SUZIE'S GECKO BOOKMARK-TOY

I crocheted one of the Lion Brand Gecko bookmarks. It was cute, but yikes the 14 ends to weave in freaked me out. I decided there had to be a way to design one that had way fewer ends. Here is my version of the gecko. Only two ends to weave in. Also what I think is a better shaped head.

AND did I mention only 2 ends?

Thanks to Virginia for testing this pattern.

MATERIALS:
Small amount of worsted weight yarn
F (4.0 mm) Crochet hook
Yarn needle
Marker
Wiggle eyes (6 mm)
3 inch piece of red yarn for tongue
Craft glue

GAUGE:
Not important.

GECKO INSTRUCTIONS:
Chain 55. Place a marker in the 21st chain from start of ch.

TAIL: 2 single crochet in the 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc each of next 10 chains (to create corkscrew effect); single crochet in each remaining chain (22) to the marker.

BODY AND LEGS:
Remove marker. Slip stitch in ch where the marker was, half double crochet in next ch, double crochet in next 4 ch.

Leg 1: Ch 10, dc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in each of next 2 chs (1st toe); *ch 4, dc in 2nd ch from hook, slipstitch in each of next 2 chs** (2nd toe); repeat from * to ** for 3rd toe. Slipstitch in the 6th ch of the ch 10 (first ch by the first toe), slipstitch innext ch, sc in 4 chs. Slipstitch in side of the dc at the base of the leg. Pull the slipstitch tight.

Dc in 7 chs.

Leg 2: Ch 10, dc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in each of next 2 chs (1st toe); *ch 4, dc in 2nd ch from hook, slipstitch in each of next 2 chs** (2nd toe); repeat from * to ** for 3rd toe. Slipstitch in the 6th ch of the ch 10 (first ch by the first toe), slipstitch innext ch, sc in 4 chs. Slipstitch in side of the dc at the base of the leg. Pull the slipstitch tight.

Head: Dc in 1 st, hdc in 1 st, 2 dc dec over next 4 sts. Hdc in 1 st, slipstitch in last ch, ch 1. Working in the unused loop of starting ch and over the tail. Slipstitch in same st as last slipstitch. Hdc in next st, 2 dc dec over next 4 sts. Hdc in next st, dc in 2 sts.

Leg 3: Ch 10, dc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in each of next 2 chs (1st toe); *ch 4, dc in 2nd ch from hook, slipstitch in each of next 2 chs** (2nd toe); repeat from * to ** for 3rd toe. Slipstitch in the 6th ch of the ch 10 (first ch by the first toe), slipstitch innext ch, sc in 4 chs. Slipstitch in side of the dc at the base of the leg. Pull the slipstitch tight.

Dc in 7 chs.

Leg 4: Ch 10, dc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in each of next 2 chs (1st toe); *ch 4, dc in 2nd ch from hook, slipstitch in each of next 2 chs** (2nd toe); repeat from * to ** for 3rd toe. Slipstitch in the 6th ch of the ch 10 (first ch by the first toe), slipstitch innext ch, sc in 4 chs. Slipstitch in side of the dc at the base of the leg. Pull the slipstitch tight.

Dc in 3 chs, hdc in next ch, slipstitch in last ch..

Fasten off and weave in end.

With the remaining tail, weave through the back of the sts to the 3rd st from front legs. Sew across to the corresponding st on other side of neck. Weave in end.

FINISHING:
With yarn needle pull red yarn through the st under the point of the Gecko’s head. Glue in place. I used a plastic clothespin to hold the red yarn together close to the head, just the yarn not the head. Don’t use a wooden clothespin, ask me how I know.

Glue on eyes.