Paisley the Penguin

As you all know by now, winter just isn’t for me – but I’m all about this chubby amigurumi penguin pattern!    There are currently two variations, Original Paisley (blue with triangle-shaped belly) and Valentine Paisley (pink with heart-shaped belly)! 

Materials

Worsted weight yarn in blue or pink for body, cream/aran for feet and belly, yellow for beak, and white and black yarn for the eyes. I used Red Heart Super Saver 4 Medium (100% Acrylic, 364 yds) in Baby Blue or Baby Pink (approx.115 yards) -(use pink or blue depending on which Paisley version you want), Aran (approx. 15 yards), Soft White (approx.. 5 yards), Pale Yellow (less than one yard), and Black (less than one yard)

Size F (3.75mm) crochet hook

Polyfill

Yarn needle

Stitch Marker

Abbreviations Used

Ch: Chain

Sc: Single Crochet

Hdc: Half Double Crochet

Inc: Increase

Dec: Decrease

Sl St:  Slip Stitch

St(s):  Stitch(es) 

Blo: Back Loop Only 

Notes

Gauge is not terribly important here, just that you are producing a nice and tight fabric that the polyfill will not poke through.

This pattern is written using US terminology.

Unless otherwise noted, pattern is worked up in continuous (spiral) rounds. I recommend using a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.

Size of finished doll is approximately 7” tall, and 13” around at chubbiest part of belly.

Instructions for Valentine Paisley (pink with heart belly) are at the end of the pattern.  

Please note that I crochet left-handed and my photo guides may reflect this. If you crochet right-handed (with your hook in your right hand), all the stitches are the same and will look the same, you will just be working in the opposite direction as I am.

Please do not copy or sell my pattern in any way. You are welcome to sell finished objects made using my pattern. I only ask for you to please credit me and link back when applicable so that other makers can find my pattern as well. Thanks!

Special Stitches

Increases are made by making 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch  

Decreases are made by using the invisible decrease method – Insert hook under front loops only of next two stitches, yarn over, draw through the first two loops on hook, yarn over, draw through remaining two loops to finish.  

Back Loop Only – rather than insert your hook into both loops, insert your hook under the back loop only and work the indicated stitch.  Need help making a single crochet into the back loop only?  Check out this video for help – click HERE.

There is a paid version of this pattern if you’d like an ad-free, formatted pdf.  Click HERE to visit my Etsy shop listing!

Click HERE to add to your Ravelry queue! 

Pattern Instructions – Original Paisley (Blue with Triangle-shaped belly)

Body – Using Baby Blue Color

Rnd 1: Make 6 sc into a magic circle.

Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch. (12)

Rnd 3: [Sc 1, inc in next st] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: Sc 1, inc, *Sc 2, inc, repeat from * to last remaining stitch, sc 1 (24)

Rnd 5: [Sc 3, inc in next st] 6 times (30)

Rnd 6:  Sc 2, inc, *Sc 4, inc, repeat from * to last remaining two sts, sc 2 (36)

Rnd 7: [Sc 5, inc] 6 times. (42)

Rnds 8-9: Sc all (42)

Rnd 10:  Sc 3, inc, *Sc 6, inc, repeat from * to last remaining three sts, sc 3 (48)

Rnd 11-15: Sc all (48)

Rnd 16:  [Sc 7, inc] 6 times. (54)

Rnds 17-19: Sc all.  (54)

Rnd 20:  Sc 4, inc, *Sc 8 , inc, repeat from * to last remaining four sts, sc 4 (60)

Rnds 21-26: Sc all. (60)

Rnd 27:  [Sc 9, inc] 6 times. (66)

Rnds 28-31: Sc all. (66)

Rnd 32:  [Sc 9, dec] 6 times. (60)

Rnd 33: Sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec, repeat from * to last remaining four sts, sc 4. (54)

Rnd 34:  [Sc 7, dec] six times. (48)

Rnd 35:  In blo, Sc 3, dec, *Sc 6, dec, repeat from * to last remaining three sts, sc 3. (42)

Rnd 36:  Working again in both loops, [Sc 5, dec] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 37:  Sc 2, dec, *Sc 4, dec, repeat from * to last remaining two sts, sc 4. (30)

Rnd 38:  [Sc 3, dec] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 39:  Sc 1, dec, *Sc 2, dec, repeat from * to last remaining two stitches, sc 1 (18)

At this point, begin stuffing the body with polyfill.

Rnd 40:  [Sc 1, dec] 6 times (12)

Rnd 41: Dec 6 times (6)

Cut yarn leaving at least a 6 inch tail and thread tail through your yarn needle. Pass your needle through the remaining stitches, pull tight to close. Tie off and weave in yarn tail.

