Telescope Amigurumi For Stargazing Kids Who Love Space
Finished Size: Approximately 10 inches (25 cm) tall and 7 inches (18 cm) wide
Skill Level: intermediate
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Hook Size: 3.5 mm
Yarn: worsted yarn
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, polyfill
Gauge: Approximately 12 sc x 14 rounds = 4 inches with 3.5 mm hook
What Makes This Pattern Special
There is something quietly satisfying about crocheting an object that has no practical purpose except to make you smile, and this amigurumi telescope fits that brief nicely. Worked in worsted weight yarn on a 3.5 mm hook, the finished piece stands approximately 10 inches (25 cm) tall and 7 inches (18 cm) wide, a compact little prop that feels solid in the hand thanks to a tight single crochet gauge and a generous fiberfill core. The barrel is built in joined rounds with decreases shaping the narrowing eye piece, while a short row technique gives the angled lens hood its tilted silhouette. A band of the stitch detail around the middle creates the ridged focus ring, and a few rounds of color work in muted bronze and cream suggest the brass fittings without straying into complex intarsia territory.
At an intermediate skill level, the pattern use you are comfortable reading stitch counts, marking rounds, and counting rows for pieces that curve rather than lie flat. You will work a magic ring start, increase through the dome of the objective lens, then decrease evenly down the length of the tube before picking up stitches around the rim to build the eye piece separately and seam it on. The pattern notes specify 42 stitches around the widest part of the barrel and a finished circumference of roughly 22 inches (56 cm), which is why a swatch in the round is recommended before you begin so your telescope does not turn into a teapot.
Stitched in a sturdy cotton blend, the finished telescope is the sort of soft sculpture that earns a place on a bookshelf between the field guides and the star charts, propped on a desk during long virtual meetings, or tucked into the pocket of a cardigan at a stargazing night on the back porch. It also makes a thoughtful handmade gift for the friend who never quite outgrew their childhood astronomy kit, especially when paired with a small notebook of constellations. For crocheters
Before You Start: Pattern Notes
This telescope amigurumi is a satisfying make for crocheters who enjoy projects with a bit of structure and a clear sense of progress. The shape is built from a handful of cylinders stacked together, so the construction feels logical rather than fiddly, and the finished piece has a real presence on a shelf or desk. It suits intermediate makers who want to practice shaping, joining, and small detail work without committing to a huge or overly complex pattern. It also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves astronomy, stargazing, or vintage-inspired decor.
For a firm, defined silhouette at roughly 10 inches (25 cm) tall and 7 inches (18 cm) wide, choose a worsted weight cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend. Cotton gives the telescope a sturdy, slightly weighty feel that helps it sit upright, while a blend adds a touch of softness if you prefer a more squeezable finish. Work with a 3.5 mm hook throughout; this size tightens the stitches enough to keep the stuffing from peeking through and gives the body a clean, sculpted look. Classic color pairings include navy blue with brass or gold accents, deep forest green with cream, or charcoal with copper. If you want a more playful version, try teal with mustard yellow, or a soft lavender with white. Just keep the contrast strong enough that the eye piece, focus knob, and tripod legs read clearly from a distance.
One common pitfall with this style of amigurumi is letting the stitch tension loosen as the cylinder grows taller, which causes the body to lean or bow. To avoid this, pause every few rounds and check that your stitches are still snug against the hook, especially after the increases are finished and you are working long stretches in the round. Counting rounds carefully and using a stitch marker to mark the start of each round will also keep the walls even. If you notice a slight wobble forming, blocking the finished
Everything You Need to Make This
| Material | Details |
|---|---|
| Yarn | worsted yarn in blue, yellow, gray, black, navy blue, yellow/gold |
| Hook | 3.5 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 = 4 inches with 3.5 mm hook. Not critical but aim for tight, even stitches, if stuffing shows through, go down one hook size.
