This crochet kangaroo pattern is perfect for a confident beginner, who is familiar with the basic stitches and looking for a bit of a challenge.

A few years ago I crocheted a wallaby with a baby joey in her pouch. It is without a doubt one of the most popular patterns I’ve ever made, but I there were a few issues with it. Firstly, and most importantly to me, people kept calling it a kangaroo. Secondly, I made it with chenille yarn, and if I’m honest, it’s just not my favorite fiber to work with. The difficulty of closing magic circles, and the tendency to fray leave me rather frustrated.

You can see where I’m going with this?

I took the wallaby pattern, made a few adjustments. And when I say a few adjustments, I actually changed the pattern quite a lot to get the look I wanted in a very different yarn fiber. But the basis is still the same! And am now delighted to announce the arrival of my brand new crochet Kangaroo Mom and Joey pattern.

What You’ll Need

• 100g brown DK yarn
• 50g cream/brown variegated yarn
• 3.5mm crochet hook
• 3mm crochet hook
• 2 x 8mm safety eyes
• 2 x 16mm safety eyes
• Toy safe stuffing
• Yarn needle

I used some acrylic yarn that I had in my stash for this pattern. You’ll find a lot of amigurumi patterns recommend a cotton blend for toys, but honestly a good quality acrylic works up just as nicely and has the benefit of often being an awful lot cheaper among other things.

Stitch Guide

This pattern uses predominantly standard amigurumi stitches, but I have thrown in some surface crocheting to add details to the pattern. This is a skill that can look intimidating to newer crocheters, but I promise it’s not as hard as it sounds. You make the stitches you already know, just into the edge or top of your work instead of into the next stitch.

Here are the terms I’ll use, and links to details on how to do the techniques:

• Magic circle
• sc – single crochet
• 2sc – make two single crochets into the same stitch
• sc2tog – use a single crochet to join two stitches together
• slst – slip stitch

Crocheting the Head

You’re going to work this section in your brown yarn, with the 3.5mm crochet hook.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3 – 4

1sc x 12 (12)

Round 5

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 6 – 8

1sc x 18 (18)

Round 9

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)

Round 10 -11

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 12

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 6 (30)

Round 13

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 6 (36)

Round 14 – 19

1sc x 36 (36)

Round 20

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 6 (30)

Round 21

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 6 (24)

Round 22

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 6 (18)

Insert the 16mm safety eyes at around round 12, with about 10 stitches between them. Use a string of yarn to tie the backs together, to set them further into the face.

Round 23

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Stuff the head, being careful to ensure filling also goes into the muzzle section.

Round 24

sc2tog x 6, then hand sew to close.

The Ears

For the ears you’ll need to make the bulk of them up in your brown yarn with the 3.5mm crochet hook, then you’ll surface crochet the edges in mixed yarn with your 3mm crochet hook.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches.

Round 2 – 3

1sc x 8 (8)

Round 4

2sc x 4, 1sc x 4 (12)

Round 5 – 10

1sc x 12 (12)

Finishing the Ears

Cut a long tail of yarn, and attach a needle. Insert the tail into the ear, flatten it and sew the top half of the ear together to give a pointed appearance.

Now take the mixed yarn and surface crochet around the edge of the ear to define it.

Making the Body

Your kangaroo’s body will be entirely with the 3.5mm crochet hook and your brown yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3 – 7

1sc x 16 (16)

Round 8

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 9 – 13

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 14

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 15 -16

1sc x 32 (32)

Round 17

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 16 – 21

1sc x 40 (40)

Round 17

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 18 – 23

1sc x 40 (40)

Round 24

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 23

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 24

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Fill with toy safe stuffing.

Round 25

sc2tog to close

Crocheting the Pouch

To crochet your kanagaroo’s pouch use your brown yarn and 3.5mm crochet hook, you’ll only swap to your mixed yarn to edge three sides.

Row 1

Chain 9 + 1, then turn (10)

Row 2 – 7

Sk, 1sc x 9, ch2, turn

Row 8

1sc at the base of the chain, 1sc x 8, 2sc, ch2, then turn

Row 9

1sc at the base of the chain, 1sc x 9, 2sc, ch2, then turn

Row 10 – 14

1sc x 10, ch1, turn

Row 15

Sk, 1sc x 11.

