Eleven free amigurumi patterns for the cutest crochet animals, starting with two pandas and a red panda and moving on to a bear, fox, cat, hedgehog, penguin, elephant, frog and capybara. They range from a 3 inch panda you can finish quickly to a 25 cm plush elephant.
Every pattern here is free, and every link goes to the designer’s own page or video. Several are translations of an Instagram designer’s pattern, and I credit both the designer and the translator. If you are new to amigurumi, start with my amigurumi toy patterns for beginners, and for more animals see my bunny patterns and koala patterns.
Cute amigurumi animal patterns to explore
1. Petite Panda
From Sweet Softies. A little sitting panda only 3 inches tall, in white and grey medium weight yarn on a 2.75 mm hook, with 7 mm safety eyes and a pink embroidered mouth. The page rates it beginner, and you need to be comfortable changing colors and sewing the parts on. The free written pattern is on the blog, and a step by step video tutorial is linked. It can also double as a keychain.
2. Amigurumi Panda
Designed by @a_igruami and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A classic round-headed panda about 15 cm (6 inches) tall, worked in Alize Cotton Gold in white and YarnArt Jeans in black on a 2.25 mm hook. The arms and legs are attached with single crochet while you work the body, so there is less sewing. Eyes and nose are made from 10 mm half beads and a 12 mm nose, glued on. The full pattern is on the page.
3. Mini Red Panda Keychain
Designer Mariska Vos at DIY Fluffies. A tiny red panda keychain that takes about one hour to make, which makes it a good way to use up leftover yarn. You use a B/1 (2.5 mm) hook for cotton or an H/8 (5.0 mm) hook for chenille, so the same pattern gives you a small keychain or a plush one. The pattern is written in US terms and a full video tutorial is linked.
4. Little Bear
Designed by Julia Deinega (@deynega_yuly) and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A plush little bear worked in velour yarn such as YarnArt Velour or Himalaya Dolphin Baby on a 4.5 mm hook, with Alize Softy on a 2.5 mm hook for the muzzle. The head, ears and body are written round by round with the stitch counts at the end of each row. The free pattern is on the page.
5. Amigurumi Fox
Designed by @bumbee_crochet and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A fox about 23 cm (9 inches) tall in Alize Cotton Gold on a 2.0 mm hook, with black floss for the eyes and nose and pink floss for the cheeks. The pattern uses US crochet terms and is a free download from the page.
6. Amigurumi Cat
Designed by Dasha Korotkova (@knitted_toy_blg) and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A 6 inch (15 cm) cat doll in Lira Vita Cotton on a 1.4 mm hook, with 9 to 10 mm safety eyes, embroidered brows and a satin ribbon bow. The hook is very small, so the stitches come out tight and neat. The free pattern is on the page.
7. Hedgehog in a Pot
Designed by Aleksandra Egorova (@shu.toys) and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A hedgehog sitting in a cactus pot, about 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 inches) tall, that can also work as a pincushion. It uses YarnArt Jeans in several colors on a 2.0 mm hook, with a 1.5 mm hook for the needles, and uses less than a skein of the main colors. It is a free PDF download in English.
8. Crochet Penguin
Designed by Katerina Gushchina (@katerina_gushchina_) and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A small penguin of 4.3 inches (11 cm) in cotton yarn on a 1.5 mm hook, with black floss for the details and a satin ribbon for a bow. The wings and feet are made separately and sewn on. The full pattern is free on the page.
9. Plush Velvet Elephant Evelyn
Designer Elena Zvyagintseva (elenababytoys), shared by Amigurumiday. A large plush elephant about 25 cm tall, made with Himalaya Dolphin Baby or similar plush yarn on a 4.5 mm hook. The arms and legs are fastened with buttons so they can move, and the ears can be lined with fabric or yarn. Materials include 1 cm safety eyes and felt for the eyes. The free pattern is on the page.
10. Plush Frog
Designed by @knittedlife31 and translated by Amiguroom Toys. A frog with the head and body worked as one piece and separate arms and legs, with 25 mm safety eyes. With plush velvet yarn it uses a 2.5 mm hook, and the page says a chenille yarn like Himalaya Dolphin Baby with a 4 mm hook makes a frog pillow. The free pattern is on the page.
11. Pocket Capybara
From Sweet Softies. A no-sew capybara that is 2.5 inches tall and 3.5 inches long, in beige and white super bulky chenille velvet yarn on a 5 mm hook, with 10 mm safety eyes. The page rates it beginner or easy. The free version is a video tutorial, so there is no written pattern on the page.