Stitch Guide for This Pattern
Note: This pattern uses US crochet terms. All rounds are worked in crochet 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) |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| ch | Chain |
The Full Pattern, Step by Step
main telescope tube, blue with yellow accents yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: sc around (12)
Rnd 4: sc around (12)
Rnd 5: sc around (12)
Rnd 6: sc around (12)
Rnd 7: sc around (12)
Rnd 8: sc around (12)
Rnd 9: dec around (6)
Rnd 10: fasten off, close hole (6)
finder scope, blue with yellow accents yarn
Row 1: Ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (11)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc across (11)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across (11)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc across (11)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc across (11)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc across (11)
Switch to gray yarn for the tripod legs.
tripod legs (make 3), gray 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)
Rnd 12: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 13: dec around (6)
Rnd 14: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to gray with yellow accents yarn for the eye piece.
eye piece, gray with yellow accents yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: dec around (6)
Rnd 4: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to yellow yarn for the decorative flower motifs.
decorative flower motifs (make 2), yellow yarn
Row 1: Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (7)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc across (7)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across (7)
Switch to black yarn for the knobs.
knobs (make 2), black 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)
Switch to blue yarn for the telescope body.
telescope body, blue 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: sc around (26)
Rnd 12: sc around (26)
Rnd 13: sc around (26)
Rnd 14: sc around (26)
Rnd 15: (2 sc, dec) x 4 (3 sc, dec) x 2 (20)
Rnd 16: (1 sc, dec) x 4 (2 sc, dec) x 2 (14)
Rnd 17: (dec) x 4 (1 sc, dec) x 2 (8)
Rnd 18: (2 sc, dec) x 2 (6)
Rnd 19: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to gray yarn for the tripod center connector.
tripod center connector, gray 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: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Rnd 12: dec around (6)
Rnd 13: fasten off, close hole (6)
lens rim (make 2), gray yarn
Rnd 1: Ch 15, join with sl st to form ring, sc in each ch around (14)
Rnd 2: sc around (14)
Fasten off. Do not stuff.
Switch to yellow yarn for the decorative stripe.
decorative stripe (make 2), yellow yarn
Row 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (6)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc across (6)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across (6)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc across (6)
flower decoration (make 2), yellow yarn
Row 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (6)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc across (6)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across (6)
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing
Switch to black yarn for the safety eye.
safety eye (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 gray yarn for the tripod feet.
tripod feet (make 3), gray 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)
lens cap/objective end, gray yarn
Rnd 1: Ch 23, join with sl st to form ring, sc in each ch around (22)
Rnd 2: sc around (22)
Rnd 3: sc around (22)
Rnd 4: sc around (22)
Rnd 5: sc around (22)
Rnd 6: sc around (22)
Rnd 7: sc around (22)
Fasten off. Do not stuff.
Switch to black yarn for the buttons.
buttons (make 2), black yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Fasten off (6 sts)
Final Stitch Counts
- main telescope tube: 12 stitches at widest point
- finder scope: 11 stitches at widest point
- tripod legs (x 3): 18 stitches at widest point
- eye piece: 12 stitches at widest point
- decorative flower motifs (x 2): 7 stitches at widest point
- knobs (x 2): 24 stitches at widest point
- telescope body: 26 stitches at widest point
- tripod center connector: 18 stitches at widest point
- lens rim (x 2): 14 stitches at widest point
- decorative stripe (x 2): 6 stitches at widest point
- flower decoration (x 2): 6 stitches at widest point
- safety eye (x 2): See pattern
- tripod feet (x 3): 24 stitches at widest point
- lens cap/objective end: 22 stitches at widest point
- buttons (x 2): 6 stitches at widest point
Eyepiece
- Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts)
- Round 2: inc in each st around (12 sts)
- Round 3: [sc, inc] repeat around (18 sts)
- Round 4: sc in each st around (18 sts)
- Round 5: sc in each st around (18 sts)
- Round 6: [sc, dec] repeat around (12 sts)
- Round 7: dec around (6 sts)
Stuff firmly. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Final Assembly, Step by Step
1. Stuff telescope body, tripod center connector 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 tripod legs to the body. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.
