Looking for a free crochet penguin pattern? Here are 20 of them: amigurumi penguins from a 3-inch mini to a 14-inch no-sew friend, a fluffy faux fur penguin, Christmas ornaments, penguin hats from newborn to adult, appliqués, a lovey, a pillow pal, and a penguin gift basket. Every full written pattern is free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Penguins are the perfect winter amigurumi: they're mostly black and white, so a couple of colors and a little orange is all you need.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn weight, hook size and finished size where the designer gives them. Many designers also sell an ad-free PDF, but the version linked here is free to read on the page.
A quick guide to choosing: for your very first amigurumi, start with the Red Ted Art penguin or the Mariska Vos mini. Both are small and simple, worked in single crochet rounds. If you hate sewing on parts, the Jess Huff penguin is fully no-sew. And if you want a fast gift, any of the super bulky penguins work up in an evening or two.
Amigurumi penguins
Free Penguin Crochet Pattern — Mariska Vos (DIY Fluffies). A mini penguin with wings, feet and a little hat. It's about 3 inches tall in sport-weight cotton on a 2.5mm hook, or about 5 inches on a 5mm hook, and the page has notes for making it in chenille or blanket yarn too. The page links to a beginner guide, so it's a great first amigurumi.
Peter the Penguin — Jess Huff. A 100% no-sew penguin about 14 inches tall, in about 165 yards of worsted acrylic on an E/3.5mm hook, wearing a hat with a pom-pom. It's rated intermediate to advanced, and the designer offers an easier option for the feet. The big one in this list.
Playful the Baby Penguin — Stitches n Scraps. An emperor penguin chick, 7 inches tall, in worsted yarn on an H/5mm hook. Rated intermediate. If you love the gray baby emperor penguins, this is the one.
Parker Penguin — The Loopy Lamb. A cuddly penguin with a body and wings in faux fur yarn and a worsted beak and feet, about 9.5 inches tall, on 5.5mm and 3.5mm hooks. It's rated easy, and the fur hides your stitches, so it's forgiving.
Penguin Squish — Moogly. A round, squishy penguin in super bulky blanket yarn on an L/8mm hook, about 10 inches across before the flippers and feet. Made for hugging.
Osvaldo the Penguin — Underground Crafter. A quick penguin in super bulky yarn on a 5.5mm hook, with bobbles and front post single crochet for texture. The pattern is free on the page; the site's newsletter vault is optional.
Free Crochet Penguin Pattern — The Friendly Red Fox. A classic penguin worked round by round with separate wings and feet, in worsted yarn on a 3.75mm hook, with a half double crochet scarf. A lovely winter shelf-sitter.
Amigurumi Penguin — Red Ted Art. A very small, simple penguin: an 11-round body, a tummy and wings, and an embroidered face, on a 2.5mm hook. There's a step-by-step video, and the page shows how to turn it into an ornament. Ideal for beginners.
Penguin ornaments and appliqués
Penguin Christmas Ornament — Maria's Blue Crayon. A 4-inch penguin in worsted yarn on a G/4mm hook, with a double crochet scarf and a hanging loop. Make a few in different scarf colors for the tree.
Penguin Ornament — Furls Crochet. Part of the Furls "12 Days of Christmas" ornament series: a little black penguin with eye patches, a beak and cozy earmuffs, written round by round. The page doesn't state a yarn weight, so use worsted and the matching hook for a standard ornament size.
Penguin Appliqué — GoldenLucyCrafts. A clever penguin built from crochet hearts. It's about 2.5 inches in cotton thread on a 1.5–2.75mm hook, or about 3.75 inches in worsted yarn. Sew it on a hat, a card or a gift bag.
P is for Penguin — Repeat Crafter Me. A flat penguin appliqué in worsted yarn on a G hook, from the designer's animal alphabet series. Quick to make and perfect for a baby blanket or a kid's backpack.
