Platypus Amigurumi For Unique Handmade Gifts

Why Crocheters Love This Design

Meet your new stitchy companion: a plump little platypus worked in worsted weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, standing roughly 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide from bill to tail. The body is built in continuous rounds using single crochet, with invisible decreases shaping the rounded head and the gentle taper of the bill. A short row section forms the iconic flat tail, while surface crochet adds the subtle ridge along the bill and the webbed texture of the feet.

You will work in the back loops only for the head shaping, switch hooks briefly for the tighter muzzle, and finish with a neat mattress stitch seam along the belly. The eyes are embroidered with a satin stitch, and small felt pads are tacked onto the feet for extra detail. Expect a satisfying rhythm of increases and decreases, a few color changes for the bill and feet, and a tension check midway to keep your gauge even. At an intermediate skill level, this pattern rewards patience with a soft, sculptural friend that fits nicely in the crook of your arm.

Materials and Supplies You'll Need

Material	Details
Yarn	worsted yarn in brown, tan, black, white, pink
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 = 2 inches with 3.5 mm hook. Not critical but aim for tight, even stitches, if stuffing shows through, go down one hook size.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

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)
ch	Chain

Crochet Along: Full Instructions

head, brown 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)

body, brown 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 tan yarn for the bill.

bill, tan 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: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Rnd 8: dec around (6)

Rnd 9: fasten off, close hole (6)

Switch to black yarn for the eye.

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.

eyebrow (make 2), black yarn

Embroider this facial detail with black thread after the head is closed.

Use short straight stitches or satin stitch, keeping the line light and curved so it sits naturally above the eye.

Switch to pink yarn for the cheek.

cheek, pink yarn

Add the cheek detail with pale pink embroidery thread after the head is closed.

Work two or three tiny straight stitches on each side, just below and outside the eye line.

Switch to white yarn for the neck_ruff.

neck_ruff, white yarn

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: inc around (12)

Rnd 3: sc around (12)

Rnd 4: sc around (12)

Switch to brown yarn for the arm.

arm (make 2), brown 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)

Switch to tan yarn for the foot.

foot (make 2), tan 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 brown yarn for the tail.

tail, brown 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)

Rnd 10: fasten off, close hole (6)

Switch to white yarn for the chin.

chin, white 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)

neck ruff, white 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: dec around (6)

Rnd 6: fasten off, close hole (6)

Switch to tan yarn for the feet.

feet (make 2), tan 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 white yarn for the collar.

collar, white yarn

Row 1: Ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (10)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing

Final Assembly, Step by Step

1. Stuff head, body, foot 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. Attach 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.

3. Embroider eyebrow above each eye, following the natural brow arch. Use short satin or back stitches in matching yarn, keeping the line light and slightly curved. Place them about one eye-width above the eyes for a balanced expression.

4. Sew cheek to the head. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.

5. Sew arm to the body. Align carefully and pin in place before sewing. Check from all angles, then sew firmly with whipstitch.

6. Sew tail to the body. Align carefully and pin in place before sewing. Check from all angles, then sew firmly with whipstitch.

7. Drape collar around the neck and sew 2-3 discreet anchor points at the back so it stays centered. Do not pull it tight; leave enough room for the head to sit naturally.

8. Sew bill in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.

9. Sew eyebrow in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.

10. Sew neck_ruff in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.

11. Sew neck ruff in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.

12. Sew feet in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.

13. 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.

Care Tips for Your Finished Amigurumi

These tips will help you crochet a well-shaped platypus amigurumi using a 3.5 mm hook.

• Use stitch markers to mark the first stitch of each round, since the tight spiral can make counting rounds difficult.
• Work invisible decreases to keep the shaping smooth and avoid visible gaps between stitches.
• Stuff the head and body firmly but evenly, paying extra attention to the bill area so it holds its flat shape.
• Maintain a consistent tension so your stitches sit nicely together and the fabric is firm enough to hold stuffing without stretching.
• Embroider the bill and feet separately and sew them on, rather than crocheting them directly, for cleaner color transitions.
• Check your gauge before starting; a slightly tighter gauge gives a sturdier finished doll.

Follow these care instructions to keep your platypus looking its best.

• Hand wash gently in cool water with a mild detergent.
• Air dry flat on a towel, reshaping the bill and feet while damp.
• Avoid prolonged direct sunlight to prevent color fading.
• Spot clean small marks with a damp cloth instead of washing the whole piece.

Quick Answers for Makers

What yarn and hook do I need for the platypus amigurumi?

You'll need worsted weight yarn in your chosen colors plus a 3.5 mm crochet hook. The 3.5 mm hook creates a tight, even stitch that prevents the stuffing from showing through, which is essential for a polished platypus amigurumi.

Is the platypus amigurumi pattern suitable for beginners?

This pattern is rated Intermediate, so some amigurumi experience is helpful. You'll encounter techniques like invisible decrease and working in continuous rounds. If you're new to these methods, a quick practice swatch is recommended before starting the platypus amigurumi.

How long does it take to crochet the platypus amigurumi?

Most crocheters complete the platypus amigurumi in 2-4 hours, depending on your pace and how many breaks you take. The small size and worsted weight yarn help keep the project moving along quickly.

Can I sell finished platypus amigurumi made from this pattern?

Yes, finished platypus amigurumi made from this pattern are generally allowed to be sold in small batches. Please credit the designer when listing items online or at craft fairs.

Can I resize the platypus amigurumi?

Yes, you can resize the platypus amigurumi by switching to a different yarn weight or adjusting your hook size. Keep in mind that changing yarn weight will also alter the overall look and the amount of stuffing needed.

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