Materials –
Size 4 worsted weight yarn (25g of white; 25g of accent color)
3.5 mm crochet hook (These are the hooks I use and love!)
12mm safety eyes
Black crochet/embroidery thread for eyelashes/eyebrows (optional)
Scissors
Tapestry needle (Bent tips work wonders for amigurumi!)
Stuffing
Stitch markers
Sewing Pins (these are super helpful when it comes time for sewing)
Abbreviations – US terminology
MC- Magic circle
SC- Single crochet
SC INC- Single crochet increase
INV DEC- Invisible decrease
St(s)- Stitch(es)
How to Change Colors in Amigurumi – Invisible Color Change
When working on the last round before your next color change work up until the last stitch. Insert your hook into the last stitch, yarn over with your original color and pull through. You will have two loops on your hook. Drop your original color and pull up the new color you would like to change to, yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook. When working your next stitch complete a slip stitch instead of SC, this will make for a smooth transition into your new color.
Example above: Blue zebra was made with a regular color change while the pink zebra was made with the invisible color change.
NOTES –
– 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.
– The legs, body and head will be made as one piece.
– Feel free to carry your yarn through the color changes, this will avoid multiple tie offs.
Nose –
With accent color
Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC
Round 2: SC INC in each st (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 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (27)
Rounds 6-7: SC around (27)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing onto the head. With a small piece of white yarn and tapestry needle, make a ‘v’ for each nostril on round 4 about 3-4 sts apart.
Legs – Make 2
Starting with accent color
Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC
Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)
Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)
Rounds 4-5: SC around (18)
Change to white
Rounds 6-7: SC around (18)
Change to accent color
Rounds 8-9: SC around (18)
Change to white
Rounds 10-11: SC around (18)
Change to accent color
Round 12: SC around (18)
Fasten off on the first leg only. When you complete the 2nd leg continue to round 13 to join the legs. (If you have been carrying your yarn when changing colors, I recommend cutting your white yarn on your 2nd leg. Once we complete our leg join the white yarn will need to be on the other leg where you can then continue to carry your yarn again for the body.)
Round 13: SC in the next 7 sts (this will align our color changes to be at the back when our join is complete). Chain 3 and attach to the first leg with a SC. SC in the remaining stitches around the leg. When you reach the chain make a SC across each of the 3 chains. SC in the remaining stitches of the next leg and SC across each of the 3 chains again. You will have crocheted on each side of the chain. (42 SC) This completes your join and is where your next round will start. Change to white
Rounds 14-15: SC around (42)
Change to accent color
Rounds 16-17: SC around (42)
Change to whit
Rounds 18-19: SC around (42)
Change to accent color
Rounds 20-21: SC around (42)
Change to white
Rounds 22-23: SC around (42)
Change to accent color
Round 24: SC around (42)
Round 25: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)
Change to white
Round 26: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)
Round 27: SC around (30)
Change to accent color
Round 28: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)
Round 29: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)
Change to white. (Here is where we will start the head.)
Round 30: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)
Round 31: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (30)
Change to accent color
Round 32: SC in the first 4 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (36)
Round 33: SC in the first 5 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (42)
Change to white
Round 34: SC in the first 6 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (48)
Round 35: SC in the first 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (54)
Change to accent color
Rounds 36-37: SC around (54)
Change to white
Rounds 38-43: SC around (54)
Round 44: SC in the first 7 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (48)
Change to accent color
NOTE: Here is where we will attach the facial features. Place the safety eyes 7 stitches apart between rounds 41 and 42. Add eyebrows/eyelashes to your liking before securing the backs of your safety eyes.
Nose – Sew the nose centered between the eyes adding stuffing as you go.
Round 45: SC in the first 6 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (42)
Round 46: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)
Change to white
Round 47: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)
Round 48: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)
Change to accent color
*Continue to stuff the head and neck firmly to avoid a wobbly head*
Round 49: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)
Round 50: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)
Round 51: INV DEC around (6)
Fasten off and sew remaining hole closed, weave in your end.
Ears- Make 2
With accent color
Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC
Round 2: SC INC in each st 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)
Rounds 7-8: SC around (12)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Using the tail fold the ear in half and sew across the top to create a fold.
Arms- Make 2 stuffing lightly at the bottom
With accent color
Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC
Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (15)
Round 4: SC around (15)
Round 5: SC in the first stitch, INV DEC in the next, rep around (10)
Change to white
Rounds 6-7: SC around (10)
Change to accent color
Rounds 8-9: SC around (10)
Change to white
Rounds 10-11: SC around (10)
Change to accent color
Rounds 12-13: SC around (10)
Change to white
Round 14: SC around (10)
At the end of round 14 pinch the arm flat and make 5 SC across the top to close, fasten off and leave a long tail to sew onto the body.
Assembly –
– Sew the ears onto the head at round 46 on each side.
– Holding your white and accent color together we will make the mane starting between the ears and work our way down the back of the head.
– Create a slip knot and slip stitch into the stitch closest to the ear as pictured below.
– Chain 8 and slip stitch into the next stitch.
– Continue this process until you reach the other ear (completes one row of the mane).
– Slip stitch into the next stitch towards the back of the head to make one more row back across to the first ear. Make additional rows until you reach the bottom back of the head.
– Next, sew the arms onto the body centered with the head at round 27.
– Lastly, cut 2 strands of accent color and 1 strand of white approximately 6 inches long to make the tail. Using your crochet hook, pull the strands through a center stitch on the back of your zebra. Next, pull your ends through the loop and pull tight. Trim to your desired length.
Congratulations
More Amigurumi Zebra Ideas:
