Though the tail is by far the best part of the costume. People see me coming and they smile at the ears, then when I say hello they say "Oh my," when they see my fangs, but the best part is after I passed them by I hear them exclaim behind me "Oh my God look at her tail!" Lol! It's a real fox tail I picked up at a ren faire some years ago and it swishes when I walk, almost like it was meant to be there. I swear I must have been a cat in a past life, lol. Anywho, feeling very catty I came home and crocheted a basket for Kyoto's toys to live in. 
They're always getting everywhere and were in desperate need of a home, and he likes digging around in them. It's made from scraps that ammounted to less than 2 balls of Sugar'n Cream cotton yarn in natural, though if you wanted to make one I bet one of the new large size balls they're selling would be the perfect ammount. I did a few rows in the middle from some leftover hemp, the same stuff I used in my first zakka bag. 
It's fairly large and I used an H hook so it's a tight weave so it'll be durable. Here's the pattern if you'd like to make one for your goodies that need a home.Round 1: Start with an adjustable loop and crochet 6 single crochet (sc) into the loop and join with a slip stitch. (6sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in every sc. (12 sc)
Round 3: *1 sc in first sc, 2sc in next* Repeat from * around. Do not join any other rounds. (18 sc)
Round 4: *1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (24 sc)
Round 5: *1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (30 sc)
Round 6: *1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (36 sc)
Round 7: *1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (42 sc)
Round 8: *1 sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (48 sc)
Round 9: *1 sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (54 sc)
Round 10: *1 sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (60 sc)
Round 11: *1 sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (66 sc)
Round 12: *1 sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (72 sc)
Round 13: *1 sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (78 sc)
Round 14: *1 sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (84 sc)
Round 15: *1 sc in next 13 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (90 sc)
Round 16: *1 sc in next 14 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (96 sc)
Round 17: *1 sc in next 15 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (102 sc)
Round 18: *1 sc in next 16 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (108 sc)
Round 19: *1 sc in next 17 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (114 sc)
Round 20: *1 sc in next 18 sc, 2 sc in next* Repeat from * around. (120 sc)
Rounds 21-25: 1 sc in each sc around. (120 sc) Switch to hemp yarn at end of round 25.
Rounds 26-28: With hemp, 1 sc in each sc around. (120 sc) Switch back to cotton yarn at end of round 28.
(At this point if you're tired of crocheting you can do 3 to 5 more rows of cotton and bind off, but I did more mostly to use up yarn and because I wanted a rolled rim for the basket, inspired by this one from Little Miss Meshell, who is no longer blogging unfortunately.)
Rounds 29-41: sc in each sc around and bind off. (120 sc) Roll the hem over and enjoy your basket!
Meow! =^. .^=
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16 comments:
I don't think your real fox tail is at all cute. It's disgusting! You should be utterly ASHAMED of yourself for supporting such a disgusting thing! How would YOU like to be hunted and killed for your skin or fur????? SHAME!!!!!
It is a bit sad, but at least I chose not to buy a red fox's tail. Those are no longer being sold luckily, but they were when I bought my tail. Those ones come from Europe and America and their population is being threatened due to overhunting. Don't buy them!
If you want a tail, you should buy the black fox tails like mine which come from Austrailia. They are a non-native species that is extremely overpopulated and is killing off native wildlife and threatening the ecosystem. At least their deaths won't go to waste, their bodies are recycled for many purposes.
Thanks for bringing up the issue, it's good to be an informed consumer and I'm glad you mentioned it! Remember, don't buy the red tails!
I beg to disagree that red foxes are in decline here in the UK, on the contrary they are now so over populated even walking through the streets of London at night you see them going through the bins on a daily basis.
I even had a friendly fox and her cubs on my allotment for a while, (who I wrote about on my blog) and I live in the heart of London!
I'm not going to go in to 'the' debate though, as I really am sitting on the fence on this one!
I'm so glad to hear that the population is doing well again! Prorbably the hunting bans helped, which is why they don't sell those tails anymore. I got mine back in the ninties so they've had some time I guess!
