Free Crochet Mini Penguin Pattern



I have enjoyed seeing so many cute and colorful mini reindeer! I'm so excited for Week 2 of our 2019 Christmas in July event. Today is the release of Penny the Penguin, you can find her free pattern below!

If we're allowed to pick favorites, Penny might just be it! I love her sparkly cheeks and bright orange beak. Her details were really fun to put together all while still keeping the sewing minimal.

I originally set out to make her a smaller version of Penn the Penguin from last year's Christmas in July event. While I enjoyed Penn's pattern, I had trouble getting the white face piece to better resemble a penguin.

Revisiting it a year later (and with some frogging) I'm really happy to have the details just how I pictured it!

While I've made her as a girl version you can easily change up the colors and exclude the eyelashes for an adorable boy version too!

If you'd like more information on our Christmas in July event (or missed Rosie the Reindeer) head over here for all of the details, materials and dates!

New to amigurumi? Be sure to check out our Tips to Amigurumi page to walk you through the basics and methods we'll be using below! You'll be 'hooked' before you know it!

To stay up to date on new pattern releases (including the remaining Christmas in July patterns) you can sign up for our newsletter here!





Be sure to also join the Grace and Yarn Crochet Group on Facebook! Share your work, ask questions and engage with others who love to crochet!

While designing this series of patterns I took your requests from the group to keep them small. They all range from 6-8 inches tall (Penny's one of the smallest at 6 inches). Difference in tension may result in slightly taller or shorter animals but they should still be the perfect size for stuffing stockings this Winter!


Pattern


Grab the ad-free PDF version in my Etsy or Ravelry shop!


This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item from a link below I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the free patterns flowing! All links are to products I use and love! Thanks for supporting Grace and Yarn! For more information check out our disclosure here.

You may make and sell items made from this pattern but please do not sell, share or reproduce the actual pattern. If you sell finished items online (Etsy, etc) please provide a link to the pattern and credit to me as the designer, thank you. I hope you enjoy this pattern!


Materials -


  • Size 4 worsted weight yarn (25g of light gray, 25g of dark gray; small amount of white, orange, and accent color for scarf and cheeks)
  • 3.5 mm crochet hook (These are the hooks I use!)
  • 5mm crochet hook (scarf)
  • 9mm safety eyes
  • Black crochet/embroidery thread for eyelashes (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stuffing
  • Stitch markers (A piece of scrap yarn does the trick!)



Abbreviations - US terminology

MC- Magic circle

SC- Single crochet

SC INC- Single crochet increase

INV DEC- Invisible decrease

HDC – Half double crochet

DC – Double crochet

Sl st – Slip stitch

St(s)- Stitch(es)





NOTES -

- We will be using our 3.5mm crochet hook for each part apart from the scarf, which will use the 5mm.

- Slowly stuff as you go, you want it to be firm but not stretched. You will be working in the round; I like to use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round. You can find more tips on stuffing your amigurumi here!

- The body and head will be made as one piece.


Beak –

With orange

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 8 SC

Rounds 2-3: SC around (8)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.


Face Piece –
With white, chain 10

Row 1: HDC in the 2nd chain from your hook and in each chain across. Ch 1 and turn (9)

Row 2: SC, HDC, 2DC, Sl st, 2DC, HDC, SC, ch 1 and turn (9)

Row 3: Repeat row 2, ch 1 and turn.

Row 4: SC down the side, across the bottom and up the 3rd side placing 2 SC into each corner. Sl st into the next st to secure. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Next, insert your safety eyes into the middle portion of each rounded section on your face piece. Optional: add eyelashes/eyebrows to your liking.

Do not place the backs onto your safety eyes just yet. We will save this piece to sew on part way through making the head below.