3. Attach eye piece to the head. Position on the upper half of the head, 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.
4. Sew decorative flower motifs onto the head as shown in the reference photo, using the long tail for a discreet anchor. Pin first to try positions before committing.
5. Sew flower decoration onto the head as shown in the reference photo, using the long tail for a discreet anchor. Pin first to try positions before committing.
6. Attach safety eye to the head. Position on the upper half of the head, 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.
7. Sew main telescope tube in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
8. Sew finder scope in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
9. Sew knobs in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
10. Sew lens rim in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
11. Sew decorative stripe in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
12. Sew tripod feet in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
13. Sew lens cap/objective end in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
14. Sew buttons in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
15. 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.
Maker Tips and Keeping It Clean
This intermediate amigurumi telescope benefits from careful technique choices to keep stitches even, shaping crisp, and the finished piece well balanced. The tips below focus on practical decisions that support a sturdy, well-defined result when working with a 3.5 mm hook.
- Use stitch markers to mark the first stitch of every round, especially across the long tube of the telescope body. Because the rounds spiral continuously, a marker prevents the gradual drift that causes uneven stitch counts and visible jogs at color changes.
- Maintain consistent tension by wrapping yarn around your index finger and supporting the working end with your middle finger. Steady tension keeps the fabric firm enough to hold stuffing without visible gaps, which is important for the narrow barrel sections.
- Use decreases rather than standard single crochet decreases when shaping the eye piece and lens caps. Inserting the hook under the front loops only produces a smooth surface that reads cleanly on the small circumference.
- Stuff the telescope firmly but evenly, adding small amounts of fiberfill before closing each section. Over stuffing the narrow neck will distort the round shape, while under-stuffing leaves soft spots that collapse when the piece is handled.
- Work color changes in the last yarn-over of the previous stitch to lock the new color in place. This avoids color bleed through the wrong side and keeps the transition tight where the telescope bands meet the main body.
- Join pieces with a whip stitch through the outer loops only, matching stitch counts so the seam lies flat. A flat seam keeps the telescope stable when displayed on a shelf or held by a child.
- Check gauge by crocheting a small swatch in the round before starting the body. A 3.5 mm hook with the chosen yarn should produce firm stitches that hold their shape, since loose fabric will not support the structured silhouette.
- Block lightly with a cool steam or damp cloth
Common Questions About This Pattern
What skill level is needed to crochet this telescope?
This amigurumi telescope pattern is rated as intermediate, so you should be comfortable with magic rings, single crochet stitches worked in continuous spirals, and decreases before starting. You will also need to know how to sew amigurumi pieces together neatly and weave in ends securely. If you have completed a few small crochet projects in the round, you should be ready to tackle this telescope.
What yarn and hook should I use for the telescope?
The pattern is designed for worsted weight yarn paired with a 3.5 mm crochet hook, which gives the telescope a sturdy structure that holds its shape well. Acrylic or cotton blends in worsted weight work beautifully, and choosing a darker color for the main tube will make the finished telescope look more realistic. Always check your gauge before beginning so your amigurumi telescope does not turn out too loose or too stiff.
How long will it take me to crochet the telescope?
Most crocheters finish this telescope in approximately 2-4 hours, depending on their stitching speed and how often they pause to count stitches. The body and tripod legs are the quickest parts, while assembling the lens cap, eye piece, and tripod takes a bit more patience. Setting aside a quiet afternoon is usually enough to complete the entire telescope from start to finish.
Can I sell finished telescopes made from this pattern?
Yes, you are welcome to sell finished amigurumi telescopes made from this pattern, whether at craft fairs, online shops, or local markets. Please credit the designer when listing or sharing your work, and do not reproduce or resell the written pattern itself. Many crocheters find that telescopes make popular gifts and sell especially well around science-themed events or astronomy gift occasions.
How do I customize the color of
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