How to Crochet an Amigurumi Squirrel

The Crochet Amigurumi Squirrel is an adorable little companion that is a joy to create and keep. With its fluffy tail and cute button eyes, this squirrel will bring a smile to your face every time you see it. Perfect for beginners or seasoned crocheters, this project is sure to be a rewarding and fun experience.

Whether you gift it to a friend or keep it for yourself, this charming squirrel is bound to become a cherished addition to your amigurumi collection. Happy crocheting!

Supplies You Will Need

Gather the following materials:

• Cotton yarn (e.g. Schachenmayr Catania 125m/50g) in three colors: orange, brown, and white
• A bit of black for the nose
• Crochet hook (3 mm)
• Safety eyes or 2 black little beads
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Fiberfil stuffing
• Black bead or button can be used for the nose instead of embroidery

Skill Level

Intermediate

Size

The ready amigurumi is approximately 16 cm, but it can be made bigger or smaller depending on the yarn and hook you use.

Skills You Need

• Chain
• Single crochet
• Double crochet
• Half double crochet
• Slip stitch
• Increase
• Decrease

Abbreviations

• Ch = chain
• St = stitch
• Sc = single crochet
• Sl st = slip stitch
• Dec = decrease stitch (two single crochets together)
• Inc = increase stitch (two single crochets in one stitch)
• Dc = double crochet
• Rnd = round
• * = repeat instructions for the times indicated
• (...) = total amount of stitches

Tips

• Do not join rounds; work in a continuous spiral.
• Use a stitch marker or piece of yarn to keep track of the last stitch in each round.
• All stitches are worked into both loops, unless stated otherwise in the pattern.
• When filling with polyester stuffing, pull apart each large chunk into many smaller chunks for even distribution of firmness within the amigurumi.
• Amigurumi can be made in any desired colors.

Seamless Way of Changing Color When Working in the Round

Pick up the new color at the end of the round: insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over the new color, and pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook to complete the stitch.

Instructions

The squirrel consists of several parts which you crochet separately and then sew them together.

To Make a Magic Ring

1. Loop the thread twice around your middle finger.
2. Put the hook under both loops, pull the yarn under the loops and hook the thread again.
3. Pull the thread through the new loop. The first crochet stitch is ready!
4. Repeat the needed number of times.
5. Pull the inner threads to tighten the ring.

Arm (2x)

Work with orange color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring

Round 2: Increase 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next 3 stitches, increase* (15 stitches)

Rounds 4-13: Single crochet in each of the next 15 stitches

Stuff slightly.

Round 14: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)

Rounds 15-16: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches

Bind off. Work the second arm the same way.

Leg (2x)

Start with brown color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring

Round 2: Increase 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)

Rounds 4-6: Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Change the yarn color to orange.

Round 7 (working into the back loop): Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Rounds 8-15: Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Round 16: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, decrease* (15 stitches)

Round 17: Single crochet in each of the next 15 stitches

Stuff slightly.

Round 18: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)

Stuff slightly.

Round 19: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches

Bind off. Work another leg the same way.

Head

Work with orange color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring

Round 2: Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)

Round 4: Single crochet in each of the next 9 stitches

Round 5: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)

Round 6: *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (15 stitches)

Round 7: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, increase* (18 stitches)

Round 8: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)

Round 9: Single crochet in each of the next 24 stitches

Round 10: *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)

Round 11: Single crochet in each of the next 30 stitches

Round 12: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)

Round 13: Single crochet in each of the next 36 stitches

Round 14: *Single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches, increase* (42 stitches)

Round 15: *Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches, increase* (48 stitches)

Round 16: Single crochet in each of the next 48 stitches

Round 17: *Single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches, increase* (54 stitches)

Rounds 18-22: Single crochet in each of the next 54 stitches

Round 23: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches* (48 stitches)

Rounds 24-25: Single crochet in each of the next 48 stitches

Round 26: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)

Rounds 27-28: Single crochet in each of the next 42 stitches

Round 29: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)

Round 30: Single crochet in each of the next 36 stitches

Round 31: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)

Round 32: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)

Round 33: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)

Round 34: *Decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)

Round 35: *Decrease*, repeat 6 times.

Bind off. Hide yarn ends.

Body

Work shift stitch every 4-5 rounds.

Shift Stitch

Sometimes during a work of the spiral amigurumi, you need to keep the work symmetrical. As work tends to twist to the right, you need to adjust the position of the marker periodically (beginning of the round).

Shift stitch is an extra stitch you work at the end of a round to make your work look symmetrical. If you notice that the marker moves right, work one extra stitch at the end of the round and move the marker for one stitch (now the second stitch of the round becomes the first). This is a shift stitch.

The shift stitch is not included in the round description. To check if it’s time for a shift stitch, fold your work in half and check if the marker still goes straight or use a yarn that marks a straight line.

You may think this is an increase, but it isn’t. This way, you don’t increase or decrease the number of stitches. The stitch count remains the same.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring

Round 2: Increase 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)

Round 4: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)

Round 5: *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)

Round 6: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)

Round 7: *Single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches, increase* (42 stitches)

Round 8: Single crochet in each of the next 42 stitches

Round 9: *Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches, increase* (48 stitches)

Rounds 10-16: Single crochet in each of the next 48 stitches

Round 17: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)

Rounds 18-20: Single crochet in each of the next 42 stitches

Round 21: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)

Start stuffing the body.

