Zodiac Crochet Appliques Set #3: Cancer, Leo, and Virgo

Whether you believe in astrology or not, this applique set can be fun to make! Add these appliques to whatever you like - and even if astrology isn't your bag, they stand alone as a crab applique, lion applique, and girl applique! In 2016 I’m creating applique patterns for the entire zodiac – 3 at a time. The first set, including Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces can be found by clicking HERE, and the second set, featuring Aries, Taurus, and Gemini can be found by clicking HERE. Now, it's time for the Cancer, Leo, and Virgo appliques!

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When all the appliques are done, I’m going to stitch them to some 6″ solid granny squares – and mix those up with the Fates Square… and have a zodiac baby blanket... or maybe a bag! I hope you enjoy all the patterns!

Zodiac Crochet Appliques: Set #3

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• US-F, 3.75mm hook (Furls Odyssey recommended)
• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (100% cotton; Worsted/10 ply/”4″; 186 yds/170 m; 100 grams/3.53 oz) – small amounts in various colors
• Stitch markers (Clover Lock Ring Markers recommended)
• Gauge is unimportant – use a hook that gives you the solid fabric you desire
• Finished size: Each applique fits within approximately 3″ x 3″
• Click here for Set #1: Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces
• Click here for Set #2: Aries, Taurus, and Gemini

CANCER PATTERN

• Color A: Red
• Color B: Jade

BODY

Row 1: With Color A, ch 3, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the last 2 chs; turn. (2 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st; turn. (4 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (6 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1,  2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (8 sts)

Row 5 - 8: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (8 sts)

Row 9: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 4, sc2tog; turn. (6 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog; turn. (4 sts)

Row 11: Ch 1, sc2tog twice; turn. (2 sts)

Edging: Ch 1, sc evenly around entire body; join with a sl st in first sc of edge, break yarn.

LEGS:
Using Colorr A, make each separately; join to body as shown (order will be reversed for left handed crocheters)

Leg 1: Ch 7, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the next 2 chs, sl st2tog, sl st in the next 2 chs, break yarn leaving tail to sew to body. (5 sts)

Leg 2: Ch 5, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the next 2 chs, sl st2tog, break yarn leaving tail to sew to body. (3 sts)

Leg 3 and 4: Ch 3, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the last 2 chs, break yarn leaving tail to sew to body. (2 sts)

Leg 5: Ch 4, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the next 2 sts, 2 sl st in the last ch, break yarn leaving tail to sew to body. (4 sts)

Leg 6: Ch 6, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the next 2 sts, 2 sl st in the next ch, sl st in the last 2 chs, break yarn leaving tail to sew to body. (6 sts)

CLAWS:

Claw 1:  Join with Color A to left side of the body as shown, ch 12, skip the ch closest to hook, sl st in the next 2 chs, ch 3, skip the ch closest to the hook, sl st in the next ch, (sc, hdc, sc) in the next ch, sl st in the remaining  9 chs; break yarn and sew down end to same st as join.

Claw 2: Flip over crab to wrong side, repeat Claw 1 instructions.

EYES: Add knots with Color B.

LEO PATTERN

• Color A: Lemon
• Color B: Tangerine
• Color C: Jade

Row 1: With Color A, ch 4, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the last 3 chs; turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: Ch 2, (dc, sc) in 1st st, sc in the next st, (dc, sc) in the last st; turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (5 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (7 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (7 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (9 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (9 sts)

Row 8:  Ch 1, 2 sc in the 1st st, sc in the next 7 sts, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (11 sts)

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (11 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 7 sts, sc2tog; turn. (9 sts)

Row 11: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 5 sts, sc2tog; turn. (7 sts)

Row 12: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 3 sts, sc2tog; turn. (5 sts)

EDGING/EARS: (work across last row and on around the entire head) Ch 1, sc in 1st 5 sts, (hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in side of next row (ear made), continue to sc evenly around placing a stitch marker in the center stitch at the "chin," then on to opposite side of Row 12, placing a stitch marker in the center stitch at the "chin," (hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in side of row (ear made); break yarn and join to 1st sc of edging.

MANE
This round is worked all in the BLO (back loop only): With Color B, join with dc to center st at top of head (between the ears), dc in next 2 sts, then around the ear work hdc in the next st, 2 sc in the next 2 sts, hdc in the next st (first ear finished), then dc to st before marked st in center of chin, (dc, tr, dc) in marked st, dc in each st to second ear, then hdc in the next st, 2 sc in the next 2 sts, hdc in the next st (second ear finished), dc in last 2 sts; join to 1st st of mane and break yarn.

MOUTH AND EYES: Sew as shown with Color C.

VIRGO PATTERN

• Color A: Pink
• Color B: Lemon
• Color C: Jade
• Color D: Rose

HEAD

Row 1: With Color A, ch 2, skip the ch closest to the hook, 3 sc in last ch; turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next st, 2 sc in the last st; turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, (hdc, sc) in 1st st, sc in next 3 sts, (sc, hdc) in last st; turn. (7 sts)

Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in 1st st, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in last st; turn. (7 sts)

Row 5 and 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (7 sts)

Round 7/Edging: Ch 1, sc in each st across, continue to sc evenly all around the edges; join to 1st sc of Round, break yarn.

HAIR:

Row 1: With Color B, join with dc to last st of edging, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, ch 2, sc in the next 3 sts, ch 20; break and finish off.

Row 2: Join to next st, ch 20; break yarn and finish off.

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

Assembly: Braid the 3 strands of 20 chs together, use a small piece of yarn to wrap and sew braid closed at the end.

EYES AND MOUTH: Sew on with Color C and Color D.

And that’s the third set of 3 zodiac signs - only one more set to go! In part 4, coming in April, I’ll share the patterns for Libra, Scorpio, and Sagitarrius. I hope you enjoyed the first 9 signs, and will stay tuned for the last of the free crochet zodiac applique patterns to come!

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. To print this pattern for personal use, please use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of the pattern, or go to Print Friendly.com and paste in the URL of this post. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!