By K W Warburton, The Reluctant Spoonie
Zebra’s are a favourite of those in the chronic illness community, especially those with EDS. Make your own zebra with my free crochet pattern below.
Why are zebra a symbol for those with EDS and other chronic illnesses? It’s due to a popular phrase used during medical training:
If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not Zebras.
This phrase is supposed to help doctors reach the correct (most common) diagnosis, but for those with rare illnesses this training can be very harmful.

I think that I first heard this phrase on an episode of House, MD. My first thought was ‘What if you are a zebra? What happens if they treat you like a horse?’ Like many people with an illness that is difficult to diagnose, I know too well what it is like to be treated like a horse (anxiety) instead of a zebra (POTS). My initial misdiagnosis lead to me receiving the wrong treatment and making my actual illness much worse. Of course, this training will help many people receive a swift diagnosis, but for those of us with rare illnesses, it can actually cause more harm than good.
Check out my crochet portfolio here
Make your own zebra to keep you company using my free pattern below or buy one from my Etsy shop.

Zebra pattern
Tools
Crochet hooks (2.5 and 3 mm)
Yarn in black and white
Stitch marker
Scissors
Dressmaker’s pins
tapestry needle
Polyfibre stuffing
Abbreviations
sc = single crochet (dc UK)
Inc = 2 sc in same stitch
ch= chain
FO = finish off
Dec = sc two stitches together
Body (3 mm hook)
Start with white and alternate between black and white rows.
R1) Sc 6 MR (6)
R2) Inc x 6 (12)
R3) (Inc, sc) x 6 (18)
R4) (Inc, sc, sc) x 6 (24)
R5 – 11) Sc around (24)
FO white yarn.
R12) in black sc, ch 8, turn and sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc x 7 and into starting stitch. Continue sc around (39)
R13 -19) rejoin white yarn and start at tail with white yarn; sc around alternating between white and black rows (39)
Begin to stuff head and body.
R20) FO white yarn. In black (Dec, 4 sc) x 6, dec, sc (32)
R21) (Dec, 3 sc) x 6 dec (25)
R22) (Dec, 2 sc) x 6, 3 sc (19)
Finish stuffing.
R23) (Dec, sc) x 6, sc (13)
R24) (Dec around) x6, sc (7)
FO black yarn.
Snout (3 mm hook)
In black
R1) Sc 6 MR (6)
R2) Inc x 6 (12)
R3) (Inc, sc) x 6 (18)
R4) (Inc, 2 sc) x 6 (24)
Bring in white yarn but keep black attached. You will be alternating between black and white rows from now on.
R5 – 9) sc around (24)
FO white yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Eyes (3 mm hook)
In black
R1) MR 7 (7)
FO Black yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew detail with white yarn.
Ears (3 mm)
In black
R1) MR 7 (7)
R2) sc around (7)
FO black yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Feet (2.5 mm)
In black
R1) MR 7 (7)
R2-4) sc around (7)
FO black yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Mane (3 mm hook)
Start between the ears and work backwards in a straight line alternating between white and black yarn.
Strand 1) ch 13
Strand 2) ch 12
Strand 3) ch 11
Strand 4) ch 10
Strand 5) ch 9
Strand 6) ch 8
Weave in loose ends
Tail
Make a tassel by wrapping black and white yarn around your hand and tying off. Sew to back of Zebra and trim to desired length.
Making up
Sew snout to body. Sew ears, eyes and feet, sew on tail. Weave in ends.


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Abigail Johnston
I’ve nominated you for an award! Check out my blog post at NoHalfMeasures!
Katherine Warburton
Thanks for the nomination. How does this Mystery Blogger thing work?
Abigail Johnston
Check out my blog post on this topic. The instructions are there!! ❤️
Totoro Amigurumi Plus 3 Amigurumi Secrets
[…] Find these zebras in my Etsy shop or make one using the free pattern here. […]
kristenthekidd
I absolutely LOVE this! I crochet, and i also have EDS so I’m so used to being told:
“youre too young to feel this way”,
“you’re probably just depressed”
“I dont know whats wrong with you”
“your pain isnt real”
Or my personal favorite..
“pfft, you think YOURE in pain? No, I’M in PAIN!”
So from now on, when someone says one of these things to me, i’ll pull out one of these bad boys and be like, “Boom. I’m a zebra, b**ch!”
😀
Zebra Collection for Chronic Illness Awareness – The Reluctant Spoonie
[…] Make your own Zebra using my pattern here […]
Zebra Collection for Chronic Illness Awareness - The Reluctant Spoonie
[…] Make your own Zebra using my pattern here […]