The Bitty Fox Buddy: A FREE Crochet Fox Pattern

I managed to miss last month’s free pattern but I’m back with a brand new release for this month!! Meet The Bitty Fox Buddy, now a free crochet fox pattern on the blog! With its soft, textured body and expressive features, this woodland friend is perfect for little hands to hold or to brighten up a nursery shelf. It is a quick, easy and adorable work-up!

This new bitty friend may be sly, but he’s got an extra sweet side too! Add a rattle insert to the head or crinkle paper to the body for a sweet noise maker OR pop on a wooden teething ring for a tiny teether! Bitty buddies make some adorable little gifts for any little you love. Read on to find out how you can make your very own FREE crochet fox pattern!

The Bitty Fox Buddy is a unique design in the Bitty Buddy Collection featuring the bobble stitch. Bitty buddies are a tiny-sized cross between a security blanket and favorite stuffed animal, making them the perfect little loveys. They are teeny and sweet and make great rattles, teether toys or binky buddies! The bobbled texture and soft body structure provide great sensory input while the cute animal designs make them fun for play! Check out the full collection!

If you prefer the ad-free printable version of the bitty fox, you can find it on Etsy.

Bitty Fox is the perfect companion to the full sized Frankie Fox Bobble Buddy! Check out the Frankie Fox pattern here to complete the duo!

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These bitties are meant for babies, so I typically prefer cotton yarn like Hobby Lobby, I Love This Cotton yarn or Lion Brand, 24/7 cotton. In general, cotton yarn works up nicely and is great for teething babies to chew on. It doesn’t have loose strands of fiber shedding off, it is easy to wash and it just gets softer and softer over time. You can use other acrylic blends for these patterns, I just prefer the cotton. Plush is also an option! If you are looking to use something bulky, I recommend Premier, Parfait Chunky or Michael’s replacement for Posh or Baby Bear (RIP Joanns!).

MATERIALS:

Materials needed for this little free fox crochet pattern will vary based on the type of yarn you choose. If you choose a size 4 yarn as initally pictured, you will need smaller hooks and slightly less yardage of yarn whereas if you use a size 5 or 6 yarn, you will need larger hooks and slightly more yardage of yarn. A quick note about bulkier yarns – these patterns can work well with size 5 bulky yarn or with a very thin “size 6” yarn. I do not recommend using this pattern with Bernat Blanket Yarn as I feel that it just comes out far too bulky! See the bitty butterfly pattern in my shop if you’d like a body style that works well with super bulky!

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HOOK(S): [My all-time favorite hooks are Clover Amour hooks]

For Size 4 Cotton/Acrylic Yarn:
3.25 mm • US size D // 4.0 mm • US size G
For Bulkier Yarn (Parfait Chunky):
4.0 mm • US size G // 5.0 mm • US size H

YARN:

Weight : Worsted, ~85 yds (total yardage)
Hobby Lobby, I Love This Cotton Yarn
Color A: Bruschetta
Color B: Ivory
Color C: Black

NOTIONS

GAUGE
Exact gauge is not necessary for this project

FINAL HEIGHT
~7.5 inches from top to bottom

OK, let’s get started!

If you prefer the ad-free printable version, you can find it on Etsy. Use code BITTY to save on any of the bitty buddy patterns!

Here’s a quick note! Most of my patterns use the bobble stitch. This is a unique stitch that creates bobbles which pop up off of the work to add to the texture and overall look of the project. For infants and children, this unique texture creates interest and great sensory input in their toy! I work my bobbles in the round by pushing them towards me rather than away from me so they end up on the outside of the work in the round. If you need help with this technique, see this stitch tutorial and check out this video which gives directions on how to work the bobble stitch in the round. The pattern featured in this video is the free pineapple plush, but the technique used is the same.

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:

SPECIAL STITCHES:

BOBBLE STITCH (bobble): tutorial here

To make a bobble stitch you will work multiple double crochets into the same stitch.

(Yo, insert hook into st, draw up a loop, yo, pull through first two loops on hook) and repeat 3 more times. End with 5 loops on the hook – yo, pull through all 5 loops.

See this stitch tutorial for a step-by-step description with photos here.

You can choose to make the bobbles on the right or the wrong side of your project, just make sure they are on the outside of the body when finished.

DECREASE STITCHES (hdc2tog/sc2tog): To decrease stitches, you will hdc or sc 2 stitches together to decrease the stitch count. Pattern indicates which stitch to use for these decreases.

INCREASE STITCHES (inc): To increase stitches, you will sc or hdc 2 stitches into the same spot.

PATTERN:

MAKING THE EARS: (Make Two)
Use a 3.25 mm (D) hook for the ears of the fox.

You will make two inner ears (in Color B) and then make two outer ears (in Color A). Do not cut yarn after making the outer ear – join them together by crocheting around both pieces.

