This Crochet Giraffe Pattern makes a soft, chubby amigurumi giraffe with a long neck, a round head, little horns with tiny knobs, rounded ears, brown patches, and a tufted tail. The head, neck, and body are made in one piece, so there is less sewing than you might expect. It is a lovely baby gift, a nursery shelf decoration, or a cuddly toy for a child.
Pattern Information
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate, with shaping, embroidery, and sewing.
Terms: US crochet terminology.
Construction: The head is worked separately. The neck and body are worked in one piece from the neck down. The horns, ears, legs, tail, and patches are worked separately and sewn on. The face is embroidered.
Estimated size: About 24 cm (9.5 in) tall, using DK-weight cotton. Actual dimensions depend on yarn, tension, and stuffing.
Pattern note: This is an original design based on the title concept. Stitch counts have been checked, but the pattern has not been physically crocheted or independently tested. Adjust the shaping and feature placement to suit your yarn.
Materials
- DK-weight cotton yarn in golden yellow, approximately 60 g, for the head, neck, body, legs, and ears.
- Brown yarn, approximately 15 g, for the horn knobs, patches, hooves, and tail tuft.
- Cream yarn, approximately 3 g, for the muzzle.
- Black thread for the mouth and optional embroidered eyes, and pink thread for the cheeks.
- A 2.5 mm hook as a starting point (use a hook small enough to keep the fabric dense).
- Two 8 mm black safety eyes, or black thread for embroidered eyes.
- Fiberfill, stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and removable pins.
Use embroidered eyes if the giraffe is for a baby or young child.
Stitches and Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch |
| dec | invisible single crochet decrease over the next 2 stitches |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Work in a spiral without joining or turning unless directed otherwise. Numbers in brackets give the completed stitch count. Repeat parentheses the stated number of times. Move the marker at the start of every round.
Before You Begin
Crochet tightly so the stuffing does not show through the stitches. Stuff firmly, especially the neck, so the head does not flop. For a very sturdy neck, push a rolled piece of craft felt into the middle of the neck stuffing (only for older children and adults).
Make the head first and pin the eyes and muzzle in place before you commit.
Head (yellow)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Rounds 6–11: Sc in every stitch. [30 per round; 6 rounds]
Insert the safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, with about 9 stitches between them. Fit the backs securely. Pin the muzzle at the center front on Rounds 9–11.
Round 12: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Round 13: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Stuff the head firmly.
Round 14: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Fasten off with a long tail, leaving the 12-stitch opening for sewing to the neck. Do not close it.
Neck and Body (yellow)
Round 1: 12 sc in MR. [12]
Rounds 2–13: Sc in every stitch. [12 per round; 12 rounds]
This is the neck. Stuff it firmly as you go, using a chopstick to push the filling down.
Round 14: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 15: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 16: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 17: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Rounds 18–25: Sc in every stitch. [36 per round; 8 rounds]
Round 26: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 27: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Stuff the body firmly now.
Round 28: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Round 29: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Round 30: Dec × 6. [6]
Fasten off, close the hole, and hide the end. Flatten the bottom slightly so the giraffe sits steadily.
Muzzle (cream)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: Sc around. [18]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff lightly and sew to the pinned position. With black thread, embroider two tiny nostril dots and a small smile.
Horns (make 2, yellow with brown tips)
Round 1: With brown, 5 sc in MR. [5]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [10]
Round 3: Change to yellow. Dec × 5. [5]
Rounds 4–6: Sc around. [5 per round; 3 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff lightly. The brown ball is the tip. Sew the horns to the top of the head, about 5 stitches apart.
Ears (make 2, yellow)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Round 3: Sc around. [9]
Fasten off with a long tail. Do not stuff. Flatten, pinch the base, and sew to the sides of the head at Rounds 4–5, tilted slightly outward.
Legs (make 4)
Round 1: With brown, 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: Sc around in the back loops only. [12]
Round 4: Change to yellow. Sc around. [12]
Rounds 5–10: Sc around. [12 per round; 6 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff firmly in the hoof and lightly in the leg. Sew to the lower body, front legs close together, back legs toward the rear.
Patches (make 6, brown)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Sl st in the next stitch and fasten off with a long tail. Flatten and sew irregularly on the neck and body, with a mix of sizes (for smaller ones, stop after Round 1 plus one extra round of 6 sc).
Tail (yellow with brown tuft)
With yellow, leave a long tail and ch 10. Sl st in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off. Cut four 4 cm (1.5 in) strands of brown yarn, fold in half, and knot them through the end of the tail. Trim and fluff. Sew the tail to the back of the body.
Assembly and Face
- Head to neck: Pin the head over the neck opening, with the face looking forward, and sew all around with small, strong stitches. Check the angle from the side.
- Legs: Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, spaced evenly, with the same height on each side.
- Patches: Pin the patches in place and check from the front, side, and back before sewing.
- Tail: Sew it to the center back, near the bottom.
- Cheeks: With pink thread, add a small patch of 2 or 3 horizontal stitches below and outside each eye.
Hide every tail and give each horn, ear, and leg a gentle tug to check it holds.
Practical Tips and Troubleshooting
The neck bends. Stuff it more firmly, and push the filling in small pieces with a chopstick or the end of your hook.
The head flops. Sew the head on with extra stitches around the join, and angle it slightly upward.
The giraffe tips over. Flatten the bottom of the body, and make sure all four legs are the same length and sewn at the same height.
The patches look too regular. Mix three sizes, and place them at slightly different angles.
The eyes look uneven. Pin the eyes before inserting them, and check the face from the front and from above before fastening the backs.
FAQ
Can I make it bigger? Yes. Use chunky yarn and a 4 mm hook for a giraffe about one and a half times larger, and add 4 extra plain rounds to the neck.
Can I embroider the eyes? Yes. Make two small black satin-stitch ovals between Rounds 7 and 8, with 9 stitches between them, and add a tiny white highlight.
Can I make the neck shorter? Yes. Work 8 rounds instead of 12 in the neck section for a baby-friendly version.
Can I make it in other colors? Absolutely. Try pale blue or pink with white patches for a nursery set.
More Free Crochet Patterns
- Easy Amigurumi for Beginners (Cat)
- Easy Crochet Bunny Pattern
- Crochet Polar Bear Pattern
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