Penguin hats
Crochet Penguin Hat — Repeat Crafter Me. A penguin beanie in sizes from 0–3 months to teen and adult, in worsted yarn on an H/5mm hook, mostly in double crochet with counts for every round. One pattern for the whole family.
Penguin Hat for Newborns — The Stitchin' Mommy. A newborn earflap hat with a half double crochet face, in worsted yarn on 5mm and 5.5mm hooks. Rated easy, and adorable for winter baby photos.
Penguin Hat with Moving Ears — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. An adult beanie, about 10 by 7.5 inches, in chenille yarn on a 4mm hook. Squeeze the air pump and the wings flap! The page has notes for resizing. A silly, fun gift for a teen.
Loveys, pillows and blankets
Penguin Lovey — The Blue Elephants. A 12-inch square lovey blanket with an amigurumi penguin head, in worsted yarn on 3.25mm and 4mm hooks. Rated intermediate. A sweet baby shower gift.
Penguin Pillow Pal — Underground Crafter. A pillow and cuddle buddy about 15 inches square, in super bulky yarn on a J/6mm hook, with bobbles and optional flippers and webbed feet. Great for a kid's bed.
Baby Penguin C2C Square — My Hobby Is Crochet. A corner-to-corner graphgan square, 25 by 25 tiles and about 15 inches square, in worsted yarn on a 5.5mm hook. It's written as row-by-row color counts plus a graph, so you'll need to know the C2C stitch already. Use it as a pillow front or a blanket square.
Penguin gifts for kids
Penguin Pouch — Snappy Tots. A hanging penguin pouch, about 8 by 6 inches, in about 100 yards of worsted yarn on H and I hooks, with back post half double crochet stripes. Fill it with small treats or a kid's treasures.
Penguin Gift Basket — Crafty Kitty Crochet. A basket about 5 inches tall and 10 inches wide with handles and a penguin face, in super bulky yarn on 8mm and 6mm hooks. Fill it with hot cocoa and mittens for a winter gift.
Tips for crocheting a penguin
- Use safety eyes for older kids only. For babies and toddlers, embroider the eyes with black or white yarn instead.
- Work in a spiral with a stitch marker. Most amigurumi rounds aren't joined, so a marker in the first stitch of each round keeps your count right.
- Change colors cleanly. For the white tummy, finish the last stitch before the change with the new color, and carry the unused color inside the body.
- Stuff firmly. Penguins need a firm, round body to stand up. Add a few poly pellets in a small bag at the base if you want it to sit steady.
- Try fuzzy yarns. Faux fur, chenille or blanket yarn makes a soft baby penguin, and the texture hides uneven stitches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest crochet penguin for a beginner?
The Red Ted Art amigurumi penguin and the Mariska Vos mini are both small, simple and well explained, and Red Ted Art has a video. The Loopy Lamb's Parker Penguin is also rated easy, and the faux fur hides mistakes.
What yarn should I use for a crochet penguin?
Worsted acrylic or cotton is the standard choice for amigurumi, with a hook a little smaller than the label says so the stuffing doesn't show. For a soft, cuddly penguin, use super bulky blanket or chenille yarn.
How long does it take to crochet a penguin?
A small ornament or appliqué takes about an hour. A medium amigurumi usually takes an evening or two, and a big no-sew penguin or a lovey takes a weekend.
Are crochet penguins safe for babies?
They can be if you make them carefully. Skip safety eyes and buttons, embroider the face instead, sew all parts on very securely, and choose a washable yarn. The lovey and the pillow pal are made with babies and kids in mind.
More winter crochet friends
Penguins love company. Make a whole winter scene with our crochet snowman patterns, crochet reindeer patterns and crochet gnomes. The penguin ornaments fit right in with our amigurumi Christmas ornaments, and the hats pair nicely with our winter beanie patterns. Small penguins also make great cheap stocking stuffers. For a cozy couch, see our free crochet pillow patterns.
