Monkey Amigurumi Free Crochet Pattern

I’m back with another full-size ami pattern (with a little Valentine’s Day cameo)! I’m surprised it took me this long to design a monkey ami but I’m glad I waited until inspiration struck because I think he turned out pretty cute, if I do say so!

This cheeky monkey would be great as a wall-hanging in a nursery or a little one’s bedroom or even just to hang from a shelf. You can crochet anything you want to put into the monkey’s little hands (a banana?!) or keep it simple by leaving his hands empty (all the better to get into mischief!) The branch is totally optional as well; it makes a fun addition to a wall-hanging but is not necessary for this little guy to monkey around.

Please note that the pattern for the branch is from my sloth pattern, which can be found HERE and the heart pattern can be found HERE. They aren’t included in this post but are both free here on the blog!

The Details

As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as my Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. The body, legs, tail, head, ears and arms are all worked separately in flat panels and then joined.

This pattern incorporates the tapestry crochet technique and has a bit of colour-work involved on the face so please be sure to read the “Reading this Pattern” section!

The finished measurements are approximately 28cm/15″ from top to bottom.

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

If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE or through the “Shop It” button above!

Materials:

(Affiliate links coming at you!)

• 3.25mm hook for main (I use THESE hooks!);
• 2.25mm hook for nose;
• Bernat Premium in Milk Coffee (less than one 198g skein);
• Bernat Premium in Taupe Heather (less than one 198g skein)
• Black crochet thread;
• 12mm Safety Eyes;
• Stitch markers;
• Stuffing;
• Tapestry needle.

Reading this Pattern and Colour Changes:

Everything is worked in single crochet stitches, unless otherwise specified. In order to indicate the colour-changes, I have omitted the usual “sc” in front of the stitch counts in lines with colour-changes and I’ve used the associated colour letter instead. Here are some examples:

• “Dinc” means to work a sc increase in Dark brown yarn.
• “D3, L15” means to work the next 3 sc in Dark brown yarn and the next 15 sc in Light brown yarn.

Due to the colour-changes, you will have two or three balls of yarn attached to your project at once. For example, cut off a couple of small balls of Dark brown so that you can use one on each side of the face. That way, you do not need to carry it all the way across the back of the panel. Do not crochet the unused yarn inside the stitch; always carry it on the back.

When changing colours, you will insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour X and pull up a loop. Then, with Colour Y, yarn over and complete the stitch by pulling through both loops with Colour Y. Drop your working yarn in Colour X and continue with Colour Y. You will pick your Colour X 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! This will be different depending on whether you’re working an odd or even row. For the front panel, whenever you are working an odd-numbered row (row 1, 3, 5, etc), the right side of your panel will be facing you. When you’re working an even-numbered row, the wrong side will be facing you.

Colour legend:

D – Dark brown

L – Light brown

Terms and Stitches:

Ch – Chain

Slst – Slip stitch

MR – Magic Ring

Sc – Single Crochet (again, in rows with colour changes, sc stitches will be indicated with the Colour Legend letter instead of “sc”)

Inc – Increase. Work a regular sc increase

Dec – Decrease. Work a regular sc decrease

Sc3tog – Single crochet three stitches together

Hdc – Half double crochet

Pattern

Leg:

Using a 3.25mm hook and starting in Dark brown yarn. The leg panel is worked from the top of the leg to the foot.

Row 1: Ch 8, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Dec, sc 5 (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Inc, sc 3, dec (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Dec, sc 4 (5 sts). ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Inc, sc 2, dec (5 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 7-8: Repeat rows 5 and 6.

Row 9: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts), in Light brown yarn ch 3, turn.

Row 10: Starting in 2nd ch from hook and with Light brown yarn, sc in each of the chs, switch to Dark brown yarn, sc 3, dec (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 11: In Dark brown yarn, sc 2, switch to Light brown yarn, sc 4 (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

All remaining rows of the Leg are worked in Light brown.

Row 12: sc 5, inc (7 sts), ch 3, turn.

Row 13: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch, sc 3, dec twice across last 4 sts (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 14: Dec twice over first 4 sts, sc 3 (5 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 15: Sc 3, dec (4 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 16: Dec, sc 2 (3 sts).

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-16 for the back leg panel. Place both panels together, lining up all rows. Insert your hook into any stitch along the edge through both panels and single crochet around the edge of the panels to join. Switch to Light brown when you reach the foot. Work the following into the knee and the heel:

(Sc, ch 1, sc) all into the same st.

Stuff when you’ve crocheted about three-quarters of the way around. Top up stuffing after every three or four stitches. Join with a slst to first st to close and tie off. Poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.

Repeat all of the above for the second leg EXCEPT be sure when you are joining the panels, the leg/foot is facing the opposite direction from the first, so that they are inverses of each other (or else you’ll have two left feet, for example!)

