Want to make your first amigurumi? Here are 21 easy, free amigurumi patterns for beginners: little whales and octopuses, no-sew bunnies, kitties and puppies, a chunky bear, chicks, a penguin and a rubber duck, plus a strawberry, avocado, donut, mushroom and cactus, and a simple first doll. Every one has the full written pattern free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Most start the same way, with 6 single crochet in a magic ring, and many have a video to follow along with.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, the hook, the finished size and how it starts. I've also flagged the no-sew patterns, where ears, arms and feet are worked straight into the body. They're the best place to start, because sewing on small parts is the fiddliest bit of amigurumi.
The five skills you need
Almost every pattern below uses the same handful of skills. Learn these and you can make any of them.
- The magic ring. A loop you crochet into and then pull closed, so the top of the piece has no hole. Most patterns start with 6 sc in a magic ring.
- Working in a spiral. You don't join rounds with a slip stitch. You just keep going, so put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to keep count.
- Increases (inc). Two sc in the same stitch. A round like "(sc, inc) x 6" grows the piece evenly.
- Decreases (dec). Two stitches worked together. Try the invisible decrease (through the front loops only) for a smoother finish.
- Stuffing and closing. Stuff firmly as you go, then close the last small round by weaving the tail through the front loops and pulling tight.
Tip: use a hook one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests. Tight stitches keep the stuffing from showing through.
Your first amigurumi: whales and sea creatures
A whale is the classic first project. It's basically a ball with a tail, so you practice every core skill without any tricky shaping.
Easiest Crochet Whale — Little World of Whimsy. A 2 x 2-inch whale in sport-weight yarn on a 3.25mm (D) hook, written for a beginner workshop. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic ring, and there's a video. If you've never made amigurumi, start here.
Mini Whale — The Nicole Chase. A 4-inch-long whale in Brava Worsted on a 4mm (G) hook, starting with 6 sc in a magic ring. Beginner-friendly, with step-by-step photos and a full video.
Simple Crochet Whale — The Mary Jay. A plump whale in super bulky yarn on a 6.5mm hook, so it works up fast and you can see every stitch. It uses just five basic skills, and there's a free video.
Amigurumi Crochet Whale — Hooked by Robin. A chunky-yarn whale on a 4mm hook, with fins and a tail sewn on. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic ring. A good second whale once you're ready to try a little sewing. Step-by-step video included.
Bubbles the Octopus — DIY Fluffies. A no-sew octopus, 2 inches in sport cotton on a 2.5mm hook or 5 inches in chenille on a 5mm hook. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring, and there's a full YouTube video.
Easy No-Sew Amigurumi Octopus — The Loopy Lamb. A big, squishy 7-inch octopus in bulky yarn on a 5mm (H) hook. No sewing, a video, and large 25mm safety eyes.
No-sew chunky animals
Thick chenille or super bulky yarn hides uneven stitches and works up in an evening. These are very forgiving, and they make great gifts.
Bunny Puff — Sweet Softies. A round, fluffy bunny in super bulky Hobbii Honey Bunny on a 5mm hook. Round 1 is 8 sc in the second chain from the hook. No-sew and beginner-friendly, with a free video.
Snuggle Bunny — The Nicole Chase. A 7.5- or 11-inch bunny in super bulky yarn on a 4.5mm or 6mm hook. It's worked in one piece, with the ears, arms and tail worked straight in. Rated advanced beginner, with tutorial photos.
Charlie the Chunky Bear — The Nicole Chase. A 10.5-inch teddy in super bulky yarn on a 6.5mm (K) hook. The legs, body and head are one piece, and only the snout and ears are sewn on. For more bears, see our crochet teddy bear patterns.
No-Sew Kitty Cat — Little Crochet Farm. A 4.5-inch cat in chenille on an 8mm hook, starting with 6 sc in a magic ring. No sewing, step-by-step photos and a video. You can embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes.
Chunky No-Sew Puppy — Little Crochet Farm. The same designer's 5-inch puppy in Alize Velluto chenille on an 8mm hook. Beginner-friendly, with a video.
