Free Crochet Anteater Pattern
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.
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.
