Knitted amigurumi are small stuffed toys worked mostly in the round, so the body has no side seam and there is less to sew up at the end. Tight stitches on small needles keep the stuffing from showing, which is why a 3 inch cat and a 36 inch octopus both look neat when the tension is firm.
All ten are free, and each one links straight to the designer’s own page. Sizes run from a tiny chicken to a life sized octopus, so check the finished measurements first, and read the safety notes in the entries if the toy is for a child. If you prefer to crochet, see our cute crochet amigurumi animals and our Christmas amigurumi patterns.
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Items you’ll need:
- Double pointed knitting needles
- Worsted weight yarn
- Safety eyes
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Tapestry needles and stitch markers
- Embroidery scissors
Knitted amigurumi to explore
1. Tiny Chickens
Designer Anna Hrachovec at Mochimochi Land. A little chicken knit from the bottom up in the round, starting from 6 stitches on size 1 US (2.25 mm) double pointed needles in fingering weight yarn in three colors, with a knit comb, wings picked up and knit flat, and I-cord legs. The page says it is not suitable as a toy for small children. It is free, excerpted from the book Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi.
2. Tiny Window Cat
Designer Sara Elizabeth Kellner on Ravelry. A cat just 3 inches tall, worked in the round in one piece except for the tail, which is sewn on. It uses 15 to 20 yards of sport weight yarn on US 1 (2.25 mm) double pointed needles, and the designer has also tried fingering to DK weight. It is a miniature version of the Window Cat pattern from Victorian Housecats to Knit. Free Ravelry download.
3. Buz and Belinda Bumblebees
From Yarnspirations (Red Heart). A pair of knitted bumblebees, rated easy, ready to buzz off in search of flowers. Free pattern.
4. Elefante
Designer Susan B. Anderson at her blog. A tiny elephant, 5 inches tall and 6 inches long, with four stuffed legs, a striped body and a trunk worked in the round on size 4 US double pointed needles in worsted weight yarn. The ears are crocheted with a size E hook, and everything is whip stitched together. The page warns not to use poly pellets for babies.
5. Ribbit
From Blue Sky Fibers. A frog that takes a single skein of Spud & Chloë Sweater. The knitted body can enclose a tennis ball so it bounces when tossed, or you can stuff it with fiberfill, and the head is whip stitched to the body. The free pattern is a PDF download.
6. Bernat Knit Zebra
From Yarnspirations (Bernat). A zebra toy in Bernat Softee Baby yarn, which is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, and the pattern is rated intermediate. The page suggests making a whole zoo of them in any color you like. Free pattern.
7. Sheldon the Turtle
Designer Ruth Homrighaus at Knitty. A turtle about 9 inches long and 6 inches across, with the head and body knit in one piece on US 3 double pointed needles. The four limbs are knit separately and sewn on, and the removable shell is knit in two pieces and joined with I-cord edging. It uses Knit Picks Shine Sport (a cotton and modal blend) and a D crochet hook. Free from Knitty.
8. Sea Turtle Stack
Designer Rebecca Olson at Knitty. Three stackable turtles in different shell colors, each worked in the round on US 5 double pointed needles in worsted weight wool (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, one skein of each of four colors). Each turtle is about 8 inches flipper to flipper, with a 6 inch shell, safety eyes and a whip stitched seam. Free from Knitty.
9. Dinosaur Jr. Stegosaurus
Designer Katie Boyette at her blog. A 14 inch stegosaurus in one skein of grey and one of purple Cascade 220, knit from the head down in the round on US 6 double pointed needles, with feet and three purple plates a side. The designer notes in a comment that you can knit it flat with one long seam instead. It is listed under her free patterns, and all content is copyrighted, so link to it instead of sharing it.
10. Opus the Octopus
Designer Cate Carter-Evans at Knitty. The giant on this list: a life sized octopus with an 8.5 inch head and 36 inch tentacles, worked in the round with intarsia tentacles knit flat and blinking eyelids. It uses Infinite Twist Helix wool held double (5 skeins of the main color and 3 of the contrast) on US 5 needles. The page says it is a decorative item only. Free from Knitty.
