This little axolotl amigurumi is such a sweet and fun project that can be made in many color combinations.
I’ve been wanting to crochet an axolotl for a while now. They are so unique looking with their beautiful colors and gills around their head! What’s not to love! I just think that they are so cute too!
For this axolotl amiguurmi, the tail, body, and head are worked up in one piece from the bottom up. Then the legs, external gills, and tail fins are made separately and sewn on afterwards.
Measuring at only 5.5 inches tall, this axolotl amigurumi is the perfect size for a quick make that’s great for gifting, cuddling, selling at a market, or just adding to your amigurumi collection!
I can’t wait to see which color combination you decide to use for your axolotl amigurumi! Or maybe you’ll make a whole family of them in all different colors!
I hope you enjoy working up this crochet pattern!
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The Axolotl Amigurumi crochet pattern is available for FREE on this website. If you’d like an ad-free, printable PDF version, you may purchase it for a small fee from my Etsy or Ravelry shops. Thank you so much for supporting Loops & Love Crochet!
Materials:
- Worsted Weight #4 yarn – You can use any worsted-weight yarn for your axolotl amigurumi. You’ll need approximately 65 yards of yarn in total, which works out to approx. 55yds in a main color for the tail/body/head section and 10 yds in the accent color for the gills and fins. The axolotl pictured above is made with WeCrochet/Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in Cotton Candy and Rouge colorways for the pink axolotl and Clarity and Cornflower for the blue axolotl.
- 3.5 mm crochet hook – or your preferred hook size for amigurumi or how large/small of an axolotl you’d like to make.
- Safety Eyes – 8 mm size (or your preferred size)
- Stuffing – any fiber-based stuffing
- Embroidery or crochet thread – a small amount of black for the eyelashes and mouth.
- Yarn needle (for weaving in ends and attaching pieces together) – bent yarn needles work great for amigurumi projects.
Stitches Used:
- Ch – chain
- Sl St – slip stitch
- SC – single crochet
- DC – double crochet
- INV DEC – invisible single crochet decrease – insert hook into front loop of next stitch, then insert your hook into the front loop of the following stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 remaining loops on hook. Here’s a video tutorial for the INV DEC.
Gauge
- 2”x2” = approx. 7 rows of 10 SC stitches
Finished Size
- Finished axolotl measures approximately 5.5 inches tall.
Important Notes:
- Worked in rounds – This pattern is worked in continuous rounds starting with a magic circle. At the end of each round, you will not be joining the last stitch of the round with the first one. Instead, you’ll be continuing right on to the stitches of the next round (with no join). It is useful to use a stitch marker (or a piece of yarn) to mark the start or end of each round to keep track of where you are in the pattern.
- Magic Circle – Make a circle with your yarn, insert crochet hook into circle and draw up a loop. Chain one and then start making the stitches of round 1 into the ring. This video tutorial will show you the magic circle and working the first rounds of stitches.
Make Your Axolotl – The Pattern
Axolotl Tail, Body, and Head
Working from the bottom up, starting with the tail. Add stuffing to the tail section and body as you work up each section. Stuff firmly, but not so full so you see the stuffing showing between the stitches.
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 1, make 4 SC stitches into ring (4)
Round 2: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 3 sts (5)
Round 3: SC in each st around (5)
Round 4: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 4 sts (6)
Round 5: SC in each st around (6)
Round 6: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 5 sts (7)
Round 7: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 6 sts (8)
Round 8: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 7 sts (9)
Round 9: SC in each st around (9)
Round 10: 2 SC in first st, SC in next 8 sts (10)
Round 11: *2SC in first st, SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * around (12)
Round 12: SC in each st around (12)
Now, we will start increasing again to form the body. Add stuffing
to the tail section, making sure to get it all the way to the bottom.
Stop a couple rounds before the top so that you don’t catch the
stuffing in your stitches while working up the next section.
