Welcome to this delightful crocheting adventure! Today, I'm excited to share how to create this charming donkey amigurumi, a lovable farmyard friend that's sure to win hearts with its gentle expression and playful design.
With its floppy ears, rounded snout, and that endearing little tail, this donkey brings a touch of rustic charm to any space. The best part? It's thoughtfully designed to be both fun to make and perfect as a heartwarming handmade gift that will be cherished for years to come.
Don't worry if you're new to amigurumi – I'll guide you through each step with clear photos and friendly instructions. Ready to bring your own barnyard companion to life? Grab your hook and yarn, and let's start this crafting journey together!
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Details About Donkey
Let's dive into the charming details of this lovely companion! Your finished crochet donkey will measure 5.1 inches (13 cm) tall - the perfect size for desk displays or cozy cuddles. The pattern uses continuous rounds to create those smooth, natural shapes that capture the donkey's gentle character.
As for colors, this is where you can really let your creativity shine! While I've used a classic light grey for the main body with darker grey accents, you can absolutely make this pattern your own. Consider creating a rustic look with warm beige and brown details, go for a playful vibe with soft pastels, or even explore variegated yarns for added texture and dimension.
Remember, just like every donkey has its own special charm, your handmade creation should reflect your personal style. Choose accent colors that bring you joy or complement your space – there's no wrong way to design your adorable friend! The pattern works beautifully with any color combination you can imagine.
Recommended Yarn and Crochet Hooks
Hey there! Let me share the yarn details you'll need to create your own adorable donkey companion!
For this pattern, I highly recommend using Loopara 5 ply milk cotton yarn – it's my absolute favorite choice for this project! This yarn creates beautifully defined stitches and has just the right amount of softness that makes your donkey extra huggable. Plus, milk cotton yarn is durable enough to withstand plenty of love and cuddles while maintaining its shape beautifully.
For the perfect donkey, you'll need light grey or beige as your main color for the body, a slightly darker shade for the muzzle and inner ears, and just a touch of black for those final sweet details. These colors combined will give your donkey that classic, charming look we're aiming for.
As for the hook size, I use a 2.8mm crochet hook for this pattern. This size works perfectly with the 5 ply yarn to create tight, neat stitches that keep your stuffing secure. If you tend to crochet tightly, you might want to go up to a 3.0mm hook, or if you're a loose crocheter, you might prefer to stick with 2.8mm – just make sure your stitches are tight enough to keep the stuffing from showing through!
Remember, while these are my recommended materials, feel free to use similar weight yarns you have in your stash – just make sure to maintain consistent tension throughout your project!
Materials needed for Donkey
- Yarn – Loopara 5ply combed cotton (Gold 32, Grey 57, Grey 58 and White 60)
- Hook – 2.8mm
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Fiber Fill
- Eyeball
- Button
- Saliva pliers
- Leather label
- Molding strips
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch marker
- Positioning pin
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- Magic ring
- ch - chain
- sc - single crochet
- dc - double crochet
- hdc - half double crochet
- sl - slip stitch
- sc inc - single crochet increase
- sc2tog - single crochet 2 together
How to Crochet Donkey – Step by Step
How to Crochet the Head (Make 1)
Round 1: Start with white yarn. Chain 12, work 10 single crochets in second chain from hook, work 3 single crochets in next stitch, work 9 single crochets, work 2 single crochets in last stitch, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 2 single crochets in first stitch, work 9 single crochets, work 3 single crochet increases, work 9 single crochets, work 2 single crochet increases, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet increase), work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet increase) three times, work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet increase) twice, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet increase, single crochet), work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet increase, single crochet) three times, work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet increase, single crochet) twice, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 5-8: Chain 1, work 42 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 9: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together, single crochet), work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together, single crochet) three times, work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together, single crochet) twice, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 10-11: Chain 1, work 36 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 12: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together), work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together) three times, work 9 single crochets, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together) twice, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 13-14: Change to grey yarn, chain 1, work 30 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) six times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 16-17: Chain 1, work 24 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 18: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together, single crochet) six times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 19-20: Chain 1, work 18 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 21: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together) six times, slip stitch to join. Stuff with fiberfill.
Round 22: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet 2 together, slip stitch to join. Fasten off.
How to Crochet the Body (Make 1) and Feet (Make 2)
Round 1: Using brown yarn, create a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochets in ring, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 2-3: Using grey yarn, chain 1, work 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join. For second foot, do not fasten off - chain 6 to join to first foot.
Round 4: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increases, work 6 single crochets, work 6 single crochet increases, work 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, work (5 single crochets, single crochet increase) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, single crochet increase, 3 single crochets) six times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 7-11: Chain 1, work 48 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 12: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, 3 single crochets) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 13: Chain 1, work 42 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 14: Chain 1, work (5 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Chain 1, work 36 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 16: Chain 1, work (2 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, 2 single crochets) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 17: Chain 1, work 30 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 18: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 19: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together, single crochet) six times, slip stitch to join.