Tail:

Using a 3.25mm hook and Dark brown yarn. The tail is worked in 2 separate pieces and then joined.

Piece 1

Row 1: Ch 3, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Dec, insert hook into same st and work a sc (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc, insert hook into same st and work a dec over this and next st (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Dec, insert hook into same st and work a sc (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 5-7: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Sc, insert hook into same st and work a dec over this and next st (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 9: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 10: Dec (1 st), ch 1, turn.

Row 11: Inc (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 12-14: Repeat rows 10-11.

Rows 15-17: Sc 1 (1 st), ch 1, turn.

Row 18: Inc (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 19: Sc, insert hook into same st and work dec across this and next st (2 sts).

Tie off. Set aside.

Piece 2:

Row 1: Ch 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc, leave rem sts unworked (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Dec (1 st), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Sc 1 (1 st).

Tie off. Do not turn. Insert your hook into last st of row 1 and work the following:

Row 2: Inc (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc, insert hook into same st and work a dec across this and next st (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 4-5: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc, insert hook into same st and work a dec across this and next st (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Dec, ch 3, join Piece 1 by working a dec across the sts of Piece 1 (5 sts, including chs), ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Dec, sc 1, dec (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 9: Sc3tog (1 st).

Tie off. Repeat all of the above for the back tail panel. Place both panels together, lining up all rows, and insert your hook into any stitch along the edge through both panels. Single crochet around the edge of the panels to join them.

Feel free to insert wire into the tail as you crochet around if you want the tail to be stronger. You do not need to stuff the tail.

Body Panel:

Using a 3.25mm hook and Dark brown yarn. The panel is worked from the bottom up. Note the panel is not symmetrical; the monkey is designed with perspective in mind so that it appears to be in motion when hanging.

Row 1: Ch 16, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (15 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in each of the first 2 sts, sc 11, inc in each of the last 2 sts (19 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Inc, sc 18 (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Sc in each st across (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Sc 19, inc (21 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc 20, inc (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Sc in each st across (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Sc 21, inc (23 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 9: Sc in each st across (23 sts), ch 1, turn.

Place a stitch marker in the first and last st of row 9.

Row 10: Dec, sc 21 (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 11-13: Sc in each st across (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 14: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 15: Sc in each st across (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 16: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 17: Dec, sc 14, dec (16 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 18: Dec, sc 12, dec (14 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 19: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 20: Dec twice over first 4 sts, sc 4, dec twice over last 4 sts (8 sts).

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-20 for back body panel.

Head Panel:

Using a 3.25mm hook and starting in Light brown yarn. The head is worked from the bottom up. Please note the head panels are not symmetrical; the monkey is designed with perspective in mind so that it appears to be in motion when hanging.

Row 1: Ch 8, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in first 2 sts, sc 3, inc in last 2 sts (11 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Inc, sc 8, inc in last 2 sts (14 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Inc, sc 11, inc in last 2 sts (17 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Inc, sc 15, inc (19 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc 18, inc (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Inc, sc 19 (21 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Sc 20, inc (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 9: Sc across (22 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 10: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 11: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts), finish previous st in dark brown yarn, ch 1, turn.

Now we will start the colour-work of the face.

Row 12: D1, L15, Ldec (17 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Row 13: Dinc, L15, Dinc (19 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Row 14: Dinc, D1, L15, D1, Dinc (21 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Rows 15-17: D3, L15, D3 (21 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Row 18: Ddec, D1, L7, D1, L7, D1, Ddec (19 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Row 19: D3, L6, D1, L6, D3 (19 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Row 20: Ddec, D2, L3, D4, L3, D3, Ddec (17 sts), Dch 1, turn.

Remaining rows of the head are worked entirely in Dark brown.

Row 21: Dec, sc 13, dec (15 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 22: Dec, sc 11, dec (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 23: Dec twice over first 4 sts, sc 7, dec (10 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 24: Dec twice over first 4 sts, sc 2, dec twice over last 4 sts (6 sts).

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-24 for the back head panel EXCEPT the back head panel is worked entirely in Dark brown yarn (i.e. work rows 12-20 entirely in Dark brown without colour-work). Set aside for assembly later.

Ears:

The ears are worked into a magic ring but are worked in turned rows (not in the round). Using a 3.25mm hook and starting in Light brown yarn.

Row 1: Work 4 sc into MR (4 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in each st across (8 sts), finish previous st with Dark brown yarn, ch 1, turn.

Row 3: In Dark brown, *Sc in first st, inc in next st, repeat from * across (12 sts).

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-3 for the back ear panel, except the back panel is worked entirely in Dark brown yarn. Place both panels together and insert your hook into any stitch along the edge through both panels. Sc around the edge to join. Work the following into the corners (i.e. where the ear meets the head):

Corners: (Sc, ch 1, sc) all into the same st.