At the end of the row, tie off the brown yarn. Swap to your mixed yarn, and make a single crochet around three of the four sides.

Kanagaroo Arms

Your arms will begin in the mixed yarn, you’ll then swap to brown yarn after a few rounds.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches.

Round 2 – 5

1sc x 8 (8)

cc brown

Round 6 – 13

1sc x 8 (8)

Loosely stuff the yarn, using the handle of yur hook to push it down the whole way.

Round 14

Flatten the arm then use single crochets to join across the arm. Attach your yarn needle and close the circle by weaving in and out of the remaining stitches.

Crochet Legs

Your kangaroo’s legs will also start with the mixed yarn, then switch to brown yarn after a few rounds.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches.

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4 – 6

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 7

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 8

1sc x 16 (16)

cc brown

Round 9 – 18

1sc x 16 (16)

Stuff the foot section only, leave the rest empty.

Round 19

sc2tog x 8, then sew closed with your yarn needle.

The Tail

You’re going to use your 5mm crochet hook and brown yarn to crochet your kangaroo’s tail.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2 – 3

1sc x 6 (6)

Round 4

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 5 – 6

1sc x 12 (12)

Round 7

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 8 – 9

1sc x 18 (18)

Round 10

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)

Round 11 – 13

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 14

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 6 (30)

Round 15

1sc x 30 (30)

Fill the tail with toy stuffing.

Sewing The Kangaroo Together

Place all the pieces in front of you, and sew in all but one loose end for each of the sections to give you a clear tail to work with for the sewing.

Begin by sewing the head onto her body. Line up the back of the head with the back of the body, and weave in and out in the brown yarn using your needle.

Now attach the ears onto the top of the head. I went back around six stitches from each eye, leaving around four stitches between the ears at the top of the head.

Attach the pouch next. Sit the body flat on a desk, and line the base of the pouch up with the surface. Sew the white edged sides onto the front of your wallaby to make her open pouch.

Sew an arm onto each side of your kangaroo, attaching around where the shoulders would be.

Sew a leg onto each side of your wallaby’s body, attaching around where the hips would be.

Finally sew the open end of the tail onto your kangaroo’s back, using your needle and the same colored yarn.

Amigurumi Joey Pattern

Your crochet joey will be entirely made in the mixed yarn with your 3mm crochet hook, and you’ll need some toy stuffing and tiny safety eyes ready.

Crocheting your Joey’s Head

Round 1

Make a magic circle of four stitches (4)

Round 2

1sc x 4 (4)

Round 3

2sc x 4 (8)

Round 4

1sc x 8 (8)

Round 5

(1sc, 2sc) x 4 (12)

Round 6

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 4 (16)

Round 7 – 8

1sc x 16 (16)

Insert small safety eyes around round 5, leaving a gap of about four stitches between them.

Round 9

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 4 (12)

Round 10

(1sc, sc2tog) x 4 (8)

Fill the joey’s head with toy stuffing.

Round 11

sc2tog x 4, then using your yarn needle sew the circle closed. Tie off leaving a long strand of yarn.

Crochet Joey Ears

Chain four.

Skip the first stitch, slip stitch into the next stitch, single crochet, then double crochet.

Leaving a long tail of yarn, sew one ear onto each side of your joey’s head.

Joey’s Body

Working in your mixed yarn and 3mm crochet hook.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches.

Round 2

1sc x 6 (6)

Round 3

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 4 – 9

1sc x 12 (12)

Fill with toy stuffing.

Round 10

sc2tog x 6, then using your yarn needle sew the circle closed.

Hand sew your wallaby joey’s head onto the neck, which is the narrow end that began with a magic circle.

Crocheting the Arms and Legs

Your pattern for the arms and legs for your joey are identical.

Make a chain of five stitches. Skipping the first loop, make one single crochet into the remaining four.

Hand sew the tail end onto your joey’s body.

Making Your Tail

Chain six. Skip the first loop, then make 2 x slst, then 1sc x 3.

Hand sew onto the rear of your joey, making sure to secure it tightly as it will get compressed when you put him in and out of his mom’s pouch!

