The ringtailed cat (or just ringtail) has a black and white striped tail as long as her body and head together, but she’s no cat. Roxy is actually a close relative of the raccoon. She’s a lovely, graceful omnivore, smaller than a house cat, who only comes out at night. It’s possible to tame a ringtail, but Roxy is probably happier in the wild - she’s very shy.

Roxy is crocheted both flat and in the round; her face is made of several pieces over a stuffed form, and her tail is the classic string of granny circles often found in crocheted dolls. The tail is heavy, squishy and a big hit with the five-year-old crowd around here.

You will need four colors of yarn (red-brown, gray-brown, black and white) two black shank buttons, a yarn needle, a chenille needle (sharp point) and a hook which will give a nice tight stitch (I used a 3.25mm). Gauge is important only so far as it is consistent throughout the piece.