Flaming Imp Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
Finished Size: Approximately 10 inches (25 cm) tall and 7 inches (18 cm) wide
Skill Level: Intermediate
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Hook Size: 4 mm
Yarn: worsted yarn
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, polyfill
Gauge: Approximately 12 sc x 14 rounds = 2 inches with 4 mm hook
Reasons You'll Enjoy Making This
Meet the Flaming Imp, a fiery little creature worked in worsted weight yarn with a 4 mm hook. At roughly 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide, this amigurumi stands just the right size to perch on a shelf or curl up in your hands. The pattern sits at an Intermediate skill level, so expect to use invisible decreases for shaping the pointed features, surface crochet to attach the flame accents, and short rows to build the curved horns. A small gauge swatch helps keep the stitches tight enough that stuffing stays hidden inside the body.
The texture shifts as you work, from the smooth, dense rounds of the torso to the looser, more open loops that form the flickering flames along the back and tail. You will count carefully through each round, watching the stitch numbers climb and dip as the silhouette narrows into a snout, flares into cheek tufts, and tapers into a pointed tail tip. Two safety eyes set the gaze, while embroidered eyebrows and a felted mouth bring the imp's mischievous expression to life. The finished piece has a satisfying weight in the hands, with just enough squish to remind you it was made, stitch by stitch, by yours.
Materials and Supplies You'll Need
| Material | Details |
|---|---|
| Yarn | worsted yarn in red, yellow, black, white |
| Hook | 4 mm crochet hook |
| Stuffing | Polyfill or fiberfill |
| Eyes | Safety eyes or embroidery thread |
| Extras | Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors |
Gauge: Approximately 12 sc x 14 rounds = 2 inches with 4 mm hook. Not critical but aim for tight, even stitches, if stuffing shows through, go down one hook size.
Crochet Stitches in This Pattern
Note: This pattern uses US crochet terms. All rounds are worked in continuous rounds unless stated otherwise. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sc | Single crochet |
| inc | Increase (2 sc in same stitch) |
| dec | Decrease (sc 2 together) |
Crochet Along: Full Instructions
head, red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Rnd 6: sc around (30)
Rnd 7: sc around (30)
Rnd 8: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Rnd 9: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Rnd 10: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 11: dec around (6)
Rnd 12: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to yellow yarn for the horns.
horns (make 2), yellow yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: sc around (6)
Rnd 3: sc around (6)
Rnd 4: sc around (6)
Rnd 5: sc around (6)
Rnd 6: sc around (6)
Rnd 7: sc around (6)
Rnd 8: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to red yarn for the ears.
ears (make 2), red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: (2 sc, inc) x 2 (8)
Rnd 3: sc around (8)
Rnd 4: sc around (8)
Rnd 5: sc around (8)
Rnd 6: (2 sc, dec) x 2 (6)
Rnd 7: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to black yarn for the eyes.
eyes (make 2), black yarn
Use 6 mm safety eyes or embroidered eyes; place them on the upper half of the head, about one eye-width apart.
If using safety eyes, insert the posts before closing the head opening and secure the backs firmly on the inside.
If embroidering, work two small black satin stitches, then add a tiny white stitch highlight if desired.
Switch to white yarn for the mouth.
mouth, white yarn
Embroider the mouth with black or dark brown thread after the eyes are placed.
Use a single curved satin stitch or back stitch, centered below the eyes and about 1.5 cm wide.
Switch to yellow yarn for the belly.
belly, yellow yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: (3 sc, inc) x 2 (4 sc, inc) x 2 (22)
Rnd 5: sc around (22)
Rnd 6: sc around (22)
Rnd 7: (3 sc, dec) x 2 (4 sc, dec) x 2 (18)
Rnd 8: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 9: dec around (6)
Rnd 10: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to red yarn for the arms.
arms (make 2), red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (2 sc, inc) x 2 (17)
Rnd 4: sc around (17)
Rnd 5: sc around (17)
Rnd 6: sc around (17)
Rnd 7: sc around (17)
Rnd 8: sc around (17)
Rnd 9: sc around (17)
Rnd 10: sc around (17)
Rnd 11: sc around (17)
tail, red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: sc around (6)
Rnd 3: sc around (6)
Rnd 4: sc around (6)
Rnd 5: sc around (6)
Rnd 6: sc around (6)
Rnd 7: sc around (6)
Rnd 8: sc around (6)
Rnd 9: sc around (6)
legs (make 2), red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: sc around (18)
Rnd 5: sc around (18)
Rnd 6: sc around (18)
Rnd 7: sc around (18)
Rnd 8: sc around (18)
Rnd 9: sc around (18)
Rnd 10: sc around (18)
Rnd 11: sc around (18)
muzzle, red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Rnd 3: sc around (9)
Rnd 4: (1 sc, dec) x 3 (6)
Rnd 5: fasten off, close hole (6)
body, red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Rnd 5: (11 sc, inc) x 2 (26)
Rnd 6: sc around (26)
Rnd 7: sc around (26)
Rnd 8: sc around (26)
Rnd 9: sc around (26)
Rnd 10: sc around (26)
Rnd 11: (11 sc, dec) x 2 (24)
Rnd 12: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Rnd 13: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 14: dec around (6)
Rnd 15: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to yellow and red yarn for the flame.
