Meet Smiley Sloth, an adorable little amigurumi friend who's ready to bring a little happiness and relaxation to your crochet collection! With his big round head, long dangling arms and legs, chubby belly, and cheerful embroidered smile, this lovable sloth is full of personality. His warm brown coloring and wonderfully soft texture make him an irresistibly cuddly companion who's sure to brighten anyone's day.
This easy amigurumi crochet pattern is worked primarily in continuous rounds using simple techniques like single crochet, increases, and invisible decreases. You'll crochet Smiley Sloth's long arms and legs separately before joining them directly as you work his rounded body. His head is crocheted separately and sewn into place, while safety eyes, a tiny embroidered nose, expressive eyebrows, and a big curved smile bring Smiley Sloth to life.
Whether you're a sloth lover, an amigurumi enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing crochet project, Smiley Sloth is the perfect reminder to slow down, enjoy every stitch, and share a little handmade happiness!
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
What You’ll Need
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Yarn:
KnitPal Chenillique XL (weight #6 - 100% Polyester, 88 yds per 100 g)
Approximately 4 balls in Cocoa Dust
Black cotton yarn (weight #3) for embroidering eyes, nose, and mouth - 28" (70 cm) -
Hook:
US 7/4.5mm
Or size needed to obtain gauge -
Notions:
Stitch marker
Scissors
2-Plastic safety eyes - 14 mm
Stuffing for toys
Tapestry needle
Sewing pins and long knitting needles (optional)
Details
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Skill Level: Easy
-
Gauge: A 4-round gauge swatch = 3" (7.5 cm) in diameter with a US 7 / 4.5 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) - Size: 16" (40.5 cm) tall
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- BLO: back loop only
- ch: chain
- 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: 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
LEGS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: 8sc in a Magic Ring. (8 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (16 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 8. (24 sts)
Sl st in the 1st st of Round 3.
Round 4: Ch1, sc BLO around. (24 sts)
Rounds 5-11 (7 rounds): Sc 24.
Round 12: (Sc 10, dec)x 2. (22 sts)
Round 13: Sc 22.
Round 14: (Sc 9, dec)x 2. (20 sts)
Round 15: Sc 20.
Round 16: (Sc 8, dec)x 2. (18 sts)
Round 17: Sc 18.
Round 18: (Sc 7, dec)x 2. (16 sts)
Round 19: Sc 16.
Stuff the Leg.
Round 20: (Sc 6, dec)x 2. (14 sts)
Round 21: Sc 14.
Round 22: (Sc 5, dec)x 2. (12 sts)
Round 23: Sc 12.
Round 24: (Sc 4, dec)x 2. (10 sts)
Round 25: Sc 10.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
ARMS (MAKE 2)
Round 1: 8sc in a Magic Ring. (8 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (16 sts)
Sl st in the 1st st of Round 2.
Round 3: Ch1, sc BLO around. (16 sts)
Rounds 4-10 (7 rounds): Sc 16.
Round 11: (Sc 6, dec)x 2. (14 sts)
Round 12: Sc 14.
Round 13: (Sc 5, dec)x 2. (12 sts)
Round 14: Sc 12.
Stuff the Arm.
Round 15: (Sc 4, dec)x 2. (10 sts)
Round 16: Sc 10.
Round 17: (Sc 3, dec)x 2. (8 sts)
Round 18: Sc 8.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
BODY
Round 1: 8sc in a Magic Ring. (8 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (16 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 8. (24 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 8. (32 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 8. (40 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 8. (48 sts)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc)x 8. (56 sts)
In the next round, you will crochet the Legs on the Body. When indicated in the pattern, flatten the opening of the Leg and line it up against the next sts of the Body. Insert your hook in 2 opposite sts of the Leg, then insert your hook in the next st of the Body, then complete a sc through all 3 layers. Continue to sc through all 3 layers across the Leg (5 sc total).
Round 8: (Join first Leg) sc 5, sc 23, (join second Leg) sc 5, sc 23. (56 sts)
Rounds 9-18 (10 rounds): Sc 56.
Round 19: (Sc 6, dec, sc 6)x 4. (52 sts)
Round 20: (Sc 11, dec)x 4. (48 sts)
Round 21: Sc 48.
Round 22: (Sc 5, dec, sc 5)x 4. (44 sts)
Round 23: (Sc 9, dec)x 4. (40 sts)
Round 24: Sc 40.
Round 25: (Sc 4, dec, sc 4)x 4. (36 sts)
Round 26: (Sc 7, dec)x 4. (32 sts)
Round 27: Sc 32.
Round 28: (Sc 3, dec, sc 3)x 4. (28 sts)
In the next round, you will crochet the Arms on the Body. When indicated in the pattern, flatten the opening of the Arm and line it up against the next sts of the Body, insert your hook in 2 opposite sts of the Arm, then insert your hook in the next st of the Body, then complete a sc through all 3 layers. Continue to sc through all 3 layers across the Arm (4 sc total).
Note: You want the Arms to be on the sides of the Body. Adjust their position for your Sloth if
necessary.
Round 29: Sc 5, (join first Arm) sc 4, sc 10, (join second Arm) sc 4, sc 5. (28 sts)
Round 30: (Sc 5, dec)x 4. (24 sts)
Stuff the Body.
Round 31: (Sc 2, dec, sc 2)x 4. (20 sts)
Round 32: (Sc 3, dec)x 4. (16 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Body to the Head.
HEAD
Round 1: 8sc in a Magic Ring. (8 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (16 sts)
Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 8. (24 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 8. (32 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc)x 8. (40 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 8. (48 sts)
Rounds 7-13 (7 rounds): Sc 48.
Attach the safety eyes in Round 4, 12 sts apart.
Round 14: (Sc 4, dec)x 8. (40 sts)
Round 15: (Sc 3, dec)x 8. (32 sts)
Round 16: (Sc 2, dec)x 8. (24 sts)
Stuff the Head.
Round 17: (Sc, dec)x 8. (16 sts)
Round 18: (Dec)x 8. (8 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn tail through each st of the last round and pull to close. Hide the yarn end inside the Head.
ATTACHING THE HEAD
Use pins or knitting needles to pre-determine the correct position of the Head on the Body.
Using the yarn tail from the Body, sew the Body to the Head.
Secure the yarn end, then hide it inside the toy.
EMBROIDERING THE NOSE
Using sewing pins, mark 2 sts in Round 1 of the Head, centered between the eyes, 4 sts apart (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Using the black cotton yarn and the marked stitches as guides, embroider 4 horizontal sts, one on top of the other, in Round 1 of the Head.
Do not cut the yarn. Continue with the smile.
EMBROIDERING THE SMILE
With the black cotton yarn, embroider the smile at Round 3 of the Head, centered between the eyes, by making 1 long curved st, spanning 7 sts (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Next, make a small vertical st at Round 4 of the Head, over top of the previous long st, to secure it in a curve.
Do not cut the yarn. Continue with the eyebrows.
EMBROIDERING THE EYEBROWS
With the black cotton yarn, embroider an eyebrow above each eye by making a slanting st between Rounds 5 and 6 of the Head (see photo in downloadable PDF).
Secure the yarn ends and hide them inside the toy.
Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos
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