We have been in Laredo for about 5 weeks now, and I have been doing tons of research on my new hometown. There are school mascots, minor league baseball mascots, local wildlife in nearby Casa Blanca State Park, and even a raccoon that my husband found scavenging in our trash can. Then I went to visit my husband’s new office, and it dawned on me! Armadillo is the mascot for his company, so that’s what I focused on for this week’s design. I haven’t ruled out designing something for the Laredo Lemurs baseball team, though.
Armadillo Tissue Box Cover
Finished tissue cover measures approximately 10.5″ long by 6” wide (excluding head and tail) and fits over a standard size tissue box.
Materials:
220 yards worsted weight yarn
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Fiberfil
Yarn needle
Two 6-mm black safety eyes
12” Pipe cleaner
Directions:
Body:
Work in back loop only throughout body.
Row 1: Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st (8 sc).
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (12 sts).
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st (16 sts).
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st (20 sts).
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st (24 sts).
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st (28 sts).
Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st (32 sts).
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 7 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st (36 sts).
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 8 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st (40 sts).
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 9 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st (44 sts).
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 10 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st (48 sts).
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st, *hdc in next 11 sts, 2 hdc in next st,* twice, sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st (52 sts).
Rows 14-21: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Right side:
Row 22: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 25 sts. Leave remaining sts unworked.
Rows 23-43: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (25 sc).
Row 44: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st, ch 2. Fasten off yarn.
Left side:
Row 22: Return to unworked sts of Row 21. Sk 2 sc and attach yarn in 3rd st. Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 24 sts (25 sc).
Rows 23-44: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (25 sc).
Row 45: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st on left side, sc in 2 chs, sc in 25 sc of right side (52 sc).
Rows 46-52: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 53: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 11 sts, dec, *hdc in next 11 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 11 sts, dec (48 sts).
Row 54: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 10 sts, dec, *hdc in next 10 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 10 sts, dec (44 sts).
Row 55: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 9 sts, dec, *hdc in next 9 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 9 sts, dec (40 sts).
Row 56: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 8 sts, dec, *hdc in next 8 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 8 sts, dec (36 sts).
Row 57: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 7 sts, dec, *hdc in next 7 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 7 sts, dec (32 sts).
Row 58: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 6 sts, dec, *hdc in next 6 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 6 sts, dec (28 sts).
Row 59: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 5 sts, dec, *hdc in next 5 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 5 sts, dec (24 sts).
Row 60: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 4 sts, dec, *hdc in next 4 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 4 sts, dec (20 sts).
Row 61: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 3 sts, dec, *hdc in next 3 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 3 sts, dec (16 sts).
Row 62: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, dec, *hdc in next 2 sts, dec,* twice, sc in next 2 sts, dec (12 sts).
Row 63: Ch 1, turn, *sc in next st, dec,* repeat across (8 sc).
Row 64: Ch 1, turn, sc dec 4 times (4 sc). Fasten off yarn leaving 4” length. Weave length through yarn needle and pick up lp in remaining 4 sts. Pull tight to close.
Edging:
Attach yarn to side, sc along row ends: *sc in 4 sts, dec,* repeat around all four sides of bottom of body. Join with sl st in 1st sc. Fit over tissue box to make sure entire box is covered.
Make another rnd of sc if more length is needed. Sc row should touch the surface. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Head: (Work in both lps)
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 6 sc in 2nd ch. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout head.
Rnd 2: Sc in each st (6 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (9 sc).
Rnd 4: Sc in each st.
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
Rnd 6: Sc in each st.
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (15 sc).
Rnd 8: Sc in each st.
Rnd 9: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnds 10-11: Sc in each st.
Insert eyes at Rnd 8, approximately 4 sts apart. Stuff head.
Rnd 12: *Dec, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
Invisible Decrease Tutorial
Rnd 13: Repeat around (6 sc). Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length.
Ultimate finish: Pull length of yarn through outer lps of remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close.
Ultimate Finish Tutorial
Ears: (Make 2)
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout ears.
Rnd 2: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st (4 sc).
Rnd 3: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 6” length for sewing. Sew ears to top of head at Rnd 12.
Attach head to body by sewing Rnds 7-11 of head to Rnds 8-11 of body with 2 rnds of sts.
Tail: (Work in both lps)
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout tail.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts (4 sc).
Rnd 3: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts (5 sc).
Rnd 4: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 4 sts (6 sc).
Rnd 5: Sc in each st.
Rnd 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st,* repeat around (9 sc).
Rnds 7-9: Sc in each st.
Rnd 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (12sc).
Rnds 11-13: Sc in each st.
Rnd 14: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st,* repeat
around (18 sc).
Rnds 15-17: Sc in each st. 
Rnd 18: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnds 19-20: Sc in each st.
Rnds 21-22: Sc in 12 sts, hdc in next 12 sts. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 22. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.
Fold pipe cleaner in half and insert into tail. Stuff lightly enough that the tail will still bend.
Sew tail to body at Rnds 57-62 with sc sts on top and hdc sts on bottom. Bend tail to desired shape.
Armadillo Tissue Box Cover Crochet Pattern PDF will be 50% off this weekend only (through 8/7/2022).
Coming Soon
The Back to School email hop will start tomorrow. These 20 amazing designers will be offering lots of great free patterns just for signing up to their newsletters. Come back tomorrow for more details to sign up for your first free pattern!
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Christmas Gift Tag – From My Hooks & Needles
Raccoon and Red Panda Ice Pop Holder Crochet Pattern
Thinking of opening an Etsy shop? Use this link to get 40 free listings. https://etsy.me/3F3kxwc
30% off all Yarn & Kits
Up to 30% off through August 8
Money Saving Offers
Get $15 off when you try Madison Reed Hair Color – https://refer.madison-reed.com/Lisa465
Shutterfly – Get a free white mug or desktop plaque
https://invite-shutterfly.com/x/G95T2B
Open a new qualifying Chase checking account and get rewarded
https://accounts.chase.com/raf/share/2620659599
With gas prices getting higher, we could all use a little cash back.
Check out this free app that gets you cash back on gas and other errands! Click this link or use promo code 46ZCG to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus the first time you make a purchase. https://upside.app.link/46ZCG
Get $20 off your first Uber Eats order of $25 or more at http://Hungry? Get $20 off your first Uber Eats order of $25 or more. Terms apply. Use my code at checkout: eats-lisaf21461ue https://ubereats.com/feed?promoCode=eats-lisaf21461ue
Hey! Thought you’d like to try Ibotta, a cash back rewards app that I use to make real money every time I shop for groceries, online purchases, and more! Just use my referral code “eugysjd” at registration. Sign up at → https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/8cc13c64?friend_code=eugysjd
Join Rakuten and get $30 cash back. Plus earn money on online purchases.
https://www.rakuten.com/r/LGT111?eeid=28187
