Free crochet pattern for a sweet squirrel amigurumi with a basket full of mushrooms and acorns. With its lovely tail and open arms, this squirrel amigurumi toy is made to hug. Inspired by fall and its colors, this beautiful squirrel with basket filled with little acorns and mushrooms fits perfectly for any fall decoration. It is the perfect companion for every child, whether it is to play or travel with. It is also a lovely gift for someone special and any amigurumi fan!
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED
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 approx. 20 cm, 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 the 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. This ensures an 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: inset 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 you will sew them together.
To make a magic ring
- Loop the thread twice around your middle finger
- Put the hook under both loops, pull the yarn under the loops and hook the thread again
- Pull the thread through the new loop. The first crochet stitch is ready!
- Repeat the number of times needed.
- 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 4-7: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Stuff slightly.
Round 8: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)
Rounds 9-18: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Fasten off. Work the second arm the same way.
LEG (2x)
Work with orange colored 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 next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 5 (working into the back loop): single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Rounds 6-7: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 8: single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, decrease 6 times, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches (18 stitches)
Round 9: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Stuff slightly.
Round 10: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Stuff slightly.
Round 11-13: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 14: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Round 15: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 16-18: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 19: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 20: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 21: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)
Round 22: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 23: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Round 24: *decrease*, repeat 6 times.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing the leg to the body of your squirrel. Work another leg the same way.
BODY
Work shift stitch every 4-5 rounds.
SHIFT STITCH
Sometimes during a work of the spiral amigurumi, you need to keep the work symmetrically. 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, you need to work one extra stitch at the end of the round and move the marker for one stitch (now second stitch of the round becomes 1st). This is shift stitch.
The shift stitch is not included in the round description. To check if it’s time to work shift stitch fold your work in half and check if 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 stitches 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 next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, increase* (42 stitches)
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, increase* (48 stitches)
Rounds 9-13: single crochet in each of next 48 stitches
Round 14: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches, *single crochet in the next stitch, decrease* 6 times, single crochet in each of next 15 stitches (42 stitches)
Rounds 15-16: single crochet in each of next 42 stitches
Round 17: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Start stuffing the body.
Rounds 18-20: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Round 21: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Rounds 22-24: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 25: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)
In the next round attach the hands (ensure that the hands are located in the middle and make several shift stitches if needed):
Round 26: single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, 6 single crochets both through hand and body, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, 6 single crochets both through hand and body, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches.
Round 27: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Stuff the body firmly.
Round 28: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Do not fasten off.
HEAD
Continue crocheting in rounds using orange colored yarn.
Round 1: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (36 stitches)
Round 2: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (48 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in each of next 7 stitches, increase* (54 stitches)
Rounds 5-8: single crochet in each of next 54 stitches
Round 9: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 7 stitches* (48 stitches)
Round 10: single crochet in each of next 48 stitches
Round 11: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)
Round 12: single crochet in each of next 42 stitches
Mark where you want the safety eyes to be placed with pins and attach them with the distance of 8-10 stitches to the head of your amigurumi.
Round 13: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Round 14: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Round 15: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Rounds 16-18: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 19: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)
Stuff the head firmly.
Round 20: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 21: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Round 22: *decrease*, repeat 6 times.
Fasten off. Hide yarn ends.
EAR (2x)
Crochet with orange colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring
Round 2: single crochet in each of next 6 stitches
Round 3: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)
Round 4: single crochet in each of next 9 stitches
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)
Round 6: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 7: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Rounds 8-9: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Round 10: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Rounds 11-13: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 14: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches* (21 stitches)
Round 15: single crochet in each of next 21 stitches
Round 16: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 17: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (15 stitches)
Round 18: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)
Round 19: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing the ear to the head of your squirrel. Work another 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 next 6 stitches
Round 3: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)
Round 4: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)
Change the yarn color to orange.
Round 5: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 6: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, increase* (21 stitches)
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 9: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 10: *single crochet in each of next 7 stitches, increase* (27 stitches)
Round 11: single crochet in each of next 27 stitches
Round 12: *single crochet in each of next 8 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Rounds 13-16: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 17: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 8 stitches* (27 stitches)
Round 18: single crochet in each of next 27 stitches
Round 19: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 7 stitches* (24 stitches)
Round 20: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 21: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches* (21 stitches)
Round 22: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 23: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Stuff the tail firmly.