Flippers – Make 2, Using Baby Blue Color

Rnd 1:  Make 4 sc into magic circle. (4)

Rnd 2:  Sc all. (4)

Rnd 3:  [Sc 1, inc] twice. (6)

Rnd 4:  [Sc 2, inc] twice. (8)

Rnd 5:  [Sc 3, inc] twice. (10)

Rnd 6:  [Sc 4, inc] twice. (12)

Rnd 7:  [Sc 5, inc] twice. (14)

Rnd 8:  Sc 7, hdc 7. (14) 

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Eyes – Make 2, Using White Color

Here and throughout, beginning ch-1 does not count as stitch

Rnd 1:  Make 6 sc into magic circle, sl st to first st of row. (12)

Rnd 2:  Ch 1, inc in each st around sl to first stitch (12)

Rnd 3:  ch 1, [Sc 1, inc] six times. (18)

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Beak – Using Pale Yellow Color 

Rnd 1:  Make 4 sc into magic circle.

Rnd 2:  Sc all. (4)

Rnd 3:  Sc 1, inc, sc 2. (5)

Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc, sc 2. (6)

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Belly – Original Triangle-Shape – Using Aran/Cream Color

Ch 11

Row 1:  Beginning in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 10, turn. (10)

Rows 2-3:  Ch 1, sc 10, turn. (10)

Row 4:  Ch 1, dec, sc 6, dec, turn. (8)

Rows 5-6:  Ch 1, sc 8, turn. (8)

Row 7: Ch 1, Dec, sc 4, dec, turn. (6)

Row 8:  Ch 1, dec, sc 2, dec, turn.  (4)

Row 9: ch 1, dec, dec. (2)

Now, ch 1 and turn your work.  You should have a triangle shape.  Working along the outside of your work, create a sc border, adding two sc in the two bottom corners of the triangle. (See Photo Guide for more help).  Make a sl st into beginning ch 1 and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment. 

Tail – Using Baby Blue Color

Rnd 1: Make 6 sc into magic circle.

Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)

Rnds 3-5: Sc all. (12)

Rnd 6: [Sc 1, inc] six times. (18)

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Hair – Using Baby Blue Color 

Make three: one long and two short

Rnd 1: Make 6 sc into magic circle. (6)

Rnd 2: Sc 2, inc, sc 2, inc (8)

Rnd 3: Sc all. (8)

Rnd 4: Dec twice, sc 4 (6)

Rnd 5: Sc 6 **finish here for shorter hair pieces, continue for longer hair piece**

Rnd 6: Sc all. (6)

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment.

Feet – Make 2, Using Aran/Cream Color

Rnd 1: Make 8 sc into magic circle.  Pull tight.

Rnd 2:  Inc in each st (16). 

Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) 8 times. (24)

Rnds 4-5: Sc all.  (24)

Rnd 6: [Sc 1, dec] 8 times. (16)

Rnds 7-10:  Sc all. (16)

Rnd 11:  Dec 8 times. (8) 

Make a sl st into next st and fasten off, leaving a tail for attachment. 

Stuff lightly – you want a little fluff to the foot but not too much.  You want it to still stay somewhat flat so your penguin will stand.  Thread yarn needle and pass through each of the remaining stitches and pull tightly to close.  (See Photo Guide for how to create the toes).

Pattern Instructions – Alternate Valentine Paisley Version 

Valentine Paisley is worked the same as regular Paisley except for a quick main color swap and belly pattern change.  Instead of blue, work the body, tail, wings, and hair in pink color yarn.  Make the alternate heart shape belly using the below instructions.  Assembly is the same for both Original and Valentine Paisley.

Assembly 

Place the belly so the bottom lies flush with the back loop only row of your penguin body and sew into place.  If making heart-shaped belly, you’ll line up the bottom point of the heart with this same back loop only row.  Add black lines to eyes (see Photo Guide) and place the eyes so that the tops land at row 10 of the body, sew in place. Sew beak shut and place so the top of the beak is around row 14, sew in place. Stuff arms lightly and place on body with the half double crochets of the last row facing up. Place on the body so tops of arms are approximately at row and sew on. Lightly stuff tail, sew bottom of tail to back of penguin starting in the back loop only row of the body. Sew top of tail approximately 2-3 rows up from this (right). Sew feet on both sides of bottom of penguin, making sure feet are up enough to be seen while penguin is standing. For hair, locate center of top of head where magic ring was started. Place the longest hair directly in back of the center so that it is facing right. Place shorter hair directly to the right of the center, pointing to the right. Place other shorter hair directly to the left of the center, facing left. See Photo Guides below for a visual on completing and placing body parts.

