Crochet Animals

Crochet Capybara Amigurumi Pattern

A compact capybara pattern with counted rounds for the head, oval body, muzzle and four feet. Includes eight project images and clear assembly checks.

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Handmade crochet capybara amigurumi

Make a small sitting capybara from a round head, long oval body, low tan muzzle and four short feet. Work in continuous rounds using US terms; check the stitch count at the end of every round.

Finished brown crochet capybara with tan muzzle
The finished capybara: a broad body, short legs and low muzzle.

Pattern at a glance

LevelConfident beginner
Finished lengthAbout 15 cm / 6 in; your tension may change the size
Hook and yarn2.75 mm hook; DK or light worsted yarn
TermsUS crochet; continuous rounds

Materials

  • About 65 g brown DK or light worsted yarn; about 10 g tan yarn for the muzzle
  • A little dark brown yarn for embroidered eyes, nose and toes
  • 2.75 mm hook, fiberfill, stitch marker, yarn needle, pins and scissors

Fabric check: Use a hook size that makes a close fabric, so the stuffing does not show between stitches.

Abbreviations

MR = magic ring; sc = single crochet; inc = 2 sc in one stitch; dec = invisible decrease over 2 stitches; ch = chain; FO = fasten off. Counts in parentheses are stitches at the end of the round.

Head

Start with brown yarn. Mark the first stitch of every round.

Brown yarn and the beginning of the capybara head
1. Start the head with a tight magic ring.
  1. R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
  2. R2: Inc × 6. (12)
  3. R3: [Sc, inc] × 6. (18)
  4. R4: [2 sc, inc] × 6. (24)
  5. R5: [3 sc, inc] × 6. (30)
  6. R6–R10: Sc in every stitch. (30 each round)
  7. R11: [3 sc, dec] × 6. (24)
  8. R12: [2 sc, dec] × 6. (18)
  9. Stuff the head, then continue.
  10. R13: [Sc, dec] × 6. (12)
  11. R14: Dec × 6. (6). FO, thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull closed.

Count check: The widest point has 30 stitches; the final round has 6.

Finished brown crochet head before the muzzle is sewn on
2. Close and shape the head before attaching facial pieces.

Muzzle and face

With tan yarn, ch 5. Work around both sides of the chain to make a small oval.

  1. R1: Starting in the second ch from hook, 3 sc, 3 sc in the last ch; continue on the opposite side with 2 sc, inc in the last ch. (10)
  2. R2: Inc, 2 sc, inc × 3, 2 sc, inc × 2. (16)
  3. R3: Sc in every stitch. (16). FO with a long sewing tail.

Pin the muzzle low on the front of the head. Add a little stuffing and sew around its edge. Embroider two small nostrils and two eyes between head rounds 7 and 8, about eight stitches apart.

Tan muzzle positioned low on the capybara face
3. Pin the tan muzzle low before sewing.

Ears

Make two in brown.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
  2. R2: [Sc, inc] × 3. (9)
  3. R3: Sc in every stitch. (9). Flatten; FO with a sewing tail.

Pin the ears near the top of the head, between rounds 4 and 7, with their outer edges angled slightly away from each other. Check both sides before sewing.

Two small brown crochet ears before attachment
4. Make two matching ears and compare their angle.

Long oval body

With brown yarn, ch 9. Crochet around the foundation chain; do not turn at the ends.

  1. R1: Starting in the second ch, 7 sc, 3 sc in the last ch; on the other side, 6 sc, inc in the final ch. (18)
  2. R2: Inc, 6 sc, inc × 3, 6 sc, inc × 2. (24)
  3. R3: [Sc, inc], 6 sc, [sc, inc] × 3, 6 sc, [sc, inc] × 2. (30)
  4. R4: [2 sc, inc], 6 sc, [2 sc, inc] × 3, 6 sc, [2 sc, inc] × 2. (36)
  5. R5–R11: Sc in every stitch. (36 each round)
  6. R12: [4 sc, dec] × 6. (30)
  7. R13: [3 sc, dec] × 6. (24)
  8. Stuff the body; spread the filling evenly and keep the underside broad.
  9. R14: [2 sc, dec] × 6. (18)
  10. R15: [Sc, dec] × 6. (12)
  11. R16: Dec × 6. (6). FO and close the opening.

Count check: The widest rounds have 36 stitches. Set the body on a flat surface to check that it does not rock.

Long brown crochet body with broad underside
5. Shape the long body and distribute its stuffing evenly.

Legs

Make four in brown.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
  2. R2: Inc × 6. (12)
  3. R3–R5: Sc in every stitch. (12 each round)
  4. Stuff lightly, flatten the opening and work 6 sc through both layers. FO with a sewing tail.

Pin the legs under the body in a wide rectangle. Rest it on a table and adjust their positions until it sits steadily.

Four short brown crochet legs ready for assembly
6. Make four equal legs and place them for balance.

Assembly and final checks

  1. Pin the head to the front third of the body, slightly raised. Check the silhouette from both sides.
  2. Sew around the neck twice, catching stitches in the stuffed body rather than only its surface fibers.
  3. Sew on the four legs; stand the capybara on a flat surface again.
  4. Embroider three short toes on each foot. Weave every yarn tail into the stuffed body.
Crochet capybara pieces pinned together before final sewing
7. Pin the head and feet, check the balance, then secure each seam.

Before use: Check every seam and embroidered detail for loose ends. For a gift intended for a young child, leave off detachable accessories and follow the recipient’s age and care requirements. The dimensions and look will vary with yarn and tension.