Hi crocheters, especially those who make granny
squares all the time! Nowadays, I am busy trying to figure out how to crochet the
faces of some of the cutest animals on earth and make them into granny squares.
This time, I am proud to present this little chameleon face, plus some of its most
unique features. When I was developing the design at first, I was mostly
concerned with how grumpy looking it would turn out to be, so I worked on making
the mouth appear smiling, or at least slightly amused. Another challenge was
its eyes, and how to give them their signature bulgy look and convey the feeling
that they move to different direction individually without making the viewer
uncomfortable. Luckily, they ended up looking at me in a curious and nice way. I
think this green animal can go along nicely with my froggy face granny square
when making a baby blanket. I also am thinking of making a snake face, since
it's the next year’s zodiac animal, so tune in for the rest of my new
collection for this year.
Overview:
- Skill level: Intermediate.
- Instructions style: written instructions + charts.
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Materials:
- Yarn: any cotton yarn in the following colors and quantities: one green skein, one light brown skein, a few yards (meters) of beige, light peach, dark peach and black yarn. Suggested yarn: D.M.C Happy Cotton, 0.7 oz (20 g), 47 yards (43 m).
- Crochet hook, size D/3 (3 mm).
- Tapestry needle.
Measurements of the square: 6" x 6" (15 cm x 15 cm) approx.
Gauge: 22 sts and 12 round = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in double crochet.
Yardage: 50- 52 yards (45- 47 m).
Crochet terms (US):
- ch: chain.
- st: stitch.
- sts: stitches.
- sl st: slip stirch.
- sc: single crochet.
- hdc: half double crochet.
- dc: double crochet.
- tr: treble crochet.
Instructions:
Granny square base:
Note: ch 1 and ch 3 at the beginning of rounds count as sc and dc, respectively.
With the green yarn, make a magic circle, work as follows:
Round 1: ch 1 into the magic circle, sc 7, sl st into the first ch. (8 sts).
Round 2: ch 1 and sc in the first st, sc 2 in each st, sl st into the first ch. (16 sts).
Round 3: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st, *dc 2 in st, dc in st, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (24 sts).
Round 4: repeat row 3. (36 sts).
Round 5: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st twice, *dc 2 in st, dc in st twice, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (48 sts).
Round 6: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st three times, *dc 2 in st, dc in st three times, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (60 sts).
Cut off green yarn and weave in loose ends. With light brown yarn make a knot and at the eighth st after the end of last round, then work as follows:
Round 7: (ch 4, tr, ch 2, tr 2) in the first st, *tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, (tr 2, ch 2, tr 2) in st, repeat from * 3 times, tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, sl st into the fourth ch of the first ch4.
Round 8:ch 3 in the first st, dc in st, *(dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.
Rounds 9 and 10: ch 3 in the first st, dc in each st to the first ch 2 space, *(dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.
Cut off light brown yarn and weave in loose ends.
Eye (make two):
With black yarn, make a magic circle, then work as follows:
Round 1: ch 1 and sc 6 into the magic circle, sl st into the first ch. Cut black yarn and weave in loose ends. (6 sts)
With green yarn work next round:
Round 2: make a knot and sc 2 into any st, then sc 2 into each st to end, sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
Note: sc into the back loop only when working the next two rounds.
Round 3: ch 1 and sc into the first st, sc into next st, *sc 2 into st, sc into st, repeat from * to end, sl st into the first st. (18 sts)
Round 4: ch 1 and sc into the first st, sc into next st twice, *sc 2 into st, sc into st twice, repeat from * to end, sl st into the first st. (24 sts)
Cut green yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long tail to sew the eye in place.
Tail
With green yarn, make a (3 sts) I-cord, 6" (15 cm) long, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long tail to sew the Chameleon tail in place.
Eyebrows Line
With beige yarn, make a knot and ch 28, hdc into the second ch from the hook, hdc into ch nine times, sc into ch twice, sl st into ch three times, sc into ch twice, hdc to end. Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) long tail to sew the piece in place.
Mouth
With beige yarn, make a knot and 44 chs. Cut yarn, leaving a 4" (10 cm) long tail to sew the mouth in place.
Upper Scale Line
With light peach yarn, make a knot and ch 10, sc into the second ch from the hook, sc into each ch to end. Cut yarn and weave in loose ends.
With dark peach, make a knot and a standing hdc into the first st and each st to end. Cut yarn, leaving a 4" (10 cm) long tail to sew the piece in place.
Lower Scale Line
With beige yarn, make a knot and ch 9, hdc into the second ch from the hook, hdc into each ch to end. Cut yarn, leaving a 4" (10 cm) long tail to sew the piece in place.
Assembly
- Sew the eyes in place through back loops of the last round only.
- Sew the tail in a spiral shape as shown in the picture.
- Sew the mouth in place as shown in the picture.
- Sew the eyebrows line, upper scale line and the lower scale line in a standing position in their places as shown in the picture.
- Embroider the nostrils as shown in the picture.
- Weave in loose ends.
Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.
Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.
