PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

You can crochet a simple stuffed animal with only a little yarn and a few basic stitches. By changing the ears and tail, you can even use the same basic body and head structure to create a variety of animals, including bears, cats, and dogs.

Part 1
Part 1 of 5:

Head and Body

PDF download Download Article
  1. Tie the yarn onto your crochet hook using a standard slip knot.
  2. Work a foundation chain of four chain stitches from the loop on your hook.
    Advertisement
  3. Work one single crochet into the second chain from the hook and one single crochet into the chain after that. Work three single crochet into the last stitch.
  4. Single crochet along the bottom side of the foundation chain to form an oval shape. These stitches should be worked into the chain stitches, not the previous set of single crochet. [1]
    • Single crochet once in the next stitch.
    • Single crochet twice into the final stitch.
    • There should be 8 single crochet overall in the first round, including the single crochet made in the previous step.
  5. Single crochet directly into the stitches of the previous round, increasing gradually so that there are 14 stitches in this round.
    • Work two single crochet in the first stitch.
    • Single crochet once into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet twice into each of the next three stitches.
    • Work one single crochet into the stitch after that.
    • Single crochet twice in each of the next two stitches.
  6. Increase the stitch count in this row to 20 single crochet and work the stitches directly into the previous row.
    • Single crochet twice into the first stitch.
    • Single crochet once into each of the next two stitches.
    • Single crochet twice into the next stitch, then once into the stitch after that. Repeat this step three times.
    • Work one single crochet into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet twice in the next stitch, then once in the stitch after that. Repeat twice.
  7. Work the single crochet stitches of the fourth round into those of the third, increasing the count of this round to 26 stitches.
    • Single crochet twice into the first stitch.
    • Work one single crochet into each of the next three stitches.
    • Single crochet twice in the next stitch, then once into each of the next two stitches. Repeat this three times.
    • Single crochet once into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet twice into the next stitch and once into each of the two stitches after that. Repeat twice.
  8. Single crochet once into each stitch of the previous round. Repeat this step until you have worked up a total of nine rounds in this manner.
    • These are rounds 5 through 13, and each round should have 26 stitches.
  9. Single crochet round 14, decreasing the stitch count to 20 single crochet.
    • Work one single crochet into the next two stitches.
    • Single crochet once into both of the two stitches after that. The process of working one single crochet into two stitches simultaneously is called a "single crochet decrease."
    • Single crochet once into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet once into each of the next two stitches, then once into both of the two stitches after that. Repeat three times.
    • Work one single crochet into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet once in each of the next two stitches and once into both of the two stitches after that. Repeat twice.
  10. Continue to single crochet decrease around round 15 so that this round will consist of 14 stitches.
    • Single crochet once into both of the first two stitches.
    • Single crochet once into each of the next two stitches.
    • Work one single crochet into both of the next two stitches and one into the next stitch after that. Repeat three times.
    • Single crochet once in the next stitch.
    • Single crochet once into both of the next two stitches, then once into the stitch after that. Repeat two times.
  11. Single crochet decreases across round 16, reducing the stitch count of this round to 8 single crochet.
    • Single crochet once into both of the next two stitches.
    • Single crochet once into the stitch after that.
    • Work one single crochet into both of the next two stitches. Repeat three times.
    • Single crochet once into the next stitch.
    • Single crochet once into both of the next two stitches. Repeat two times.
  12. Cut the yarn leaving a tail roughly 6 inches (15 cm) long. Pull this tail through the loop on your hook to fasten it off.
  13. Fill the body and head with enough stuffing to plump them up.
  14. Thread the tail of the yarn through a yarn needle. Pinch the opening together, then whip stitch it closed.
  15. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 5:

Paws

PDF download Download Article
  1. Use a slipknot to tie the yarn onto the hook.
    • Leave a starting tail of 4 inches (10 cm) or so.
  2. Create a foundation chain of three chain stitches from the loop on your hook.
  3. Single crochet once into the second chain from the hook, then once into the chain after that.
    • This should produce a rounded triangular shape. Each paw consists of nothing more than this flat triangle of yarn.
  4. Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch (10 cm) tail. Pull the tail through the loop on your hook to knot it.
    • Do not trim this tail. It will be used later on to help attach the paw to the body.
  5. Follow the same steps outlined above to create three more identical paws.
    • Set the paws aside until you are ready to assemble the final animal.
  6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 5:

Ears

PDF download Download Article

Bear

  1. Use a slipknot to attach a fresh piece of yarn to your crochet hook.
    • Leave a 4-inch (10 cm) starting tail.
  2. Create a foundation chain of two chain stitches from the loop on your hook.
  3. Work every single crochet into the first chain of your foundation.
    • This should form a small, circular earpiece.
  4. Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch (10 cm) tail. Pull the tail through the loop on your hook to finish the ear off.
  5. Follow the same steps to produce a second ear.
    • Set both ears aside until you are ready to assemble the entire stuffed animal.
  6. Advertisement

