LANGUAGE

Pattern is in ENGLISH language

SKILL LEVEL: Experienced

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Download pattern example HERE » http://bit.ly/MaoExample
Copy and paste link into your browser to download the pattern example.

FINISHED SIZE:

The toy is approx. he toy is 28 (L) * 14 (H) cm

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Crochet in rounds
Single crochet
Increasing
Decreasing
Slip stitch
Working with polymer clay (nose) - Instructions are given in the pattern
Tinting (spots) - Instructions are given in the pattern

MATERIALS AND TOOLS

These materials are necessary:
- Hairy yarn. I used Kamteks Khlopok Travka (65% cotton, 35% polyamide, 220 m/100 g). Main color (08 silver) - 2 skeins. Half a skein of white yarn to make the white breast and neck. You can use Nako Paris yarn (40% acrylic, 60% polyamide; 245 m/100 g) or any other similar yarn or any mohair yarn (If you use mohair yarn, you will have to trim your toy after brushing it).

If you need exactly the same yarn, please ask via private message in this shop on Etsy LittleOwlsHutRUSSIAN
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LittleOwlsHutRUSSIAN

• Copper wire to reinforce the legs and tail. (This is necessary. Otherwise the legs will be curved and the tail will go up) - 1.5 mm cooper wire - approx. 3.5 m. You can buy this wire in a craft shop, but I suggest buying it in an electronic goods store. There you can buy a 31.5 cord. Before buying the cord, make sure that the wire inside it is whole and does not consist of several thin wires. With a paper knife, remove the insulation.
• Stuffing polyester.
• White fabric plaster or insulation tape.
• Toy eyes / semi beads (plastic or glass). The size of the eyes is 12 mm (depends on the size of your toy). I recommend looking at photos of different leopards. The eyes of real leopards differ from gray ones to gray-brown ones. But I used blue toy eyes 
• Transparent glue (if you want to glue the eyes on instead of sewing them on). Make sure the glue doesn’t destroy the plastic. Or sewing thread to match eyes color if you want to sew the eyes on.
• Strong thread to do sculpting. I use Vita Pelican yarn - I like this yarn because it is strong enough, doesn’t damage the fabric. Some crocheters like using dental floss or thick nylon thread.
• Plastic clay of wine red color or color of breaks to make the nose or you can use a toy nose or you can felt it.
• 0.6-1 mm permanent marker or a ballpoint pen of black color to tint the eyes, nose and mouth.
• Fishing line to make whiskers.
• Dry pastel paints of the following colors: Dark-brown and black.
• Hard synthetic brushes No 5 (or No 4) and No 9 (or No 8, or No 10). I use the brushes from this set:

https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/32833928041.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.274233edsBFhJn

Optional materials:

• To make emperor’s tiara: you can use any smooth cotton yarn. I uses Vita Coco (100% mercerized cotton, 240 m / 50 g): red, yellow and black. You will need just leftovers of each color.
• Golden chain – 0.5 m.
• 24 golden split rings
• 12 golden bells
• 0.5-1.0 mm wire to reinforce the tiara.

Tools:

• 1.75 mm crochet hook to make the leopard. Note: choose the crochet hook size according to your yarn.
• 1.25 mm crochet hook to make the tiara. Note: choose the crochet hook size according to your yarn.
• Wire cutter.
• Needle-nose pliers and flat-nose pliers to work with split rings.
• Scissors.
• Hard synthetic paint brush to tint the toy (see above).

ABOUT THIS PATTERN

Pattern written using USA terminology

This pattern is easy to follow with step-by-step instructions (48 pages with detailed instructions, tips, photos illustrating the process)

PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

You will get two pdf files. One is full version with pictures and another one is text only.

ABOUT THE TOY

“You’re kidding,” said Ellochka tenderly. “It’s Mexican jerboa.”
“It can’t be. They made a mistake. You were given a much better fur. It’s Shanghai leopard. Yes, leopard. I recognize it by the shade. You see how it reflects the sun. Just like emerald! Just like emerald!
(The Twelve Chairs. Ilf and Petrov)

This pattern is to continue the series of crocheted illustration. Following Mexican jerboa there appeared Shanghai leopard called Wise Mao (“mao” in Chinese means “cat”). As Chinese people say, a person’s main wealth is not money, but their wisdom (as well as their experience and knowledge). Thus, our leopard does not keep gold or diamonds in his coffer, but a book by Confucius.
The head of the leopard is crowned with a traditional Chinese headdress mian (crown) (冕冠 (miǎnguàn), which is known as Chinese tiara that is used to be the ancient emperors’ headdress. The suspensions in front and behind of the headdress are called “liu”. They are attached to a small plank made of tung tree. This plunk is called “yanban” (salt plate). The tiara used to be made of bamboo fibers and upholstered with black silk. Above the face “yanban” is curved (the circle was to symbolize the sky) and from the back this plunk symbolized the Earth. Thus, there was the harmony of the Sky and the Earth supported by the Emperor’s head. There are exactly 12 suspensions. This number is tied up to the calendar system, 12 moon months and 12 sun months, 12 Earth branches, as well as with 12 Zodiac signs.