flame, yellow and red yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Rnd 5: sc around (24)
Rnd 6: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Rnd 7: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 8: dec around (6)
Rnd 9: fasten off, close hole (6)
Final Stitch Counts
- head: 30 stitches at widest point
- horns (x 2): 6 stitches at widest point
- ears (x 2): 8 stitches at widest point
- eyes (x 2): See pattern
- mouth: See pattern
- belly: 22 stitches at widest point
- arms (x 2): 17 stitches at widest point
- tail: 6 stitches at widest point
- legs (x 2): 18 stitches at widest point
- muzzle: 9 stitches at widest point
- body: 26 stitches at widest point
- flame: 24 stitches at widest point
Assembling Your Amigurumi
1. Stuff head, belly, body firmly with polyfill for stability. Shape as you go, pressing and molding to match the reference photo. Add extra stuffing to the base for a sturdy foundation.
2. Sew horns to the top of the head. Position symmetrically, about 1 cm apart, angled slightly outward. Pin in place before sewing to check alignment from all angles. Use the long tail left for sewing and whipstitch around the base.
3. Sew ears to the sides of the head. Position just below the horns, angled outward at 45 degrees. Pin in place before sewing to check alignment from all angles. Use the long tail left for sewing and whipstitch around the base.
4. Attach eyes to the head. Position on the upper half of the head, below the horns, spaced about one eye-width apart. Secure firmly with embroidery thread or fabric glue. Embroider a small line below each eye for a more expressive look.
5. Sew mouth to the head. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.
6. Sew muzzle to the front of the head. Center between the eyes, slightly below the eye line. Stuff lightly with polyfill before closing for a 3D effect. Pin in place before sewing to check alignment from all angles.
7. Sew arms to the body. Align carefully and pin in place before sewing. Check from all angles, then sew firmly with whipstitch.
8. Sew tail to the body. Align carefully and pin in place before sewing. Check from all angles, then sew firmly with whipstitch.
9. Sew legs to the body. Align carefully and pin in place before sewing. Check from all angles, then sew firmly with whipstitch.
10. Sew flame in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
11. Check all seams are secure. Gently tug each attached piece to test. Trim any loose yarn ends with sharp scissors. Weave in all remaining tails with a needle, passing through at least 3 stitches in each direction to prevent unraveling. Give the finished piece a gentle squeeze to distribute stuffing evenly and shape the final form.
Helpful Tips and Cleaning Advice
These practical tips will help you crochet a well-shaped Flaming Imp amigurumi with a 4 mm hook. The intermediate techniques below support clean shaping and tidy color transitions.
- Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round and move it up at the start of each new round to keep your stitch count accurate.
- Use invisible decreases when shaping the head, body, and limbs so the finished surface looks smooth without visible gaps.
- Stuff the piece firmly but evenly as you go, adding small amounts of fiberfill before the opening becomes too narrow to fill.
- Work flame tips with short rows to create the tapered points, keeping tension even so each tip curves nicely.
- Check your gauge by crocheting a small swatch before starting; consistent tension helps the pieces fit together cleanly.
- Use surface crochet to add facial features or flame outlines after stuffing, which keeps the shaping stable.
Follow these care instructions to keep your Flaming Imp looking its best over time.
- Hand wash gently in cool water with mild detergent, then rinse without wringing.
- Air dry flat on a clean towel, reshaping the piece while damp so it dries beautifully.
- Spot clean small marks with a damp cloth rather than fully washing the whole doll.
- Keep the amigurumi out of direct sunlight to prevent color fading on the flame sections.
Good to Know: Reader Questions
What yarn and hook should I use for the Flaming Imp?
You'll need worsted weight yarn and a 4 mm crochet hook. Any fiber content works, but acrylic or cotton blends are popular choices for amigurumi because they hold stitch definition well and are easy to wash.
How long does it take to crochet the Flaming Imp?
Most crocheters complete this project in 2-4 hours, depending on your pace and experience. The size is small enough for a quick make, but the shaping details add a bit of extra time.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
This pattern is rated Intermediate. It uses techniques like invisible decrease and working in the round, which are great skills to learn but is challenging if you're brand new to amigurumi. Some crocheters with basic experience jump right in successfully.
Can I sell finished Flaming Imps made from this pattern?
Yes, you may sell finished items made from this pattern. Please credit the designer when listing or sharing your work. Mass production is not permitted.
Can I make the imp larger or smaller?
Absolutely. To resize, simply switch to a thicker or thinner yarn weight and adjust your hook size accordingly. Using sport weight yarn with a smaller hook creates a mini version, while bulky yarn makes a chunky plush.
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