Happy Crocheting,

Lucy Kate, x

The post Crochet Kangaroo appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

I have been making a lot of more traditional crochet cushions recently, but I wanted to try something a bit different with this crochet flower pillow. It’s not just covered with flowers, it IS a flower.

And when I’d finished, I realised I could add a really cute twist. So I gave it a face, which we’ll make separately so that if you just want the plain flower throw pillow that you don’t have to add it on.

The Stitches

This pattern is worked in the round in separate sections, with a small amount of hand sewing to attach them together and give your flower a cute little face if you want to!

Kit List

• 4 x 100g skeins of chunky blue yarn
• 2 x 16mm diameter safety eyes
• 2 x 100g skeins of chunky yellow yarn
• 6mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Toy safe stuffing

Central Section

I worked this pattern from the middle outwards, so that’s where we’ll begin. Use your yellow yarn for this part, and make sure to keep your stitches nice and tight as you decrease – it’s often a problem area.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of 8 stitches

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 5

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 6

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 7

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 8

(1sc x 6, 2xc) x 8 (64)

Round 9 – 10

1sc x 64

Round 11

(1sc x 7, 2sc) x 8 (72)

Round 12 – 15

1sc x 72

Round 16

(1sc x 7, sc2tog) x 8 (64)

Round 17 – 18

1sc x 64

Round 19

(1sc x 6, sc2tog) x 8 (56)

Round 20

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)

Round 21

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)

Round 22

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 23

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 24

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Fill with stuffing

Round 25

sc2tog x 8

Now sew closed.

Petals – Make 8

Round 1

Magic circle of 8 stitches

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 5 – 9

1sc x 32

Round 10

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 11 – 12

1sc x 40

Round 13

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 14 – 16

1sc x 48

Round 17

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 18

1sc x 56

Round 19

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)

Round 20

1sc x 48

Round 21

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)

Round 22

1sc x 40

Round 23

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 24

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 25

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 26

sc2tog x 8

then sew to close

Sewing the Cushion Together

Lay out all the pieces in front of you, and one by one sew the base of each petal to the central section. Take really good care here to make sure that they are all level, and use stitch markers to guide you if you are finding this tricky.

The sewing will get more fiddly as you go, because you will have less space to move your needle. So take your time!

The Flower’s Face

To crochet the face you will need to work in the round using your yellow yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of 8 stitches

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 5

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 6

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 7

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 8

(1sc x 6, 2xc) x 8 (64)

Round 9

(1sc x 7, 2sc) x 8 (72)

Now you can hide the loose end, and attach safety eyes about eight stitches apart at round three/four level. Sew in little eye markings with some chunky white yarn, and use a scrap of gray or black yarn to sew the mouth.

You can now sew this panel onto your middle section. I recommend attaching it at the back, as due to the decreases this is always slightly less neat than the front!

The post Crochet Flower Pillow appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

Is there anyone who doesn’t love bees? Even my friends who aren’t particular insect lovers seem to be big fans of our pollinating buddies.

My usual amigurumi style tends towards the realistic, but with my crochet bee pattern the priority was cute and simple. I’d love to hear whether you think i’ve hit those goals, but I’m hopeful!

What You Will Need

• 25g DK yellow yarn
• 25g DK black yarn
• 25g DK white yarn
• 3mm crochet hook
• Steel yarn needle
• Toy safe stuffing
• Scissors
• 2 x 10mm safety eyes

The Stitches

• mc – magic circle
• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• 2sc – make two single crochets into the same stitch
• sc2tog – use one single crochet to join two stitches together
• cc – color change

Free Crochet Bee Pattern

You are going to create your bee in a few separate parts, which will be hand sewn together.

The Head and Body

Begin working in your yellow yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of 8 stitches

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 5 – 8

1sc x 32

Round 9

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 10 – 14

1sc x 40

Round 15

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 16 – 17

1sc x 32

Round 18

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Insert safety eyes at round eleven level, six stitches apart.

Round 19

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 20

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 21

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

cc to black

Round 22

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 23 – 27

1sc x 40

Round 28

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

cc to yellow

Round 29 – 35

1sc x 32

cc to black

Round 36 – 40

1sc x 32

Round 41

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 42

1sc x 24

cc to yellow

Round 43 – 48

1sc x 24

cc to black

Round 49 – 51

1sc x 24

Round 52

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Fill with toy safe stuffing

Round 53 – 54

1sc x 16

Round 55

sc2tog x 8 then sew to close.

