You are going to love bringing this little woodland friend to life! It is a gorgeous piece of home decor that combines classic crochet with some fun macrame-style textures. I have designed this to be a statement piece for a nursery or a cozy reading nook, and the best part is playing with all those earthy, Nordic-inspired colors. It is the perfect project for when you want to create something truly unique that feels like a piece of modern fiber art.
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— 1. The Decorative Base (Guard) :
Info :
Using your 3.5mm hook, we will work from the bottom of the piece upwards. Each row should have a total of 40 stitches.
Row 1 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 2 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 3 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 4 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 5 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 6 :
In bluish green: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 7 :
In cream: *1 sc, 1 sc extended to the previous row, 1 sc extended 2 rows down, 1 sc extended 3 rows down, 1 sc extended 2 rows down, 1 sc extended to previous row* repeat across, ch 1, turn.
Row 8 :
In cream: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 9 :
In cream: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 10 :
In cream: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 11 :
In gray: *1 sc, 1 sc extended to the previous row, 1 sc extended 2 rows down, 1 sc extended 3 rows down, 1 sc extended 2 rows down, 1 sc extended to previous row* repeat across, ch 1, turn.
Row 12 :
In gray: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 13 :
In gray: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 14 :
In gray: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 15 :
In mustard: *2 sc, 1 sc extended to previous row, 1 sc extended 2 rows down, 1 sc extended to previous row, 1 sc* repeat across, ch 1, turn.
Row 16 :
In mustard: 40 sc, ch 1, turn.
Info :
Now work on the opposite side of your starting chain. In tangerine, work a row of spike stitches: *1 sc, 1 sc extended 1 row, 1 sc extended 2 rows, 1 sc extended 3 rows, 1 sc extended 2 rows, 1 sc extended 1 row* repeat across. Finish with one full row of 40 sc in tangerine.
Info :
Embroider small decorative dots: use tangerine yarn over the gray section and navy blue yarn over the bluish green section.
— 2. The Fox Colorwork :
Info :
For the following rows, use the chart as a guide. I recommend using separate small balls of yarn for each color block to avoid carrying yarn across the back.
Row 17 :
11 sc acqua, 6 sc orange, 6 sc white, 6 sc orange, 11 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 18 :
11 sc acqua, 6 sc orange, 6 sc white, 6 sc orange, 11 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 19 :
10 sc acqua, 6 sc orange, 8 sc white, 6 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 20 :
10 sc acqua, 6 sc orange, 8 sc white, 6 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 21 :
10 sc acqua, 5 sc orange, 10 sc white, 5 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 22 :
10 sc acqua, 5 sc orange, 10 sc white, 5 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 23 :
10 sc acqua, 5 sc orange, 10 sc white, 5 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 24 :
10 sc acqua, 5 sc orange, 10 sc white, 5 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 25 :
12 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 10 sc white, 3 sc orange, 12 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 26 :
12 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 10 sc white, 3 sc orange, 12 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 27 :
12 sc acqua, 4 sc orange, 8 sc white, 4 sc orange, 12 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 28 :
12 sc acqua, 4 sc orange, 8 sc white, 4 sc orange, 12 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 29 :
13 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 8 sc white, 3 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 30 :
13 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 8 sc white, 3 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 31 :
13 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 8 sc white, 3 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 32 :
13 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 8 sc white, 3 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 33 :
13 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 8 sc white, 3 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 34 :
13 sc acqua, 4 sc orange, 6 sc white, 4 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 35 :
13 sc acqua, 4 sc orange, 6 sc white, 4 sc orange, 13 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 36 :
14 sc acqua, 3 sc orange, 6 sc white, 3 sc orange, 14 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 37 :
14 sc acqua, 4 sc orange, 4 sc white, 4 sc orange, 14 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 38 :
14 sc acqua, 12 sc orange, 14 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 39 :
15 sc acqua, 10 sc orange, 15 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 40 :
15 sc acqua, 10 sc orange, 15 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 41 :
4 sc acqua, 32 sc white, 4 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 42 :
4 sc acqua, 32 sc white, 4 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 43 :
5 sc acqua, 30 sc white, 5 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 44 :
5 sc acqua, 30 sc white, 5 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 45 :
6 sc acqua, 28 sc white, 6 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 46 :
6 sc acqua, 28 sc white, 6 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 47 :
7 sc acqua, 26 sc white, 7 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 48 :
7 sc acqua, 26 sc white, 7 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 49 :
8 sc acqua, 24 sc white, 8 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 50 :
8 sc acqua, 24 sc white, 8 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 51 :
9 sc acqua, 22 sc white, 9 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 52 :
10 sc acqua, 20 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 53 :
10 sc acqua, 20 sc orange, 10 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 54 :
12 sc acqua, 16 sc orange, 12 sc acqua, ch 1, turn.
