks centre of Figure 8: Make a small horizontal stitch going from
magic ring; nose is stitched horizontally from a to b, a to b, then repeat several times to build up the nose.
one stitch above centre.
Ears
The ears are a squashed semicircle shape. You'll stitch them to the head by the 'flat' side of the semicircle (the
edge with the magic ring, Figure 9).
Position the first ear vertically, with the top level with the eye, about 3 stitches back from the outer edge of the
dark eye patch (Figure 10). Stitch the top and bottom of the ear to the head, then pull the middle of the ear
slightly back so the ear forms a subtle C shape. Stitch the middle of the flat edge of the ear to the head in this
position, so it maintains the slightly curved shape.
Repeat for the second ear, on the other side of the head.
Figure 9: Dotted line indicates ‘flat’ side of ear to be Figure 10: Position of ear (marked by dotted line).
stitched to head. Top of ear is in line with eye, approximately 3
stitches back from edge of dark eye patch; ear is
vertical with a slight C shape.

Meerkat
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Arms
The meerkat's arms are an unusual shape - make sure they are oriented
correctly before you attach them! Each arm bends at the wrist and the
elbow (Figure 11) , so the flattened upper arm is vertical, the lower arm is
horizontal, and the hand hangs down.
Figure 11: The meerkat arm bends up

at the elbow and down at the wrist.
Hold the first arm alongside the body so the back edge of the upper arm is vertical and directly below the ear,
and the top of the shoulder is a couple of rounds below the narrowest part of the neck (Figure 12). Using a yarn
needle and the long yarn end from the arm, stitch the arm to the body across the open end of the shoulder.
Keeping your stitches underneath the arm so they won't be visible, stitch the back edge of the arm to the body
from the shoulder to just above the elbow (Figure 13), then pass the yarn through the body of the meerkat to
the front edge of the upper arm, and stitch the upper arm in place (Figure 14), again keeping your stitches
hidden beneath the arm so they won't be visible, to anchor the arm close to the body.
Figure 12: Position of arm. Back edge Figure 13: Stitch the back edge of the Figure 14: Stitch the front edge of
of upper arm is vertical and directly upper arm to the body, stopping the upper arm to the body, to help
below ear (dotted blue line), top of before you reach the curve of the keep the arms wrapped close to
shoulder is a couple of rounds below elbow. the body.
the narrowest part of the neck
(marked by arrow).
Repeat for the second arm, but make sure you check your meerkat from the
front before you start stitching the arm in place, to make sure you've
positioned both shoulders at the same height (Figure 15)!
Figure 15: Check from the front that

the shoulders are level before you
attach the second arm.

Meerkat
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Feet
Place the feet at either side of the front of the body, so the flattened back half of each foot sits beneath the
body (Figure 16). Holding one foot in place against the body, turn the meerkat upside down so you can stitch
the foot into position. Check that the foot is in roughly the right position - it doesn't have to be exact, but the
back edge of the foot should be well underneath the body, only a round or two in front of the centre (Figure
17). Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from the foot, sew the open end of the foot to the body. Do not
fasten off...
Turn the meerkat right side up and you'll see that the front of the foot dangles down away from the body. Make
a couple of stitches between the top side of the foot and the body (Figure 18). Draw these stitches tight so they
are no longer visible and the foot is held flat, horizontally, against the body. Fasten off securely.
Figure 16: Position each foot so the Figure 17: Viewed from below, the Figure 18: Make a couple of stitches
flattened back half sits beneath the back edge of each foot(blue dotted between the top of the foot and the
front of the base of the body. line) is only a couple of rounds body, securing the pieces together so
above the stitched-closed hole at the the foot remains horizontal when
base of the body (marked by arrow). you lift the meerkat.
Repeat for the second foot, making sure to position it so it matches the position of the first foot.
Tail
Stuff the tail without overstuffing, so it remains poseable, then roll the tail
along a flat surface so the stuffing is distributed evenly. Rotate the tail so
the jog from the colour change on the tail is on the underside. Place your
meerkat on a flat surface and hold the tail at the back of the body, so the
open end of the tail meets the body just above the ground (Figure 19).
Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from the tail, sew the tail to the
body in this position (see cover photos for reference), stitching all around
the open end of the tail (for best results, use my Seamless Join technique
www.planetjune.com/join).
Figure 19: Position the tail at the base of the back of the body.
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Meerkat Crochet Pattern 4

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Meerkat

A crochet pattern by June Gilbank

www.planetjune.com -1- © 2014 June Gilbank

Head & Body

Figure 1: Position of eyes, two rounds down and one stitch

www.planetjune.com -2- © 2014 June Gilbank

Head & Body (contd)

www.planetjune.com -3- © 2014 June Gilbank

www.planetjune.com -4- © 2014 June Gilbank

www.planetjune.com -5- © 2014 June Gilbank

www.planetjune.com -6- © 2014 June Gilbank

Figure 11: The meerkat arm bends up

Figure 15: Check from the front that

www.planetjune.com -7- © 2014 June Gilbank

Help and Feedback More PlanetJune Patterns!

www.planetjune.com -8- © 2014 June Gilbank

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