Squirtle Crochet Pattern: A Beginner-Friendly Amigurumi with a Curled Tail
Make Squirtle, the water-type starter Pokémon, as a beginner-friendly amigurumi. This Squirtle crochet pattern works simple shapes only, then shows the sewing-yarn trick that fixes the tail's curl.
- Pieces
- 8 crocheted pieces
- Hook
- 3.00 mm
- Yarn
- DK cotton
- Length
- 1,122 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
Squirtle, the little water-type starter Pokémon, is one of the friendliest first amigurumi you can make: a round head, a cream belly body, a brown shell with a white rim, and a long tail that is curled and fixed in place with its own sewing yarn at the end. Every piece is a simple shape, and the pieces are sewn together in a set order, legs first and the shell last.
Materials
- DK yarn in baby blue, cream, brown and white
- 3.00 mm crochet hook
- 2 safety eyes, 10 mm
- Toy stuffing
- Yarn needle, scissors and pins
Tension is not critical for this doll. Choose a hook that gives you a firm fabric with no gaps for the yarn you have, and keep the same tension across every piece so the rounds meet evenly when you sew.
Stitch key (US terms)
- MR — magic ring
- sc — single crochet
- inc — increase: 2 single crochet in the same stitch
- dec — invisible decrease: insert the hook into the front loop of the next stitch and then the front loop of the following stitch (2 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through the 2 loops on the hook
- FLO — front loop only: work into the front loop of the stitch
This pattern uses US terms. Pieces are worked in continuous rounds.
Squirtle Crochet Pattern
Head
R1: (in Baby Blue) MR, 6 sc (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 sewing. Insert the safety eyes between rounds 11 and 12, with about 7 stitches between them.
Body
R1: (in Cream) MR, 6 sc (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)
R1: (in Baby Blue) MR, 6 sc (6)
R2: [ inc, sc ] x 3 (9)
R3-6: sc 9 (9)
Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Arms (make 2)
R1: (in Baby Blue) MR, 6 sc (6)
R2: [ inc, sc 2 ] x 2 (8)
R3-4: sc 8 (8)
R5: dec, sc 6 (7)
R6: sc 7 (7)
Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Tail
R1: (in Baby Blue) MR, 6 sc (6)
R2: [ inc ] x 6 (12)
R3: [ inc, sc ] x 6 (18)
R4-6: sc 18 (18)
R7: [ dec ] x 6, sc 6 (12)
R8-20: sc 12 (12)
Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff the round end of the tail so it keeps its sphere shape, and leave the rest of the tail (from round 8 onwards) unstuffed so it can be flattened; the flat part is what forms the swirl at the end of the tail.
Shell
R1: (in Brown) MR, 6 sc (6)
R2: [ inc ] x 6 (12)
R3: [ inc, sc ] x 6 (18)
R4: sc, [ inc, sc 2 ] x 5, inc, sc (24)
R5: sc 24 (24)
R6: (in White) FLO sc 24 (24)
Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Checkpoint: You should have 8 crocheted pieces: the head, the body, 2 legs, 2 arms, the tail and the shell.
Assembly and Finishing
- Stuff. Stuff the head, body and legs. The tail needs no more stuffing than the amount already in its end, the arms are too small to stuff, and the shell can be stuffed when it is attached or left unstuffed — it holds its shape well without stuffing.
- Pin, then sew in order. Pin all the pieces in place first to check the positioning, then sew them on in this order: legs, arms, tail, head, shell.
- Attach the tail at the base of the body, then fix its curl as described below.
- Attach the head.
- Attach the shell last: it only just fits between the head and the tail, and doing the head first keeps the shell out of the way.
Fixing the tail curl
After sewing the tail to the body, do not cut the yarn. Thread the needle back through the inside of the tail to hide the yarn, and bring it out about halfway along the tail. Curl the tail into the shape you want, then push the needle into the stitch next to the one you came out of, passing it through the entire tail end. Pull the yarn tight, then repeat in the opposite direction so the tail is held in its curl. If the yarn is pulled too tightly it dents the curl, so ease it back a little; the curl should hold its shape without a dent. Finally, pull the yarn back through the tail and body to hide it.
Final check: The shell sits between the head and the curled tail, and the cream body faces forward under the head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Squirtle a good first amigurumi?
Yes. The pattern is built from simple shapes and is recommended for beginners; the only technique beyond the basic stitches is the front-loop-only round on the shell rim.
Why is the shell sewn on last?
It only just fits between the head and the tail. Attaching the head first keeps the shell out of the way while you sew, and the shell covers the back at the end.
Does the shell need stuffing?
Usually not. It holds its shape well without stuffing, though you can add some when you attach it if you prefer a rounder back.
This free pattern is an unofficial fan work inspired by Squirtle from Pokémon. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo. This pattern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak or The Pokémon Company.
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