The Wings

Work 2 wings in your white yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches

Round 2

1sc x 8

Round 3

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 4 – 5

1sc x 16

Round 6

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 7 – 9

1sc x 24

Round 10

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 11 – 14

1sc x 32

Flatten the shape and work a single crochet through the stitches on each side to join together.

Antenna

Make 2 antenna in black yarn

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3 – 4

1sc x 12

Round 5

sc2tog x 6 (6)

Fill with toy safe stuffing

Round 6 – 10

1sc x 6

Fill the remainder of the shape with toy safe stuffing.

Sew the antenna onto the top of the head, centrally in line with each of the eyes.

Make Them Smile

Finally you can sew a small smile onto the middle of the face, to make your crochet bee happy!

The post Crochet Bee – Beginner Friendly Free Pattern appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

Making your first crochet toy can be daunting!  There’s so much to think about. Limbs to make and attach, ears and eyes. Heads that wobble too much. It’s all a bit of a worry!

But worry no more!  We have the solution. Ten super-simple and very beginner-friendly toys, right here to get you started. 

What makes these plushies so simple?

The answer is their simple design and good size. And the detailed, tutorial style instructions that accompany them.

Most of these toys have no limbs. They are constructed out of a single pouch that you can close with a drawstring when you have stuffed it. 

Despite the simplicity, the toys still look stunning. They are also a decent size. Big enough to hug and cuddle, and not too fiddly for you when working them up.

The pattern for each toy is not just a pattern. It’s a step-by-step tutorial that holds your hand every step of the way. 

We’ve included a couple of toys with limbs below, for you to attempt as your confidence grows. But again, they are beginner friendly, big enough to handle easily, and accompanied by super clear instructions.

Make each one in turn and watch your skills grow! Just tap on the photos to go through to the patterns

Let’s get you started with the first toy!

And if you want to have a go with something a bit different, you can find some beginner friendly granny square patterns here!

#1 Crochet Cat

We’ll begin with this gorgeous and oh so simple black cat. Designer Sarah Holloway has made this a really achievable project for a complete beginner. 

Sarah used bulky fluffy yarn with a size J (6mm) hook and her cat is seven inches tall. The cat’s flat butt means you can sit him on a shelf and he won’t wobble around!

The crochet black cat is a great starter project because there are no limbs, and no color changes! 

#2 Crochet Chick

Next up is this cute chick. It’s the same basic design but instead of ears, the only addition is some simple wings.

Again, no color changes in the body keep things nice and simple. And Sarah’s clear instructions ensure that you’ll have fun making the small beak and comb. 

#3 Crochet Duck

The crochet Mallard duck helps you to work on your color changes with nice easy straight line color changes in the body. You can go with the natural Mallard colors in the pattern or experiment with a brighter theme!

Quick tip: For amigurumi toys its often helpful to use a slightly smaller hook than the yarn wrapper recommends. Just to make sure your crochet is fairly tight.

#4 Crochet Puppy

For the cute crochet puppy toy, we mix up the colors a little. You’ll learn to make simple color changes that look natural and are surprisingly easy to achieve

Again, no limbs are required, but the puppy does have two cute little ears and an adorable little tail!

#5 Calico Cat

The calico cat is very slightly more adventurous! Now there are three colors. But it’s still fall-off-a-log simple just like the black cat above.

The black, tangerine, and white yarn captures that calico charm to perfection. And this is a toy that really stands out from the crowd

#6 Crochet Cow

Still following the same basic pattern, our delightful crochet cow has a few extra touches including some rather fetching horns!

Use a super bulky yarn to get a plush cow like this one that’s around seven inches tall. She’s super huggable and very cute.

#7 Crochet Bunny

This cuddly crochet rabbit is a great one to try next. Perfect as an easter gift or for anyone that adores rabbits, you can give her a floral crown if you want to. Or leave her as nature intended.

She looks picture perfect in pastel. But vibrant brights work well too!

#8 Crochet Frog

Who couldn’t fail to fall in love with this adorable frog. For this toy you get to have a go at some cute little arms. But don’t worry they are super simple to make.

