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What you need
Chunky chenille or velvet-style yarn in 2 colours
Color A: head, flippers, tail and underside
Color B: shell
5mm crochet hook
Polyfill stuffing
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch marker
Black embroidery thread for face
Optional safety eyes
Finished size: Approx. 12.5 in / 32 cm long, depending on yarn, hook size, tension and stuffing.
If you are making this turtle for a baby or very young child, use embroidered eyes instead of safety eyes.
Stitches Used
This pattern uses US crochet terms.
sc – single crochet
inc – increase, 2 sc in same stitch
dec – invisible decrease over next 2 stitches
BLO – back loop only
FPhdc – front post half double crochet
st/sts – stitch/stitches
Instructions
There is something very hard to resist about a squishy little crochet turtle. Maybe it is the soft rounded shell, maybe it is the sleepy little face, or maybe it is just that turtles somehow manage to look calm even when the rest of us are surrounded by yarn ends and half-finished projects.
This free chunky crochet turtle pattern is made with soft chenille-style yarn, which gives it that lovely plush toy feel without needing a complicated stitch pattern. It is a sweet handmade gift idea, a cute nursery shelf project, or one of those craft market makes people will pick up just to give it a squeeze.
This version is worked in simple pieces and sewn together at the end, which makes it much less fiddly than trying to attach everything while decreasing the body. I know some crocheters love a “join-as-you-go” amigurumi pattern, but for chenille yarn, I prefer the calmer route. Chenille is gorgeous, but it can hide stitches like it is playing a very annoying little game of yarn hide-and-seek.
Pattern Notes
Work in continuous rounds unless stated otherwise. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Do not join rounds unless the pattern tells you to.
Chenille yarn can be tricky to frog, so count your stitches at the end of each round. It is one of those “ask me how I know” situations.
Head — Color A
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
Rnds 7–12: sc around. (36)
Rnd 13: (4 sc, dec) x 6. (30)
Rnd 14: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
Rnd 15: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18)
Stuff the head firmly but do not overstuff.
Rnd 16: (sc, dec) x 6. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining stitches, pull closed and weave in the end.
Face
For safety eyes, place them between rounds 8 and 9, about 7–9 stitches apart, before closing the head.
For an embroidered face, stitch two small eyes and a gentle smile using black embroidery thread. I actually love the embroidered version for this turtle because it gives it that softer handmade personality.
Front Flippers — Color A
Make 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Do not stuff.
Fold the flipper flat and sc through both layers across the opening. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Back Flippers — Color A
Make 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
Do not stuff.
Fold the flipper flat and sc through both layers across the opening. (15)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Tail — Color A
Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring. (4)
Rnd 2: (inc, sc) x 2. (6)
Rnd 3: (inc, 2 sc) x 2. (8)
Rnds 4–5: sc around. (8)
Do not stuff.
Fold flat and sc through both layers across the opening. (4)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Body and Shell
Start with Color B for the shell.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6. (42)
Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) x 6. (48)
Rnd 9: (7 sc, inc) x 6. (54)
Rnds 10–11: sc around. (54)
Rnd 12: FPhdc around each stitch. (54)
This creates the raised shell edge. It is a small detail, but it makes the turtle look much more finished.
Change to Color A.
Rnd 13: Working in BLO, sc around. (54)
Rnd 14: sc around. (54)
Rnd 15: (7 sc, dec) x 6. (48)
Rnd 16: (6 sc, dec) x 6. (42)
Rnd 17: (5 sc, dec) x 6. (36)
Rnd 18: (4 sc, dec) x 6. (30)
Rnd 19: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
Begin stuffing the body. Keep the top rounded but do not pack the stuffing so tightly that the shell loses its shape.
Rnd 20: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18)
Rnd 21: (sc, dec) x 6. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Thread through the front loops of the remaining stitches and pull closed. Weave in the end.
Assembly
Lay the body flat with the shell facing up.
- Pin the head to the front of the body, slightly tucked under the shell edge. Sew securely in place.
- Pin the two front flippers on either side of the head.
- Pin the two back flippers near the back sides of the body.
- Pin the tail at the centre back.
- Once you are happy with the placement, sew all pieces firmly to the body.
- Weave in all ends.
Take your time with the assembly. This is the part that gives the turtle its character. A flipper angled slightly forward makes it look like it is happily scooting along the sand.
Colour Ideas
This turtle works beautifully in so many colour combinations:
- Green shell with pale green body for a natural turtle look
- Aqua and mint for a beachy sea turtle
- Yellow and cream for a sunny nursery version
- Lavender and pale pink for a soft pastel plush
- Blue variegated yarn for an ocean-inspired shell
- Brown and tan for a more realistic earthy turtle
Variegated chenille yarn can look especially lovely on the shell because the colour changes create a natural mottled effect without extra work. We do love a project that looks cleverer than it actually was.
Tips for Working With Chenille Yarn
Chenille yarn makes wonderfully soft amigurumi, but it does need a little patience.
Use a stitch marker every round, count often, and avoid pulling too tightly when sewing pieces together. If your yarn sheds when frogged, try to undo stitches slowly rather than tugging. A slightly smaller hook can also help keep the stuffing from showing through.
If you are new to chunky yarn projects, this turtle is a good place to start because the shapes are simple and forgiving.
Safety Note
If this turtle is intended for a baby or young child, embroider the eyes and smile instead of using safety eyes. Safety eyes are not recommended for children under 3 years old, as small parts can become a choking hazard.
Always check seams carefully and make sure all pieces are firmly attached before gifting.
Where to Use This Pattern
This chunky crochet turtle would make a lovely:
- Handmade baby shower gift
- Nursery shelf decoration
- Turtle lover gift
- Craft market plush toy
- Beach-themed crochet project
- Soft birthday gift
- Stash-busting chenille yarn project
And yes, once you make one, you will probably want to make a whole little turtle family. That is not a warning so much as a prediction.
What do you think of this project? Let us know!