FiFi the Poodle

• 6mm Twisted Style Macrame Cord (40 yards)
• One 8-inch metal ring
• Two 20mm round beads for the eyes
• One 16mm bead for the nose
• 5 beads for the collar – any size
• Small amount of pink felt (tongue)

• Larks Head Knot
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)

Step 1:  Cut 6 strands of material, each 3 yards long.  Cut 10 strands, each 1 yard in length.  The ends will be unraveled, so there is no need to prepare them in any way.

Step 2:  Attach 6 of the 3-yard cords to the top of the ring, with Larks Head knots.  You will end up with 12 strands to work with, since you fold the cords in half.

Step 3:  Tie 5 rows of Alternating Square Knots, using 4 strands per knot.

Step 4:  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 12.  FiFi the Poodle usually has dark eyes, but you can use light colored beads if you wish. Slide 1 of them onto cords 3 – 4, as well as 9 – 10.  Leave a ½-inch space between the top of the beads and the last row of knots you tied in the previous step.

Step 5:  Just below the beads, tie two ASK using cords 3 – 6 under the left eye, and 7 – 10 under the right one.

Step 6: Pass cord 6 through the bead for the nose, heading into the hole from left to right.  Next, direct cord 7 through the hole, from right to left. Pull on both ends so the bead rests as close to the eyes as possible.

Step 7: Tie 3 rows of ASK, as follows: 

Row 1:  Tie 3 ASK using cords 1 – 4, 5 – 8, and 9 – 12.
Row 2:  Tie 2 ASK using cords 3 – 6, and 7 – 10.
Row 3:  Tie 1 ASK using cords 5 – 8.

Step 8:  Slide a bead for the collar onto cords 6 and 7.  The remaining 4 beads need to be placed on cords 2 - 3, 4 - 5, 8 - 9, and 10 - 11. 

Step 9:  Attach all the cords to the bottom of the ring, with Double Half Hitches. Make sure you pull each one taut as you attach them.  

Step 10:  Cut several 8-inch pieces of material to be used for the fur around the nose of FiFi the Poodle.  If you wish, you can use a different color to provide contrast. 

Take 3 strands and direct them through spaces between the ASK on the left side of the nose bead.  You need to pass them through from the back of the design, to the front.  If you wish, you can attach them with Larks Head knots, but it isn’t absolutely necessary to do so.   Do the same on the opposite side of the nose.  Unravel the cords and brush slightly, forming the whiskers. 

Step 11:  Repeat step 10, placing several short strands in the spaces above the eyes.  Trim and shape the cords to form the “eyelashes”.

Step 12:  Cut additional 8-inch pieces and attach them between the knots in the forehead area.  Secure these strands with Larks Head knots. You can add as many as you wish, trimming and arranging them to look like an authentic “poodle cut”.  You want FiFi the Poodle to look neat and tidy, so spend some time with this grooming process.

Step 13:  Now it’s time to make the ears.  Attach 4 of the 1-yard cords to the right side of the ring with Larks Head knots.  They should rest beside the others, near the top of the ring.  Do the same on the left side, attaching 4 more strands.

Step 14:  Using four strands per knot, tie 2 Square Knots with each set of cords you just added (left and right).

Step 15:  There should be two 1-yard cords remaining.  Attach one to the right of the Double Half Hitches at the bottom of the ring.  Use a DHH to attach the cord, so that there is around 10 inches below the ring, and the rest above it.  Use the upper segment to wrap the exposed area of the ring, from the bottom towards the top.  When you are finished wrapping, tie a DHH to secure the cord.  The excess material will become part of the right ear.  The portion at the bottom will become part of the fur.

Step 16:  Repeat step 15, wrapping the left side of the ring in the same manner.

Step 17:  Unravel and brush all the ends in the body area of FiFi the Poodle. Do the same with both ears. Use a ribbon or piece of yarn to gather the cords for the ears, wrapping it around the ring to hold the ears in place.

FiFi the Poodle looks best if she is fluffy, so if any areas seem too bare, simply cut more 8-inch pieces of material and add them wherever they are needed.