The eyes are made in the same way as ears for the cat, and attached to the top of the head to give that unmistakable froggy look.

#9 Crochet Hippo

Ready to have a go at a toy with limbs? Of course you are! This big cuddly hippo is a great place to start. But if you’d rather tackle something smaller, skip down to the baby pig below!

This cuddly hippo is a little bit more time consuming than the patterns without limbs above, but if you’ve made a couple of those, you can definitely make this one. And the results are well worth the effort.

#10 Crochet Piglet

Last but not least, everyone loves a crochet pig. And this piglet is just too sweet to ignore.

It’s small, but not too small to handle easily, and is the perfect new amigurumi project for a novice, or speedy gift idea for a regular crocheter to put together in just a few hours.

If you’d like to see more of Lucy and Sarah’s easy to make toy designs click on the links below. There are hundreds more free patterns for you to explore.

• More gorgeous squishy, cuddly toys (no limbs, no fuss) from Sarah Holloway
• More adorable plush toy designs inspired by animals from around the world from Lucy Easton

The post Very Beginner Friendly Crochet Toys appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

I absolutely love a tiny crochet project. My latest design, this miniature crochet owl, is one of my smallest yet, and I’m really pleased with how it came out.

I’ve managed to pack in a fair amount of detail despite the smaller stature, and I think it goes really well with the slightly mottled brown yarn that I chose.

What You’ll Need

• 50g Brown DK yarn
• 20g White DK yarn
• Orange scraps of DK yarn
• 3.5mm crochet hook
• 6mm safety eyes
• Toy safe stuffing

The Stitches

• mc – magic circle
• sc – single crochet
• 2sc – make two single crochets into one stitch
• sc2tog – use one single crochet to join two stitches together

Tiny Amigurumi Owl Pattern

Head and Body

Begin working in your brown yarn

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4 – 11

1sc x 24

Round 12

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 13

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 14 – 22

1sc x 24

Round 23

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Fill with toy safe stuffing

Round 24

sc2tog x 8 then leave for sewing after the eyes are inserted.

The Feather Markings

Use your white yarn to make feather markings onto the body with the yarn needle. It looks best as a random series of small and large V shapes sewn into the body.

Eye Patches

The eye patches will be made separately using the white yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 4 (10)

Make two eye patches, then flip one over and hide the ends. Sew them together at the points.

Place onto the head and insert safety eyes through the white piece.

Now you can sew the base of the body together with your yarn needle and brown yarn.

Beak

Use your orange yarn for the beak. Make a magic circle of five stitches, then make 1sc into each stitch and sew at the bottom center of the eye patches.

The Ears

The ears will be made using your brown yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of five stitches (5)

Round 2

1sc x 5 (5)

Round 3

2sc x 3 (8)

Now flatten the ears and sew round three onto the top side of the head.

Wings

The wings will also be made in brown yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2 – 3

1sc x 6

Round 4

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 5

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 6

Single crochet the sides of the wings together.

Leaving the curved edge to create the top line of the wings, sew them onto the sides of the body.

The post Tiny Crochet Owl Pattern appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

I absolutely love designing crochet sea creatures, and I realised recently that I’d never made a crochet jellyfish. What a travesty! I absolutely adore tactile projects, so I really leaned into the dangling tentacles, and I hope you have lots of fun hooking them all up. I think it’s a really satisfying, simple project.

What You’ll Need

I used the following to make my jellyfish:

• 50g cream worsted weight merino wool yarn
• 100g pink worsted weight merino wool yarn
• 4mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Toy safe stuffing
• Stitch markers
• 12mm safety eyes

I really wanted to go for a soft texture of yarn for this project, which is why I picked a merino wool blend. I absolutely love the feel of merino, it’s an absolute pleasure to crochet with and gives a nice finish for a toy. The only downside of it is if you handle the amigurumi a lot it can fray a little more readily than some firmer materials like cotton. I am confident that this jellyfish will be equally cute whether you use the same fiber as me, or switch to acrylic or a soft cotton blend. Just remember if you use a different yarn weight you’ll need to change hook size accordingly.

