Axolotl - Super Cute and Easy Crochet Pattern

Materials:

• Weight 6 yarn 
• Size J/6.0mm 
• Stuffing
• Safety Eyes or felt eyes 
• Yarn needle
• Stitch Marker

Abbreviations:

• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet 
• hdc = half double crochet
• inc = increase (2 sc in next stitch)
• dec = invisible decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st = slip stitch
• st = stitch

This pattern uses weight 6 blanket yarn. Any yarn may be used, but your crochet hook size will be different. Use a hook 1-2 sizes smaller than your yarn calls for. This pattern is in US crochet terms.

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds and using a stitch marker to mark the first stitch is recommended.  

Head

R1: 6 sc in a magic ring

R2: 6 inc (12)

R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)

R7-12 (6 rounds): 36 sc

Insert safety eyes between rounds 5 and 6, about 8 stitches apart. 

R13: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

R14: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Begin stuffing firmly. Continue stuffing as you go.

R15: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Body

R1: 6 sc in a magic ring

R2: 6 inc (12)

R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)

R7-10 (4 rounds): 36 sc

R11: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

R12-13: 30 sc

R14: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24) 

R15-16 (2 rounds): 24 sc

R17: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

R18-19 (2 rounds): 18 sc

Begin stuffing firmly. Continue stuffing as you go.

R20: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

R21-22 (2 rounds): 12 sc

R23: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

R24-25 (2 rounds): 9 sc

R26: (1 sc, dec) x 3 (6)

Fasten off and sew hole shut.

Sew the head onto the body. I like to sew my head on the body at an angle so that it looks like the axolotl is looking up at rounds 2-6 (see picture for reference):

 

Arms

R1: 6 sc in a magic ring

R2: 6 inc (12)

R3-4 (2 rounds): 12 sc

R5: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

R6-8 (3 rounds): 9 sc

Stuff up to round 4. Fold the arm in half and sc across the top to close. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew onto the body, about 2 rounds back from the neck and 1/3 of the way up the body.

Legs

R1: 8 sc in a magic ring

R2: 8 inc (16)

R3-4 (2 rounds): 16 sc

R5: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (12)

R6: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

R7-9 (3 rounds): 9 sc

Stuff up to round 4. Fold the leg in half and sc across the top to close. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew onto the body, about 4 rounds back from the arms and 1/3 of the way up the body.

Gills 

These are made as one piece.

Chain 6. *In the second chain from the hook, 2 hdc. 3 sc down the chain. Sl st in the last chain. Chain 8* and repeat from * twice more.

With a secondary color, sc around the entire gill piece. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

  .          

Sew each gill piece onto the sides of the head, about 3 rounds back from the eye.

Tail Fin

With a secondary color, insert your hook directly behind the head of the axolotl in the middle of the back. Surface crochet down the length of the body and around the tail.

Once you reach under the tail, chain 1 and turn. In the next stitch, *3 dc. Sc.* Repeat * around the tail, approximately 12 times. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Embroider a mouth. Your axolotl is complete!!