This pattern is inspired by the Brawling Bar Belles roller derby team (I designed it for their bench manager :). It is ridiculously easy to make.
This pattern is written in American crochet notation and uses a 4mm hook and black and orange 8 ply wool. Stuff the tail as you go.
With black wool
Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)
Round 2: increase in every stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3: sc in the first stitch, increase in the next stitch – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 4: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (24 stitches)
Round 5: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (30 stitches)
Rounds 6 – 9: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)
Change to orange wool
Rounds 10 – 13: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)
Change to black wool
Rounds 14 – 17: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)
Continue like this until you have 26 stripes of 4 rounds each (although obviously you can increase or decrease the number of stripes if you are making the tail for someone who is taller or shorter than me)
Round 114: sc in the first three stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (24 stitches)
Round 115: sc in the first two stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 116: sc in the first stitch, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (12 stitches)
Round 117: decrease until the hole closes.
Fasten off, weave in end.
Waist strap
With black wool
Row 1: chain 6
Row 2: sc along the chain (with one turning chain) (5 stitches)
Row 3: sc in each stitch (5 stitches)
Keep going until the strap is long enough to comfortably go around the waist of the intended tail recipient and be tied in a knot.
Fasten off, weave in end.
Assembly
Sew the half-way point of the strap to the end of the tail (round 117). Happy tigering 🙂
Thank you fpr this pattern. I am teaching myself to crochet so am going to make one for my granddaughter.