The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare and rescue charity supporting projects all over the world. Using this special crochet pattern, you can make your own little Neddy the donkey and donate him to help raise money for their worldwide work.
MAKING YOUR DONKEY
Use double knit wool and size 3.5mm crochet hook to obtain correct size and gauge.
HEAD
Round 1: In nose colour, chain 5.
Round 2: Sc into 2nd chain from hook and into each of next 2 chains, then 4 sc into the last chain.
Continue on the other side of the chain: sc in each of next 2 sts, 3sc into last chain. (12 sts).
Round 3: Inc 1 in next stitch, 3 sc, inc 1 in each of next 2 stitches, 3 sc, inc 1 in next 2 stitches. (18 sts).
Round 4: (2sc, 1 inc) x 6. (24 sts).
Round 5: (3sc, 1 inc) x 6. (30 sts).
Round 6: (4sx, 1 inc) x 6. (36 sts).
Round 7: 36 sc.
Round 8: (5 sc, 1inc) x 6. (42 sts).
Rounds 9 & 10: (2 rounds) 42 sc.
Round 11: (13 sc, 1 inc) x 3. (45 sts).
Rounds 12 & 13: (2 rounds). 45 sc.
Round 14: (13 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (42 sts).
Change to main body colour.
Round 15: (12 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (39 sts).
Round 16: (11 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (36 sts).
Round 17: (10 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (33 sts).
Round 18: 33 sc.
Round 19: (9 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (30 sts).
Round 20: (8 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (27 sts).
Round 21: 27 sc.
Round 22: (7 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (24 sts).
Round 23: (6 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (21 sts).
Round 24: (5 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (18 sts).
Round 25: (4 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (15 sts).
Round 26: (3 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (12 sts).
Round 27: 6 dec. (6 st).
BODY
Round 1: In main body colour; 6 sc in a magic ring.
Round 2: Inc in each of the 6 chains.
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (18 sts).
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (24 sts).
Round 5: (3 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (30 sts).
Round 6: (4 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (36 sts).
Round 7-9: (3 rounds) 36 sc.
Round 10: (5 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (42 sts).
Rounds 11-13: (3 rounds) 42 sc.
Round 14: (5 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (36 sts).
Rounds 15 & 16: (2 rounds) 36 sts.
Round 17: (4 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (30 sts).
Rounds 18 & 19: (2 rounds) 30 sc.
Round 20: (3 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (24 sts).
Rounds 21 & 22: (2 rounds) 24 sc.
Round 23: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (18 sts).
Round 24: 18 sc.
Round 25: (1 sc, 1dec) x 6. (12 sts).
Round 26: 2 sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 2 tblc, dc, hdc, 2 sl st. (12 sts).
FORELEGS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: In hoof colour; 6 sc in magic ring.
Round 2: Inc in each of the 6 chains. (12 sts).
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) X 6. (18 sts).
Round 4: BACK LOOPS ONLY, 18 sc.
Rounds 5-8: (4 rounds) 18 sc.
Change to main body colour;
Round 9: (1 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (12 sts).
Round 10: – 14. (5 rounds). 12 sc.
Round 15: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (9 sts).
Rounds 16?20: (5 rounds) 9 sc.
Round 21: 4 dec. (5 sts).
Stuff, and then close up.
HIND LEGS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: In hoof colour; 6 sc in a magic ring.
Round 2: Inc in each of the 6 chains. (12 sts).
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (18 sts).
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x 6. (24 sts).
Round 5: BACK LOOPS ONLY, 24 sc. Rounds 6-9: (4 rounds) 24 sc.
Change to main body colour;
Round 10: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 6. (18 sts).
Rounds 11?13: (3 rounds) 18 sc.
Round 14: (4 sc, 1 dec) x 3. (15 sts).
Rounds 15?19: (5 rounds) 15 sc.
Round 20: 1 hdc, 1sc, 7sl st, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 4 dc.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: In main body colour; chain 6 in magic ring. Round 2: 6 sc.
Round 3: (2 sc, 1 inc) x 2. (8 sts).
Round 4: 8 sc.
Round 5: (3 sc, 1 inc) x 2. (10 sts).
Round 6: 10 sc.
Round 7: (1 sc, 1 inc) x 5. (15 sts).
Round 8: 15 sc.
Round 9: (2 sc, 1 inc) x 5. (20 sts).
Rounds 10?12: (3 rounds) 20 sc.
Round 13: (3 sc, 1 dec) x 4. (16 sts).
Round 14: 16 sc.
Round 15: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 4. (12 sts).
Rounds 16?18: (3 rounds) 12 sc.
TAIL
In body colour chain 6 and use hoof colour to make the tuft.
ASSEMBLY
The head should be attached to the body approx. 1/3 of the way down the head. The photographs can be used to help with the placement of the body parts and of the facial features and ears. Eyes and nostrils should be done in doubled up hoof colour. The body parts, where open-ended, should be attached openly, whereas the ears should be flattened and attached closed in a curved fashion.
For the mane use doubled up short lengths of hoof colour. Fold them in half and pull the middle under a stitch, then pull the tails through the resulting loop and pull tight. Repeat this in 3 rows, using photograph for correct placement. Once finished, trim to a uniform length, getting shorter as they travel down the back.
Tutorials to help with crochet and assembly techniques can easily be found through Google.
FINISHING YOUR DONKEY
FILLING
Important: Please only use polyester filling that complies with BS 1425 and BS 5852 and is suitable as a component for articles requiring BS 5665 and the European EN71 standard. Suitable filling will have these codes printed on the bag it is packed in.
ABBREVIATIONS
sc – Single Crochet
hdc – Half double crochet
dc – Double crochet
tblc – Treble crochet
sl st – Slip stitch
•Please send your completed donkey to the following address:
The Donkey Sanctuary
Sidmouth
Devon
EX10 ONU
•Crochet pattern from The Donkey Sanctuary. Visit https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk or call 01395 578222 for more information about the charity