Welcome to this delightful crocheting journey! Today, I'm thrilled to share with you how to create this charming tiger amigurumi, a fierce yet cuddly companion that's sure to capture hearts with its playful expression.
With its bold black stripes, expressive eyes, and that adorable little tail, this tiger has a special way of bringing both wilderness charm and cozy comfort to any space. The best part? It's designed to be both enjoyable to make and perfect as a thoughtful handmade gift that will be treasured for years to come.
Don't let the stripes pattern intimidate you – I'll walk you through each step with detailed photos and friendly instructions. Ready to bring your own little jungle friend to life? Grab your hook and yarn, and let's start this exciting creative adventure together!
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Details About Tiger
Hey crafters! Let me share all the cozy details about this adorable tiger amigurumi that you're about to create!
This delightful little jungle friend stands proudly at around 7.8 inches tall (20 cm), making it the perfect size for cuddling or displaying on your shelf. The size is just right – not too big to overwhelm your space, but not too small to lose those adorable details that make it special.
For colors, I personally love using a vibrant brown as the main shade to capture that classic tiger look, paired with deep black for those iconic stripes. You'll also want some white yarn for the muzzle, chest, and inner ears to give your tiger extra personality! If you're feeling creative, try using a slightly darker orange for shading to add depth and dimension. While these are my suggested colors, remember that the crafting world is your playground – I've seen some absolutely adorable pink and purple tigers that look just as charming!
Get ready to create a tiger that's full of character and sure to become a cherished addition to your handmade collection!
Recommended Yarn and Crochet Hooks
Hey there! Let me share the yarn details you'll need to create your own cuddly tiger friend!
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 tiger extra huggable. Plus, milk cotton yarn is durable enough to withstand plenty of love and cuddles while maintaining its shape beautifully.
For the perfect tiger, you'll need bright orange as your main color for the body, black for those striking stripes, and white for the muzzle, chest, and inner ears. These colors combined will give your tiger that classic, charming look we're aiming for.
As for the hook size, I use a 3.0mm 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 3.5mm hook, or if you're a loose crocheter, you might prefer to stick with 3.0mm – 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 Tiger
- Yarn – Loopara 5ply combed cotton (Pink 17, Brown 52, Black 59 and White 61)
- Hook – 3.0mm
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Fiber Fill
- Eyeball
- Nose
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch marker
- Positioning pin
- Hot melt adhesive
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- Magic ring
- ch - chain
- sc - single crochet
- dc - double crochet
- sl - slip stitch
- dc inc - double crochet increase
- sc inc - single crochet increase
- sc2tog - single crochet 2 together
- BLO - back loops only
- FLO - front loops only
How to Crochet Tiger – Step by Step
How to Crochet the Head (Make 1)
Round 1: With brown yarn. Start with a magic ring, chain 1, make 8 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, then 1 single crochet increase) 8 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, work (2 single crochets, 1 single crochet increase, 2 single crochets) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, work (5 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, 1 single crochet increase, 3 single crochets) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 8-11: Chain 1, make 48 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 12: Chain 1, work (7 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 13: Chain 1, make 54 single crochets around (change to off-white yarn in the last stitch), slip stitch to join.
Rounds 14-16: Chain 1, make 54 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 17: Chain 1, work (4 single crochets, 1 single crochet increase, 4 single crochets) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 18: Chain 1, work (9 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 19: Chain 1, work (9 single crochets, then single crochet 2 together) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 20: Chain 1, work (4 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, 4 single crochets) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 21: Chain 1, work (7 single crochets, then single crochet 2 together) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 22: Chain 1, work (2 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, 2 single crochets) 8 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 23: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, then single crochet 2 together) 8 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 24: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, single crochet 2 together, 1 single crochet) 8 times around, slip stitch to join.
Tips: Keep your tension consistent throughout the increases and decreases to maintain a smooth, rounded shape.
How to Crochet the Belly (Make 1)
Round 1: With cream colored yarn, start with a magic ring, chain 1, make 8 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, then 1 single crochet increase) 8 times around for a total of 24 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 4: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, 1 single crochet increase, 1 single crochet) 8 times around for a total of 32 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 5: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 8 times around for a total of 40 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Hands (Make 2)
Round 1: With cream colored yarn, start with a magic ring, chain 1, make 6 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 3-5: Chain 1, make 12 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, make 10 single crochets, single crochet 2 together (change to brown yarn in last stitch), slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, make 11 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Chain 1, make 9 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 9-14: Chain 1, make 10 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Chain 1, make 8 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, slip stitch to join.
Round 16: Chain 1, make 9 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Finishing: Stuff with fiberfill, flatten and fold in half. Join edges together with 4 single crochets. Leave a long tail for sewing.
How to Crochet the Ears (Make 4)
How to Crochet the Outer Ears (Make 2 - In Brown)
Round 1: Chain 1, make 6 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around for a total of 18 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 4-8: Chain 1, make 18 single crochets around, slip stitch to join. Leave a long tail for sewing.
