Free Puppy Crochet Pattern – Squishy

This beginner-friendly crochet puppy pattern is soft, squishy, and just the right amount of floppy. I kept the design simple with easy-to-follow instructions, so you can focus on the fun part—watching him come to life with every stitch! If you’re a fan of plush yarn and cuddly shapes, this one’s going to be a favorite.

Free Puppy Crochet Pattern Notes

This free puppy crochet pattern works up quickly with blanket yarn to about 8 inches tall. This amigurumi version is the perfect size for small hands and a quick make! There are so many color options you can play around with!

This is another pattern in my “squishy” series! I called them that as an ironic nickname, and then it slowly became the official term. They are made with blanket yarn and the body is intentionally understuffed. This makes them adorably squishy! You will get hooked and want to make the entire collection! This Squishy Puppy pairs perfectly with my Squishy Bunny or Bear. Classic and cute!

Ad-free, Printable PDF

My patterns are free on my website, but you can find them in my shop if you prefer a printable copy!

Squishy Puppy

$6

Get the pattern here!

Puppy Snuggler

$6

Get the pattern here!

Plush Capybara

$6

Get the pattern here!

Materials you’ll need

To get started making this free Squishy Puppy crochet pattern, you’ll want to gather all your materials first.

video tutorials

These methods are used in this pattern!

• My favorite way to change color in amigurumi
• How to shape an amigurumi face

Important Notes:

Please read through the whole pattern before starting. You will make all the smaller pieces first and set them aside before making the head/body piece and then attach everything at the end.
This puppy’s body is made from the bottom to the head, all in one piece. You will intentionally understuff the body for a more floppy, silly look. Over-stuffing will change the look dramatically. You will insert a neck strengthener which will help with the shape and stability of the head, while allowing you to understuff the bottom and stuff the head a little more.

This puppy has a few options for limbs. The first is the original Squishy Limbs. The second is a more “paw-like” option! You can mix and match these limbs, using arms and legs, arms and paws, or opt for the new option that features all four paws. You get to pick!

I used blanket yarn for this pattern, a size 6 weight. I typically use Premier Basix Chenille, Bernat Blanket and Bernat Baby Blanket. I think these are interchangeable size wise. I use a 4.5mm hook which is much smaller than the recommended size on the label, but I want nice, tight stitches for this type of pattern. If this is too tight for you, size up a hook size until you can crochet comfortably but still have tight stitches.

Please be aware that even though the label may say it is size 6, some materials and brands work up much differently. Keep that in mind as you are choosing your yarn.

You can use safety eyes or try out embroidered eyes so it would be safe for a baby/toddler. I have a collection of embroidery videos here.

Abbreviations
SC– Single Crochet
SC INC– Single Crochet Increase- (2 SC in each stitch)
HDC– Half Double Crochet
DC– Double Crochet
INV DEC– Invisible decrease: – Invisible decrease (put hook through the FRONT LOOP ONLY of two consecutive stitches [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through both loops. [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through two loops)
Magic Circle– Make a loop, leaving a long tail to work with. Insert hook in center of loop, yarn over and draw up a loop. Yarn over, pull through to make the first chain (this does not count as a stitch!). Continue to crochet over the loop and tail with the number of stitches called for. (If you need 6 SC, then crochet 6 SC inside the ring.) Pull the tail to close the circle.

Always move your stitch marker to the last stitch in the round. This free crochet puppy pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Neck Strengthener

In a magic circle, SC 7. SC in each around for a total of 7 rows. Fasten off and leave a long tail. You will need this before you stuff the head.

Option 1 – All 4 Paws!

(or mix and match and make 2 Arms and 2 of these for the feet)
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 7.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (14)
Round 3: SC in each around. (14)
Round 4: INV DEC 6 times. SC in the remaining 2. (8)
Round 5: INV DEC 3 times. SC in the remaining 2. (5)
Round 6: SC in each around. (5)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach. Sew onto round 9, with about 2 stitches in between each foot. If using these in place of the arms as well, sew on between rounds 10-11.

Feet Option (make 2)

(Make 2 arms to go with this option)
Round 1: 10 SC in a magic circle (10)
Rounds 2: SC in each around.(10) [change color here (optional)]
Round 3-4: INV DEC in each around. (5)
Leave unstuffed. Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach.
Sew the feet on flat to the body, with the bottom of the foot touching Round 4.

Arms (make 2)

Make 2 of these only if you didn’t make 4 paws.
Round 1: SC 7 in a magic circle
Rounds 2: SC in each around (7) [change color here (optional)]
Rounds 3-5: SC in each around. (7)
Leave unstuffed. Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on.
Sew on between rounds 10 and 11. See here for my favorite method!

Eye Patch

Using worsted weight yarn:
In a magic ring, DC 10 times. Close the circle with a slip stitch to the top of the first stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the patch on with.
Insert the safety eye through the circle before you attach. Place the eye in the correct spot through the head and attach the back. Use the tail to sew on the patch.

Snout

With Winter White color:
Round 1: 8 SC in a magic circle. (8)
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 3: SC in each around. (16)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on with the bottom on round 13 and top on round 15 of head. (Favorite method video here!)

Embroider the nose on the very top, between rows 2 and 3. This video shows my method for this step!

Ears (make 2)

Round 1: Chain 9. Turn and SC in the second chain from the hook. SC in the remaining 7. Chain 1 and turn. SC 8 times. SC 3x in the top chain. SC 8 times down the other side.
Round 2: Chain 1 and turn. SC in all 19. Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew it on.
Attach between rounds 20-21

Tail

Chain 6.
Turn and in the second chain from the hook, SC. SC in the next two, HDC in the next and DC in the last. (5)
Fasten off and attach the tail to the center of the back, around round 4.

Body and Head

Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 8.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 3: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 4: SC in the first 2, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (32)
Round 5: SC in the first 3, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (40)
Round 6: SC in the first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (32)
Round 7: SC in each around. (32)
Round 8: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 9: SC in each around. (24)
Begin to stuff here. Remember to stuff lightly.
Round 10: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (16)
Round 11: SC in each around. (16)
Round 12: INV DEC in each around. (8)
Round 13: In the front loop only, SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 14: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Rounds 15-19: SC in each around. (24) *5 rounds*
Insert safety eyes (with optional EYE PATCH) between rounds 17 and 18, about 4 stitches apart. Insert neck strengthener (see this video). See this video on how to make your head round!
Round 20: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (16)
Stuff the head. Keep stuffing as you close.
Round 21: SC in each around. (16)
Round 22: INV DEC in each around. (8)
Fasten off and sew the remaining hole closed.

Attach all the paws, ears, snout and tail on indicated rounds (you can click on the underlined words to go back to that page of the pattern)

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