I know I'm rather late in responding (you're posting was from Oct.), but for crying out loud.......it was a costume! And I thought it was very cute! True, we shouldn't hunt animals to extinction or just for their fur. However, as you stated, it was a while ago. You answered both 'whines' with tact and aplomb, and I applaud you. I thought this was supposed to be about the pattern for the basket!! Which, by the way, is adorable, also. I love it! And plan to make one very soon, as soon as the Christmas Holiday is past. Thanks for a wonderful pattern.
Hugs and Flowers.
My goodness, did you think you'd cause such a stir with that fox tail? I very much admire how you responded. Very graceful. Hard to believe you're such a "savage".
I, too, had one of those tails. It was around 35 years ago, when I was a teenager. It hung proudly from my suede purse with long fringes. Very hip! Those were different days....whether right or wrong.
I'm a BIG cat lover, too. My husband says in his next life he wants to come back as one of MY cats. But kitties aren't what brought me to your blog (or fox tails), although I will snoop around a little if you don't mind. I came for the crocheted basket. LOVE it! Thanks for sharing it.
I agree with Anonymous. The fox tail is 100% disgusting. I found this blog as the cat toy basket is today's FPOTD at The Daily Crocheter. When providing the link to the pattern on my group in the future, it would be nice if the fox tail picture and all reference to it were removed.
We are so lucky to live in parts of the world that allow free speech! Thank you Chase for the basket. May I commend you on your environtmentally friendly tail, which didn't cause any pollution in its making. As a meat eater and wearer of leather goods, I applaud you, your tail AND your grace under fire. Wishing a peaceful end of year.
I came to your site because of the daily crocheter and the Kitty stuff basket. In regards to your Halloween costume, I remember many years ago the Davy Crocket Hats. You made a wise decision when you made your purchase back in the 90's. It is interesting how fashions and ways of doing things change over the years. Glad to heaar that your costume was enjoyed by most all and sundry.
Glad everyone likes the basket! I'm honored to be the pattern of the day at the daily crocheter, thanks so much!
*No comment on the tail, I'm over it.* :P
Well isn't CraftyMatthew an arrogant fellow? Never heard of freedom of speach, I guess. Good thing no one is "demanding" that he remove things from his blog....which I'm pretty sure a lot of people would find offensive. He's lucky to live in a tolerant country.
You continue to be graceful, though, Chase and that's admirable. I'd rather know you than him.
(I'm remainin anonymous because I don't want him coming after me).
I am not arrognat, but Ms Anonymous is incredibly RUDE, and I used MY freedom of speech to say that the foxtail is disgusting. She also took the time to check out my blog and insult it and me, but accuses me of being the one chasing her around the internet. Oh brother. I surely have better things to do than chase TROLLS.
I think the tail is cute :3 As long as you bought it legally, which you did.
Anyway, on to the basket. I really love the pattern, and as a beginning crocheter, I've been fighting with the adjustable loop for a bit, and the link you provided was definitely the most helpful tutorial I've found yet! I'm making this basket to store toys as well, but for a completely different type of animal: children! Wish me luck! I'm deciding not to switch to the hemp rows, as I have none, but I'm going to add a trim of softer, thicker yarn and see how it goes. Wish me luck!
Thanks for the pattern! <3 It's very cute and I love the few rows of hemp in yours! This will be perfect for my little things. And I think the fox tail is adorable, by the way. <3 It's at least good to use all the parts of an animal and help out an ecosystem than let things become overpopulated, for one thing! People should be kinder. The costume was cute and the pattern is awesome! Thanks so much!
I think this pattern will be wonderful once complete. Thank you for taking the time and effort to post it for the rest of us. However, as a self taught crafter I thank you mostly for the link for doing the starting loop. I have struggled with this for a while and couldn't find a good way to do it. Thank you and blessed be.
I found that the tail used to belong to a live animal very very disturbing.. I am sorry I came to this blog and saw this...
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