Unique scarf for kids: Crocodile Scarf Head, free crochet patterns

  
Unique scarf for kids:  Crocodile Scarf Head, free crochet patterns

The Crocodile scarf is finished! When I showed it to a crochet friend she said it was an adorable scarf for a child… “yes” I replied, “…a child…. yes…. that’s right…. that’s who it’s for…”
I shall have to remember not to wear it when I’m meeting her – she already thinks I’m odd for crocheting toadstools. She’s right though it would look very cute on a kid.

The detailed instructions and photo tutorial for how to complete the crocodile stitch and start the scarf at the tail can be found in my earlier post: Crocodile Scarf Tail. Check that out then follow the link at the end to come back here and finish off the head.
As a recap here are the general instructions for the tail (for detailed step by step instructions follow the link above)
I am using bamboo ribbon yarn that I’m not sure of the weight of and a 5mm hook which makes each scale ~2.5cm (1 inch) in width and height.
TAIL & BODY
row 1 (tail): 1 scale for as long as you like (I have used a chain of 8 scales for my tail)
row 2: increase to 2 scales
row 3: increase to 3 scales
row 4: decrease to 2 scales
row 5: increase to 3 scales
row 6: increase to 4 scales
row 7: increase to 5 scales
row 8: decrease to 4 scales
Continue alternating between 4 and 5 scales to a row until the body of the scarf is as long as you want it.
Now if you’re using thin yarn then I would recommend continuing until the work is normal scarf length – long enough to wrap around your neck at least once. If like me you are using quite thick yarn then the resulting scarf will be too thick to wrap all the way around. Instead I made a “tab” and sewed it to the underside of the head then you can pull the tail section through to secure the scarf wrapped just around the back of the neck (as shown in the first photo of this post).
For the tab chain about 15 and just complete a couple of rows of double crochet – it doesn’t need to be pretty – it won’t be seen. Then sew it to the underside of the head approximately where the eyes are.
Anyway whichever method you choose you first need to know how to complete the head:
After the body is as long as you want it end on a row containing 4 scales
HEAD
row 1: decrease to 3 scales
row 2: decrease to 2 scales
row 3: increase to 3 scales
row 4: increase to 4 scales
row 5: decrease to 3 scales
row 6: increase to 4 scales
row 7: decrease to 3 scales
row 8: decrease to 2 scales
row 9: increase to 3 scales
Fasten off and weave in ends.

TEETH
With much thinner white yarn and a small hook attach to the edge of the final row of scales. There are no proper stitches here so please excuse the lengthy descriptions of where to complete stitches – I hope it makes sense!
Step 1. chain 1 and dc into the same place you attached the yarn
Step 2. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the edge of the scale and the centre of the scale
Step 3. 1dc into the centre of the scale
Step 4. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the centre of the scale and the far edge of the scale
Step 5. 1dc between this scale and the next
you should now have 2 teeth attached to the first scale. repeat steps 2-5 for the next 2 scales until you reach the end – you should now have 6 teeth. Fasten off and weave in ends.
EYES
I tried a few different styles of safety eyes but they all made him look a bit sinister so in the end I used white felt and black thread. Experiment with the placement of the eyes to give him different expressions. Mine are placed on the middle two scales of the 4th row from the end.