Photo Guide – Completing Body Parts

Eyes

Thread your yarn needle with black yarn. Begin by inserting the needle in between the second and third row, lined up with the center of the eye (left). Pull your yarn through and insert needle on opposite side in the same position (center).  Pull your yarn through. You should wind up with a nice, straight line (right).  

Use your thumb to push this line up so it follows the curve of the second row of the eye (right).  Next, you’ll need to hold the curve in place. Locate the middle of the curve.  Insert your yarn needle directly below this, that is to say underneath the yarn, as in the center picture.  Pull your yarn through, and then insert your needle in the same stitch, only this time you are to insert your needle over the top of the yarn where it curves. Pull yarn through. 

Pull this stitch tight to make it less visible, then tie off in back and trim.  Repeat for the other eye.  

Belly Border (For Original Paisley Triangle-Shaped Belly) 

You should be here when you get to the end of round 10 on the belly. Chain 1 (left) and then turn your work, making single crochet stitches across the final row of the belly you just completed (center).  Begin making your way down the side of the belly, using the spaces between rows to insert your hook (right).

When you get to the first corner, create two stitches in the corner space (right).  Now continue along the bottom making a single crochet in each stitch (center).  When you get to the other corner, make two single crochet stitches into the corner stitch (right).

Continue up the other side, again using spaces between rows to insert your hook to create single crochet stitches (left).  Finish by creating a sl st to the first single crochet of the border (center).  There’s your completed penguin belly! (right).

Feet – Creating Toes 

Thread yarn needle using same color as feet. Hold foot so it lies flat and the wider end is at the top and the end where you finished is at the bottom (left). Insert needle in the fourth row from the top, approximately four or five stitches from the side (center).  Push needle through so it comes out at the same place on the other side of the foot (right).

Pull yarn through (left).  Go back over top of the foot to where you originally inserted your yarn needle, and insert your needle (center). Repeat this same process once more through the same stitches to create a second loop over the foot (right).  Making two loops gives a nicer definition to the toes. When finished, pull yarn tightly. 

Now, to keep this “toe” from coming loose, make a simple knot. Pick a stitch as close as possible to where your yarn strand came out (left). Pass your yarn needle through it and begin to pull your yarn through. Before pulling all the way through, put your finger through the remaining yarn to form a loop (center). Pass your yarn needle through that loop and pull the yarn through to make a simple knot (right). 

Pull this tightly so knot is less visible.  Next, make one more toe section. Remember to pick a stitch that is in the 4th row from the top of the foot, and approximately 4-5 stitches in from the outside of the foot. Now, next to where you just made your knot, insert your yarn needle into the foot, but don’t come out the other side(center). Stay under the row and have your needle come out of the stitch you are going to make the next toe section out of (right). Repeat toe making process by making 2 loops over the top of the foot, inserting yarn needle into the corresponding stitch on the opposite side of the foot. 

Weave in the ends of yarn that were used to make the toes.

Photo Guide – Placement 

Beak + Eye + Belly Placement

For the beak, there is no need to stuff. Thread yarn needle and while pushing the beak together, sew shut across the top. Place the belly so the bottom lies flush with the back loop only row of your penguin body. If making heart-shaped belly, you’ll line up the bottom point of the heart with this same back loop only row.  Place the eyes so that the tops land at approximately row 10 of the body. The top of the beak should be around row 14.

Arm Placement 

Very lightly stuff the arms. In the final row of the arm you made 7 half double crochet stitches. Hold the arm so these half double crochet stitches are positioned at the top.  Place so that top of arm lies at approximately row 15 and sew on.

Feet Placement

Place feet as shown, on either side of center of the bottom of the penguin (left).  Make sure that the feet are far enough up towards the front to be visible when the penguin is standing. Attach feet to penguin by sewing along top of foot to penguin body.

Tail Placement + Sewing 

Very lightly stuff tail and press tail down in between fingers to form an oval shape (far left). Place on body as shown in second picture from left, so that the bottom of the tail lines up with the back loop only row (row 35) of the body.  Sew bottom of tail to back loop only row.  Sew top of tail approximately 2-3 rows up from this (right). 

Hair Placement 

Locate center of the top of the head, where your beginning magic circle is. Place the longest hair directly in back of the center so that it is facing right. Place shorter hair directly to the right of the center, pointing to the right. Place shorter hair to the left of the center, facing left. Sew into place.

Finally, weave in all ends and enjoy your Paisley the Penguin!!