Fur coats are frowned upon, but what about a fox scarf – a knitted one that is? Jane Wrigglesworth’s winter knitting project is a scarf shaped like a fox. Knit one for yourself or the junior fox in your life.

Design: Jane Wrigglesworth

You need:
1 pair of 4mm (size 8 UK) needles
3 x 100g of 8-ply pure wool in orange
2 x 50g of 8-ply pure wool in white (you need 2 x separate skeins for the head)
2 x 15mm amber doll’s eyes
Small amount of stuffing
Black embroidery thread, for nose
Embroidery needle
Blunt-ended needle

 

Tail and Body
Cast on 2 stitches in white.
K1, P1.
Rows 1-54 (Single Rib): K1, P1, increasing 1 stitch at each end of every second row.
Change colour to orange and continue, increasing 1 stitch at each end of every second row, until you have 74 stitches.
(Double Rib): K2, P2 until double ribbing measures 80cm, or your desired length.

Head
Row 1 (Single Rib): K1, P1 for 6 rows.
Row 7: Join white yarn (1st skein), K1, P1, K1, P1, then K1, P1 in orange for 66 sts, join white yarn (2nd skein), K1, P1, K1, P1.
Rows 8-9: As for row 7.
Row 10: Using white yarn K2tog, K1, P1, K1, P1, then K1, P1 in orange for 62 sts, then using white yarn K1, P1, K1, P1, K2tog (you should have 72 sts).
Row 11: Using white yarn [P1, K1] x 3, then P1, K1 in orange for 60 sts, then using white yarn [P1, K1] x 3.
Row 12: Using white yarn K2tog, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, then K1, P1 in orange for 58 sts, then using white yarn, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2tog (70 sts).
Row 13: Using white yarn [K1, P1] x 3, then K1, P1 in orange for 27 sts, [K2tog] x 2, K1, P1 for 27 sts, then using white yarn [K1, P1] x 3 (68 sts).
Row 14: Using white yarn K2tog, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, then P1, K1 in orange for 54 sts, then using white yarn P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2tog (66 sts).
Row 15: Using white yarn K2tog, [P1, K1] x 3, then P1, K1 in orange for 50 sts, then using white yarn [P1, K1] x 3, P2tog (64 sts).
Row 16: Using white yarn P2tog, [K1, P1] x 6, then K1, P1 in orange for 36 sts, then using white yarn [K1, P1] x 6, K2tog (62 sts).
Row 17: Using white yarn K2tog, [P1, K1] x 6, P1, then K1, P1 in orange for 14 sts, [K2tog] x 2, K1, P1 in orange for 14 sts, then using white yarn [K1, P1] x 6, K1, P2tog (58 sts).

Following pattern above, continue in single rib, decreasing 1 st at each end:

Row 18: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 18 (18 sts), then in orange yarn rib 18, then in white yarn rib 18, rib 2tog (56 sts).
Row 19: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 18, then in orange yarn rib 16, then in white yarn rib 18, rib 2tog (54 sts).
Row 20: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 17, then in orange yarn rib 16, then in white yarn rib 17, rib 2tog (52 sts).
Row 21: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 17, then in orange yarn rib 14, then in white yarn rib 17, rib 2tog (50 sts).
Row 22: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 16, then in orange yarn rib 14, then in white yarn rib 16, rib 2tog (48 sts).
Row 23: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 16, then in orange yarn rib 12, then in white yarn rib 16, rib 2tog (46 sts).
Row 24: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 15, then in orange yarn rib 12, then in white yarn rib 15, rib 2tog (44 sts).
Row 25: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 15, then in orange yarn rib 10, then in white yarn rib 15, rib 2tog (42 sts).
Row 26: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 14, then in orange yarn rib 10, then in white yarn rib 14, rib 2tog (40 sts).
Row 27: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 14, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 14, rib 2tog (38 sts).
Row 28: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 13, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 13, rib 2tog (36 sts).
Row 29: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 12, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 12, rib 2tog (34 sts).
Row 30: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 11, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 11, rib 2tog (32 sts).
Row 31: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 10, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 10, rib 2tog (30 sts).
Row 32: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 9, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 9, rib 2tog (28 sts).
Row 33: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 8, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 8, rib 2tog (26 sts).
Row 34: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 7, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 7, rib 2tog (24 sts).
Row 35: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 6, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 6, rib 2tog (22 sts).
Row 36: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 5, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 4, rib 2tog (20 sts).
Row 37: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 4, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 4, rib 2tog (18 sts).
Row 38: In white yarn, rib 2tog, rib 3, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 3, rib 2tog (16 sts).
Rows 39-40: In white yarn rib 4, then in orange yarn rib 8, then in white yarn rib 4 (16sts).
Row 41: In white yarn rib 4, then in orange yarn rib 2, [2tog] x 2, rib 2, then in white yarn rib 4 (14sts).
Row 42: In white yarn rib 2tog, rib 2, then in orange yarn rib 6, then in white yarn rib 2, k2tog (12sts).
Row 43: In white yarn rib 3, then in orange yarn rib 1, [2tog] x 2, rib 1, then in white yarn rib 3 (10sts).
Row 44: In white yarn rib 3, then in orange yarn rib 4, then in white yarn rib 3 (10sts).
Row 45: In white yarn rib 3, then in orange yarn [2tog] x 2, then in white yarn rib 3 (8sts).
Row 46: In white yarn rib 3, then in orange yarn rib 2, then in white yarn rib 3 (8sts).
Row 47: In white yarn rib 2tog, rib 1, then in orange yarn rib 2, then in white yarn rib 1, rib 2tog (6sts).
Row 48: In white yarn rib 2, then in orange yarn rib 2, then in white yarn rib 2 (6sts).
Row 49: In white yarn rib 2tog, then in orange yarn rib 2, then in white yarn rib 2tog (4sts).
Cast off orange yarn. Cast off one of the white skeins.

Back of Head
Row 50: Continuing with white yarn P1, K2tog, P1 (3sts).
Row 51: K1, P1, K1.
Row 52: P1, K1, P1.
Row 53: Increase 1 st at each end (5sts).
Rows 54-58: Rib on 5 sts.
Row 59: Increase 1 st at each end (7 sts).
Continue increasing 1 st at each end until the back of the head, when folded under, reaches where the white begins on the face at the front of the head.
Cast off.

Outer Ear
Cast on 10 sts
Row 1: K to end.
Row 2: P to end.
Row 3: K to end.
Row 4: P to end.
Row 5: K2tog, K6, K2tog.
Row 6: P to end.
Row 7: K2tog, K4, K2tog.
Row 8: P to end.
Row 9: K2tog, K2, K2tog.
Row 10: P to end.
Row 11: [K2tog] x 2.
Cast off.

Inner Ear
Cast on 9 sts.
Rows 1-3: K to end.
Row 4: K2tog, K5, K2tog.
Row 5: K to end.
Row 6: K2tog, K3, K2tog.
Row 7: K to end.
Row 8: K2tog, K1, K2tog.
Row 9: K to end.
Cast off.

MAKING UP

Ears: Place the inner ears on top of the outer ears and, using the blunt-ended needle and orange yarn tails, stitch together. Stitch these onto the scarf.

Eyes: Attach eyes to scarf according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Face: Using the blunt-ended needle, stitch the side seams together with white yarn. Insert a small amount of stuffing between the front and back face sections, then stitch across the top of the head.

Nose: Using black embroidery thread and an embroidery needle, stitch a nose onto the face.

Finish: Weave the yarn tails into the scarf so they can’t be seen.

 

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