Pikachu Crochet Pattern: A Small Amigurumi with a Zigzag Tail
Make a small Pikachu with black-tipped ears, a zigzag tail and red felt cheeks. This Pikachu crochet pattern builds the head and body with simple shaping and offers two tails: a 3D zigzag or a flat alternative.
- Pieces
- 9 crocheted pieces
- Hook
- 3.00 mm
- Yarn
- DK cotton
- Length
- 1,149 words · 5 min
Read the materials and technical notes first, keep every stitch total visible, and pin all components before sewing.
Materials and stitch key
Materials
- 3.00 mm crochet hook
- DK cotton yarn in yellow, black and brown (the sample uses Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Buttercup Yellow, Pure Black and Coffee Bean)
- Red polyester felt, for the cheeks
- 2 safety eyes, 10 mm
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Fabric glue
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch = chain
- dec = invisible decrease: insert the hook into the front loop of the next two stitches and single crochet them together
- inc = increase: work 2 single crochet into the same stitch
- MR = magic ring
- sc = single crochet
Before you start
Pikachu is worked in yellow with black ear tips and a brown-based zigzag tail. The tail is the trickiest piece: it is built by skipping stitches and chaining across gaps to form the zigzags, and a flat version of the tail is included as an alternative. Two brown stripes are embroidered on the back, and the red cheeks are felt, glued on last.
Checkpoint: insert the safety eyes between head rounds 11 and 12, with about 7 stitches between them.
Pikachu crochet pattern
Head (in yellow)
R1: MR 6 (6)
R2: [ inc ] x 6 (12)
R3: [ inc, sc ] x 6 (18)
R4: sc, [ inc, sc 2 ] x 5, inc, sc (24)
R5: [ inc, sc 3 ] x 6 (30)
R6: sc 2, [ inc, sc 4 ] x 5, inc, sc 2 (36)
R7-10: sc 36 (36)
R11: [ inc, sc 5 ] x 6 (42)
R12-13: sc 42 (42)
R14: [ dec, sc 5 ] x 6 (36)
R15: sc 2, [ dec, sc 4 ] x 5, dec, sc 2 (30)
R16: [ dec, sc 3 ] x 6 (24)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later. Insert the safety eyes between rounds 11 and 12, with about 7 stitches between them.
Body (in yellow)
R1: MR 6 (6)
R2: [ inc ] x 6 (12)
R3: [ inc, sc ] x 6 (18)
R4: sc, [ inc, sc 2 ] x 5, inc, sc (24)
R5: [ inc, sc 3 ] x 6 (30)
R6-8: sc 30 (30)
R9: [ dec, sc 3 ] x 6 (24)
R10-12: sc 24 (24)
Finish off.
Legs (make 2, in yellow)
R1: MR 6 (6)
R2: [ inc, sc ] x 3 (9)
R3-6: sc 9 (9)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.
Arms (make 2, in yellow)
R1: MR 6 (6)
R2: [ inc, sc 2 ] x 2 (8)
R3-4: sc 8 (8)
R5: dec, sc 6 (7)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.
Ears (make 2, in black and yellow)
R1: (in black) MR 5 (5)
R2: inc, sc 4 (6)
R3: inc, sc 5 (7)
R4: inc, sc 6 (8)
R5: (in yellow) inc, sc 7 (9)
R6-8: sc 9 (9)
R9: dec, sc 7 (8)
R10-11: sc 8 (8)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.
Tail (in yellow and brown)
R1: (in yellow) ch 7 (7)
R2: turn, sc 12, working 6 down one side of the chain and 6 up the other side (12)
R3-4: sc 12 (12)
R5: sc 3, skip 6, sc 3 (6)
R6: sc 6, ch 4 (10)
R7: sc 1, skip 4, sc 5 (6)
R8: (in brown) sc 6 (6)
R9: sc 6 (6)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later. Round 5 makes the first zigzag: work sc 3, then ignore the next 6 stitches; it helps to turn the work, count 6 stitches, insert the hook into the 7th and continue. At the end of round 6, the ch 4 becomes the other side of the zigzag: chain 4, then insert the hook back into the first stitch of round 6 to begin round 7, and when you reach the chain, work into its front or back loop only. When the tail is done, whipstitch the open parts (where stitches were skipped and chained) closed with a length of yellow yarn to neaten the shape.
Flat tail (alternative, in yellow and brown)
R1: (in yellow) ch 6
R2-4: ch 1, turn, sc 6
R5: ch 1, turn, sc 3
R6: ch 1, turn, sc 3, ch 2
R7-8: ch 1, turn, sc 5
R9: ch 1, turn, sc 2
R10-11: (in brown) ch 1, turn, sc 2
Finish off, leaving a tail long enough to attach the tail to the body. When a row begins "ch 1, turn", the next sc goes in the second chain from the hook; the first stitch is always skipped, as it is only the turning chain. For a thicker tail, make 2 flat tails and stitch them together. Press the tail flat.
Checkpoint: 9 crocheted pieces in total: head, body, 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 ears and the tail.
Assembly, back stripes and cheeks
Assembly steps
- Stuff the head, body and legs; the legs need only a little stuffing.
- Pin all the pieces together first to check the positioning, then sew them on in this order: legs, tail, arms, head, ears. Attaching the head before the ears makes it easier to get the ears even.
- After the tail is attached and before the head goes on, embroider the two brown stripes on the back, using the same yarn you are attaching the tail with.
- Sew the head on, then the ears.
- Cut two small circles from red felt and glue them in place underneath the eyes as the cheeks.
Final check: ears even on the head, two brown stripes across the back, red cheeks glued under the eyes, and the zigzag tail at the back.
Questions crocheters ask about this pattern
Is Pikachu beginner friendly?
Yes, with one exception: the tail can be tricky for absolute beginners or anyone who dislikes crocheting small pieces. The flat tail is the easier alternative.
What is the difference between the two tails?
The main tail is worked in the round with skipped stitches and chains forming the zigzags. The flat tail is worked in rows; make two and stitch them together if you want the same thickness.
When do the back stripes go on?
After the tail is attached but before the head. They are embroidered with the yarn already in use for attaching the tail.
Pikachu is a Pokémon character. This is an unofficial fan-made pattern, not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak or The Pokémon Company.
Want this pattern as a PDF?
Buy the Pikachu Crochet Pattern printable PDF for $2.00 USD. The free on-site guide stays available to read.
Digital download · Stripe Checkout · $2 per language PDFKnow someone who would enjoy this pattern?
Send the canonical article link so they receive the complete, corrected instructions.