Crochet Red Squirrel Design

Designing my crochet red squirrel was a bit of a challenge, but you’ll find following the pattern couldn’t be easier! This cute amigurumi squirrel is made using basic techniques, and I’ve laid it out with clear instructions that beginner crocheters to experts will find easy to understand.

• What equipment you’ll need.
• Pattern notes and stitches.
• The free crochet red squirrel pattern.

Your Kit List

• 5mm crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• 3.5oz / 100g Knitcraft aran yarn in terracotta
• A scrap of darker yarn for the nose and finger markings
• Toy safe stuffing*
• 14mm safety eyes*
• Firm bristled brush

I used two strands of Knitcraft’s aran recycled yarn for this pattern. This was because when I started working it I found it quite thin and prone to snapping, but I loved the color! So I sized up the hook from their recommended size and used two strands at once. I recommend you do the same if you use this yarn, or use a single strand of heavier weighted wool blend or acrylic yarn in a red shade.

Pattern Notes and Tips

This pattern is worked in the round from separate magic circles, with each section hand sewn together as you go along. I advise that you brush out the tail and ears before attaching them to the relevant section, as when I brushed them out afterwards it caused the hand sewn joining stitches to pull a little.

You’ll find some abbreviations in this squirrel pattern, here’s what they mean:

• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – join two stitches together with one single crochet
• 2sc – put two single crochets into one stitch
• sk – skip the next stitch
• ch – make a chain

Free Red Squirrel Crochet Pattern

Crocheting the Head

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3 – 5

1sc x 12 (12)

Round 6

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

Round 7

1sc x 18 (18)

Round 8

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

Round 9 – 10

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 11

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

Stuff the nose only.

Insert safety eyes into the front of the face, using a strand of yarn to attach them together to give that inset look.

Round 12

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Stuff the rest of the head.

Round 13

sc2tog x 6, then hand sew to close.

Crocheting the nose

Attach your darker yarn to the needle, and sew backwards and forwards along the top of the starting magic circle to make the nose.

Crochet Squirrel’s Body

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3 – 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 3, 1sc x 9 (21)

Round 11 – 18

1sc x 21 (21)

Round 19

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 3, 1sc x 9 (18)

Round 20

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Stuff the body.

Round 21

sc2tog x 6, then hand sew to close.

Sew the head onto the body

Using the same yarn type, attach a needle and firmly weave the head onto the magic circle neck section of the body.

Making Amigurumi Squirrel Ears

Round 1

Make a magic circle of five stitches (5)

Round 2 – 7

1sc x 5 (5)

Using your hard bristled brush, brush upwards along the ear to give your crochet squirrel’s ears a fluffy look.

Attach the ear upright onto the top of your squirrel’s head, lining them up with the inside of the eyes.

Crochet Red Squirrel Arms

Round 1

Make a magic circle of five stitches (5)

Round 2 – 8

1sc x 5 (5)

You don’t need to stuff the arms, just sew the open end onto the body at the shoulder points. You can use the yarn needle and a darker color of red to sew three marks for the fingers.

Crocheting the Legs

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3

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

Round 4 – 9

1sc x 18 (18)

Round 10

(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)

Round 11

sc2tog x 6, then hand sew to close.

Flatten the circle, leaving the magic circle at the top and closed end at the base. Sew around the circumference to attach to the bottom half of the body.

Crochet Red Squirrel’s Feet

Row 1

Ch6

Row 2

Sk, 1sc x 5, turn

Row 3 – 4

Ch1, sk, 1sc x 5, turn

When you’ve completed your feet, hand sew them to the base of the body and legs.

Crocheting the Tail

Round 1

Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)

Round 2

2sc x 6 (12)

Round 3 – 22

1sc x 12 (12)

Fill with toy safe stuffing.

Round 23

sc2tog x 6, then hand sew to close.

Brushing out the fur

Take your hard bristled brush, and going from round 23 up to the starting magic circle brush firmly. You’ll find depending on the yarn type you’re using this might take a little time and require some elbow grease.