How to Crochet an Adorable Giraffe: Step-by-Step Amigurumi Pattern (Approx. 29 cm)

Create a charming amigurumi giraffe with this detailed, step-by-step crochet pattern. Perfect for intermediate crocheters, this guide walks you through supplies, stitches, assembly and finishing touches so you can make a sweet giraffe about 29 cm tall (size will vary with yarn and hook).

Supplies

cotton yarn (e.g. Schachenmayr Catania 125 m/50 g) in three colors: yellow, white and black, a bit of brown and orange yarn for spots, crochet hook 3 mm, polyester fiberfill stuffing, scissors, yarn needle.

Skill level

Intermediate

Size

The finished amigurumi is approx. 29 cm; adjust yarn and hook to make it bigger or smaller.

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 into one stitch)
Dc = double crochet
Rnd = Round

Tips

• Do not join rounds; work in a continuous spiral.
• Use a stitch marker or a piece of yarn to mark the end or the beginning of a round.
• All stitches are worked into both loops, unless stated otherwise in the pattern.
• Amigurumi can be made in any desired colours.

Seamless color changes 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.

Shift stitch

Sometimes while working 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). A shift stitch is an extra stitch you work at the end of a round to make your work look symmetrical. If you notice the marker moves right, work one extra stitch at the end of the round and move the marker one stitch (now the 2nd stitch of the round becomes 1st). The shift stitch is not included in the round description. To check if it’s time to work 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. The shift stitch is not an increase; the stitch count remains the same.

Instructions

Arm (make 2)

Start with black color yarn.

Round 1: 6 sc into Magic Ring

Round 2: inc 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *sc in each of next 3 stitches, inc* (15 stitches)

Rounds 4-5: sc in each of next 15 stitches

Change the yarn color to yellow

Rounds 6-15: sc in each of next 15 stitches

Round 16: *dec, sc in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)

Stuff the arm slightly.

Rounds 17-18: sc in each of next 12 stitches

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

Leg (make 2)

Use light black color yarn and begin with a magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc into Magic Ring

Round 2: inc 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3: *sc in each of next 3 stitches, inc* (15 stitches)

Rounds 4-5: sc in each of next 15 stitches

Change the yarn color to yellow

Round 6: sc in each of next 15 stitches

Round 7: *sc in each of next 4 stitches, inc* (18 stitches)

Rounds 8-10: sc in each of next 18 stitches

Rnd 11: *sc in each of next 5 stitches, inc* (21 stitches)

Round 12-13: sc in each of next 21 stitches

Cast off the first leg. Work the second leg the same way but don’t cut the yarn as we will join the legs together to make the body. Stuff both legs firmly.

Body

Work shift stitch every 2–3 rounds. Continue crocheting in rounds using yellow color yarn.

Round 1: make a chain of 5 stitches, work one round over both legs (21 stitches around the first leg, sc in each of next 5 sts, joining the second leg — 21 stitches around the second leg). This is the beginning of the body. Continue working the body:

Round 2: sc in each of next 15 stitches, inc, sc in each of next 25 stitches, inc, sc in each of next 10 stitches (54 stitches)

Round 3: sc in each of next 54 stitches

Round 4: sc in each of next 16 stitches, inc, sc in each of next 26 stitches, inc, sc in each of next 10 stitches (56 stitches)

Rounds 5-8: sc in each of next 56 stitches

Round 9: sc in each of next 14 stitches, dec, sc in next st, dec, sc in each of next 23 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 9 stitches (52 stitches)

Rounds 10-13: sc in each of next 52 stitches

Round 14: sc in each of next 13 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 21 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 8 stitches (48 stitches)

Rounds 15-16: sc in each of next 48 stitches

Round 17: sc in each of next 12 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 19 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 7 stitches (44 stitches)

Rounds 18-20: sc in each of next 44 stitches

Round 21: sc in each of next 11 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 17 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 6 stitches (40 stitches)

Round 22: sc in each of next 40 stitches

Round 23: sc in each of next 10 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 15 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 5 stitches (36 stitches)

Round 24: sc in each of next 40 stitches

Round 25: sc in each of next 9 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 13 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 4 stitches (32 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: sc in each of next 6 stitches, 6 sc both through arm and body, sc in each of next 11 stitches, 6 sc both through arm and body, sc in each of next 3 stitches.

