The head is the most difficult part, so if you're unsure, leave it for last. I did the head first and actually ended up redoing it, twice. Oliver was only my second attempt at crocheting, so the stitches in his head ended up being much looser than those of the body as I got better. When I made the other pieces the head was twice the size of the body, and together he looked more like an anteater! Because the head's stitches were loose, you could easily see the stuffing in a few places (particularly the double crochets in the trunk), The second time I did the head I was so intent on getting my stitches tight that the head was actually a bit too small. I unwound it to the base of the trunk and worked again (I left the trunk tight as it was because of those double crochets, I liked those tight!). He came out much better!

1. 6 magic circle

2. 6 inc (so 2 sc in every st) = 12 st

3. 12 sc, into the back loops only. = 12 st This creates the nice trim around the "corner,"

4. Repeat 2 sc, 1 dec (so every 3rd and 4th st of the previous row should be stitched together) = 9 st

5. 1 sc, 4 dc, 1 sc, 3 sl = 9st

6 - 8. 9 sc = 9st, 27 st total

9. Repeat 2 sc, 1 inc (so 2 sc in every 3rd st) = 12st

10. 12 sc = 12 st

11. Repeat 3 sc, 1 inc (so 2 sc in every 4th st) = 15 st

12. Repeat 4 sc 1 inc (so 2 sc in every 5th st) = 18st

13. Repeat 6 times only: 1 sc, 1 inc, then finish the row with 6 sc = 24st

14. Repeat 6 times only: 2 sc, 1 inc, then finish the row with 6 sc = 30 st

15. 30 sc = 30 st (obviously)

16. Repeat 6 times only: 3 sc, 1 inc, then finish the row with, 6 sc = 36 st

17. 36 sc = 36 st

18. Repeat 6 times only: 4 sc, 1 inc, then finish the row with 6 sc = 42 st

19 - 24. 42 sc, row markers are your friend here! = 42 st, 144 st o

25. Repeat 5 sc, 1 dec (so every every 6th and 7th st together) = 36 sc

26. 36 sc = 36 sc

27. Repeat 4 sc, 1 dec (so every every 5th and 6th st together) = 30 st

28. 30 sc = 30 st

29. Repeat 3 sc, 1 dec (so every 4th and 5th st together) = 24 st

30. Repeat 2 sc, 1 dec (so every 3rd and 4th st together) = 18 st

Now is probably a good time to stuff the head if you haven't yet. You should also install the eyes if you're using safety eyes; somewhere between row 14 - 16ish, depending on the size of your head, works well. If you're confused which part is the top of the head, it doesn't really matter, but the part where you did the 6 sc after the repeated patterns of increases, will make that side a bit smaller and better suited for the bottom. However it also works for the top, especially if you want the nose tipped down instead of up!

Last two rows to finish and close:

31. Repeat 1 sc, 1 dec = 12st

32. 6 dec = 6sc