Round 13: *2 SC in first st, SC in next st, repeat from * around (18)
Round 14: *2 SC in first st, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * around (24)
Rounds 15-16: SC in each stitch around (24)
Round 17: *2 SC in first st, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * around (30)
Rounds 18-22: SC in each stitch around (30)
Round 23: *INV DEC, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * around (24)
Round 24: *INV DEC, SC in next st, repeat from * around (16)
Round 25: *INV DEC, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * around (12)
Now, we will start increasing again to form the head. Stuff the body
section, stopping a couple rounds before the top so you don’t catch
the stuffing between your stitches while working up the next section.
Round 26: *2 SC in first st, SC in next st, repeat from * around (18)
Round 27: *2 SC in first st, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * around (24)
Round 28: *2 SC in first st, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * around (30)
Round 29: *2 SC in first st, SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * around (36)
Rounds 30-35: SC in each stitch around (36)
Insert safety eyes between rounds 33 and 34, about 7 stitches apart, centering them in the middle of the face. If you are adding eyelashes, first place the safety eyes where you would like them, but do not secure the back. Take the safety eyes out and use your yarn needle to stitch on the eyelashes first. Then place the safety eyes back in and secure the backs. See the photo below from a different one of my patterns. The mouth can also be sewn on at this point. Use your yarn needle to sew a “v” in the center of the face 1-2 rounds below the eyes.
Round 36: *INV DEC, SC in next 4 sts, repeat from * around (30)
Round 37: *INV DEC, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * around (24)
Stuff the head section over the next couple rounds, making sure that you have added enough stuffing before the opening gets too small.
Round 38: *INV DEC, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * around (18)
Round 39: *INV DEC, SC in next st, repeat from * around (12)
Round 40: INV DEC in each st around (6) Fasten off, weave in all ends.
Legs (make 4)
Chain 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, *[SC, 2DC, SC] in next st, sl st in next, repeat from * across.
Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a long tail to sew the leg together and attach it to the axolotl’s body.
Fold the axolotl leg in half lengthwise, matching up the stitches. Using your yarn needle and yarn tail, sew across both layers of stitches along the top of the leg from one end to the other, and then sew a couple stitches along the bottom where the chains are. Set the leg aside to sew to body later.
Repeat instructions above until you have a total of 4 legs.
Tail Fin
Chain 12, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, *[SC, DC, SC] in next st, sl st in next, repeat from * across.
Fasten off, leave one yarn tail for sewing onto the tail.
External Gills (make 6)
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 1, make 4 SC stitches into ring (4)
Round 2: *2 SC in first st, SC in next st, repeat from * around (6)
Rounds 3-4: SC in each st around (6) Fasten off and cut yarn. Remember to leave a long enough yarn tail for sewing the top of the gill closed and attaching to the axolotl’s head.
Next, pinch the gill flat and use your yarn needle to sew across both layers of stitches (whip stitch) to close the top of the gill. Set the gill aside to sew to the head later.
Repeat instructions above until you have a total of 6 gills.
Assembling your Axolotl Amigurumi
- Attaching the Legs – Top legs are sewn on starting one round down from the neck. Bottom legs are sewn on starting one round up from the tail section where the body starts. Place the flat side of the leg against the body. Sew in and out of each stitch across the top of the leg, passing through a stitch on the axolotl each time. Weave in ends and cut extra yarn tails.
- Sewing on the Tail Fin – Line up the tail fin piece so it’s wrapped around the bottom of the tail. Center the fin “bumps” so there are two on each side of the tail and one centered at the bottom of the tail. Use your yarn needle to sew the tail fin piece on by passing through each stitch on the fins and through a stitch around the bottom of the tail. When fins are secure, weave in ends and cut yarn.
- Attaching the External Gills – the six external gill pieces are sewn around the sides of the head. Start by lining up one of the middle gills on the side of the head, centering it to the eyes. Sew in and out of each stitch along the top of the gill, passing through stitches on the head to secure it in place. Weave in end and cut yarn. Next, line up and sew on the two remaining gills on the same side of the head. One above the first one and one below. Repeat for the three gills on the other side of the head. Weave in all ends and cut all yarn tails.
You are all finished making your axolotl! I hope you had so much fun! Now you can crochet them in all different color combinations to add more to your collection!
If you are looking for some other fun amigurumi patterns, check out the Ocean Friends Amigurumi Collection! Or browse all of our free crochet patterns here!
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