Crochet/ amigurumi dog- free pattern

I had the idea to crochet my dog- he's a Maltese called Toby and he's all white with a fluffy tail. You can use a different colour yarn to match your dog and you can choose to have a smooth curved tail or attach the strands to make the fluffy tail like I did.

Check out my Youtube video tutorial for this pattern here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOdyjAAFAbk

Materials needed:

DK yarn in your choice of colour (all made in one colour)

3mm crochet hook

6mm black safety eyes

Black embroidery thread

Sewing needle

Stuffing

Stitch marker

Scissors

Tape measure or ruler

Pins to help with sewing

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

mr- magic ring

sl st- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

ch- chain

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

FLO- front loops only

BLO- back loops only

Head:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 3: sc in every st (9)

Rnd 4: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 5: sc in nxt 6 st, (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (15)

Rnd 6: sc in nxt 6 st (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (18)

Rnds 7- 11 (5 rnds): sc in every st (18)

Insert safety eyes between rnds 5 and 6, 4 stitches apart. Don't fasten off, make the nose now.

Nose:

Cut a 40cm piece of black embroidery thread, thread onto needle and tie a double knot in the end. Go through the opening of the head and come out between rnds 1 and 2. Make 3 lines meeting each other in a triangle over the first round by weaving in and out through the same spaces. Then make lines to fill in the triangle completely, going weaving inside over the tip horizontal line. Weave through to the inside and find a loop from a st a few rnds down from the edge, go through it and then go through it again from the other side to make a loop, go through the loop and pull tight to make a knot. Push end inside.

Stuff.

Continue crocheting:

Rnd 12: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x6 (12)

Rnd 13: (invdec) x6 (6)

Fasten off leaving a long tail. Thread tail onto needle and come up through the FLO of each of the 6 stitches on the last rnd, pull tight to gather the stitches together and close the hole. Fasten off by finding a loop nearby, go through it but not all the way, leave a loop and go through it, pull tight to make a knot. Weave end through the head, coming out on the underside in the middle. Don't cut the yarn, leave it to use later on to sew the head to the neck.

Ears- make 2:

ch 7, starting in second st from hook: sc in nxt 5 st, 4 sc in last st, work on other side: sc in nxt 5 st, sl st in first chain loop

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. Weave the short tail through the back of the stitches and trim the end close to the work. Sew ears to head between rnds 9-11, 5 stitches apart. Fasten off and weave tail through the head, cut the yarn and use the end of your needle to push the end inside.

Legs- make 4:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x3 (6)

Rnds 4- 9 (6 rnds): sc in every st (6)

Fasten off. Trim the tail from the magic ring.

Underside of body:

Rnd 1: ch 13, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 11 st, 4 sc in last st, sc in nxt 11 st (26)

Place marker in last st you did.

Rnd 2: inc, sc in nxt 24 st, inc (28)

Don't fasten off.

Joining the legs:

Rnd 1: sc in nxt 2 st, push hook in fourth stitch back from where you fastened off on the leg and sc to join. sc in nxt 3 stitches on the leg. Skip one stitch on the underside piece and sc in nxt stitch. sc in nxt 8 stitches, join second leg (back leg) in the last stitch of the round (before you fastened off), sc in nxt 3 stitches on leg, skip one stitch on underside piece and sc in nxt stitch, sc in nxt stitch, join nxt leg in last stitch of the round, sc in nxt 3 stitches, skip one stitch and sc in nxt stitch. sc in nxt 9 stitches, join last leg in 4th sc back, sc in nxt 3 st on leg, skip one stitch, take out marker and sc in last st (40)

Rnds 2- 4 (3 rnds): sc in every st (40)

Don't fasten off.

Neck:

Rnd 1: sc in nxt 3 st, ch 7 (adding a st that you will skip, we'll only use 6 chains- the last one will be too small and tight so this is what the extra chain is for), take out marker and sc in that st from the outside so that the stitches are on the right side facing outwards. Put marker in last st you did (10)

Rnd 2: sc in nxt 3 st, sc in nxt 6 ch stitches in the BLO (chain loop furthest away from you), sc in last st (10)

Rnd 3: sc in every st (10)

Fasten off

Now you have 42 stitches- the 36 stitches on the body section and the 6 remaining chain loops from the other side of the neck piece.

Continuing with body- decreasing:

Rnd 1: With the outside of the work (right side of stitches) facing you, pull up a loop anywhere on the body section, (I chose near the back leg), ch 1, sc in same st, sc in every st including the 6 ch stitches leftover from the neck (this might be fiddly). Place marker in last st you did (42)

The ch 1 doesn't count as a st so just skip over it.

Rnd 2: sc in nxt 6 st, invdec, sc in nxt 7 st, (invdec) x4, sc in nxt 6 st, invdec, sc in nxt 11 st (36)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x12 (24)

Fasten off leaving tail for sewing.

Stuff.

Sew 24 stitches together in a straight line going through both sides (12 stitches). Fasten off and weave in end.

Tail:

Rnd 1: 4 sc in mr (4)

Rnds 2- 9 (8 rnds): sc in every st, sl st in nxt st, fasten off leaving tail. Curve tail around.

If you'd like a fluffy tail, cut 8cm strands, fold in half so the ends meet, push hook through the spaces inbetween the stitches (from the middle going to the outside edge), pull the loop through, wrap the ends around the hook and pull through. Then separate and unwind each strand into 3 smaller strands so that it goes wavy. I attached 5 strands on each side of the tail in a straight line (as if it has a parting) and one on the end point. You can trim the strands if they're hanging down too long.

The dog is finished! I'd love to see a photo of yours, you can share it with me by tagging me on instagram @laura_wilson01

Check out my Etsy shop for more patterns: https://laurawilsondesigns.etsy.com

This pattern was designed by Laura Wilson of Laura Wilson Designs. This pattern is strictly for personal, non-commercial use. Copy, distribution or commercial use of this pattern or any of its parts is not allowed. Please give credit if posting photos or selling finished item. © Laura Wilson 2024- All rights reserved.