Row 1: To begin, ch 2. Place 2 sc in the second ch from the hook. Ch 1 and turn. [2]
Row 2: sc x 2 across. Ch 1 and turn. [2]
Row 3: [sc inc] x 2. Ch 1 and turn. [4]
Row 4: sc x 4 across. [4]
For inner ear, cut yarn and tie off. Make TWO inner ears. Repeat rows 1-4 for the outer ear. At the end of row 4, do NOT cut yarn and tie off.

Place the inner ear on top of the outer ear to crochet around the edge of both pieces (inner and outer) to join them together. Working up the side of the ear, sc x 3, place 3 sc in same st in the top of the ear, sc x 3 down the other side, sc inc in the corner, sc x 2, sc inc in the corner and tie off. Leave a long tail in the outer ear color to attach to the head of the fox.

MAKING THE SNOUT:
*Use a 3.25 mm (D) hook for the snout.

To make the snout, you’ll need to work back and forth between Color A and Color B. Begin in Color A and switch to Color B when indicated. Do not cut the colors while working the snout – just drop the color and pick back up or carry the color along with you.

Round 1: sing Color A, make a magic circle. Place 6 sc in the MC. Do not join. Continue to work in the round. [6]
Round 2: In Color A, sc inc, sc. Then, in Color B, sc inc, sc, sc inc, sc. [9]
Round 3: In Color A, sc x 5. Then, in Color B, sc x 4. [9]
Round 4: In Color A, sc x 2, sc inc, sc x 2. Then in Color B, sc inc, sc x 2, sc inc. [12]
Round 5: In Color A, sc x 6. Then, in Color B, sc x 6. [12]
Round 6: In Color A, [sc inc, sc] x 3. Then, in Color B, [sc inc, sc] x 3. [18]
Round 7: In Color A, sc x 9. [9] This will be a partial row. Upon finishing, cut yarn and leave a tail for each color in order to sew the snout to the face. Leave tails for BOTH colors.

MAKING THE HEAD:
*If desired, use a 3.75 mm (F) hook for the head for slightly tighter stitches than a 4.0 mm (G) hook*

You will use two colors to make the head. Begin in Color A and switch to Color B when indicated.

Round 1: Using Color A, make a magic circle. Place 6 sc in the magic circle. Do not join. Continue to work in the round. [6]
Round 2: [sc inc] x 6 around. [12]
Round 3: [sc inc, sc] x 6 around. [18]
Round 4: [sc inc, sc x 2] x 6 around. [24]
Round 5: [sc inc, sc x 3] x 6 around. [30]
Rounds 6-9: sc x 30 around. On the final st, switch to Color B. (120 sts total) [30]
Rounds 10-11: In Color B, sc x 30 around. [30] (60 sts total)
Round 12: [sc2tog, sc x 3] x 6 around. [24]
*Stop here and add safety eyes and/or rattle insert if desired. Alternatively, embroider the features after finishing the head. Begin stuffing head firmly.
Round 13: [sctog, sc x 2] x 6 around. [18]
Round 14: [sc2tog, sc] x 6 around. [12]
Round 15: [sc2tog] in each st. around. [6]

Leaving a bit of a tail, cut and tie off your yarn. Thread a needle and sew under the front loop of each remaining stitch. Cinch tightly together to close the head. Tie off and weave in your ends.

MAKING THE ARMS: (Make Two)
*Use a 4.0 mm (G) hook for the arms, tail and body of the fox*

Round 1: Using Color B, make a magic circle. Place 6 sc in the magic circle. Do not join. Continue to work in the round. [6]
Rounds 2-3: sc x 6 around. [6] (12 stitches total). On the final stitch, switch to Color A.
Rounds 4-11: sc x 6 around. [6] (48 sts total)
Round 12: Pinch the top of the arm together and place 3 sc through each side in order to close off the arm. Cut yarn, tie off and weave in ends. Arms will be unstuffed. Set aside to add to the body during assembly. [3]

MAKING THE TAIL:
*Use a 4.0 mm (G) hook for the tail of the fox*

Round 1: Using Color B, make a magic circle. Place 6 sc in the MC. Do not join. Continue to work in the round. [6]
Round 2: [sc inc, sc] x 3. [9]
Round 3: sc x 9 around. [9]
Round 4: [sc inc, sc x 2] x 3. [12]
Round 5: sc x 12 around. [12]
Round 6: [sc inc, sc] x 6. [18]
Round 7: sc x 18 around. [18]
Round 8: [sc inc, sc x 2] x 6. On the final stitch, switch to Color C. [24]
Round 9: sc x 24 around. On the final stitch, switch to Color A. [24]
Rounds 10-12: sc x 24 around. [24] (72 sts total)
Round 13: [sc2tog, sc x 6] x 3. [21]
Round 14: sc x 21 around. [21] Begin stuffing the tail lightly. Do not overstuff.
Round 15: [sc2tog, sc x 5] x 3. [18]
Round 16: sc x 18 around. [18]
Round 17: [sc2tog, sc x 4] x 3. [15]
Round 18: sc x 15 around. [15]
Round 19: [sc2tog, sc x 3] x 3. [12]
Round 20: Pinch the tail together and sc x 6 through each side in order to close off the tail. Leaving a long tail to sew to body, cut yarn and tie off. Set aside for assembly. [6]

MAKING THE BODY:
*Use a 4.0 mm (G) hook for the body of the fox*

Stitch counts are included at the end of each round. Bobble rows include [total # stitches, # bobble stitches]. You will not join at the end of each row. You will continue to work in the round.

