Can I use a smaller hook for a tighter stitch?

You can, but the pattern is written for E-4 / 3.5 mm. A smaller hook makes the Head tighter to stuff and may shrink the finished size slightly.

How much yarn do I really need?

Plan for 100 to 120 grams in your main color and 20 to 30 grams in your accent. Keep a small amount of black or dark brown ready for the nose.

Why does the pattern say continuous spiral?

Every part, including the Head, works without joining or chaining at the round's start. A stitch marker keeps track of where each new round begins.

Where exactly does the Muzzle attach?

Center it on the lower front of the Head, between rounds 12 and 17. It sits directly beneath the safety eyes, whipstitched all the way around.

Crochet a plush puppy: an amigurumi dog pattern

A crochet plush puppy amigurumi pattern with head, muzzle, body, ears, legs, and tail. E-4 / 3.5 mm hook, worked in

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LevelIntermediate
Time4-6 hours
Hook3.5 mm
YarnWorsted

About This Pattern

This is a plush puppy, built from a head, muzzle, body, and four legs. It sits well on a shelf or in small arms. Toby needs a quiet evening, not a rushed one. The head alone runs twenty-one rounds, so I work it in one sitting when I can. Safety eyes go in before stuffing, so I plan that step ahead. Fiberfill does the rest, packed tight so no white shows through the stitches.

In the basket

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn in the following colors — main color (body/head, approximately 100–120 g), accent color (muzzle, inner ears, belly patch — approximately 20–30 g), and a small amount of black or dark brown for the nose

Hook

E-4 / 3.5 mm crochet hook

Safety eyes

12 mm safety eyes, 2 pieces

Stuffing

Polyester fiberfill

Stitch markers

At least 2
Yarn needle / tapestry needle
Scissors

Abbreviations

BLO: Back Loop Only
ch: Chain
dec: Decrease (invisible decrease)
dc: Double Crochet
FLO: Front Loop Only
inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
MR: Magic Ring
sc: Single Crochet
sk: Skip
sl st: Slip Stitch
SM: Stitch Marker
st / sts: Stitch / Stitches

Joining up

Step 1 Attach the Head to the Body. Position the Head on top of the Body with the opening of the Head aligned over the narrowed top of the Body. Using the yarn tail from the Head, sew around the entire perimeter using a whipstitch. Keep tension even so the join is smooth on all sides.
Step 2 Attach the Muzzle. Center the Muzzle on the lower front of the Head, between Rnds 12 and 17, directly beneath the safety eyes. Sew all the way around using the yarn tail and a whipstitch, leaving no gaps.
Step 3 Attach the Ears. Flatten each Ear and position on either side of the Head, with the top of each Ear sitting at approximately Rnd 4–5. The ears should drape downward. Sew across the flat top edge of each Ear using a whipstitch.
Step 4 Attach the Front Legs. Pin each Front Leg to the lower sides of the Body at approximately Rnds 18–20, centered on either side. Sew securely around the top opening using the yarn tail and a whipstitch.
Step 5 Attach the Back Legs. Pin each Back Leg to the lower Body at approximately Rnds 6–8, angled slightly outward. Sew securely around the top opening using a whipstitch.
Step 6 Attach the Tail. Position the Tail at the center back of the Body at approximately Rnd 8. Sew the open end firmly to the Body using the yarn tail.
Step 7 Embroider the nose (if not already completed) and any additional facial details such as eyebrow arches using dark yarn and a yarn needle.
Step 8 Weave in all remaining ends securely.

Small notes

Use an E-4 / 3.5 mm hook and keep stitches snug — gauge is not critical, but your fabric should be tight enough that no fiberfill is visible through the stitches. If you can see gaps, go down one hook size. This pattern is written in US crochet terminology, and stitch counts are given at the end of each round in parentheses.
Move your stitch marker every round. A spiral pattern drifts fast without one.
Place safety eyes before you close the Head. Once stuffed, adjusting them is much harder.
To work an invisible decrease, insert your hook under the front loop of the first stitch and the front loop of the second stitch at the same time, draw up a loop, and complete the stitch as a single crochet. This avoids the small hole a standard decrease leaves and keeps the shape smooth.
Stuff the head and body firmly for a well-defined shape — solid but not rock hard; a properly stuffed piece holds its round shape when set on a flat surface without support. Stuff the limbs only lightly so they stay soft and poseable.

Little questions

Can I use a smaller hook for a tighter stitch?
You can, but the pattern is written for E-4 / 3.5 mm. A smaller hook makes the Head tighter to stuff and may shrink the finished size slightly.
How much yarn do I really need?
Plan for 100 to 120 grams in your main color and 20 to 30 grams in your accent. Keep a small amount of black or dark brown ready for the nose.
Why does the pattern say continuous spiral?
Every part, including the Head, works without joining or chaining at the round's start. A stitch marker keeps track of where each new round begins.
Where exactly does the Muzzle attach?
Center it on the lower front of the Head, between rounds 12 and 17. It sits directly beneath the safety eyes, whipstitched all the way around.

Original pattern: https://amistitch.com/toby-the-dog-crochet-your-own-adorable-plush-puppy/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.

Crochet a plush puppy: an amigurumi dog pattern

About This Pattern

In the basket

Yarn