Stuff when you have crocheted about two-thirds of the way around. Top up stuffing as you go. Slst to first st and tie off. Poke the yarn tail back inside. Repeat all of the above for the second ear. Set aside for assembly later.

Arms:

Using 3.25mm hook and starting in Dark brown yarn. The arms are worked bottom-up i.e. from the “shoulder” toward the hand.

Row 1: Ch 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 2-20: Sc across (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Switch to Light brown yarn.

Rows 21-24: Sc across (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 25: Sc3tog (1 st).

Tie off.

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-25 for the back arm panel. Place both panels together, lining up all rows and colours, and insert your hook into any stitch along the edge through both panels. Sc around the edge to join. Work the following into the corners (i.e. where the arm meets the body):

Corners: (Sc, ch 1, sc) all into the same st.

Work the following at the tip of the hand:

Tip of the hand: (5sc) all into the same st.

Stuff when you have crocheted about two-thirds of the way around (you may need to use the back of your hook or a chopstick to help stuff). Top up stuffing as you go. Slst to first st and tie off. Poke the yarn tail back inside. Repeat all of the above for the second arm. Set aside for assembly later.

Nose:

Using a 2.25mm hook and black crochet thread. The nose is worked in the round around a starting ch.

Row 1: Ch 5, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in first ch, hdc in next 2 chs, 4sc in last ch, continue on opposite side of chain, hdc in next 2 chs, sc in last ch, slst to beginning st.

Tie off.

Assembly:

Step 1: Body, Legs, and Tail

First we will assemble the body, legs and tail. Here are the pieces you’ll need for this step:

Cut three lengths of Dark brown yarn about 12″/30cm in length and set aside. Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides and rows. Make sure the front is facing you as you crochet around the outside.

Starting on the bottom of the body (i.e. the side opposite the tail), begin attaching the panels together by inserting your hook through both panels and single crocheting around the outside edge of the panels in Dark brown.

In the bottom corners crochet the following to create a sharp corner:

Corners: (Sc, ch 1, sc) all into the same st

When you reach the stitch marker at row 9, remove the marker and place the first leg (the bottom of the foot should be facing up with the toes pointing away from the body). Using a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, stitch the leg in place by stitching through all three pieces; the back panel, the leg and the top panel. Tie a knot to secure and hide the yarn tails between the body panels.

Continue crocheting around. When you get to the leg, sc in the stitches of the front panel only, since this section is already sewn shut. Continue crocheting both panels together as normal once you are past the leg.

When you reach the top of the body, sew the tail in place the same way you did for the first leg. When you reach the other side of the body, stitch the second leg in place (again lining the leg up with the stitch marker at row 9).

Stuff the body firmly. Top up stuffing as you continue to crochet around. Slst to first st to close and tie off. Poke the yarn tail back inside the body.

Step 2: Face, Head, and Ears

Next, we will add the face to the front panel. Insert 12mm safety eyes between rows 14 and 15 about 5 to 6 sts in from each side. Stitch on the nose. Stitch an eyebrow across one st about 2 rows above each eye. Finally, using black crochet thread, stitch on the mouth. Here is how I stitch facial features on amigurumi to get smooth lines.

Now we will assemble the Head and Ears. Here are the pieces you’ll need for this step:

Cut two lengths of Dark brown yarn about 12″/30cm in length and set aside. Place the two head panels together, matching up all sides and rows. Make sure the front is facing you as you crochet around the outside.

Starting on the top of the head, begin attaching the panels together by inserting your hook through both panels and single crocheting around the outside edge of the panels starting in Dark brown.

Stop when you reach the side of the head at the top. Place the first ear in the middle of the head and, using a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, stitch the ear in place by stitching through all three pieces; the back panel, the ear and the top panel. Tie a knot to secure and hide the yarn tails between the head panels.

Continue crocheting around. When you get to the ear, sc in the stitches of the front panel only, since this section is already sewn shut. Continue crocheting both panels together as normal once you are past the ear. You will need to switch to Light brown yarn where appropriate.

Crochet around and repeat for second ear. Switch back to Dark brown where appropriate.

Stuff the head firmly. Top up stuffing as you continue to crochet around. Slst to first st to close and tie off. Poke the yarn tail back inside the body.

Step 3: Head, Body, and Arms

Final assembly!

Stitch the back of the head (toward the top of the head) to the front of the body (toward the bottom of the body). I stitched mine on with a slight tilt to the head. Stitch back and forth several times to make sure it’s secure (I stitched about 3 rows together).

Stitch the arms to the bottom of the body panels so that they are hidden and stick out from behind the head/ears.

You’re done!

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