Friday, August 22, 2008

Crochet Pattern: Amigurumi Wolf





I've created my first original amigurumi pattern - a wolf. I wanted to crochet a wolf for a friend who was going off to school at the University of Nevada - Reno (their mascot is the wolfpack). But I couldn't find a wolf pattern online that I liked, so I decided to write my own.
Coming up with my own pattern was easier than I thought it would be - I just started crocheting and if I didn't like the way the it was going I just ripped the stitches out and started again. As I crocheted I kept a log of how many stitches I used in each round and made notes if I used any special increases or decreases. This type of pattern was easy for me to read, but when it came time to post it online I realized that many crocheters would have no idea what to do with my crazy list of numbers!
To find out how an amigurumi pattern should be written, I looked online at other free patterns created by bloggers and picked the three that I thought were easiest to understand: Ana Paula's, Planet June's, and Nimoe's. I then used the writing style of these patterns as a guide to how mine should be written. After writing up my pattern properly I tested it by using it to create another wolf.
I hope you enjoy this pattern and I'd love to see photos of any wolves you make using it. If you have any questions or find any errors please let me know in the comments section.
Update 8/16/09: Cissi of Amigurumi på svenska has translated this pattern into Swedish!


Wolf Amigurumi Pattern
Notes on this pattern:
  • My patterns are free and may not be sold. Please do not reproduce or repost patterns or instructions from CraftyCattery.com without my permission. For information on selling items created from my patterns, please view the FAQ.
  • Probably the most complicated parts of this pattern are the muzzle and tail. The head and body are the typical amigurumi "mushroom" shape and the paws and ears are pretty simple to crochet.
  • The finished size of the wolf is about 5 inches sitting, 7 inches standing.
Materials needed:
  • Bulky weight yarn in grey, white, and black (I used Bernat Softee Chunky)
  • Size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
  • Optional: Safety eyes and nose (if the item is intended for children over 3 years)
Abbreviations used in this pattern:
  • Rnd = round
  • sc = single crochet
  • st = stitch
  • sts = stitches
  • ch = chain
  • sc2tog = single crochet two stitches together, aka a decrease. (I recommend using falwyn's invisible decrease.)
The pattern:
Muzzle
Using white:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] three times (15 sts).
Rnd 4: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 5: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 6: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 7: [sc2tog, sc 3] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 8: [sc2tog, sc 2] three times (9 sts).
Bind off, leaving yarn tail to sew muzzle to head.

Blaze
The blaze is crocheted flat. Using grey:
Row 1: ch 2, 2 sc in second chain from hook, ch 1 turn (2 sts).
Row 2: sc across, ch 1 turn (2 sts).
Row 3: 2 sc in each st, ch 1 turn (4 sts).
Row 4: sc across, ch 1 turn (4 sts).
Row 5: 2 sc in 1st st, sc next two st, 2 sc in 4th st, ch 1 turn (6 sts) .
Row 6: sc across, ch 1 turn (6 sts).
Row 7: sc across, ch 1 turn (6 sts).
Bind off, leaving tail to sew blaze onto muzzle.

Sew blaze on top of muzzle, with short end of blaze positioned just above the point of the muzzle. Use black yarn to embroider nose over end of blaze or attach plastic safety nose. Stuff the muzzle.

Blaze - short end at the right

Blaze sewn to muzzle

Nose embroidered on muzzle
Ear
Make two using grey:
Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring (4 sts).
Rnd 2: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] two times (6 sts).
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] two times (8 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] two times (10 sts).
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 4] two times (12 sts).
Rnd 6: [2 sc in next st, sc 5] two times (14 sts).
Bind off, leaving long tail. Use tail to sew open end of ear together so it is flat (do not stuff). Leave excess tail to sew ear to head.

Head and Body
Using grey:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] six times (18 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] six times (24 sts).
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] six times (30 sts).
Rnd 6: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 7: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 8: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 9: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 10: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 11: sc around (30 sts).
Rnd 12: [sc2tog, sc 3] six times (24 sts).
Rnd 13: [sc2tog, sc 2] six times (18 sts).

Sew the ears and muzzle to the head, using grey yarn to attach the ears and top of the muzzle and white yarn to attach the lower part of the muzzle. Embroider or attach plastic safety eyes. Stuff head then continue crocheting:

Rnd 14: [sc2tog, sc 1] six times (12 sts).
Rnd 15: [sc2tog] six times (6 sts).
Rnd 16: sc around (6 sts).
(Optional - Rnd 16a: sc around (6 sts). If you’d like a floppy head, do this extra row. If you don’t want a floppy head, leave this row out.)
Rnd 17: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] three times (9 sts).
Rnd 18: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 19: sc around (12 sts).
Rnd 20: sc around (12 sts).
Rnd 21: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] three times (15 sts).
Rnd 22: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 23: [sc2tog, sc 3] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 24: [sc2tog] three times (6 sts).