Round 1: Using Color A, make a magic circle. Place 6 hdc stitches in the magic circle. Do not join. Continue to work in the round. [6]
Round 2: [hdc inc] x 6 around. [12]
Round 3: [hdc inc, hdc] around. [18]
Round 4: [sc x 2, bobble] x 6. [18, 6 bobbles]
Round 5: [hdc inc, hdc x 2] around. [24]
Round 6: sc x 2, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc [24, 6 bobbles]
Round 7: hdc x 24 around. [24]
Round 8: sc, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc x 2. [24, 6 bobbles]
Round 9: hdc x 24 around. [24]
Round 10: [bobble, sc x 3] x 6. [24, 6 bobbles]
Round 11: hdc x 24 around. [24]
Round 12: [sc x 3, bobble] x 6 [24, 6 bobbles]
Round 13: hdc x 24 around. [24]
Round 14: sc x 2, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc. [24, 6 bobbles]
Round 15: [hdc x 2, hdc2tog] x 6. [18]
Round 16: [sc, bobble, sc] x 6. [18, 6 bobbles]
Round 17: hdc x 18 around. [18]
Round 18: [sc, sc2tog] x 6. [12]

At this point, add the arms to your fox, to avoid having to sew them in later. Both arms should be closed (as written above) with three stitches across. Add in arms as below:

Round 19: sc x 3. For the next three stitches, place your first arm on the outside of the body and sc x 3 through both the arm and the stitches of the neck. This will attach your first arm. sc x 2. For the next three stitches, place your second arm on the outside of the body and sc x 3 through both the arm and the stitches of the neck. This will attach your second arm. sc x 1 to finish the round. [12]
Round 20: [sc2tog, sc x 2] x 3. [9]

Sl st to first st and then, leaving a long tail, cut yarn and tie off. Tail will be used to attach the head to body, so be sure to leave it long enough!

ASSEMBLY OF YOUR BITTY BUDDY:

You should have the head completed, a body with two attached arms and then two ears and a tail.

Next, attach the body to the head. I highly recommend using pins to ensure that your head is sewn on straight and centered to the body. Aim to sew the body to the head between rounds 12-13. I prefer starting from the back of the body/head and moving around the front. Carefully stitch through the body and head to attach. I prefer to stitch around the head twice, to make sure it is very securely fastened.

If you need help with attaching the head, check out this YouTube tutorial.

ADDING THE FEATURES:

Sew the snout to the center of the head. Use pins to hold the snout with the colors of the snout aligned with the colors of the head. The top of the snout should be placed around round 6-7. Use the color A tail to sew the color A stitches and the color B tail to sew the color B stitches. Stuff lightly as you sew to the head of the fox.
Embroider the eyes across rounds 6-8 from the top of the head. The snout should be centered between the eyes. Leave 5-6 sts between the eyes. See this tutorial for help with embroidery .
Add the ears centered across the top of the head. Use pins to hold them in place across rounds 3-7 and then sew along the bottom of the ear to attach to the head.
Use black thread to sew across the tip of the snout to create a nose for the fox. Just a few passes through the stitches of the snout should do!
After attaching the head, sew the tail centered to the back of the body, around round 7. Sew straight across the bottom of the tail. You will also need to tack the middle and top of the tail to a few spots on the body if you’d like the tail to stay upright, rather than flop down. Either way works!

Once you have finished the features and assembly, that’s it! Enjoy your new bitty buddy!

If you liked this free crochet fox pattern, you may also like the other bitties in the collection! Check out the free bitty patterns available here on the website or the bitty collection available on Etsy.

If you make this bitty fox pattern, I’d love for you to share! On Instagram, use #bittybuddy and tag me @_stuckonyoucrochet_ OR share on Facebook! And remember…if you prefer the ad-free printable version, you can find it on Etsy. Use code BITTY to save on any of the bitty buddy patterns!

Thanks for checking out this bitty fox pattern and stay tuned for more bitty buddy patterns to come!

If you loved this bitty fox pattern, take a look at the full sized Frankie Fox bobble buddy pattern here!

Please Note!
This pattern and the pictures are the property of Allison Wasserman and may not be copied, shared, reproduced or sold in part or in whole. The pattern may not be altered or rewritten in any way for resale. You may not use any photos without consent. You are permitted to sell the finished product in small quantities, but please credit the designer by linking to the shop or pattern in your online description.