Take a good look at a Pokémon and you'll often see a ball with something attached. Two ears, a tail, red cheeks. That makes them surprisingly easy to crochet, even if you haven't been doing amigurumi for long. Pick a simple character and the right yarn, and your first crochet Pokémon can be sitting on the sofa within an evening or two.
Before you start
- For your first Pokémon, choose a character with a simple, round shape.
- You'll need a magic ring and single crochet in the round (UK: double crochet). Those two techniques carry almost every amigurumi figure.
- Cotton gives crisp, firm figures. Acrylic is softer and more cuddly.
- Crocheting for a baby or toddler? Embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes.
- Follow a designer's pattern, or start with a basic ball and add the details yourself.
Which Pokémon are easy to crochet?
The fewer separate parts, the faster you see results. This table helps you choose.
| Shape | Examples | Level | What it's about |
|---|---|---|---|
| One ball | Voltorb, Jigglypuff | Beginner | Even increases and decreases, firm stuffing |
| Free-form blob | Ditto | Beginner | A shape that doesn't need to be perfect, ideal for practice |
| Long body | Ekans | Beginner | A long tube that narrows toward the tail |
| Ball with ears and tail | Pikachu | Advanced beginner | Crocheting separate parts and sewing them on straight |
| Body with legs | Charmander, Bulbasaur | Intermediate | Many parts that need to sit symmetrically |
| Large and complex | Charizard, Gyarados | Intermediate to advanced | Wings or long bodies that need support |
Ditto is a great first choice. It's basically a purple blob of yarn with a face, and if it comes out a bit lopsided, it just looks more like the real thing.
A handy trick: keep a picture or a trading card of your character next to your work. You'll see at a glance which colors you need and where the ears and tail sit.
Choosing yarn and hook
For amigurumi you want a tight fabric, so the stuffing doesn't show between the stitches. That's why you use a hook a half to a full size smaller than the yarn label recommends.
Durable Coral is 100% cotton with a recommended hook of 2.5-3.5 mm; for amigurumi, use the 2.5 mm (US B/1-C/2). Cotton shows every stitch and holds its shape well, which helps with ears that need to stand up. For a softer, cuddlier figure, Durable Cosy Fine (58% cotton, 42% acrylic, hook 4-4.5 mm) works well on a 3.5 mm hook (US E/4). Not sure which fiber to pick? Read more in our guide to the best yarn for crochet.
For a figure of about 10 cm (4 in), one ball of the main color is usually enough. You'll only use a few meters of the accent colors, so leftovers come in handy here.
The body: crocheting in the round
Almost every Pokémon starts with a magic ring of 6 single crochet. Then you increase each round until the ball is wide enough, work a few rounds straight up and decrease again. You work in a continuous spiral, without a slip stitch at the end of each round. Put a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round, or you'll lose count after three rounds. Need a refresher on single crochet? See basic crochet stitches, and for a full practice ball with stitch counts, our guide on how to crochet amigurumi.
Start stuffing when the opening is just big enough for your fingers. Stuff more firmly than you think you need to, especially at the neck if the head and body are separate. A loosely stuffed head starts to droop after a few weeks.
Ears, tail and other separate parts
Ears are small cones: start with a ring of a few stitches and increase slowly. For Pikachu, start the ear in black for the tip and switch to yellow after a few rounds. A color change looks neatest if you pick up the new color on the last yarn over of the stitch before.
Flat parts, like a lightning-bolt tail, are crocheted twice. Place the two pieces on top of each other and crochet or sew them together all around, so the tail is stiff enough not to droop. Leave a long tail of yarn on every part for sewing. Pin everything in place first and look at the figure from the front and the side before you sew. An ear that sits a centimeter too far back changes the whole expression.
The face
The face decides whether people recognize your figure straight away, so take your time. Safety eyes look neat and go in before you close the ball. If the toy is for a baby or toddler, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, because an eye that comes loose can end up in a small mouth.
Cut red cheeks from felt and sew them on, or crochet two small circles of 6 sc. A few stitches of black yarn are enough for the mouth. Pin the eyes in place first, step back a few meters and look again. Up close, you can't judge this kind of thing well.
Follow a pattern or design your own
On Ravelry, Etsy and YouTube you'll find patterns and videos by designers for all kinds of Pokémon; "pikachu crochet pattern" alone brings up plenty. Check the level and the abbreviations when you choose. Patterns written in UK terms use "dc" for what US patterns call "sc".
Designing your own is also possible, and more fun than it sounds. Find a picture of your Pokémon, break it down into simple shapes (ball, cone, tube, flat piece) and crochet those shapes one by one. Write down your stitch counts for each round, so you can make another one later.
Want something even simpler first? Make a plain little ball without details. A small figure with a ring attached also makes a fun crochet keychain.
FAQ
Is crocheting a Pokémon hard for beginners?
It depends on the Pokémon. Characters made from one ball, like Voltorb or Ditto, are doable if you can make a magic ring and single crochet. Pikachu takes a bit more experience, because you crochet separate ears and a tail and sew them on.
What yarn should I use for a crochet Pokémon?
Cotton gives firm figures with clear stitches. Acrylic is softer and nicer for a cuddly toy. Either way, pick solid colors; with variegated yarn the details get lost.
What hook size do I need for amigurumi?
Use a hook a half to a full size smaller than the yarn label suggests. For a cotton with a recommended 2.5-3.5 mm hook, amigurumi is usually crocheted with 2.5 mm.
Can I use safety eyes on a toy for a child?
For babies and toddlers, it's better to embroider the eyes. Safety eyes can come loose and are small enough to swallow.
How long does it take to crochet a Pokémon?
A simple ball figure often takes a few hours. A Pikachu with ears, tail and an embroidered face takes most people an evening or two. Bigger figures with wings or legs take longer.
Can I sell crocheted Pokémon?
Pokémon characters are protected by copyright and trademark. Making one for yourself or as a gift is different from selling them, and selling them can infringe those rights. A pattern you bought usually only gives you rights to the pattern itself, not to the character. If in doubt, get legal advice.
Where to start
Start with a Pokémon that has few parts, use a hook slightly smaller than the label suggests and stuff firmly. The details make the figure recognizable, so take your time with the ears and face, and pin everything before you sew. Once you're hooked, a Pikachu or Charmander is a good next step.
Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
