Cuddly Caterpillar Crochet Pattern

This cuddly caterpillar crochet pattern is a great project for crocheters of all skill levels! You will have an adorable toy in as little as 3 to 4 hours.

The lovely people of Hobbii invited me to try some of their new yarns and when I saw the Honey Bunny Shine yarn it was love at first sight! I have been wanting to design a pattern for plush yarn and this one called for a cuddly, sparkly caterpillar.

If you haven’t worked with plush yarn before it might take some getting used to but I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

If using the indicated hook and yarn, the caterpillar will be approx. 14.5” / 37cm long.

You can find the free written pattern in American terms below and the video tutorial here. Hope you’ll enjoy it!

You can also get the free Ribblr version.

I would love to see your little amigurumi tiger! Share your creation on Instagram and tag me @stellasyarnuniverse for the monthly chance to win a pdf pattern of your choice from my Etsy shop! Winners are announced on my Instagram page @stellasyarnuniverse every 1st of the month!

This pattern is written in American crochet terms. You can find a conversion chart below.

Materials and tools you need to make the cuddly caterpillar

Super chunky plush/chenille yarn in green, yellow and red [I used Honey Bunny Shine Yarn from Hobbii in 1 skein of Shamrock (104), and less than 1 skein of Lemon Curd (22) and Tomato (40)]

5.5mm / I-9 hook

18mm green glitter safety eyes 

Yarn needle (preferably with a bent tip)

Stitch marker 

Sewing pins 

Fiberfill

Scissors

Abbreviations

Rnd(s) = round(s)

St(s) = stitch(es)

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

Sl st = slip stitch

Inc = single crochet 2 in same st

Dec = invisible decrease: Insert hook in front loops of next 2 sts, yarn over, pull through both front loops, yarn over, pull through 2 remaining loops

[…] = series of stitches to be repeated

*… = times the series of stitches is to be repeated

(…) = stitch count once round is complete

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Cuddly caterpillar crochet pattern – Instructions

First, set aside 2 x 50cm / 20″ long pieces of the green chenille yarn. You will need them for the eyelids later.

Crochet the head and body in green

Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 (12)

Rnd 3: [sc 1, inc 1]*6 (18)

Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)

Rnd 5: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)

Rnd 6: [sc 4, inc 1]*6 (36)

Rnd 7: [sc 5, inc 1]*6 (42)

Rnd 8 to 12 (5 rnds): Sc 42 (42)

Rnd 13: [sc 5, dec]*6 (36)

Rnd 14: [sc 4, dec]*6 (30)

Insert the safety eyes in between rounds 4 and 5 with about 7 stitches space in between. Don’t secure them yet. First, embroider the eyelids. You can see how in my video tutorial. Once the eyelids are embroidered, secure the safety eyes.

Rnd 15: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)

Rnd 16: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill the head with fiberfill.

Rnd 17: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)

Rnd 18: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)

Rnd 19: [sc 4, inc 1]*6 (36)

Rnd 20 to 24 (5 rnds): Sc 36 (36)

Rnd 25: [sc 4, dec]*6 (30)

Rnd 26: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)

Rnd 27: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill this segment with fiberfill.

Rnd 28: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)

Rnd 29: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)

Rnd 30: [sc 4, inc 1]*6 (36)

Rnd 31 to 34 (4 rnds): Sc 36 (36)

Rnd 35: [sc 4, dec]*6 (30)

Rnd 36: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)

Rnd 37: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill this segment with fiberfill.

Rnd 38: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)

Rnd 39: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)

Rnd 40: [sc 4, inc 1]*6 (36)

Rnd 41 to 44 (4 rnds): Sc 36 (36)

Rnd 45: [sc 4, dec]*6 (30)

Rnd 46: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)

Rnd 47: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill this segment with fiberfill.

Rnd 48: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)

Rnd 49: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)

Rnd 50 to 54 (5 rnds): Sc 30 (30)

Rnd 55: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)

Rnd 56: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill this segment with fiberfill.

Rnd 57: [sc 1, dec]*6 (12)

Rnd 58: Dec 6 (6)

Fasten off and close the round.

Crochet the antennae in green (make 2)

Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: [inc 1, sc 1]*3 (9)

Rnd 3: Sc 9 (9)

Rnd 4: [sc 1, dec]*3 (6)

Fill with a small amount of fiberfill.

Rnd 5 and 6 (2 rnds): Sc 6 (6)

Sl st in next st and fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing.

Crochet the belly in yellow

Ch 31

Rnd 1: Sc 29 (starting in 2nd chain), sc 4 in last ch, turn work, sc 28 (in other side of chains), sc 3 in last ch (64)

Rnd 2: Inc 1, sc 28, inc 4, sc 28, inc 3 (72)

Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc 1, sc 28, [sc 1, inc 1]*4, sc 28, [sc 1, inc 1]*3 (80)

Fasten off with an invisible finish, leaving a long yarn end for sewing. Don’t leave a too-long yarn end as I mistakingly did in the video tutorial. With plush yarn, you will need at least 3 short yarn tails to sew the belly on, because the yarn loses its fibers through the friction caused by repeatedly being pulled through the stitches.

Crochet the feet in red (make 8)

Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: [inc 1, sc 1]*3 (9)

Rnd 3: Sc 9 (9)

Sl st in next st and fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing.

Assembly

Mouth

Embroider the mouth in a V-shape with the corners of the mouth between rounds 2 and 3 on each side and the lowest point centered in between rounds 3 and 4, using red plush yarn. Watch this part of the video tutorial here.

Belly

Turn the caterpillar on its back and pin the yellow belly on the 4 segments (except the head) of the caterpillar. Leave about 7 rounds space on the last segment and about 2 to 3 rounds of space on the first segment (what we could call the neck). Watch this part of the video tutorial here.

Sew the belly on all around, using the long yarn end. When it starts losing too many fibers tie it together with a new piece of yarn. Hide the ends underneath the belly and continue sewing until you need to attach a new piece of yarn. Once the belly is sewn on, weave in the yarn end and cut it short.

Feet

Pin the feet in pairs of two on each segment, with half of them on round 3 of the belly. This way there will be 4 rows in between feet. There should be about 6 rounds of space in between each pair of feet. Watch this part of the video tutorial here.

Sew the feet on all around, using the long yarn end. Weave in the yarn end and cut it short.

Antennae

Sew the antennae on rounds 9 and 10 of the head with about 8 stitches space in between. Watch this part of the video tutorial here. Weave in the yarn ends and cut them short.

Congratulations! 

Your cuddly caterpillar is now complete! 

Thank you so much for visiting! And thank you for using my pattern! I hope you enjoyed it!

You can pin this pattern here for later.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive some compensation if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. It doesn’t cost you anything if you click and purchase through those links, however, it helps me to maintain this site and allows me to keep creating free patterns for you. Thank you for being so supportive!

You are welcome to create products to sell on a small scale using this pattern. If you wish to do so, please refer back to my blog stellasyarnuniverse.com for the pattern.

Happy creating!

Stella xx