Stuff body. Bind off and close hole.

Front Paw
Make two using grey:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 3: sc around (12 sts).
Rnd 4: sc around (12 sts).
Rnd 5: [sc2tog, sc 2] three times (9 sts).
Rnd 6: sc around (9 sts).
Rnd 7: [sc2tog, sc 1] three times (6 sts).
Rnd 8: sc around (6 sts).
Rnd 9: sc around (6 sts).
Bind off, leaving long tail to sew paw to body. Stuff paw and sew opening shut.

Back Paw
Make two using grey:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] three times (15 sts).
Rnd 4: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 5: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 6: [sc2tog, sc 3] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 7: sc around (12 sts).
Rnd 8: [sc2tog, sc 2] three times (9 sts).
Rnd 9: sc around (9 sts).
Rnd 10: sc around (9 sts).
Rnd 11: [sc2tog, sc 1] three times (6 sts).
Rnd 12: sc around (6 sts).
Bind off, leaving long tail to sew paw to body. Stuff paw and sew opening shut.

Tail
Note: The tail is crocheted with most of the increases on one side of the tail and most of the decreases on the other so that it will have a curve.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring (4 sts).
Rnd 2: sc across (4 sts).
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] twice (6 sts).
Rnd 4: 2 sc in next st, sc 1, sc2tog, sc 2 (6 sts).
Rnd 5: 2 sc in next st, sc 5 (7 sts).
Rnd 6: 2 sc in next st, sc 6 (8 sts).
Rnd 7: 2 sc in next st, sc 2, sc2tog, sc 3 (8 sts).
Rnd 8: 2 sc in next st, sc 2, sc2tog, sc 3 (8 sts).
Rnd 9: 2 sc in next st, sc 2, sc2tog, sc 3 (8 sts).
Rnd 10: 2 sc in next st, sc 7 (9 sts).
Rnd 11: 2 sc in next st, sc 8 (10 sts).
Rnd 12: 2 sc in next st, sc 3, sc2tog, sc 4 (10 sts).
Rnd 13: 2 sc in next st, sc 3, sc2tog, sc 4 (10 sts).
Rnd 14: [sc2tog, sc 3] two times (8 sts).
Bind off, leaving long tail to sew tail onto body. Stuff tail.

Sew front paws on to body below the head. Sew back paws near the bottom of the body. Sew the tail on the back side of the body between the back paws. If wanted, use black yarn to embroider claws on to each paw.

My test wolf (left) and my prototype wolf (right - smaller because he was made with a lighter-weight yarn)

37 comments:

Andrea said...

big bad wolf! I want to make this...

Anonymous said...

Very cute pattern!

Cat Carlisle said...

Thanks for the compliments! If you do make a wolf I would love to see pics. :)

Wolfy Chick said...

i love this! i had been looking for an ami wolf too and this one was def the cutest >,< im making him now, he isnt done but when i finish i'll post some pics. thank you for the pattern!

Cat Carlisle said...

Glad you liked it, Wolfy Chick! I can't wait to see your photos. :)

Cissi said...

This wolf is just soo nice. I've made one for my daughters class, which is named The Wolves. I have an amigurumi blog in which I translate and publish English amigurumi patterns into Swedish. I put a link back to the designers blog. All patterns are of cause free. You are welcome to visist my blog before you make your decision at Amigurumi på svenska.
Have a nice day!

uzmanamator said...

That is lovely I lıked it and thanks for pattern...

Cat Carlisle said...

Thanks for the comment, glad you like it. :)

Megan T said...

I must learn how to crochet because I will scream if I don't make a wolf soon!!!!!!!!!!!

Murielle aka Salem said...

Love the idea of a wolf, have a dear friend I want to make one for!

Are you on Ravelry?!

Cat Carlisle said...

Thanks, I'm so glad you like it! No, I'm not on Ravelry yet. Do you recommend it?

Нина Ржевская, Художник-кукольник. Nina Rzhevskaya, doll artist. said...

What a cutie!!! Neatly done! Thank you so much for sharing.

Cat Carlisle said...

Thank you!

WithLoveEM said...

Ah! I love this! The only problem is that I cannot crochet. But! My bestfriend can lol, I'll do the embroidery nose and such :) Because that's my specialty.