How to Crochet the Inner Ears (Make 2 - In Off-white)
Round 1: Chain 1, make 6 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Cheeks (Make 2 - In Off-white)
Round 1: Chain 1, make 6 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 6 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join. Attach reversed to the face.
How to Crochet the Legs (Make 2)
Round 1: With cream colored yarn, start with a magic ring, chain 1, make 8 single crochets into the ring, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work 8 single crochet increases (2 single crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Round 3: Chain 1, work (1 single crochet, then 1 single crochet increase) 8 times around for a total of 24 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 4-5: Chain 1, make 24 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 6: Chain 1, make 6 single crochets, single crochet 2 together 6 times, make 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 7: Chain 1, make 18 single crochets around (change to brown yarn in last stitch), slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Chain 1, make 6 single crochets, work (1 single crochet increase, 1 single crochet) 3 times, make 6 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 9: Chain 1, make 21 single crochets around (fasten off first leg, continue working on second leg), slip stitch to join.
How to Crochet the Body (Make 1)
Round 1: Join legs with chain 3: chain 1, make 17 single crochets (on leg 2), chain 3, make 21 single crochets in middle of leg 1, chain 3, make 3 single crochets (other side of chain), make 4 single crochets (leg 2), slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 1, work (7 single crochets, then 1 single crochet increase) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 3-7: Chain 1, make 54 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 8: Chain 1, work (11 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) 3 times, make 12 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 1 single crochet, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 9-10: Chain 1, make 50 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 11: Chain 1, make 4 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 10 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 11 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 10 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 7 single crochets, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 12-14: Chain 1, make 46 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 15: Chain 1, work (9 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) 3 times, make 10 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, make 1 single crochet, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 16-17: Chain 1, make 42 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 18: Chain 1, work (5 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 19-20: Chain 1, make 36 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 21: Chain 1, work (2 single crochets, single crochet 2 together, 2 single crochets) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Rounds 22-23: Chain 1, make 30 single crochets around, slip stitch to join.
Round 24: Chain 1, work (3 single crochets, single crochet 2 together) 6 times around, slip stitch to join.
Round 25: Chain 1, make 24 single crochets in back loops only, slip stitch to join. Leave a long tail for sewing, stuff with fiberfill.
How to Crochet the Scarf (Make 1)
Round 1: Working in front loops only of round 24: chain 2, make 3 double crochets in each stitch around for a total of 72 double crochets, slip stitch to join.
Round 2: Chain 2, work 72 double crochet increases (2 double crochets in each stitch) around, slip stitch to join.
Tips: When working on your tiger's stripes, weave in yarn ends as you go to keep them secure. Stuff firmly but gradually for a well-shaped body, and make sure your tension stays consistent for professional-looking results.
Crochet Tiger Assemble
Step 1: Match and sew the head to the body stitch by stitch, then secure and weave in the ends.
Step 2: Find the center of the head to attach the eyes, spacing them 5 stitches apart. Attach the nose in the center of the row below the eyes. Take the cheek pieces and create irregular French knots on the back using single strand black yarn. Attach them on both sides of the nose. Then embroider the mouth in black yarn at the center of the cheeks. Secure and weave in the ends.
Step 3: Attach the inner ears to the outer ears, then carefully position and sew them securely to both sides of the head.
Step 4: Sew the arms to both sides of the body, then attach the belly piece to the front.
Step 5: Finally, embroider stripes on both sides of the arms, legs, and face. Create a crown pattern on the forehead. Tie off and weave in all ends when finished.
Tips: When assembling your tiger, pin all pieces in place before sewing to ensure proper positioning. Take extra care with facial features placement - they'll give your tiger its personality. Stuff gradually for balanced shaping.
Care and Cleaning Instructions
Daily Care Tips
Keep your crocheted tiger looking its best by gently brushing its fur with a soft brush occasionally. Watch out for any loose threads and secure them promptly to prevent unraveling. Regular dusting with a clean cloth will help maintain its fresh appearance.
Washing Methods
For the best results, hand wash your tiger with mild soap in lukewarm water. Avoid wringing or twisting – instead, gently squeeze out excess water. Never put it in the dryer; reshape while damp and allow to air dry flat away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading.
Storage Suggestions
When your tiger needs a rest, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. I recommend using a sealed plastic container or fabric storage bag to protect it from dust and moisture. Keep it away from areas where pets or small children might accidentally damage it – this cutie deserves gentle handling!
What’s Next?
Did you enjoy making this adorable tiger? I'd love to see your creation! Share your tiger photos on Instagram with #CrochetTiger, pin this pattern on Pinterest for other crafters, or show it off in your Facebook crochet groups. Don't forget to tag me on Twitter – your makes always brighten my day! Let's spread the crochet joy together.
