Hermione the Crochet Horse Puzzle has been ready for ages. BUT! I have had such mixed feedback from my testers that I have delayed posting the pattern. I don’t know what I was hoping for… Maybe for the pattern to become miraculously simple? But that isn’t going to happen.
She’s not difficult, bless her socks, but her head IS DETAILED. So this is definitely a project for Advanced Crocheters.
Hermione is about 20 cm tall and about 20 cm long (from nose to tail). She is based, like all my other Amamani, on the Crochet Amish Puzzle ball (which is a free pattern) and as such she comes apart into three segments that can be assembled and taken apart at will.
Although I have written the pattern for six colours, it is easy enough to ignore all the colour changes and just make her all one colour. I do suggest that you make the very tip of her nose a different colour though, otherwise, she might look a bit blah!
Hermione
Crochet Horse Puzzle Ball Pattern
You will need to know (or have a basic understanding of):
1. Joining in the round
There are many ways to do this. I prefer the following method:
When joining in the round, join to the first st (NOT the ch-1) with a sl st and ch 1. Make your first st in the NEXT st, NOT the same st as the sl st join. Make your last st in the back end of the sl st join, which is quite tight, but that is how I learned to crochet (and design). Join to the first st of the round (NOT the ch-1, it doesn’t count as a st), and continue.
Joining in the round in this way has 2 advantages:
- The fact that the last st is quite tight to get into serves as a confirmation that I have worked all the stitches in that round. If my last st is NOT tight to get into, it prompts me to check my stitches for that round.
- The seam is less gappy than when you make your first st in the same st as the sl st join as you are not skipping the sl st AND the ch-1 when joining.
2. Using a running stitch marker
This is simply a piece of yarn placed over your work after the initial ch-1 of Round 2. It is then flicked forwards and backwards after each initial ch-1 to form a running stitch up the length of your work. If you join in the round as instructed above (and in the pattern), your running stitch marker will creep forward on every round (so slightly to your left if you are right-handed and slightly to your right if you are left-handed). If it runs straight up your work or leans to the other side, you are not joining correctly. Please see THIS TUTORIAL if you need more help.
3. Short Rows
Short Rows are a little-used design element that helps you shape items and change the direction of your work. They are called short rows because they are worked back and forth over a defined number of stitches and do not begin and end where traditional rows/rounds begin and end. As a landmark, I refer to the “step” formed by the turn at the beginning of the previous short row.
Because one missed stitch can alter the whole look of your finished item, and it is so easy to miss a stitch, it is VERY important that you use these “steps” as instructed. If you cannot see the “step” I am talking about, feel free to use a stitch marker to mark the first and last st of each short row.
I have done a Partial Walkthrough of the Rhinosaur Head in which I explain joining in the round, running stitch markers and short rows in more detail. There are plenty of photos and everything I say there also applies to Hermione’s head. Feel free to go and have a look!
And that is all I have to say about that.
Where can I find the Pattern for Hermione?
You can find the pattern in my Ravelry shop HERE.
Tested by Pam Perkins
Tested by Amy Affleck
Coming Soon
Skillie the Turtle – Available as Part of the Amamani Puzzle Animals Book
I hope you continue to enjoy these Amamani as much as I do.
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
Karen says
I love all of your projects!!! Thank you sooooo much for sharing :)
Linda Long says
I would like the pattern for the horse.A friend wants one for Christmas.
Jenny says
As it states on the blog post, the pattern is on Ravelry Linda.
Here.
Jenny
Heather says
Theses toys look terrific! I’m sure my grandson would love the dinosaur.
Jenny says
They certainly are fabulous. So glad you like them!
Jenny :)
Allyson says
These are soo cool. I cant wait to make any one of thgem for me neice.
Deb Petzold says
Another new grand-niece. Asked my sister what the new one would like and she said “not another blanket!”. Guess I went overboard. So looked around and saw these – terrific! I love each and every one I’ve seen of your creations – thanks so much for being so talented and for sharing!
Dedri Uys says
I hope you have fun making a puzzle animal, Deb. Just how many blankets have you made? You must have made loads!
Deb Crater says
Love these! I have been looking for a project to be a standard baby gift. I love the horse.
Dedri Uys says
I am so glad you like it, Deb :)
Cindy says
I bought your book on puzzle balls and I absolutely love it. Although my grandchildren are only 17 years old now I have a box called the someday box that they can have when they have their own children and they have all picked out the favorites from this book.
Thank you so much for these great patterns.
Dedri Uys says
That’s a great idea!
Lori W. says
hi,i bought the amamani puzzle ball book and I have made 2 dexter dinosaurs,2 Eleanor the elephant,2 gemina giraffes, and 1 skille the turtle. I am hooked on these cute puzzles. my 3 grandchildren love them!!! I have another granddaughter on the way. I would love more patterns. its is almost impossible to find them. can you please help me with the ball pattern,fish pattern, and horse pattern? thank you from 1 crocheting person to another. have a great day!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Lori. I am so pleased that you like them. The rest of the available patterns are all for sale on Ravelry. You can see a list of them (with links) here
barbara ackman says
thank you so very much for the pattern. i just love this one and plan to make it for my grandchild this year. have been looking all over for it. so thank you so much. i really enjoy your site. two thumbs up.
barbara ackman
crystal Johnston says
anyway I can get this pattern? :) I saw all yourother amish puzzles were free, except the horse. This made me sad as I love horses and would love to make this for my daughter!
Jenny says
Sorry Crystal, but designers charge for some of their patterns as a way to help towards paying for their Blogs/sites that bring us so much in the way of wonderful free patterns and tutorials. I think Dedri gives us so much for free and is extremely generous already :)
jhed pertz says
i love to have this hermoine pattern.. i have bought your amamani book and i enjoyed it.. but hermoine wasnt there :(
Dedri Uys says
Thank you. Hermione is available as a stand-alone pattern on Ravelry.