10 Adorable Stuffed Animal Knitting Patterns
Sometimes a fun little in-between project is just what you need in the middle of working on a sweater, afghan, or other large project.
These too-cute stuffed animals are small projects that fill that in-between knitting need. Most of them require small amounts of yarn and are fun to make.
Most of all, if you have them ear-marked for a child on your knit-list, they will be welcomed gifts.
I’ve rounded up the most adorable snails, elephant, alligator, dragon, cat, Scottie dog, turtle, bear, mouse, and bird stuffed animals for you to knit and bring a smile to someone’s face!
Please note, some of these patterns include instructions for bead eyes. If you are giving one of these stuffed animals to a small child, use embroidery floss for eyes instead to prevent a choking hazard.
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Stuffed Animal Knitting Patterns
#1. Alec the Alligator Free Knitting Pattern
Snap Snap! Alec is a pocket sized alligator so you can carry him with you on your adventures.
Designed by Amanda Berry
Uses fingering weight yarn
Get Alec the Alligator Free Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Comfy Fingering Yarn for this project
#2. Elefante Stuffed Animal Free Knitting Pattern
Any worsted weight yarn will do and this is a perfect project to use up your stash. Try not to buy new yarn for this pattern! Make up your own colorway for the stripes.
You only need very small amounts of each color to complete Elefante.
Designed by Susan B. Anderson
Uses worsted weight yarn
Get KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted Yarn for this project
#3. Tiny Window Cat Free Knitting Pattern
This pattern is a tiny version of my regular Window Cat pattern.
It’s 3 inches tall, worked in the round, and all in one piece except for the tail. The only seaming is to attach the tail to the side of the body.
I’ve tried it with various yarn sizes from fingering to DK weight, and used size US 1 dpns with all of them. They all came out great.
Designed by Sarah Elizabeth Kellner
Uses sport weight yarn
Get Tiny Window Cat Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Brava Sport Yarn for this project
#4. Sheldon Turtle Stuffed Animal Free Knitting Pattern
Meed adorable Sheldon Turtle he’s a stuffed animal with a removable shell. Have fun choosing color combinations for this project and even let the child it’s intended for pick them.
Designed by Ruth Homrighaus
Uses sport weight yarn
Get KnitPicks Shine Sport Yarn for this project
#5. Knot Forgotten Knit Bear Free Pattern
These adorable bear stuffed animals were created by designer, Pear Dinkum, for a charity called Knot Forgotten, that provides toys to children living in extremely difficult situations.
The entire pattern is worked flat on straight needles and then seamed afterwards.
Make one for a child that needs a hug!
Uses DK weight yarn
Designed by Pear Dinkum
Get Paintbox Yarns DK Cotton for this project
#6. Bluebird of Happiness Free Knitting Pattern
This little bird will bring you happiness when you make it, and happiness to the one you make it for. Knit in the round, it is one piece from head to tail (which means no seaming), and easily made in an hour or two.
Uses worsted weight yarn
Designed by Sara Elizabeth Kellner
Get Bluebird Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Comfy Worsted Yarn for this project
#7. Tiny Scottie Dog Free Knitting Pattern
This cute little scottie dog measures approximately 2.5 inches (6cm) from nose to tail and is knit using double knitting yarn.
As the pattern requires so little yarn it is an excellent stash buster. The collar can be made from any yarn.
He is knit in one piece from the tip of the tail to nose. His legs, head and ‘ears’ are just worked using increases and decreases.
I used two 4mm black beads for his eyes but you could embroider the eyes instead. I also embroidered a nose using some of the black yarn.
This little dog is ideal as a brooch, just add a safety pin!
Uses DK weight yarn
Designed by Sue Stratford
Get Tiny Scottie Dog Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Swish DK Yarn for this project
#8. Harold Fatmus Stuffed Mouse Free Knitting Pattern
Harold is a tubby little mouse with a smart fair isle jumper. Knitted with a small amount of shetland yarn in 5 colours he is made in two pieces (base and upper) and then seamed, but is easily converted into a seamless knit - you’ll just need to sew on the ears and tail. Fill him with beans for added gravitas and he’ll make a lovely door stop.
Written instructions with a chart for the colourwork.
Uses light fingering weight yarn
Designed by Clare Hutchinson
Get Wee Country Yarn Mini Balls for this project
#9. Tarragon the Gentle Dragon Free Knitting Pattern
Mythology or reality? The reality is that Tarragon is a dragon with a tender heart and an obscure predilection for French cuisine. He will only blow fire for bbq-ing some sausages - to eat with lots of onions and garlic sauce!
one day to knit, one second to love!
(but beware of his breath!!)
Tarragon is stiched on the round using double-pointed needles from bottom to head and is about 24 cm high.
One skein main colour (50 gr) is largely sufficient to knit Tarragon. Plus you will need about a quarter of a skein to knit wings and spines.
Uses DK weight yarn
Designed by Knit-a-Zoo
Get Tarragon Dragon Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Swish DK Yarn for this project
#10. Snails and Slugs Free Knitting Pattern
When they’re not vying to determine which species will slowly take over the world, snails and slugs make cute house pets. Knit some up for your friends and hide them in unusual places.
The pattern, which calls for fingering weight yarn, is a tiny bit fiddly, but very fast and super cute!
Designed by Anna Hrachovec
Get KnitPicks Comfy Fingering Yarn for this project