Round 20: Chain 1, work (single crochet, single crochet 2 together) six times, slip stitch to join. Insert wire Stuff with fiberfill.
Round 21: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet 2 together, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 22-26: Chain 1, work 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Tips: When changing colors, make the change in the last stitch of the previous round while it's still unfinished. This creates a smoother transition and cleaner color changes.
How to Crochet the Hands (Make 2)
Round 1: Using brown yarn, create a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochets in ring, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 2-6: Using grey yarn, chain 1, work 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, flatten the piece and work 3 single crochets, slip stitch to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
How to Crochet the Ears (Make 2 Each in White and Grey)
Round 1: Chain 8, work 2 single crochets in second chain from hook, work 2 half double crochets, work 2 double crochets, work 6 double crochets, work 2 double crochets, work 2 half double crochets, work 2 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Using grey yarn (do not cut white yarn), chain 1, layer white and grey pieces together and work single crochets around, work 3 single crochet increases at tip, work single crochets in remaining stitches, slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Tail (Make 1)
Round 1: Chain 8, work 7 single crochets in second chain from hook, slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Backpack (Make 1)
Round 1: Chain 11.
Rounds 2-6: Single crochet in each stitch across (10 single crochets), chain 1, turn, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, work single crochets around entire piece, working 3 single crochets in each corner, slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Working in back loops only, chain 1, work single crochets in each stitch around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 9-15: Chain 1, work single crochets in each stitch across, chain 1, turn, slip stitch to join. Fasten off.
Rounds 16-21: Chain 1, work 8 single crochets across, chain 1, turn. Repeat for 5 more rows, slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Strap (Make 1)
Round 1: Chain 12. Sew strap to backpack.
Tips: Maintain consistent tension throughout your work to ensure all stitches are uniform in size. Pull each round snugly when completing slip stitches to join - this helps define the shape and create crisp details. For best results, use invisible decrease (also known as sc2tog through front loops only) instead of regular single crochet decrease. This creates smaller holes and a neater finish.
Crochet Donkey Assemble
Step 1: The finished crochet project weighs approximately 50.6 grams.
Step 2: Once all parts are crocheted, begin assembly.
Step 3: For the hair, cut yarn into small sections.
Step 4: Weave in all loose ends on the head.
Step 5: Use crochet hook to pull hair strands through and knot them.
Step 6: After attaching all hair, trim to shape.
Step 7: For ears, use positioning pin to position them correctly, then sew in place.
Step 8: Ensure ears are symmetrical on both sides.
Step 9: Position arms with stitch markers, then sew to secure.
Step 10: Cut dark grey yarn into small sections for tail details, using the same method as the hair.
Step 11: Sew tail securely to the body.
Step 12: Insert wire support into head and sew to secure.
Step 13: Use stitch markers to mark facial features, then insert safety eyes.
Step 14: Split dark grey yarn into 2 strands to embroider eyebrows and nose.
Step 15: Use a small amount of glue to secure eye pieces.
Step 16: Split white yarn into 2 strands to embroider eye whites.
Step 17: Finally, add blush to complete your donkey!
Step 18: Fold the backpack in half and sew together to secure the shape. Fill the backpack with stuffing material.
Step 19: Attach buttons to complete the backpack.
Tips: When attaching hands and ears, ensure symmetry on both sides for a balanced look. For better-shaped ears, reinforce with extra stitches at the back, or you can insert wire support in the last round while crocheting. When sewing parts together, start by placing a few securing stitches spaced further apart, then fill in the remaining spaces with additional stitches. Make sure to leave extra length when wrapping wire with tape - this provides better stability and support.
Care and Cleaning Instructions
Daily Care Tips
Your adorable crochet donkey will be your companion for years to come with proper care! I recommend gently brushing the yarn occasionally with a soft brush to keep it looking fresh. If your donkey has wire support inside, be gentle when handling to maintain its shape. Also, keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading.
Washing Methods
Due to the wire support and safety eyes, I recommend spot cleaning only - never fully submerge your donkey in water! If needed, use a slightly damp cloth with mild soap to gently clean any dirty spots. Pat the area with a clean, dry cloth and let it air dry completely. Avoid using harsh detergents or rubbing too vigorously as this can damage the yarn.
Storage Suggestions
When not on display, store your donkey in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If possible, keep it in a cloth bag or box to protect from dust. Avoid storing in plastic bags as this can trap moisture and potentially lead to mildew. If storing long-term, you might want to stuff acid-free tissue paper around it to help maintain its shape.
What’s Next?
Enjoyed making this adorable crochet donkey? Share your creation with fellow crafters! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest - I'd love to see your unique take on this pattern. Don't forget to pin this pattern to save it for later! Your shares help spread the joy of crocheting.