Round 24: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (9 stitches)
Round 25: single crochet in each of next 9 stitches
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
BELLY
Crochet using white color yarn.
Round 1: chain 7 stitches, hdc into the third stitch from the hook and each of next 4 stitches, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Round 2: increase, hdc in each of next 3 stitches, increase, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 3: increase, hdc in each of next 5 stitches, increase, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 4: increase, hdc in each of next 7 stitches, increase, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 5: hdc in each of next 11 stitches
Round 6: decrease, hdc in each of next 7 stitches, decrease, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 7: decrease, hdc in each of next 5 stitches, decrease, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 8: decrease, hdc in each of next 3 stitches, decrease, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 9: decrease, hdc in the next stitch, decrease, chain 2 stitches, turn the work
Round 10: decrease (3 hdc tog)
Work one round in sc´s all around the belly. Fasten 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 are attached to the body now. Position legs first and using the yarn left sew them to the body of the amigurumi. Be sure to step back and take a look to make sure they are even. Now sew the tail to the body.
Cut some strands of brown yarn, loop through sc´s of the last round, knot and trim. Ears are attached to the head now. Position ears and using the yarn left sew them to the head of the squirrel. Be sure to step back and take a look to make sure they are even.
Mark where you want the eyes to be placed with pins and sew them with the distance of 6-8 stitches to the head of your squirrel.
Embroider eyebrows with black color yarn. You can also add eyelashes and mouth if desired. Hide the yarn tails inside the head.
Now embroider nose with the black yarn. Insert the needle through the top of the head and pull it through leaving a little bit of a tail. Then insert the needle again and pull it through where you want your squirrel´s nose to be. Begin with the outline of the upside-down triangle. Insert the needle in one row under the eyes and pull it through where you want the nose to be. Fill in the triangle if desired and finish the uneven lines. Proceed a line under the nose. At the end pull the needle out the same hole it originally went into, so that both yarn tails are coming out of the same hole. Tie a knot with both yarn tails, as close to the surface of the head as possible. Hide the yarn tails inside the head. Using the same color yarn embroider mouth if desired. You can also add eyelashes if you wish.
Sew the belly to the body.
BASKET
Work with brown or beige color yarn. Crochet in rounds.
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 next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, increase* (42 stitches)
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, increase* (48 stitches)
Round 9: *single crochet in each of next 7 stitches, increase* (54 stitches)
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.
Round 10 (working into the back loop): single crochet in each of next stitch till the end of the round.
Rounds 11-14: chain 3 stitches, *1 fpdc into the next stitch, dc in the next stitch*, slip stitch.
Work one round in sc’s. Fasten off. Weave in yarn ends.
ACORN
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 next 18 stitches
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Now work with beige colored 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 next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)
Round 4: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Rounds 5-8: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Fasten off, hide yarn ends.
MUSHROOM
Start with beige or white colored 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 next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Rounds 5-8: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 9: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Rounds 10-11: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Round 12: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Round 13: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 14 (working into the front loop): *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Round 15: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 16: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 17: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Fasten off, hide yarn ends.
CAP
Crochet with brown colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring.
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Round 4: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 6: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 4: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Round 8: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Do not fasten off. Attach the cap to the stem with single crochets: work on round of sc´s all around the cap. Fasten off, hide yarn ends.
FLY AGARIC
Start crocheting with white yarn.
STEM
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring.
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Rounds 4-5: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, decrease* (15 stitches)
Round 7: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, decrease* (12 stitches)
Round 9: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 10: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, decrease* (9 stitches)
Round 11: single crochet in each of next 9 stitches
Round 12 (working into the front loop): increase every stitch (18 stitches)
Round 13: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 14: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 15: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Fasten off, hide yarn ends.
CAP
Crochet with red yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring
Round 2: *single crochet in the next stitch, increase* (9 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (12 stitches)
Round 4: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 5: *single crochet in next stitch, increase* (18 stitches)
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase* (24 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase* (30 stitches)
Round 8: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 9: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase* (36 stitches)
Round 10: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Do not fasten off.
Attach the cap to the stem with single crochets: work on round of sc´s all around the cap. Fasten off, hide yarn ends. Embroider white dots using white yarn.
I hope you enjoyed crocheting the cat amigurumi and found the pattern helpful. I would love to see your finished amigurumi, so share a picture here or on Instagram by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus.
Happy crocheting! Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!