No-Sew Chubby Amigurumi Chick — Once Upon a Cheerio. A 6-inch chick in super bulky chenille on a 4.5mm hook. Round 1 is 8 sc in a magic ring, the arms and feet are worked in, and the beak is embroidered. Rated beginner.
More easy animals
Chick Amigurumi — The Woobles. A 3-inch chick in worsted yarn on a 4mm hook, starting with 6 sc in a magic loop. Rated beginner-plus, so it's best once you've made one ball shape.
Penguin — DIY Fluffies. A 3-inch penguin in sport cotton on a 2.5mm hook, or 5 inches in chenille on a 5mm hook. Round 1 is 8 sc in a magic ring, and there's a full video. Our crochet penguin patterns have more.
Sir Quackington Rubber Duck — The Loopy Lamb. A cheerful 6.75-inch duck in Brava Worsted on a 3.5mm (E) hook. It's beginner-friendly, with a full step-by-step video and 12mm safety eyes.
Food and plants
Food and plants are great first projects because they're simple shapes, and nobody minds if they're a little lopsided.
Strawberry — The Nicole Chase. A 4.5-inch smiling strawberry in Brava Worsted on a 4mm hook. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring and has a two-part video. The page calls it easy amigurumi for beginners.
Pregnant Avocado — Sweet Softies. A 3.5-inch avocado with a removable seed "baby", in worsted yarn on a 2.75mm hook. Rated easy/beginner, with 6mm safety eyes. A fun gift for a mom-to-be.
Donut Amigurumi — OkieGirl Bling'n'Things. A 5-inch donut in I Love This Yarn on a 3.5mm (E) hook, with frosting sewn on top. It starts as a chain of 24 joined into a ring, then 28 sc. Video included.
Crochet Mushroom — Sarah Maker. A 5-inch-wide toadstool in Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton on a 4mm (G) hook. Rated advanced beginner, with lots of beginner tips along the way. It's a good way to learn back-loop and front-loop stitches.
No-Sew Cactus Heart — Little Crochet Farm. A 3-inch heart-shaped cactus in a pot, in sport yarn on a 2mm hook. The pot and cactus are one piece, so there's no sewing. A plant that never needs watering.
Your first doll
Amy the Amigurumi Doll — Grace and Yarn. A 14-inch doll in worsted yarn on a 3.5mm hook. The legs and body are worked in one piece, and Round 1 is 8 sc in a magic circle. The designer says it's a great pattern for beginners, and it's the natural next step after a few animals.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Losing count. Always mark the first stitch of each round, and move the marker up every round.
- Under-stuffing. Amigurumi should feel firm. Add stuffing a little at a time and shape it with your fingers.
- Safety eyes too late. Put them in before you close the piece. You can't add the washer once it's stuffed and closed.
- Toys for babies. For anyone under 3, skip safety eyes and embroider the face with yarn instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest amigurumi for a beginner?
A small whale or a ball-shaped animal. The Easiest Crochet Whale and the Mini Whale use only the magic ring, sc, increases and decreases. After that, try a no-sew chunky animal like the Bunny Puff.
What yarn is best for beginner amigurumi?
Smooth worsted acrylic or cotton in a light color, so you can see your stitches. Chenille and super bulky yarn are fast and forgiving, but it's harder to see where to put your hook, so try one smooth-yarn project first.
What hook size should I use for amigurumi?
Go one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label says. For worsted, that's usually 3.5mm to 4mm. The stitches should be tight enough that stuffing doesn't show through.
How long does a beginner amigurumi take?
A small whale or strawberry takes about one to two hours. A chunky no-sew animal takes an evening. A doll like Amy can take a few evenings.
More amigurumi to try
Once you've got the basics, try a T-rex or triceratops from our crochet dinosaur patterns, a little toadstool from our crochet mushroom patterns, a no-sew frog from our crochet frog patterns or small projects like our crochet keychain patterns or amigurumi Christmas ornaments. For holiday makes, see our Santa amigurumi and turkey amigurumi patterns. Your new skills also carry over to crochet cat toys, and a little whale or bunny makes a sweet stocking stuffer.
