Meet Pixie Caterpillar, a cheerful little amigurumi friend bursting with soft pastel charm! With her plump, segmented body, playful antennae, big bright eyes, and sweet embroidered smile, Pixie is a fun crochet project that’s almost impossible not to smile at.
Pixie is made with KnitPal Chenillique weight #4 yarn in Pastel Dreams, which creates her soft texture and pretty mix of pastel colors. When finished, she measures approximately 9 inches (23 cm) long, making her a cuddly size for gifting, displaying, or adding to your collection of handmade creatures.
This easy amigurumi pattern is worked primarily in continuous rounds using simple crochet techniques such as single crochet, increases, and invisible decreases. Pixie’s body is crocheted as one long piece with repeating rounded segments, while the head and two antennae are made separately and sewn into place.
Add her embroidered smile as the final touch, and Pixie Caterpillar is ready to wiggle her way into your heart!
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
What You’ll Need
-
Yarn:
KnitPal Chenillique (weight #4 - 100% polyester, 214 yards per 100 g)
Approximately 1 ball in colorway Pastel DreamsBlack cotton yarn (weight #3) for embroidering smile - 28" (70 cm)
-
Hook:
3mm
Or size needed to obtain gauge -
Notions:
Stitch marker
Scissors
2-Plastic safety eyes - 12 mm
Stuffing for toys
Tapestry needle
Sewing pins
Details
-
Skill Level: Easy
-
Gauge: A 5-round gauge swatch = 2" (5 cm) in diameter with 3 mm hook
Swatch:
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6 (30 sts) - Size: 9" (23 cm) long
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- dec: invisible decrease (see below)
- inc: increase (work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch)
- sc: single crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- (...)x # - work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed (#)
- (# sts) - indicates the total number (#) of stitches you should have at the end of the round/row
Special Stitches
invisible decrease (dec) - insert hook in FRONT LOOP ONLY of next two stitches (which results in two more loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull through last two loops on hook
Notes
-
Unless indicated otherwise, this pattern is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round, moving it up each round.
Pattern
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
BODY
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 9, inc)x 3. (33 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc, sc 5)x 3. (36 sts)
Rounds 8-11 (4 rounds): Sc 36.
Round 12: (Sc 5, dec, sc 5)x 3. (33 sts)
Round 13: (Sc 9, dec)x 3. (30 sts)
Round 14: (Sc 3, dec)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 15: (Sc 2, dec)x 6. (18 sts)
Stuff this segment of the Body.
Rounds 16-51 (36 rounds): Repeat Rounds 4-15 three more times, continuing to stuff as you go.
Round 52: (Sc, dec)x 6. (12 sts)
Round 53: (Dec)x 6. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn tail through the front loop of each st of the last round and pull to close. Hide the yarn end inside the Body.
HEAD
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 11, inc)x 3. (39 sts)
Round 8: (Sc 6, inc, sc 6)x 3. (42 sts)
Rounds 9-15 (7 rounds): Sc 42.
Attach the safety eyes in Round 9, 6 sts apart.
Round 16: (Sc 5, dec)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 17: (Dec)x 18. (18 sts)
Stuff the Head.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Head on the Body.
ANTENNAE (MAKE 2)
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 12.
Round 4: (Dec)x 6. (6 sts)
Stuff the Antenna.
Rounds 5-9 (5 rounds): Sc 6.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Antenna on the Head.
ATTACHING THE HEAD
Using sewing pins, pin the Head at the top of one end of the Body (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Using the yarn tail from the Head, sew the Head to the Body.
Secure the yarn end, then hide it inside the toy.
ATTACHING THE ANTENNAE
Pin the Antennae on the top of the Head, between Rounds 3 and 5 (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Using the yarn tail from each Antennae, sew the Antennae to the Head.
Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.
EMBROIDERING THE SMILE
With black cotton yarn, embroider the Smile at Round 11 of the Head, centered between the eyes, by making one long curved st, spanning 6 sts (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Make 2 small sts at Round 13 of the Head, over top of the previous curved st, so secure the curve in place.
Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
Share Your Finished Piece!
We love seeing your creations—and this pattern is especially meaningful.
If you post your Pixie Caterpillar on Instagram, please tag @knitpalusa so we can cheer you on!
And if you’d like more soft, gentle yarns perfect for charity crafting, KnitPal has so many beautiful options to keep your hooks busy and your heart full.
With permission of the designer, this pattern and photos are property of KnitPal and may not be altered, shared, or sold. Do not rewrite any part of this design and sell as your own design. You’re welcome to sell finished products made with this pattern, but please credit the design to KnitPal https://knitpal.com/