Craving a crafting project that'll make you smile? This chubby little penguin, wrapped in a cozy turquoise beanie and accompanied by its playful fish friend, is pure joy to create!
The design features simple shapes and basic stitches, yet the result is incredibly charming - from its round, huggable body to those adorable button eyes.
Whether you're new to amigurumi or a seasoned crocheter, I'll walk you through each step with clear photos and detailed instructions. Ready to bring this lovable companion to life? Let's dive into this delightful project together!
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Pin this cozy penguin pattern now - you'll want to make a whole family of these snuggly friends once you see how simple and rewarding it is!
Details About Penguin
Your finished penguin will be perfectly palm-sized, measuring about 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) tall and 3.7 inches (9.4 cm) wide - just the right size to perch on your desk or snuggle in your hands!
For this lovable friend, I've chosen a classic yet cozy color palette. The main body is worked in light gray, creating that perfect penguin fluff, while charcoal black adds definition to the feet and facial features. The turquoise beanie steals the show with its vibrant pop of color - though feel free to switch it up with any winter shade you love! The tiny fish friend on top adds an extra splash of personality with its coral, yellow, and pink stripes.
Don't have these exact colors? No worries! This pattern works beautifully with any color combination you fancy. Try navy blue instead of gray, or make the hat in warm purple or festive red. The most important thing is choosing colors that make you happy - after all, this little penguin will be bringing joy to your space!
Recommended Yarn and Crochet Hooks
For the perfect, squeezable texture, I'm using Loopara 5 ply milk cotton yarn - it creates such beautifully defined stitches and gives the penguin that irresistibly soft feel. Plus, it's so gentle to work with!
For your penguin, you'll want light gray for the body, charcoal black for the feet and details, turquoise for that adorable beanie, and coral, yellow, and pink to create the tiny fish friend perched on top. But feel free to play with color combinations – pick any shades that make you happy.
As for hooks, you'll need two different sizes for this project. Use a 3.0mm hook for the penguin body, beanie, and main parts, then switch to a 2.0mm hook for the little fish - this smaller size helps create those adorable tiny details.
Remember to check your tension - your stitches should be tight enough to prevent stuffing from showing through, but not so tight that they're difficult to work into. This way, your penguin will turn out just as cute and cuddly as mine.
Materials needed for Penguin
- Yarn – Loopara 5ply combed cotton (Blue 13, Grey 57, Grey 58, and White 61) & Loopara 4ply combed cotton (White 02, Yellow 41, Orange 50, and Pink 51)
- Hook – 3.0mm & 2.0mm
- Scissors
- Stitch Marker
- Tweezers
- Positioning Pin
- Yarn Needle
- Fiber Fill
- Eyeball
- Hot Melt Adhesive
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sl – slip stitch
- inc – increase (2 sc in same stitch)
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loops only
How to Crochet Penguin – Step by Step
How to Crochet the Head and Body
Using 5-ply cotton and 3.0mm hook.
Round 1: (With dark grey yarn) Make a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochet into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increase around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, (2 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, (3 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, 2 single crochet, single crochet increase, (4 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 5 times, 2 single crochet, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, (5 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Chain 1, work 42 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 9: Chain 1, 16 single crochet in dark grey yarn, 3 single crochet in white yarn, 4 single crochet in dark grey yarn, 3 single crochet in white yarn, 16 single crochet in dark grey yarn, slip stitch to join.
Round 10: Chain 1, work 15 single crochet in dark grey yarn, 5 single crochet in white yarn, 2 single crochet in dark grey yarn, 5 single crochet in white yarn, 15 single crochet in dark grey yarn, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 11-14: Chain 1, work 14 single crochet in dark grey yarn, 14 single crochet in white yarn, 14 single crochet in dark grey yarn, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Change to smoke grey yarn, chain 1, (6 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 16-20: Chain 1, work 48 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 21: Chain 1, (7 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 22-23: Chain 1, work 54 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 24: Chain 1, (7 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 25: Chain 1, work 48 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 26: Chain 1, (4 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 8 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 27: Chain 1, (3 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 8 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 28: Chain 1, (2 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 8 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 29: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 8 times, stuff with fiberfill, slip stitch to join.
Round 30: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet 2 together, leave a long tail for sewing, fasten off, and stuff with fiberfill.
Tips: Start with tight stitches especially in the first few rounds to prevent stuffing from showing through. When changing colors, carry the yarn inside the work to avoid visible color changes.
