Ready for our next Farm Buddy?! This collection of plushies has been so fun to make. I'm excited to share today's free crochet plushie pattern for Duncan the Duckling! I love how cute this little guy turned out, and I think he would make a great baby shower gift or little Easter present. This plushie is made up of fewer pieces than some of my other patterns, and a couple of different techniques to get the details right, but I'll explain all of that in the pattern below.
Duncan loves the little pond on the farm. He could spend all day swimming in the cool water or just dangling his toes in as he lays in the grass nearby. Someday, Duncan wants to find a big lake (maybe even go to the ocean!) and take a sailboat out with all his friends. He knows Lily the Lamb would always be up for an adventure, and they have so much fun spending their afternoons playing pirates in their little pond.
Materials:
- 3.25mm/ D crochet hook - I like these Clover Amour ones
- #4 medium weight yarn
- I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Butter and Pumpkin Spice
- stitch markers - I like these locking ones and these split ring ones
- large eye needle - I like these blunt ones for seaming
- 9mm safety eyes - get a bunch of this size here or get a set of different sizes here
- polyfil stuffing - I like using this one or the big box!
The pink links are affiliate links to things I love! I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you use my links. Thank you!
Stitches & Abbreviations:
- Magic loop
- ch - chain
- SC - single crochet
- DC - double crochet
- HDC - half double crochet
- sl - slip stitch
- BO- bind off/fasten off
Pattern Notes:
- Skill level: Intermediate - some amigurumi experience is helpful but not necessary
- Sizing: 7" tall
- Gauge: 6S X 5R per inch
Useful Amigurumi Tips
- All patterns are in English and written in standard USA terms
- inc - increase by working 2 stitches into the same space
- dec - decrease across 2 stitches using an invisible decrease
- Keep stitches tight to prevent holes for stuffing to show through. If there are holes, go down a hook size.
- All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Use stitch markers to mark the first stitch of each round.
- Safety eyes are used in these patterns, but feel free to stitch on eyes instead for children under 3 years old.
- If you have any questions, email me at hello@theblueelephants.com
Duncan the Duckling: Free Crochet Plushie Pattern
Head:
Round 1: With yarn in yellow, create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-16: SC around for 9 rounds. Insert safety eyes to round 5 after the last increase round, about 5 stitches apart. Start to add the stuffing.
Round 17: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 18: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Round 19: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Round 20: *SC 2, dec* around (18). Finish adding stuffing.
Round 21: *SC, dec* around (12).
Round 22: Decrease around (6). Cut the yarn at about 12 inches and thread the tail through a tapestry needle.
Hair: Insert the needle through the bottom of the head to the top, loop it over your finger, and go under space on the head and around your finger again. You'll have 2 loops at the top of the head now. Wrap the yarn around the base of the loops 2 or 3 times and bring the needle back down through the head. Make a knot to secure it and cut the loops at the tops of the head open for the hair. The ends will be hidden when we attach the body.
Beak:
Round 1: With orange yarn, chain 6, turn and work 2 SC into the same space. SC to the end and work 3 SC into the last space. Turn so you are working into the other side of the chain now, and SC to the end.
Round 2-5: SC around for 4 rounds and BO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Body:
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-16: SC around for 9 rounds.
Round 17: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 18: SC around for 1 round.
Round 19: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Round 20: SC around for 1 round.
Round 21: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Round 22: SC around for 1 round.
Round 23: *SC 2, dec* around (18). Then BO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Cut a length of the same yellow yarn about 10 inches long and thread it through a tapestry needle. Insert the needle in the bottom of the body, at the center of the magic loop, and bring it up around the 15th round. Be sure to leave a couple of inches of tail hanging out of the bottom. Bring the needle 5 stitches across and go back down through the body to where you started. Remove the needle and pull both ends tight to draw in the body into the shape of the ducktail. Holding the ends tight, knot the ends together. Then use your hook to hide the knot and ends inside the body.
Arms (make 2):
Round 1: With yarn in yellow, create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4-16: SC around for 13 rounds.
Round 17: *SC, dec* around (12).
Round 18: SC for one round and BO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Legs (make 2):
Round 1: With yarn in orange, create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC 3, 3 SC into the same stitch*. Repeat around (18).
Round 4: SC 4, 3 SC. *SC 5, 3 SC into the same stitch*. Repeat around (24).
Round 5: SC 6, 3 SC. *SC 7, 3 SC into the same stitch*. Repeat around (30).
Round 6: SC 7, 3 SC. *SC 8, 3 SC into the same stitch*. Repeat around (36).
Rounds 7-8: SC normally for 2 rounds.
Round 9: *SC 9, SC3tog* around (30).
Round 10: *SC 3, SC2tog* around (24).
Round 11: *SC 2, SC2tog* around (18).
Round 12: *SC, SC2tog* around (12).
Round 13: SC through front loop only for 1 round.
Round 14-22: SC around for 9 rounds. BO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Hat:
Round 1: With yarn in white, create a magic loop and work 3 SC into it.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (6).
Round 3: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 4-5: SC around for 2 rounds.
Round 6: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 7-8: SC around for 2 rounds. Switch to navy blue yarn.
Round 9: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 10-11: SC around for 2 rounds.
Round 12: *SC 3, inc* around (24).
Round 13-14: SC around for 2 rounds.
Round 15: *SC 4, inc* around (30). BO an weave in the end. Turn the one inside out and fold the bottom half up at the color change.
Assembly:
Now that we have all the pieces done let's start assembling Duncan the Duckling! First, add stuffing to the body. You don't need any stuffing for the arms, legs, or beak. Use a tapestry needle and the tail yarn on the beak to sew the beak onto the face.
Next, use the tail yarn of the body and a tapestry needle to sew the head onto the body. Be sure to go through all the spaces of the body and a corresponding stitch in the head to make sure it doesn't wobble.
Then, sew the arms onto either side of the body going through both sides of the arm piece and a space on the body. Repeat for the legs. Then use a length of orange yarn and go through the foot to make two stitches to create an indent for the flippers. The picture below shows what I mean.
And you're all done! I love how this little duckling turned out. This pattern was a little more involved with the shaping for the feet, but I hope it made sense If you need any clarification, please let me know in the comments! If you make this, be sure to share your photos with me on Instagram @_theblueelephants!
I hope you guys loved this pattern and if you're excited about the rest of the patterns in the Farm Buddies collection, you can subscribe to the newsletter below for updates on when those patterns are released, or grab all of the patterns plus a bonus pattern in the shop here!
Farm Buddies Collections
- Bonnie the Cow Pattern
- Peter the Piglet Pattern
- Duncan the Duckling Pattern
- Lily the Lamb Pattern
- Willow the Bunny Pattern
- Freddy the Farmer Pattern
- BONUS: Finn the Fox Pattern
See you soon 🙂