Stuff the body firmly.

Round 27: sc in each of next 8 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 11 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 3 stitches (28 stitches)

Round 28: sc in each of next 40 stitches

Round 29: sc in each of next 7 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 9 stitches, dec, sc in next stitch, dec, sc in each of next 2 stitches (24 stitches)

Rounds 30-39: sc in each of next 24 stitches

Round 40 (working into the back loop): sc in each stitch around

Head

Change the yarn color to white.

Round 1: *sc in next stitch, inc* (36 stitches)

Round 2: *sc in each of next 2 stitches, inc* (48 stitches)

Round 3: *sc in each of next 7 stitches, inc* (54 stitches)

Round 4: *sc in each of next 8 stitches, inc* (60 stitches)

Rounds 5-13: sc in each of next 60 stitches

Change the yarn color to yellow

Round 14: sc in each of next 60 stitches

Round 15: *dec, sc in each of next 8 stitches* (54 stitches)

Round 16: sc in each of next 54 stitches

Round 17: *dec, sc in each of next 7 stitches* (48 stitches)

Rounds 18-19: sc in each of next 48 stitches

Round 20: *dec, sc in each of next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)

Rounds 21-22: sc in each of next 42 stitches

Round 23: *dec, sc in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)

Round 24: sc in each of next 36 stitches

Round 25: *dec, sc in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)

Round 26: *dec, sc in each of next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)

Round 27: *dec, sc in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)

Stuff the head firmly.

Round 28: *dec, sc in the next stitch* (12 stitches)

Round 29: *dec*, repeat 6 times. Bind off.

Horn (make 2)

Start with black color yarn and begin with a magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc into Magic Ring

Round 2: inc 6 times (12 stitches)

Round 3-5: sc in each of next 12 stitches

Change yarn color to yellow

Round 6-9: sc in each of next 12 stitches

Rnd 10: *sc in the next stitch, inc* (9 stitches)

Rnd 11: sc in each of next 9 stitches

Stuff the horn slightly.

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

Ear (make 2)

Start crocheting with brown color yarn.

Round 1: 6 sc into Magic Ring.

Round 2: *sc in next stitch, inc* (9 stitches)

Round 3: *sc in each of next 2 stitches, inc* (12 stitches)

Change the yarn color to yellow

Round 4: sc in each of next 12 stitches

Round 5: *sc in each of next 3 stitches, inc* (15 stitches)

Rounds 6-8: sc in each of next 15 stitches

Round 9: *dec, sc in each of next 2 stitches* (12 stitches)

Round 10-11: sc in each of next 12 stitches

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

Spots

Crochet using brown and orange color yarn.

Work 18 dc into Magic Ring. Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing them to the body of the giraffe.

Assembly

Attach ears to the head: fold the bottom of the ear toward the center and sew it so the ear sits correctly. Place and sew both ears to the head, ensuring they are even.

Sew horns to the head in their proper positions and check symmetry.

Mark where you want the eyes to be with pins and sew them with a distance of 8–10 stitches apart on the head. Weave in all ends.

Embroider eyebrows with brown yarn: insert the needle through the top of the head, pull it through leaving a little tail, then insert the needle again where you want the eyebrow to be and pull through. Pull the needle out the same hole it originally went into so both yarn tails come out of the same hole. Tie a knot close to the surface and hide the tails inside the head. Using the same color yarn, embroider nostrils and mouth if desired.

Sew spots onto the body.

Tail

Braided tail: cut 4 strands of the desired color yarn. Pass through stitch space, braid, knot and trim ends.

Necklace

Crochet using white color yarn.

Work 6 sc into Magic Ring. Sc in each of next 6 sts (working into the back loop) around until the handle reaches approx. 15 cm. You can make it longer or shorter as desired.

Instead of a crocheted necklace you can make a twisted cord: fold a length of yarn in half (approximately twice the desired final length), stretch and twist consistently in the same direction until it tightens, then bring the two ends together so the yarn twists around itself. Finish by threading the yarn ends through the loop and tying a neat knot. The result is a sturdy thick cord.

Your giraffe is ready!