Meet Skipper Penguin, a plump little amigurumi pal who’s ready to waddle straight into your heart! With his soft, rounded body, floppy flippers, bright orange beak and feet, and sweet expression, Skipper is a charming crochet project that makes an adorable handmade gift or addition to your amigurumi collection.
Skipper is made with KnitPal Chenillique weight #4 yarn in Ocean Mist, giving his body a wonderfully soft and cuddly texture. Orange cotton yarn adds a cheerful pop of color to his beak and feet. When finished, Skipper measures approximately 7 inches (17.8 cm) tall.
This easy crochet pattern is worked primarily in continuous rounds using simple techniques like single crochet, increases, and invisible decreases. The head and body are crocheted as one piece, then you’ll make and attach Skipper’s flippers, beak, and feet to bring your little penguin to life.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy weekend project, a cute handmade gift, or a new amigurumi friend, Skipper Penguin is sure to make you smile.
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
What You’ll Need
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Yarn:
KnitPal Chenillique (weight #4 - 100% polyester, 214 yards per 100 g)
Approximately 1 ball in colorway Ocean MistOrange cotton yarn (weight #3) for crocheting feet and beak - 25g
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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
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Skill Level: Easy
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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: 7" (17.8 cm) long
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- dec: invisible decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together; use an invisible decrease when working in the round, 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
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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
FLIPPERS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 3, inc)x 3. (15 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 3. (18 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 5, inc)x 3. (21 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 3, inc, sc 3)x 3. (24 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 7, inc)x 3. (27 sts)
Round 8: (Sc 4, inc, sc 4)x 3. (30 sts)
Rounds 9-12 (4 rounds): Sc 30.
Round 13: (Sc 4, dec, sc 4)x 3. (27 sts)
Round 14: (Sc 7, dec)x 3. (24 sts)
Round 15: (Sc 3, dec, sc 3)x 3. (21 sts)
Round 16: (Sc 5, dec)x 3. (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Flipper on the Body.
HEAD & 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 2, inc, sc 2)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc)x 6. (42 sts)
Round 8: (Sc 3, inc, sc 3)x 6. (48 sts)
Rounds 9-16 (8 rounds): Sc 48.
Round 17: (Sc 15, inc)x 3. (51 sts)
Round 18: (Sc 8, inc, sc 8)x 3. (54 sts)
Rounds 19-33 (15 rounds): Sc 54.
Attach the safety eyes in Round 12, 7 sts apart.
Stuff the Head and Body.
Round 34: (Sc 7, dec)x 6. (48 sts)
Round 35: (Sc 3, dec, sc 3)x 6. (42 sts)
Round 36: (Sc 5, dec)x 6. (36 sts)
Round 37: (Sc 2, dec, sc 2)x 6. (30 sts)
Round 38: (Sc 3, dec)x 6. (24 sts)
Round 39: (Sc 2, dec)x 6. (18 sts)
Round 40: (Sc, dec)x 6. (12 sts)
Round 41: (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.
BEAK
With orange cotton yarn.
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: (Sc 2, inc)x 2. (8 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 3, inc)x 2. (10 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 2. (12 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Beak on the Head.
FEET (MAKE 2)
With orange cotton yarn.
Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Rounds 3-4 (2 rounds): Sc 12.
Round 5: (Sc 2, dec)x 3. (9 sts)
Round 6: (Sc, dec)x 3. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Foot on the Body.
ATTACHING THE BEAK
Using sewing pins, pin the Beak at Round 15 of the Head, centered between the Eyes.
Using the yarn tail from the Beak, sew the Beak to the Head.
Secure the yarn end, then hide it inside the toy.
ATTACHING THE FLIPPERS
Flatten the Flippers and pin them at Round 18 of the Head, 17 sts apart.
Using the yarn tails from the Flippers, sew each Flipper to the Body.
Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.
ATTACHING THE FEET
Pin the Feet at the bottom of the Body between Rounds 36 and 38.
Using the yarn tails from the Feet, sew each Foot to the Body.
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 Skipper Penguin 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/