Nottolino Amigurumi For Handmade Gift Ideas
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
The Best Things About This Pattern
This What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi is an amigurumi worked in taupe, cream, pink, and black. You will crochet the head, body, ears, eyes, face mask, arms, legs, and the feet. The pattern walks through each piece with clear round-by-round counts, then shows how to assemble and finish everything so the result matches the reference photos.
Use the pattern card as your material checklist before starting. Safety eyes give a polished look. The instructions include face mask. It stands upright on its own. Keep your tension even, count stitches at the end of shaping rounds, and check the placement notes before sewing pieces together for a clean handmade result.
Before You Start: Pattern Notes
This project rewards the maker with a character that holds its shape through play, display, and gifting, which is exactly why so many crocheters return to small amigurumi figures once they finish their first one. The compact size keeps the stitch count manageable, while the shaping still offers enough rounds of decreases and increases to keep an intermediate hand engaged. It suits anyone who enjoys finishing a piece in a weekend, parents looking for a handmade toy, and collectors who like to line a shelf with figures that share a consistent scale. Because the body is worked in continuous spirals rather than joined rounds, you also build fluency with a technique that carries over to almost every other amigurumi you will tackle later.
Yarn choice matters more here than on larger pieces, since a dense, smooth stitch is what gives Nottolino that crisp silhouette. A worsted weight acrylic or a cotton blend in a solid or lightly heathered shade will block the stuffing from showing through and keep the curves defined. If you want a softer, slightly fuzzier look, a velvet or chenille weight works too, though you will need to stuff firmly so the legs and ears do not collapse. For color, a muted body paired with a contrasting accent for the nose, tail tip, and ear interiors reads clearly at this scale, while a single-tone version looks equally charming if you prefer a minimalist shelf presence. Worked in standard worsted weight with a 3.5 mm hook, the finished figure measures approximately 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide.
The most common pitfall is stuffing too loosely in the head and limbs, which causes the surface to pucker around the decreases and gives the figure a tired, sagging look. To avoid this, pack polyester fiberfill in small wads, working it into the narrow neck of each piece with the back of your hook before closing the opening. Shaping stays clean, the decreases reads as a smooth curve, and the finished
Everything You Need to Make This
| Material | Details |
|---|---|
| Yarn | worsted yarn in taupe, cream, pink, black, light brown, gray |
| 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.
Crochet Stitches in 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) |
How to Crochet This Pattern
head, taupe 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, taupe 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 taupe with pink inner yarn for the ears.
ears (make 2), taupe with pink inner 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 cream yarn for the face mask.
face mask, cream yarn
Embroider the face details with matching yarn after the eyes are placed.
Use satin stitch, back stitch, or lazy-daisy stitches for the mouth, cheeks, and any visible markings.
Switch to taupe with pink hands yarn for the arms.
arms (make 2), taupe with pink hands 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)
Rnd 12: (dec) x 1 (1 sc, dec) x 5 (11)
Rnd 13: (dec) x 4 (1 sc, dec) x 1 (6)
Rnd 14: fasten off, close hole (6)
Switch to taupe yarn for the legs.
legs (make 2), taupe 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 pink yarn for the feet.
feet (make 2), pink 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
- body: 26 stitches at widest point
- ears (x 2): 8 stitches at widest point
- eyes (x 2): See pattern
- face mask: See pattern
- arms (x 2): 17 stitches at widest point
- legs (x 2): 18 stitches at widest point
- feet (x 2): 24 stitches at widest point
Bring It All Together
1. Stuff head, 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 ears to the sides of the head. Position on the upper sides of the head, angled 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. Attach eyes 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 face mask to the head. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.
5. Sew arms to the body. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.
6. Sew legs to the body. Pin in place before sewing to check positioning. Use whipstitch for a secure attachment.
7. Sew feet in place following the reference photo. Pin first to check positioning, then whipstitch with matching yarn, weaving in the ends securely.
8. 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.
Tips for a Perfect Finish and Care
This guide gathers practical crochet tips and care instructions to help you finish your Nottolino amigurumi neatly and keep it looking well over time. The pattern is rated intermediate, so a few more advanced shaping and finishing moves are fair game, but everything below stays grounded in solid technique and consistent tension with your 3.5 mm hook.
- Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round and move it up at the start of each new round; amigurumi spirals can hide the beginning stitch, and a marker prevents the counting drift that throws off your decrease placement.
- Keep your tension on the firm side so the fabric reads as a tight, even knit with no gaps between stitches, since stuffing will try to push through any loose spot and ruin the smooth silhouette of the head and body.
- Use decreases instead of standard two-together decreases on the shaping rounds, because the smoother join keeps the surface free of little bumps that would show through on rounded pieces like the muzzle and ears.
- Stuff in small amounts at a time with the tip of your hook or a chopstick, packing the fiberfill firmly into narrow areas such as the neck, legs, and tips of the ears before the opening gets too small to reach.
- Check your gauge by crocheting a small swatch in single crochet before starting, because a 3.5 mm hook paired with a heavier yarn can behave very differently from the same hook in a lighter yarn, and matching the listed gauge protects the finished size.
- When joining pieces, work through both loops of the receiving piece and only the front loop of the attaching piece to create a clean seam that sits flat rather than rolling outward.
- For color changes, work the new yarn in the last pull-through of the stitch before the change so the transition sits inside the fabric and stays hidden inside the piece.
- Block
Quick Answers for Makers
What hook size do I need for the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi pattern?
The What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi pattern calls for a 3.5 mm crochet hook. This size pairs well with worsted weight yarn and helps create the tight stitch definition needed for amigurumi, so stuffing stays neatly hidden inside the finished figure.
What yarn weight works best for the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi?
Use a worsted weight yarn for the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi. Worsted weight offers enough structure to hold the shape of small parts while still being soft enough for a cuddly toy, and it stitches up smoothly with a 3.5 mm hook.
How long does it take to crochet the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi?
Most crocheters finish the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi in about 2-4 hours, depending on their pace and how many breaks they take. Smaller pieces like ears and limbs move quickly, while the head and body take up the largest share of that time.
Is the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi suitable for beginners?
The What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi is rated as an intermediate pattern, so some amigurumi experience is helpful. You will likely encounter techniques like decreases and working in continuous spiral rounds, which are manageable once you have a few basic projects under your belt.
Can I sell finished items made from the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi pattern?
Yes, you can generally sell finished pieces made from the What We Need for Nottolino amigurumi pattern, as long as you credit the designer and do not reproduce or res
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