Cat Carlisle said...

Sounds good, let me know how it turns out!

Mary said...

Very nice !
Thank you for this pattern.

Cat Carlisle said...

You are very welcome! :)

lisa said...

I almost finiched it, I'll send you a link as I finished it ;)

djamgcmw said...

im making one for my boyfriend he loves wolves but im having little issue with body i got the head but when i finish the body it seems so tiny compared to the head. i tryed doing extra rows but it looks like an alian any advise?

Cat Carlisle said...

Does your body look about the same size as the body in my pictures? If it does, then you're probably doing it right. I purposely made the body very small but once the legs, arms and tail are sew on, it doesn't seem so tiny.

However, if it really bothers you, what you need to do is add extra rounds but also add extra stitches in several rounds. For example, compare the body pattern below to the original, starting at round 16 (Note that I have not tested this pattern):

Rnd 16: sc around (6 sts).
Rnd 17: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] three times (9 sts).
Rnd 18: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 19: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] three times (15 sts).
Rnd 20: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 21: sc around (15 sts).
Rnd 22: [2 sc in next st, sc 4] three times (18 sts).
Rnd 23: sc around (18 sts)
Rnd 24: [sc2tog, sc 4] three times (15 sts).
Rnd 25: [sc2tog, sc 3] three times (12 sts).
Rnd 26: [sc2tog] three times (6 sts).

What I did was add two rounds, which makes the body taller, but also increased the number of stitches in the biggest rounds from 15 to 18 so the body will be wider as well.

Try that out and if it is still not big enough, then add in more rounds and stitches like I did above. If the body gets too big, you may need to add extra rounds to the legs, arms and tail so they don't look stumpy compared to the body.

Hope this works! Please let me know if you need any more help.

djamgcmw said...

thank you i guess ill be the one to test it for you =)

Cat Carlisle said...

Let me know how it turns out!

Anonymous said...

I made this and it's sooooo cute :) I had to change it up on the body and legs but it came out sooo cute!! This is for my boyfriend >w< our anniversary is on Halloween so it just seems fitting for a Halloween anniversary to my little wolfy :) thank you soooo much!!!

Cat Carlisle said...

You're welcome! :)

Crochet Clymer said...

It reminds me of the wolf from "Hoodwinked" Very Cute!

Cat Carlisle said...

Thanks Crochet Clymer!

Sharon Goodwin said...

I know it's been a while since you posted this pattern but I'm just discovering crochet and amigurumi. This has been the first amigurumi project I've made and you've got me hooked. Thanks for sharing.

Cat Carlisle said...

So glad to hear that I helped get you hooked, Sharon! Crocheting is a good addiction to have. :)

Cat Carlisle said...

The following comment was left on the "Contact Me" post without an email address. Since I have no way to contact the commenter, I am responding to it here:
hi i was looking for a wolf that i could make for my bf n i saw your wolf i was wondering if u can make a video cuz i really dont know how to read and make that wolf i learn just by seeing how to make it can u make video please i would love to make it the cute wolf u had made ^-^

My response:
I'm so glad you like the wolf. I wish I could help you, but I do not have the time to make a video that shows how to crochet the entire wolf. If videos help you learn, I would suggest going to Youtube and searching for "how to crochet" or "how to make amigurumi". If you watch enough of those and practice then you should learn enough to be able to make the wolf.

If you still need more help, you could print out the pattern and take it to your local yarn or craft store. Maybe someone there can give you some pointers.

Ulik said...

Thank you for the pattern!
This is my wolf crafted with your pattern:

Cat Carlisle said...

You are welcome Ulik!

johanneke said...

Thanks for the pattern that makes such a nice Wolfie :-) I stumbled upon it in search for a babyshower gift to make and it was a like at first sight!

I'm Dutch and not very used to English patterns yet, but I could follow the pattern quite well and the Wolfie turned out so cute!

You can see a photo on my blog :-)

Cat Carlisle said...

Your wolf looks great, johanneke! Glad you found the pattern useful. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for this pattern.

Becky said...

I am a childminder and am making a set of Red Riding Hood toys for a story sack. I have nearly finished Rd Riding Hood and was looking for a suitable wolf. Yours looks perfect! Thankyou so much for your time and hard work in sharing. x

Ellen said...

Thank you very much for the pattern! I'll surely try do it! And I'm a new follower :)

Anonymous said...


I was glad to come across your pattern as my 18 year old son loves wolves, and I want to make one for him. I might also do one for my nephews as well. I am a new follower but have been crocheting for years.

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