Rounds 22-25: Single crochet in each of the next 36 stitches

Round 26: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)

Rounds 27-28: Single crochet in each of the next 30 stitches

Round 29: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)

Round 30: Single crochet in each of the next 24 stitches

Round 31: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)

Stuff the body firmly.

Round 32: *Decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)

Round 33: *Decrease*, repeat 6 times.

Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ear (2x)

Start crocheting with brown color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring

Round 2: Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)

Round 4: Single crochet in each of the next 9 stitches

Round 5: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)

Round 6: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches

Change the yarn color to orange.

Round 7 (working into the back loop): *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (15 stitches)

Round 8: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, increase* (18 stitches)

Rounds 9-13: Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Round 14: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches* (15 stitches)

Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Work the second ear the same way.

Tail

Start crocheting with brown color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring

Round 2: Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)

Round 4: Single crochet in each of the next 9 stitches

Round 5: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)

Round 6: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches

Round 7: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)

Round 8: Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Change the yarn color to orange.

Rounds 9-10: Single crochet in each of the next 18 stitches

Round 11: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)

Round 12: *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)

Round 13: *Single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)

Rounds 14-18: Single crochet in each of the next 36 stitches

Round 19: Decrease 6 times, single crochet in each of the next 9 stitches, increase 6 times, single crochet in each of the next 9 stitches

Round 20: Single crochet in each of the next 36 stitches

Round 21: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)

Round 22: Single crochet in each of the next 30 stitches

Round 23: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)

Round 24: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)

Round 25: *Decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)

Stuff the tail slightly.

Rounds 26-28: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches

Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Belly

Crochet using white color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring

Round 2: Increase 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)

Round 4: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)

Round 5: *Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)

Round 6: Single crochet in each of the next 8 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (8 stitches)

Round 7: Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 single crochets together, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (7 stitches)

Round 8: Single crochet in each of the next 7 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (7 stitches)

Round 9: Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 single crochets together, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (6 stitches)

Round 10: Single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (6 stitches)

Round 11: Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 single crochets together, single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (6 stitches)

Round 12: Single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches, chain 1 stitch, turn the work (5 stitches)

Work one round in single crochets all around the belly.

Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Since all the elements of your amigurumi squirrel are crocheted, it’s time to sew them together. Use a blunt sewing needle.

Legs and arms are attached to the body now. Position arms first and using the yarn left, sew them to the body of the amigurumi. Be sure to step back and take a look to ensure they are even. Same way, sew legs to the body.

Attach the tail to the body.

Sew the belly to the body.

Mark where you want the eyes to be placed with pins and sew them with a distance of 6-8 stitches from the head of your amigurumi.

Ears are attached to the head now. Position ears and using the yarn left, sew them to the head of the squirrel. Ensure they are even.

Embroider the nose with black color yarn. You can also add eyebrows, eyelashes, and mouth if desired. Hide the yarn tails inside the head.

Cut some strands of brown yarn, loop through single crochets of the last round, knot, and trim.

Sew the head to the body. Ready!

Basket

Work with light brown or beige color yarn. Crochet in rounds. Start every round with a chain of 3 and join with a slip stitch at the end.

Bottom

Starting at the center of the sole with a chain of 7 stitches.

Round 1: Dc into the 4th chain from the hook and into each of the next 2 stitches, 6 dc in the next stitch, then, working on the other side of the foundation chain, dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 4 dc in the next stitch, slip stitch.

Round 2: Chain 3, 2 dc in next stitch, dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in each of the next 6 stitches, dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in each of the next 4 stitches, dc in the next stitch, slip stitch.

Round 3: Chain 3, 2 dc in next stitch, dc in each of the next 3 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, dc in next stitch*, repeat from * 6 times, dc in each of the next 2 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, dc in next stitch*, repeat from * 4 times, 2 dc in next stitch, slip stitch.

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)

Yarn over, insert your hook between the posts of the first and second stitch of the row below, and then from back to front again between the posts of the second and third stitches.

Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch. You now have 3 loops on the hook.

Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.

One front post double crochet (FP dc) is complete.

Basket

Continue crocheting using light brown color yarn.

Round 4 (working into the back loop): Chain 1 stitch, single crochet in each of the next stitches until the end of the round.

Rounds 5-7: Chain 3 stitches, *1 fpdc into the next stitch, dc in the next stitch*, slip stitch.

Turn the work.

Rounds 8-11: Chain 1 stitch, single crochet in each of the next stitches until the end of the round.

Bind off.

Change yarn color to white.

Work one round in single crochets. Bind off. Weave in yarn ends. Fold the edge of the basket outwards.

Acorn

Start with brown color yarn.

Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring

Round 2: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)

Round 4: Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, increase* (15 stitches)

Round 5: Single crochet in each of the next 15 stitches

Change the yarn color to your choice.

Round 6 (working into the back loop): Single crochet in each of the next 15 stitches

Rounds 7-8: Single crochet in each of the next 15 stitches

Round 9: *Decrease, single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)

Stuff the acorn.

Round 10: *Decrease*, repeat 6 times.

Bind off, hide yarn ends.