Body –

With light gray

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 4: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 5: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 6: SC in the first 4 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 7: SC in the first 5 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (42)

Rounds 8-10: SC around (42)

Round 11: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Rounds 12-14: SC around (36)

Round 15: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Rounds 16-18: SC around (30)

Round 19: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 20: SC around (24)

Round 21: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 22: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)

Change to dark gray

*We will now start the head*

Round 23: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 24: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 25: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 26: SC in the first 4 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 27: SC in the first 5 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (42)

Rounds 28-34: SC around (42)


Note: Here is where we will add the facial features before we start closing the head. Line up your face piece and push your safety eyes through the stitches on the head. Mine were between rounds 30 and 31; 4 stitches apart. Once you have everything placed where you would like, sew around the edges to secure.

Next, sew your beak centered between the eyes adding a small amount of stuffing as you go.

Lastly, add your cheeks by passing through one stitch on the edge of each side with your pink or red yarn.





Round 35: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 36: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 37: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

*Continue to stuff the head firmly

Round 38: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 39: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)

Round 40: INV DEC around (6)

Fasten off and sew remaining part closed, weave in your end.



Flippers-

With light gray make 2 (I left mine unstuffed)

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Rounds 4-5: SC around (18)

Round 6: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)

Round 7: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (9)

Rounds 8-11: SC around (9)

At the end of round 11 pinch the arm flat and make 4 SC across the top to close, fasten off and leave a long tail to sew onto the body.





Feet –

With dark gray make 4 (we will use 2 to make each foot)

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Take 2 pieces with wrong sides facing together and sew around the edges to form one piece. Be sure to leave a tail remaining to sew onto the body. This completes one foot, repeat with the remaining 2 pieces to form the other foot.





Scarf –

Note: For the scarf we will be using the Crunch Stitch, which is a repeat of HDC into the first stitch followed by a slip stitch into the next. This will create a nice bumpy texture in our scarf.


With color of choice and 5mm hook chain 65

Row 1: *HDC into the 2nd chain from your hook, sl st into the next st*, *rep across, ch 2 and turn.

Row 2: *HDC into the first st, sl st into the next*, *rep across.

Fasten off leaving a tail to sew ends together after assembling.


Assembly –

1. First, sew your flippers onto the body centered with your facial features at round 20.

2. Next, wrap your scarf around the neck twice. Using your remaining tail, sew the ends of your scarf together to create an infinity scarf.

3. Lastly, sew your feet centered onto the bottom of your penguin. I attached at the back of the feet and left the front half open for slight movement.





Your mini penguin is complete! I hope you have enjoyed making this pattern. Feel free to share a picture with us in the group, we'd love to see them!

Looking for more Christmas patterns? Find them all rounded up here!

Be sure to check back next week for the release of Sam the Snowman!


4 comments

  1. I love all your patterns especially the penguin, which is so so cute. I'll be doing this as I am a collector of penguins! BTW would you possibly have a pattern for seahorses? I'm looking for someone who has varying patterns for seahorses. My nephew and wife is having a baby girl and the theme in the room is going to be seahorses. Do you or know of anybody that would have these kind of patterns? It would be appreciated thank you and thank you will your other patterns that you share

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi! I don't have a seahorse pattern at this time but hope to work on an ocean theme next Spring! My sweet friend Amanda with Loops and Love Crochet just released an adorable seahorse pattern I think you'll love! You can find it here: https://loopsandlovecrochet.com/2019/08/02/mommy-and-me-seahorse-amigurumi-free-crochet-pattern/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stephanie Thanks so much for mini penguin pattern I am 78 year old great grandma and made it for my Great Granddaughter she loved it and so did I. I put a flat beak added a necklace and a Sun Hat Thanks again you and all like you are appreciated Granny

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm a great grandma too and have grandchildren and great grands that are young as well as adult grands. I will be making one of these penguins for my youngest grandson who is 4 and probably for my great grandboys who are 5 (two of them)and 1.Thank you so much. I also want to make a seahorse so will check your site since this is being posted in 2022 and will check Amanda's page also.Thank you again

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