If you are looking for the simplest amigurumi pattern, this is for you!
I wrote this pattern to teach some 9-11 year old girls with whom I volunteer at my church how to crochet. While you might want to be comfortable crocheting single crochet and working in continuous rounds before making this, you can easily tackle this as a first real project once you have the basic stitches down.
Before Getting Started
The base pattern for this owl uses the following techniques: magic ring (MR), single crochet (sc), and increase by working two single crochet in the same stitch (inc). I’ll use these abbreviations throughout the pattern to make it more shorthand. I’ll also include a few tips for how to modify the pattern (for example, how to make a circle without using the magic ring). I also use the abbreviation “rnd” to stand for “round” since you are working in rounds. Instead of slip stitching or otherwise joining the rounds together once you have crocheted the last stitch, just start crocheting the next round. This is called continuous rounds and is common in amigurumi since you won’t have a seam when you crochet like this. You are basically spiraling around. I include the total number of stitches for the round after that round’s instruction within a set of < >. Parentheses enclose a section of instructions that should be repeated.
I include specific yarn and hook suggestions to get the size I did for this pattern. My little owl measures about 3″ tall and 2.5″ wide. You can totally change it up though! My biggest tip for amigurumi is to make your stitches tight. That’s why I use a US G/ 4.00 mm hook with worsted weight (category 4) yarn. So if you choose a thinner yarn, you will want a smaller hook than I recommend. If you choose a thicker yarn, you will need a bigger hook than I recommend, but make sure it isn’t so big that your stitches are loose and gappy. If you start to stuff your owl and you are seeing the stuffing through the stitches, you know that your stitches are too loose and you need to use a smaller crochet hook. Everyone crochets differently, so see how your owl turns out and whether you need to change your hook.
I also simplified this crochet pattern by including felt pieces for details instead of instructing you to crochet them. I have found that a hot glue gun works best for attaching the felt pieces to your crochet. You can totally customize how these details look, with bigger eyes, colorful wings, and more!
Let’s Get Into It!
Rnd 1: MR 6 <6>
Alternatively, you can chain 6 stitches and then move your first chain to be right next to your last chain to make a circle (be careful- don’t twist your chain!). Start the next round in that first chain and continue single crocheting around- you have your circle. If you choose to do this instead of a magic ring, you will need to single crochet in each chain around until you have 6 single crochet before continuing on to round 2 in the pattern.
Rnd 2: Inc x 6 (12)
This means that you will increase 6 times- once in each of the six stitches from the previous round.
Rnd 3: (Inc, sc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: (Inc, sc 2) x 6 (24)
You now have the bottom of your owl! At my gauge, this measures 1.75″ across in diameter.
Rnds 5-14 (10 rounds): sc in each stitch around (24)
Stuff your owl. Pinch the open top together.
Next row: sc across the pinched top, working into the stitches across from each other to close the top.
Alternatively, you can just fasten off your yarn after round 14 and use a sewing needle to sew the top of your owl closed once it is pinched together.
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Add your fun felt pieces using hot glue!
This little guy is so simple and fun to make and so easy to customize! Make sure to share with me on Instagram by tagging me @crowchetcreations to let me know how your little owl turns out.
Happy making!
XO, Emily