Cat

  1. Use a basic slipknot to attach the yarn to your crochet hook.
    • Leave a starting tail roughly 4 inches (10 cm) long.
  2. Create a foundation of two chain stitches from the slipknot loop on your hook.
  3. Work six single crochets into the first chain of your foundation.
    • This should give you a round with six stitches in it.
  4. Increase the stitch count by two single crochets as you create rounds two and three. [2]
    • For round two, single crochet once into each of the next two stitches. Single crochet twice into the stitch after that; repeat twice, giving you a final stitch count of 10.
    • For round three, single crochet once into each of the next three stitches. Single crochet twice into the stitch after that; repeat twice, giving you a final stitch count of 12.
  5. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail that measures 4 inches (10 cm) long. Pull the tail through the loop on your hook to knot it.
  6. Follow the same steps to create a second ear that is identical to the first.
    • Set both ears aside until you are ready to assemble the entire cat.
  7. Advertisement

Dog

  1. Use a slipknot to tie a fresh piece of yarn onto the hook.
    • Leave a starting tail of 4 inches (10 cm) or so.
  2. Work a small foundation of two chain stitches from the loop on your hook.
  3. Work six single crochet into the first chain of your foundation.
    • This should create a small, bulky circle.
  4. Single crochet twice into each stitch of the first round.
    • You should be left with 12 stitches after this round.
  5. Single crochet once into each stitch of the previous round. [3]
    • Repeat this step to complete rounds three through ten.
    • Each round should have 12 stitches.
  6. Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch (10 cm) tail. Pull this tail through the loop on your hook to knot it.
  7. Repeat the same steps to create a second identical ear for the dog.
    • Flatten each ear in between your two fingers. When you attach the ear to the head of the dog, you will position the open end flat against the head and stitch both sides of the opening in place.
    • Set both ears aside until you are ready to attach them to the body.
  8. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 5:

Tail

PDF download Download Article

Bear

  1. Use a slipknot to attach a new piece of yarn to the crochet hook.
    • Leave a starting tail roughly 4 inches (10 cm) long.
  2. Create a foundation of two chain stitches, working them off the loop on your hook.
  3. Work six single crochet into the first chain of your foundation.
    • Doing this should produce a bulky circle.
  4. Slip stitch the first and last stitch of the circle together to close it off.
  5. Snip the yarn so that a 4-inch (10 cm) tail remains and pull the tail through the loop on your hook. This should be enough the finish the tailpiece.
  6. Advertisement

Cat or Dog

  1. Use a slipknot to attach the yarn to your crochet hook.
    • Leave a starting chain roughly 4 inches (10 cm) long.
  2. Work a strand of four to nine chain stitches from the loop already on your hook.
    • Use four chain stitches for a dog's tail or nine chain stitches for a cat's tail.
    • This tail is very simple and consists only of this one chain. You can make the tail longer or shorter as desired by working more or fewer chain stitches.
  3. Cut the yarn, leaving a 3-inch (7.6 cm) tail. Pull the tail through the loop on your hook to fasten it off.
    • After knotting the chain, you may want to trim the excess or weave it into the stitches. You'll use the starting yarn tail to attach this tailpiece to the body of the cat or dog.
  4. Advertisement
Part 5
Part 5 of 5:

Assembly

PDF download Download Article
  1. Cut a small oval or triangle out of black felt to create a nose for the stuffed animal.
    • The nose should be about 1/5 inch (5 mm) long.
    • You can change the color of the felt as desired to match the yarn color used for the body of the stuffed animal.
  2. Cut two small felt circles from black felt to make two eyes. These felt circles should be slightly larger than the ones created for the nose.
    • You can change the color of the felt if desired.
    • The exact size of the eyes should be a matter of preference, but they can range anywhere from the same size as the nose to a size twice as large.
  3. Place the ears on the top of the body, keeping them even with one another. Use the yarn needle and excess yarn tails to whip and stitch them into place.
    • Bear and cat ears should rest between the second and fourth rows of the body.
    • Dog ears should rest below the fifth or sixth round of the body and should be positioned so that they extend from the sides of the head, rather than sticking up from the top.
    • Note that the top of the body is the end opposite the whip-stitched portion of the body.
  4. Place the tail three or four rows up from the bottom of the body and whip stitch it into place using the yarn needle.
    • Make sure that the tail is horizontally centered between the two ears.
    • You also need to make sure that the animal can sit flat once the tail is stitched in place. If not, you may need to move it up a little.
  5. Use your yarn needle to whip stitch two paws onto the bottom of the animal and two paws onto its front.
    • The two bottom paws should be positioned just below round 13 of the body. They should be a little lower than the tail and positioned toward the front of the body.
    • The two top paws should be below the eighth round of the body and angled inward.
  6. Glue the eyes in place first, followed by the nose. Use fabric glue or hot glue for the best results.
    • The eyes should be in line with the sixth round of the body.
    • The nose should be horizontally centered between the two eyes on the row below them.
  7. At this point, your tiny stuffed teddy bear, dog, or cat should be complete and ready to adore.
  8. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What yarn is best recommended?
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    Worsted weight is perfect for making a stuffed animal, but you can use any kind you want. I wouldn’t use wool, because it could felt if it gets wet.
Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      • Crochet hook, size E-4 (3.5 mm)
      • Medium-weight yarn, 1 skein
      • Polyfill stuffing
      • Yarn embroidery needle
      • Scissors
      • Black felt
      • Glue

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about knitting and crochet, check out our in-depth interview with Sarah Stearns .

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 58,889 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement