Amigurumi Otter Family Free Crochet Pattern

Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 13 (and Father’s Day is just around the corner too!). With that in mind, I wanted to design a little something to reflect the specialness of the day and I think this little Otter family fits the bill so sweetly! Have you ever seen pictures of a mother sea otter embracing her fuzzy little otter pup as they float along? It’s one of the sweetest displays of parent-baby affection in the animal kingdom. And to add to that, otters often hold their paws together while they nap to prevent them from drifting apart from each other, making them perhaps the most painfully adorable creatures around.

I wanted my Otters to be able to hold paws as well (and to hug the baby otter!) so I inserted magnets into their paws and I love the result!

Let’s get started! (Or Pin for later!)

This post contains the pattern for both the adult otter and the baby otter.

As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as our Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. Momma/Poppa Otter has 15 separate pieces and Baby Otter has just 5 separate pieces.

This pattern incorporates tapestry crochet as well so I’ve included a section to explain the tapestry crochet technique if you’re unfamiliar with it.

The finished measurements of Momma/Poppa Otter are approximately 30cm/12″ from top to bottom and Baby Otter is approximately 15cm/6″ from top to bottom.

I encourage you to read everything thoroughly before beginning, particularly if you don’t have a lot of experience with tapestry crochet.

Here’s what I used:

**If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE.**

• 3.5mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
• Red Heart Super Saver in Cafe Latte (100g for one otter);
• Bernat Super Value in Mushroom (50g for one otter);
• Bernat Handicrafter in Warm Brown for feet (small amounts);
• Red Heart Super Saver in Black (small amounts for nose and mouth);
• Black crochet thread for mouth and eyes (or 12mm safety eyes for the big otter/9mm for baby otter);
• Bernat Pipsqueak in Chocolate for Baby Otter;
• Six 0.5″/12.7mm Neodymium magnets (optional – I picked up two packs of 4 from my local Michael’s)
• Stuffing;
• Tapestry needle

Reading this Pattern and Colour Changes:

Everything is worked in single crochet stitches. So, in order to indicate the colour-changes, I have omitted the usual “sc” in front of the stitch counts in any lines with colour-changes (rows 9 to 25) and I’ve used the associated colour letter instead. For example, “B7, C7” means to work the next 7 sc in Brown (Cafe Latte colourway) and the next 7 sc in cream (Mushroom colourway), and so on.

Due to the colour-changes, you should have three skeins or balls of yarn attached to your project at once; one brown on each side and the cream in the centre.

If you use three balls of yarn at once, you will not have to carry any yarn. However, the bonus part of the colour-changes in an amigurumi is that you don’t have to worry about what the back of your panels look like! So, if you do decide to carry your yarn, carry it on the back instead of carrying it inside the stitch as you go. It prevents any colours from bleeding through where they shouldn’t. As long as you always carry your yarn on the back of your panel, you won’t have to weave in any ends and you’ll have a beautiful smooth front with clear lines and colours.

When changing colours, you will insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour A and pull up a loop. Then, with Colour B, yarn over and complete the stitch by pulling through both loops with Colour B. Drop your working yarn in Colour A and continue with Colour B. You will pick your Colour A working yarn back up again on the way back in the next row when you need it.

*Make sure to always drop your yarn on the WRONG side of your panel!* When you’re working on odd-numbered rows, your right side will be facing you. When you’re working on even-numbered rows, the wrong side will be facing you. (And vice versa when you’re working on the back panel!) So, when you are working on a row where the wrong side of the panel is facing you, you will have to make a conscious effort to pull your yarn toward you to the wrong side of the panel when dropping your yarn during a colour-change. This is because it will naturally drop to the side furthest away from you if you don’t.

Colour legend:

B – Brown (Cafe Latte)

C – Cream (Mushroom)

Stitches and Special Terms:

MR – Magic Ring

Ch – Chain

Slst – Slipstitch

Sk – Skip a stitch

Sc – Single crochet

Inc – Increase. Work 2 sc in the same st.

Dec – Decrease. Work a regular sc decrease.

Hdc – Half double crochet

Dc – Double crochet

Front Body (make 1 panel) with 3.5mm hook:

The panels are worked from the bottom up. Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row. Start with Cafe Latte.

Row 1: Ch 12, sc across (11 sts)

Row 2: Inc twice, sc 7, inc twice (15 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 13, inc (17 sts)

Row 4: Sc across (17 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc 15, inc (19 sts)

Row 6: Sc across (19 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc 17, inc (21 sts)

Row 8: Sc across (21 sts)

Now we will start the tapestry crochet for the belly patch.

Row 9: B7, C7, B7 (21 sts)

Rows 10-11: B6, C9, B6 (21 sts)

Rows 12-13: B5, C11, B5 (21 sts)

Rows 14-18: B4, C13, B4 (21 sts)

Rows 19-21: B3, C15, B3 (21 sts)

Rows 22-24: B2, C17, B2 (21 sts)

Row 25: B1, C19, B1 (21 sts)

Rows 26 to 30 are completed in all cream (Mushroom).

Rows 26-30: Sc across (21 sts)

The remaining rows are completed in all brown (Cafe Latte).

Rows 31-37: Sc across (21 sts)

Row 38: Dec, sc 17, dec (19 sts)

Row 39: Sc across (19 sts)

Row 40: Dec twice, sc 11, dec twice (15 sts)

Row 41: Dec, sc 11, dec (13 sts)

Row 42: Dec twice, hdc, dc 3, hdc, dec twice (9 sts)

Tie off. Set aside for assembly later.

Back Body (make 1 panel) with 3.5mm hook:

The back panel follows the exact same pattern as the front, but it’s worked entirely in the Cafe Latte yarn. Here is the simplified pattern without all those colour-changes:

Row 1: Ch 12, sc across (11 sts)

Row 2: Inc twice, sc 7, inc twice (15 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 13, inc (17 sts)

Row 4: Sc across (17 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc 15, inc (19 sts)

Row 6: Sc across (19 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc 17, inc (21 sts)

Rows 8-37: Sc across (21 sts)

Row 38: Dec, sc 17, dec (19 sts)

Row 39: Sc across (19 sts)

Row 40: Dec twice, sc 11, dec twice (15 sts)

Row 41: Dec, sc 11, dec (13 sts)

Row 42: Dec twice, hdc, dc 3, hdc, dec twice (9 sts)

Tie off. Set aside for assembly later.

Arms (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) with 3.5mm in Cafe Latte:

Row 1: Ch 6, sc across (5 sts)

Row 2: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 2, dec (5 sts)

Row 4: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc 2, dec (5 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc 2, dec (5 sts)

Row 8: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts)

Row 9: Dec, hdc, dec (3 sts)

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-9 for the second panel but do not tie off second panel. Place both panels together, matching up all sides, and begin attaching the panels together by chaining 1 and single crocheting around the edge of the panels in Cafe Latte. (Sc, ch, sc) in the bottom corners (i.e. the end that will attach to the body, not the paw end). Stuff when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds of the way around.

Don’t close it up yet! If you want your otters to be able to hold hands, insert a magnet into the end of the paw now, then continue crocheting around and close with a slst to first st. Tie off and poke the yarn tail back inside. Repeat all of the above for the second arm.

I inserted a magnet into each paw, so it doesn’t matter which side each otter is on. I also inserted magnets into the body of the baby otter on each side so the big otter can hold onto baby (however, I’m not convinced that the magnets won’t move around over time, or stick to each other and become useless. In hindsight, I would have secured them in the baby otter a bit better).

*WARNING: If you are crocheting these otters for a child, I recommend you skip the magnets, since they are very dangerous if accidentally swallowed.*

Feet (make 2) with 3.5mm hook in Warm Brown:

The feet are worked from the bottom up.

Row 1: Ch 4, sc across (3 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc, inc (5 sts)

Rows 3-5: Sc across (5 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc 3, inc (7 sts)

Row 7: Dc, slst, [2 dc] into same st, slst, [2 dc] into same st, slst, dc (9 sts)

Tie off.

Ears (make 4 in twos as explained below) with 3.5mm hook in Cafe Latte:

The ears are started with a magic ring but you will still turn your work (i.e. you will not be working in the round).

Row 1: MR 5 sc (5 sts) TURN

Row 2: Inc in each st (10 sts)

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-2 for the second panel but do not tie off second panel. Place both panels together, matching up all sides, and begin attaching the panels together by chaining 1 and single crocheting around the edge of the panels in Cafe Latte. (Sc, ch, sc) in the bottom corners (i.e. the end that will attach to the head). I did not stuff the ears. Slst to first st. Tie off and poke the yarn tail back inside. Repeat for second ear. Set aside for assembly later.

Nose (make 1) with 3.5mm hook in Black:

The nose is worked in the round by crocheting around the starting chain.

Row 1: Ch 6, starting in 2nd ch from hook, slst, sc 3, [4 slst] into last ch, sc 3, [3 slst] into last st, join and tie off. (14 sts)

Set aside for assembly later.

Tail (make 2 panels) with 3.5mm hook in Cafe Latte:

The tail is worked from the base to the tip.