Row 55-65 :
In acqua, work 40 sc for each row, ch 1 and turn at the end of every row.
— 3. Hanging Loops (Grips) :
Info :
Continuing in acqua from Row 66, we will create five separate loops to hold the wooden rod.
Loop 1 :
Work 6 sc across, then work back and forth on just these stitches for 9 rows. Leave a long tail for sewing.
Loop 2 :
Skip 4 st from the end of Loop 1. Attach yarn and work 4 sc back and forth for 9 rows. Leave a tail for sewing.
Loop 3 :
Skip 4 st from the end of Loop 2. Attach yarn and work 4 sc back and forth for 9 rows. Leave a tail for sewing.
Loop 4 :
Skip 4 st from the end of Loop 3. Attach yarn and work 4 sc back and forth for 9 rows. Leave a tail for sewing.
Loop 5 :
Skip 4 st from the end of Loop 4. Attach yarn and work 6 sc back and forth for 9 rows. Leave a tail for sewing.
— 4. The Snout :
Info :
Using orange yarn and the 3.0mm hook, work back and forth in rows.
Row 2 :
Starting in 2nd ch from hook, work 19 sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 3 :
1 dec, 15 sc, 1 dec (17), ch 1, turn.
Row 4 :
1 dec, 13 sc, 1 dec (15), ch 1, turn.
Row 5 :
1 dec, 11 sc, 1 dec (13), ch 1, turn.
Row 6 :
1 dec, 9 sc, 1 dec (11), ch 1, turn.
Row 7 :
1 dec, 7 sc, 1 dec (9), ch 1, turn.
Row 8 :
1 dec, 5 sc, 1 dec (7), ch 1, turn.
Row 9 :
1 dec, 3 sc, 1 dec (5), ch 1, turn.
Row 10 :
1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec (3), ch 1, turn.
Row 11 :
1 dec over the last 3 stitches (1).
Border :
Work a final round of sc around the entire snout to give it a clean edge.
— 5. Ears & Paws :
Ear Round 1 :
Using orange, work 6 sc into a magic ring.
Ear Round 2 :
*1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around (9).
Ear Round 3 :
Work 9 sc around.
Ear Round 4 :
*2 sc, 1 inc* repeat around (12).
Ear Round 5 :
*3 sc, 1 inc* repeat around (15).
Ear Round 6 :
Flatten the ear and work 8 sc through both layers to close it. Make 2 ears and embroider white lines inside.
Paw Row 1 :
Using black, ch 8.
Paw Row 2 :
Starting in 2nd ch, work 7 sc. Make 2 paws.
— 6. Headband & Strip :
Headband Row 1 :
In bluish green, ch 23.
Headband Row 2 :
Starting in 2nd ch, work 22 sc. Switch to mustard yarn.
Headband Row 3 :
In mustard, *1 sc, 1 sc extended to the previous row* repeat across.
Hanging Strip :
In acqua, ch 70 to create the hanging cord.
— 7. Tail Curls :
Curl 1 :
ch 15 in orange, then ch 16 in white. In the 2nd ch from hook, work 15 inc using white, then 15 sc using orange.
Curl 2 :
ch 12 in orange, then ch 16 in white. In the 2nd ch from hook, work 15 inc using white, then 12 sc using orange.
Curl 3 :
ch 9 in orange, then ch 16 in white. In the 2nd ch from hook, work 15 inc using white, then 9 sc using orange.
Curl 4 :
Using white, ch 16. Starting in 2nd ch, work 15 inc. Make 2 of these.
— 8. Macrame Feathers :
Info :
These are made by knotting yarn onto a central base thread. Use double strands for thickness.
Knots :
Tie 5 knots in gray, followed by 2 knots in tangerine, and finish with 4 knots in cream.
Finishing :
Comb the yarn strands thoroughly, trim into a feather shape, and apply hairspray to maintain the form. Add a wooden bead to the top.
I really hope you enjoy making this Nordic Fox as much as I did! It is such a satisfying project because you get to use so many different skills—from colorwork and spike stitches to a bit of macrame at the very end. Once you have got it hanging up on your wall, it really brings a sense of calm, woodland magic to the room. Don't forget to take a photo of your finished work; I would love to see the colors you chose for your guardian fox! Happy hooking! 🧶✨🦊