Stitches and Terms

• magic circle
• sc – single crochet
• 2sc – two single crochets in the same stitch
• sc2tog – use one single crochet to join two stitches
• ch – chain
• sk – skip
• FLO – work into the front loop only
• BLO – work into the back loop only

The Head

Begin working in your pink yarn

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 5

1sc x 32

Round 6

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 7 – 8

1sc x 40

Round 9

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 10 – 11

1sc x 48

Round 12

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 13 – 14

1sc x 56

Round 15

(1sc x 6, 2sc) x 8 (64)

Round 16 – 21

1sc x 64

Round 22

(1sc x 6, sc2tog) x 8 (56)

Round 23

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)

Round 24

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)

Round 25

1sc x 40

Round 26

FLO (1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 27

2sc x 48 (96)

Round 28

Into round 25’s BLO work 1sc x 40

Round 29

1sc x 40

Round 30

FLO (1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 31

2sc x 48 (96)

Round 32

1sc x 96

Round 33

Into round 29’s BLO work 1sc x 40

Round 34

1sc x 40

Round 35

FLO 2sc x 40 (80)

Round 36

1sc x 40 into BLO of round 34

Round 37

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 38

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 39

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Insert safety eyes into the front. Use the joint at the back to show you where the front is, and place the eyes approximately eight stitches apart, at round 18 level.

Fill with toy stuffing.

Round 40

sc2tog x 8 then sew closed

Four White Tentacles

Work using your white yarn

Round 1

ch91

Round 2

sk1, 1sc x 90

Using the tail end of the yarn, sew the tentacles around the underside middle of the jellyfish

Eight Pink Tentacles

Work using your pink yarn

Round 1

ch101

Round 2

sk1, 1sc x 100

Using the tail end of the yarn, sew the tentacles around the underside edge of the jellyfish

Final Details

The final eye details can be hand sewn on with the cream yarn, just making a long stitch underneath each eye to give it depth.

You might also like to give your jellyfish a little mouth for some extra character!

The post Easy Free Crochet Jellyfish Pattern appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

A few months ago I made something rather different to my usual patterns, a crochet anteater. I absolutely loved how he turned out, but he isn’t your usual amigurumi animal so I wasn’t sure whether anyone else would want to make one. Well, I shared some photographs on social media, and it turned out I was wrong. So here it is, the crochet anteater pattern!

What You’ll Need

To make my anteater I used the following:

• 100g black DK yarn
• 50g brown DK yarn
• 25g white DK yarn
• 3.5mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• 15mm safety eyes
• Toy safe stuffing

The yarn I used was Hobbii’s Portobello yarn, which is a cotton, acrylic, wool blend. I recommend a cotton blend for this pattern for a similar finish, but you don’t need to use the same brand.

The Stitches

The pattern will include a few different stitches. If any of these are unfamiliar to you, I’ve linked to their guides below:

mc – magic circle
sc – single crochet
2sc – two single crochets into the same stitch
sc2tog – join two stitches together with one single crochet
cc – color change
ch – chain

Free Crochet Anteater Pattern

Begin using your black yarn and the 3.5mm crochet hook.

The Head

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3 – 8

1sc x 16

Round 9

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 10 – 16

1sc x 24

Round 17

(1sc x 2, 2sc)

Round 18 – 22

1sc x 32

Round 23

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 3, 1sc x 20 (35)

Round 24

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 3, 1sc x 20 (38)

Round 25 – 28

1sc x 38

Round 29

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 3, 1sc x 20 (41)

Round 30 – 36

1sc x 41

Round 37

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 3, 1sc x 20 (38)

Round 38

1sc x 38

Round 39

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 3, 1sc x 20 (35)

Round 40

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 3, 1sc x 20 (32)

Round 41

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Stuff the end of the nose, add the safety eyes at round 24 level, tie them slightly together to give an indented look then finish stuffing the head.

Round 42

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 43

sc2tog x 8 (8)

Make sure you are happy with how stuffed the head is, then sew the head closed and set it to one side.