How to Crochet the Wings (Make 2 in Grey)
Round 1: Make a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochet into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, (single crochet increase, 2 single crochet) repeat 2 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 4 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, work 12 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, (2 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 3 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Flatten and fold, single crochet through both layers 4 times, leave a long tail for sewing, fasten off.
Tips: When flattening in the final round, make sure both sides are even.
How to Crochet the Feet (Make 2 in Dark Grey)
Round 1: Make a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochet into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, (single crochet increase, 2 single crochet) repeat 2 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Flatten and fold, single crochet through both layers 4 times, leave a long tail for sewing, fasten off.
Tips: Work these pieces fairly tight to create sturdy feet. Make sure both feet are the same size and shape.
How to Crochet the Scarf
Chain 120, fasten off.
How to Crochet the Hat
Round 1: Make a magic ring, work 8 single crochet into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet increase around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 8 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, (3 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, (4 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, (5 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, work 42 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Chain 1, (6 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 9-11: Chain 1, work 48 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 12: Chain 2, turn, work 48 half double crochet in back loops only, slip stitch to join.
Round 13: Chain 1, work 48 half double crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Tips: Don't work too tight in the brim rounds to maintain flexibility.
How to Crochet the Small Fish
Using 4-ply cotton and 2.0mm hook
Body and Tail:
Round 1: Using white yarn, make a magic ring, chain 1, work 6 single crochet into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increase around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, work 18 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Change to orange yarn, chain 1, (2 single crochet, single crochet increase) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, work 24 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 7-8: Change to light yellow yarn, chain 1, work 24 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 9: Change to orange yarn, chain 1, work 24 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 10: Chain 1, (2 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 11: Change to light yellow yarn, chain 1, work 18 single crochet around, slip stitch to join.
Round 12: Chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 6 times, slip stitch to join.
Round 13: Change to light pink yarn, chain 1, (1 single crochet, single crochet 2 together) repeat 4 times, stuff with fiberfill, slip stitch to join.
Round 14: Fold, chain 1, work 4 single crochet, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Chain 1, turn, work 4 double crochet increase, fasten off, weave in ends.
Upper Fin (in light pink):
Join yarn between rounds 4-5 of the body.
Chain 1, single crochet increase, half double crochet increase, 3 double crochet increase, half double crochet increase, single crochet increase, chain 1, fasten off, weave in ends.
Lower Fin (in light pink):
Join yarn in round 6 of the body.
Chain 3, work 3 double crochet, chain 2, fasten off, weave in ends.
Finishing:
Attach eyes between rounds 2-3 of fish body.
Tips: Stuff very lightly - the fish should remain small and cute.
Crochet Penguin Assemble
Step 1. Join round 12 of the hat's single crochet stitches to the penguin's head, then adjust the hat brim to shape.
Step 2. Secure the wings to both sides of round 15 of the body using positioning pins, adjust to the correct position, then begin sewing.
Step 3. Secure the feet to the bottom of the body using positioning pins, adjust to the correct position, then begin sewing.
Step 4. Install eyes between rounds 11-12 of the head, spacing them 6 stitches apart.
Step 5. Using 4-ply cotton of orange yarn, embroider the beak across the middle 2 stitches between the eyes.
Step 6. Wrap the scarf around the wings twice and knot to secure.
Step 7. Place the small fish decoration in the center of the hat, secure with glue, and your penguin is complete!
Tips: Attach feet firmly, making sure the penguin can stand stably. Use pins to position all parts before sewing to ensure perfect placement. When attaching the eyes, make sure they're level and at equal height.
Care and Cleaning Instructions
Daily Care Tips
Keep your adorable penguin pal looking its best with simple daily maintenance! Gently brush the surface with a soft cloth or clean toothbrush to remove any dust. If your penguin sits on display, consider giving it a soft pat-down weekly to prevent dust buildup. For the safety of your amigurumi, keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading.
Washing Methods
While it's best to spot clean your penguin friend whenever possible, sometimes a full wash is needed. When that time comes, place your penguin in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase and wash it by hand using cool water and mild detergent. Gently squeeze (don't wring!) to remove excess water. Reshape while damp and allow to air dry completely away from direct heat or sunlight. Never machine wash or tumble dry, as this could damage the stitches and stuffing.
Storage Suggestions
When your penguin needs a rest, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. A drawer or closet shelf works perfectly. If you need to pack it away for longer periods, use a breathable cotton bag rather than plastic containers to prevent moisture buildup. For extra protection, you can place a small sachet of lavender nearby to keep any unwanted critters away. Just remember - your penguin friend would rather be out on display bringing smiles to everyone who sees it!
What’s Next?
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