Free Crochet Pattern: How to crochet a baby giraffe

You’ll need:

• less than one skein of yarn in your main colour (I take yellow cotton yarn)
• bits and pieces in a second colour (I take brown) and in black
• crochet hook, which is too small for your yarn (I take 2,5 where 3,5 is recommended)
• filling
• Scissors, needle and everything you need to make your crocheting cosy

Abbreviations:

• ch = chain
• dec = decrease
• inc = increase
• sc = single crochet
• st = stitch

Head:

1. R: 5 ch
2.  R: 3 sc, 3 sc into next stitch, then continue on the other side of your ch with 2 sc, inc (10 sc)
3. R: inc, 2 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 2 inc (16 sc)
4. R: 16 sc
5. R: 16 sc
6. R: [7 sc, inc] 2x (18 sc)
7. R: 8 inc, 10 sc (26 sc)
8. R: 4 sc, 10 inc, 12 sc (36 sc)
9. R: 36 sc
10. 36 sc
11. 36 sc
12. 36 sc
13. 36 sc
14. 36 sc
15. R: [4 sc, dec] 6x (30 sc)
16. R: [3 sc, dec] 6x  (24 sc) – stuff after this round
17. R: [2 sc, dec] 6x  (18 sc)
18. R: [sc, dec] 6x  (12 sc) – stuff again
19. R: 6 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end

Horns:

Start between rounds 12 and 13:

1. R: crochet 4 sc in a small square directly to the head. Do 1 sc in one direction, then change direction by 90°, do 1 sc again and so forth. Then sew up the beginning of the yarn.
2. R: 4 sc
3. R: 4 sc
4. R: 4 inc (8 sc)
5. R: 4 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end

Do the other horn in exactly the same way leaving 3-4 stitches in between

Ears:

Count 2 stitches towards the outside starting from the horn. When doing the right ear, the giraffe should not be facing you, when doing the left ear, the face should be turned into your direction.

1. R: 2 sc directly to head
2. R: 2 inc, ch, turn (4 sc)
3. R: 4 sc, ch, turn
4. R: 4 sc, ch, turn
5. R: 4 sc, ch, turn
6. R: 2 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end, then do the other ear.

Body and legs:

1. R: 16 sc directly to the head in a little square
2. R: 16 sc
3. R: 16 sc
4. R: 16 sc
5. R: 16 sc (if you want to make the neck longer, just go on doing rounds with 16 sc. For example you could go on until round 10 or 15.)
6. R: [3sc, inc] 4x (20 sc)
7. R: [4sc, inc] 4x (24 sc)
8. R: 24 sc
9. R: 24 sc
10. R: 24 sc
11. R: 24 sc
12. R: 24 sc
13. R: 24 sc
14. R: [3sc, inc] 6x  (30 sc)
15. R: 30 sc
16. R: 30 sc
17. R: 30 sc
18. R: 30 sc
19. R: 30 sc
20. R: 7 sc, skip 15 st, 8 sc (15 sc)
21. R: 6 sc, dec, 7 sc (14 sc)
22. R: 14 sc
23. R: 14 sc
24. R: [5 sc, dec] 2x (12 sc)
25. R: 6 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end, then stuff body and first leg. Do the second leg as follows:

1. R: 15 sc (using the st you skipped, before)
2. R: 6 sc, dec, 7 sc (14 sc)
3. R: 14 sc
4. R: 14 sc
5. R: [5 sc, dec] 2x (12 sc) – stuff after this round
6. R: 6 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end.

Arms:

1. R: 8 sc directly to the side of the body, starting 8 rounds underneath the head. Crochet 4 sc into one direction, then turn your work by 180 degrees, crochet 4 sc back using the same holes you used before.
2. R: 8 sc
3. R: 8 sc
4. R: 8 sc
5. R: 8 sc
6. R: 8 sc
7. R: [3 sc, inc] 2x (10 sc)
8. R: 10 sc
9. R: 10 sc – stuff
10. R: 5 dec

Cut yarn and sew up the end

Do the other arm in the same way

Dots:

1. R: 6 sc into magic ring
2. R: 6 inc (12 sc)

Cut yarn and sew dot onto the giraffe. You can do as many dots as you want and sew them on, where you like.

Now embroider face as you see it on the pictures.

Ready you are with your giraffe!

P.S. I would be so happy, if you would share your giraffe pics with me. When posting them on social media you can tag @flausch_einhorn and I will find them 🙂 Looking forward to see you, there.