The Body

Begin working in the black yarn, using your 3.5mm crochet hook.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4 – 10

1sc x 24

cc to brown yarn

Round 11 – 12

1sc x 24

cc to white yarn

Round 13

1sc x 24

cc to brown yarn

Round 14

1sc x 24

Round 15

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 16 – 18

1sc x 32

Round 19

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 20

1sc x 40

cc to white yarn

Round 21 – 22

1sc x 40

cc to brown yarn

Round 23

1sc x 40

Round 24

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 25

1sc x 48

cc to black yarn

Round 26 – 30

1sc x 48

Round 31

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 32 – 41

1sc x 56

Round 42

(1sc x 6, 2sc) x 8 (64)

Round 43 – 44

1sc x 64

Round 45

(1sc x 6, sc2tog) x 8 (56)

Round 46

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)

Round 47

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)

Round 48

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 49

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 50

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Fill with toy safe stuffing

Round 51

sc2tog x 8 (8)

Sew closed with your yarn needle

Make Two Front Legs

Begin using your black yarn

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3

1sc x 12

Round 4

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 5 – 7

1sc x 18

Round 8

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

cc to cream yarn

Round 9

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 10

1sc x 18

cc to black yarn

Round 11 – 15

1sc x 18

Round 16

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)

Round 17 – 18

1sc x 24

cc to brown yarn

Round 19 – 27

1sc x 24

Round 28

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 6 (18)

Round 29

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Stuff the arm

Round 30

sc2tog x 6, then sew closed with your yarn needle.

Two Back Legs

You will be using black yarn for the back legs.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3

1sc x 12

Round 4

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 5

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)

Round 6 – 7

1sc x 24

Round 8

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 6 (18)

Round 9

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Round 10

(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)

Round 11

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)

Round 12 – 26

1sc x 24

Round 27

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 6 (16)

Round 28

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Stuff the leg

Round 29

sc2tog x 6 then sew closed.

The Tail

Use your brown yarn to create the tail. We’ll create a small stub, and then work loops of yarn into it.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches

Round 2 – 13

1sc x 6 (6)

Use the yarn tail to sew onto the body.

These rounds will make a long thin tail stud, which you will use to create the fluffy tail. When it’s attached to the body, take a yarn needle and sew loose loops of yarn in and out of each stitch around it, to create a long brush like tail as shown in the picture above.

Two Ears

The ears will also be made in brown yarn.

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches, but don’t close it

Turn

Round 2

Ch1, make 1sc into the same stitch, then 1sc x 6, then 2sc

Turn

Round 3

Ch1, 1sc into the same stitch, 1sc x 8, 2sc

Now sew one onto each side of the head, approximately nine stitches above the eyes.

Joining the Anteater Together

You are now ready to sew your anteater together.

Use a steel yarn needle, the black yarn and tightly attach the head to the body, tilting the nose downwards.

Then set on a flat surface, lay the back legs forward and sew them to the sides of the body.

Finally attach the front legs to the sides of the body.

The post Free Crochet Anteater Pattern appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

What You’ll Need

• DK yarn
• 3mm crochet hook
• Toy stuffing
• 6mm safety eyes
• Steel yarn needle

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

1sc x 16

Round 4

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 5 – 10

1sc x 24

Round 11

(1sc, sc2tog, 1sc x 3) x 4 (20)

Round 12 – 13

1sc x 20

Round 14

(sc2tog, 1sc x 3) x 4 (20)

Add safety eyes at round 11, approximately a third of the circumference of the head apart.

Fill with toy stuffing.

Round 15

1sc x 16

You are now going to begin to form you octopuses arms.

Round 16

(ch21, sk, 1sc x 20, sc in the next st, slst into the next stitch) x 8

Facial Expression

If you’d like your little octopus to have a stern expression, sew two lines of yearn above and below the safety eyes.

The post Mini Octopus Crochet Pattern appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

These are my favorite crochet animal keychain patterns, and they have a range of inspiration from the ocean, to on safari, in the farm yard and to your own precious pets.

Pocket Piggy Pal

This tiny cutie is designed to fit perfectly into your pocket, making it an ideal companion for your keys. I had grand plans for it to join my own keyring, but it was snatched up by my daughter approximately nine seconds after completion! No worries, though—it’ll be a breeze to whip up another one.

Find the free pattern here.

Small Sized Seal

You might remember my larger crochet seal, but this amigurumi seal keychain is on a totally different scale—much smaller and absolutely adorable! Designed to fit perfectly on your house keys, this slippery little creature will slide into your pocket as effortlessly as a real seal glides into the water.

