Crochet flamingo- free pattern

Check out my Youtube video tutorial for this pattern here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8htJgbLok

Materials needed:

• DK yarn in light pink, beige and black

• 3mm crochet hook

• Stitch marker

• Scissors

• Stuffing

• Yarn needle

• 2mm aluminium armature wire or pipe cleaners for the neck and legs

• Pliers with wire cutters to cut the wire

• Pins to help with sewing

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

ch- chain

mr- magic ring

sl st- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

sc2tog- single crochet 2 together

BLO- back loops only

The head, neck and body are all made in one piece in continuous spiral rounds using a stitch marker. When made with the stated yarn weight and hook size, the finished flamingo is approx 20cm tall from the top of the head to the feet. The flamingo can stand up on its own but only with careful balancing and it can fall over easily so it's best to prop it up against something or have it sitting down.

I used wire for the neck which extends into the body and wire for the legs which isn't connected to the wire inside the body. I didn't stuff the head, neck or legs- only the body.

How to change colour in sc: Begin to change colour in the st before it's needed- push hook in st, yarn over and pull through, then pull a loop of the new colour through the two loops on the hook. This finishes the stitch in the previous colour and changes to the new colour so all future stitches will be in the new colour.

Head, neck and body, starting with the beak in black:

Rnd 1: 4 sc in mr (4)

Rnds 2- 3 (2 rnds): sc in every st (4) Change to beige as you finish last black st. 

Rnd 4: (sc in nxt st, inc) x2 (6)

Cut black yarn, tie in knot with beige short tail. Trim tail from the mr. 

Rnd 5: sc in every st (6)

Rnd 6: sc in every st, change to pink as you finish last st (6)

Rnd 7: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Cut beige yarn, tie in knot with short pink tail.

Rnd 8: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 9: sc in every st (12)

Rnd 10: (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x3 (9)

Don't fasten off, make eyes now. The eyes are made using french knots:

Make sure that the last inc of rnd 7 (the first pink rnd) is at the top near the middle, then curve the beak over with your fingers so you know that the head is this way up, and you know where to put the eyes.

Cut a 30cm long black piece, tie double knot in end, thread onto needle and go through the inside of the head, coming out between rnds 8 and 9 on the side, pull through until the knot is stopped on the inside, hold the needle horizontally and wrap the yarn around the needle twice, holding it taut at all times, point it down vertically and go back through the space where it's coming out of and weave through to the other side of the head between rnds 8 and 9, pull through and this creates a french knot. Make another french knot on the other side and weave through to the inside of the head. Find a loop nearby on the inside edge of a stitch, go through it but not all the way, leave a loop and go through it from behind, pull tight to make a knot and fasten off. Trim excess tail and push inside head. Continue crocheting:

Rnd 11: invdec, sc in nxt 7 st (8)

Rnd 12: invdec, sc in nxt 6 st (7)

Rnd 13- 32 (20 rnds): sc in every st (7) Make sure you write down when you've done each round so you know how many you've done.

Rnd 33: sc in nxt 5 st, inc, sc in nxt st (8)

Rnd 34: sc in nxt 6 st, inc, sc in nxt st (9)

Rnd 35: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 36: sc in nxt 6 st, inc in nxt 6 st (18)

Rnd 37: sc in nxt 6 st, (sc in nxt st, inc) x6 (24)

Rnd 38: sc in nxt 6 st, (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x6 (30)

Rnds 39- 46 (8 rnds): sc in every st (30)

Cut a length of wire that's long enough to go through the head, neck and the length of the body. Push wire all the way inside neck and head, stopping before the beak (curve beak around with your fingers). Bend neck into an S shape. Curve the end part of the wire upwards at the open end of the work.

Begin stuffing the body as you go.

Rnd 47: sc in nxt 2 st, invdec, sc in nxt 6 st, (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x5 (24)

Rnd 48: sc in every st (24)

Rnd 49: sc in nxt st, invdec, sc in nxt 6 st, (sc in nxt st, invdec) x5 (18)

Rnd 50: sc in every st (18)

Rnd 51: invdec, sc in nxt 6 st, (invdec) x5 (12)

Rnd 52: sc in every st (12)

Rnd 53: (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x3 (9)

Rnd 54: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x3 (6)

Fasten off leaving tail long enough to close the hole. Thread onto needle, come up from the outside through the front loops only of each of the last 6 stitches, pull tight to gather them together and close the hole. Find a loop nearby, go through it but not all the way- leave a loop and go through it from behind, pull tight to make a knot. Weave tail inside the body coming out at the side, cut the yarn close to the edge of the work and use the end of your needle to push it inside.

Wings- make 2:

In light pink:

Row 1: ch 9, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 8 st (8)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 4 st, sc2tog (6)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 2 st, sc2tog (4)

Row 4: ch 1, turn, (sc2tog) x2 (2)

Make 5 sc down the side edge in the spaces between the stitches, starting at the base of the last sc2tog you did, sc in nxt chain loop from row 1, now make the feathers:

ch 9, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 8 st, sl st in nxt chain loop,

ch 8, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 7 st, sl st in nxt chain loop,

ch 7, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 6 st, sl st in nxt chain loop,

ch 6, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 5 st, sl st in nxt chain loop,

ch 5, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 4 st, sl st in nxt chain loop,

(5 feathers)

skip the remaining 2 chain loops, make 4 sc up the side edge in the spaces between the ends of the rows, sl st in first sc at the top. Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

One wing will have the wrong side of the stitches facing outwards in order for them to be symmetrical. Sew only the curved edge of each wing to the sides of the body starting at rnd 39, by picking up loops from the surface of the stitches on the body and going through the V of each stitch on the wing. Fasten off and weave in end, trim excess and push inside.

Legs- make 2:

In light pink:

Rnd 1: 4 sc in mr (4)

Rnd 2: In BLO: sc in every st (4)

Working in both loops from now on:

Rnds 3- 22 (20 rnds): sc in every st (4) Make sure you write down when you've done each round so you know how many you've done, as it's hard to count rounds with your finger when it's in continuous spiral and there are only 4 stitches in each round.

Fasten off leaving tail for sewing. Cut wire that is just long enough to fit inside legs, push inside all the way.

Feet- make 2:

In light pink:

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)

Now make the toes:

sc through both layers of nxt 2 opposite stitches, ch 3, sc through nxt 2 opposite stitches, ch 3, sc through nxt 2 opposite stitches, ch 3, sc through nxt 2 opposite stitches, sl st through nxt 2 opposite stiches, 1 stitch will be left at each corner. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Weave the tail from the magic ring through the foot and cut the yarn close to the edge of the work, push end inside with your needle. Then weave the long tail through the foot and come out at the side between rnds 2 and 3, sew the bottom of the leg to the foot using the remaining front loops from rnd 2 and picking up loops from the surface of the stitches on the foot. Fasten off in the same way as before and weave in end, trim excess.

Sew the legs to the underside of the body with the feet facing forward, across rnds 41 and 42, with 3-4 stitches between them, picking up loops from the surface of the stitches on the body and going under the V of each stitch on the leg. Fasten off and weave in end, trim excess and push end inside.

The flamingo 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 2025- All rights reserved.