Row 1: Ch 7, sc across (6 sts)

Rows 2-3: Sc across (6 sts)

Row 4: Sc 2, dec, sc 2 (5 sts)

Rows 5-6: Sc across (5 sts)

Row 7: Sc 1, dec, sc 2 (4 sts)

Rows 8-9: Sc across (4 sts)

Row 10: sc 1, dec, sc 1 (3 sts)

Row 11: Ch 14, sc 3, sk 2, hdc 3, sk 2, dc 3, slst to row 10.

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-11 for second panel but do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides and join together by chaining 1 and single crocheting around the panels. Stuff the upper portion of the tail (the base). Slst to first st to close and tie off.

Baby Otter Body Panels (make 2) with 3.5mm hook and Pipsqueak Yarn:

Row 1: Ch 8, sc across (7 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 7, inc (11 sts)

Rows 4-14: Sc across (11 sts)

Row 15: Dec, sc 7, dec (9 sts)

Row 16: Dec, sc 5, dec (7 sts)

Row 17: Dec, sc 3, dec (5 sts)

Tie off.

Baby Otter Ears (make 2):

Row 1: MR 4 sc (4 sts), TURN

Row 2: Inc in each st (8 sts)

Tie off.

Baby Otter Tail (make 1):

Row 1: Ch 5, sc across (4 sts)

Row 2: Sc across (4 sts)

Row 3: Sc 1, dec, sc 1 (3 sts)

Row 4: Sc across (3 sts)

Row 5: Sc, dec (2 sts)

Row 6: Sc across (2 sts)

Row 7: Ch 7, sc 2, sk 2, hdc 2, slst to row 6.

Tie off.

Move on to assembly below!

Assembly:

Step 1: Face and Feet

The first thing we need to do is add our facial features and feet to the front panel.

First, stitch the nose into the centre of the panel, so that it slightly overlaps onto the top of the face/belly patch. Next. insert safety eyes (I used 12 mm) or stitch on happy eyes using black crochet thread.

For the mouth, I decided to mix it up a little and used black yarn for one and black crochet thread for the other. Use which ever one you prefer!

Stitch on cheeks if you want.

Next, stitch the feet onto the bottom of the front panel using your tapestry needle and Warm Brown yarn.

For the Baby Otter, I didn’t crochet a nose, but simply stitched on on using black yarn and used 9mm safety eyes.

Step 2: Body, Arms and Ears

Yay! Time to start attaching things! Here are the pieces you should now have:

Cut three lengths of Cafe Latte yarn approximately 30cm/15″ long and set them aside for later.

Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides.

**Make sure the front of your otter is facing you as you crochet around the outside.**

Starting on the left side of the head, begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels in your main colour.

Switch to cream-coloured yarn when you get to the belly patch. Switch back to Cafe Latte but then stop (i.e. finish the cream-coloured stitch with cafe latte but do not start the next st). Now you will attach the first arm.

For this amigurumi, the arm is attached a little differently than what you may be used to in my other ragdoll patterns. Instead of placing the arm between the panels, you will place it on top of the panel and crochet through all three pieces, the arm, and the two bottom panels. Make sure the right side of your arm (and your panels) is facing you. Also, make sure the arm is slanting downward toward the belly. The below photos show me attaching the second arm, but the same technique applies for the first arm, just reversed!

Continue crocheting down the side of the body. Stop when you get to the bottom. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now.

With a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the tail between the panels and attach by sewing through all three pieces, the back panel, the tail and the front panel. Tie the yarn tails in a knot inside the panels of the body to secure.

Continue crocheting around. When you get to the tail, simply crochet in the stitches of the front panel only, since this portion is already sewn shut.

Continue crocheting around. Attach the second arm the same way you did for the first.

Switch back to cream-coloured yarn where appropriate for the belly patch and then back to Cafe Latte.

Stop here and stuff.

Next, with a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the first ear between the panels and attach by sewing through all three pieces, the back panel, the ear and the front panel. Tie the yarn tails in a knot inside the panels of the body to secure.

Continue crocheting around. When you get to the ear, simply crochet in the stitches of the front panel only, since this portion is already sewn shut.

Top up stuffing as you go.

Place the second ear the same way you did for the first.

Continue crocheting around the head, topping up stuffing as you go. Close with a slst to first st and tie off. Poke the yarn tails back inside the piece.

The assembly instructions apply the same way to the baby otter, except you won’t have any colour-changes, feet or arms to worry about.

This pattern is fun because you can crochet any number of little trinkets or objects and insert magnets into them for the otters to hold on to, for example, a heart or a seashell!

That’s it! Enjoy!

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