This pattern came together in under two hours, meaning even a beginner crocheter can whip up a whole gang of seal pals in no time

Check out the full free crochet pattern here.

Roar-some Lion Keychain

I’m absolutely thrilled to share this tiny, stripped-back crochet lion keychain design. And here’s the best part: you can make your own in the time it would take to vacuum your home – now that’s what I call a productive use of your day!

Find your tiny amigurumi lion pattern here.

Teeny-Tiny Kitty

I’m absolutely delighted with how much character I managed to pack into this teensy kitty pattern! Not only is it bursting with charm, but it’s also super quick and simple to make. Just pop on your favorite movie, and your adorable new kitten will be finished before the credits even roll!

You can find the free pattern here.

Mouse

I’ve designed a few keychain patterns recently, but my crochet mouse has been by far the most popular with everyone who’s seen it! Luckily, this little guy is super fast to make, so I’ll have a whole batch ready for friends and family in no time.

To crochet your own mouse keychain, follow this link.

Dive into Cuteness with the Axolotl

My crochet axolotl uses just a tiny bit of yarn but has such a huge personality. Plus, you can whip one up in about the same time it takes to make a meal from scratch, so I might just make a few more to stash away for last-minute gifts!

You’ll find the full axolotl instructions here.

The post Easy Crochet Animal Keychains appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.

Wild Rabbit Crochet Pattern – Smaller Toy For Little Crochet Collections

Shy and speedy, the charming European rabbit loves to make their homes around woodland edges. 

This free rabbit crochet pattern is beginner friendly and works up quickly, allowing you to easily create your own cute amigurumi bunny.

Red Squirrel Crochet Pattern – Sweet Small Stuffy

Red squirrels are energetic and playful inhabitants of the trees, easily identified by their bright reddish-brown fur and bushy tails. Unfortunately they are now very rare in the UK, where the grey squirrel has largely taken over their habitat. 

You can still enjoy this pretty creature though, you just need your hook and some lovely red yarn. And while the design process had its challenges, this crochet red squirrel pattern is easy for you to follow, with clear instructions suitable for crocheters of all levels.

Pine Marten Crochet Pattern – Smaller Toy

Pine martens are distinctive creatures with a cool yet cute energy, marked by their creamy chest and facial patterns. And my design was inspired by the positive news of the pine marten’s reintroduction into the wild.

This amigurumi pattern is an intermediate-level project designed to capture the Pine Marten’s unique charm, including their adorable “eyebrows.” The tutorial provides extra written information to assist even newer amigurumi makers. 

Red Fox Crochet Pattern – Full Size Stuffed Toy

The red fox, is a familiar sight in many woodland areas. I love red foxes, despite the fact that they are far too interested in our chickens. They are uniquely beautiful creatures, with their handsome characteristic coat and long bushy tail. and I hope that this toy displays something of their distinctive cool personality as well as their adorable look.

This free crochet fox pattern is suitable for beginners, offering simple instructions for techniques like hand sewing and color changes. Each step and abbreviation is clearly explained.

Owl Crochet Pattern – Squishy And Very Cuddly

The ultimate woodland predator, owls can be found in many forested areas across the world, and we often hear them calling at night around our home. 

The Cecil crochet owl pattern is another squishy and huggable friend from crochet designer Sarah Holloway. Made from super bulky chenille yarn. This simple pattern is perfect for beginners and can be adapted to different sizes by using various yarn weights.

Full Size Raccoon Crochet Plushie Pattern

We often think of Raccoons as bin raiding bandits, but their natural habitat is woodland. These clever and adaptable animals are easily recognized by their masked faces and ringed tails.

This easy crochet raccoon pattern is designed to be simple to work up with minimal sewing, making it ideal for crochet beginners. The markings are simplified for ease of crocheting.

Mouse – Quick & Easy Keychain Crochet Pattern

Last but not least a tiny pattern for you to rustle up in a single evening!  Mice are small but significant members of the woodland ecosystem, often scurrying about unnoticed.

This crochet mouse keychain pattern is a very quick project, making it a great choice for last-minute gifts.

The post Woodland Wonders: Charming Crochet Animals From The Forests Of The World appeared first on Lucy Kate Crochet.