Free Sleepy Lamb Crochet Pattern: Easy Plush Amigurumi Tutorial

ByLina Morgen

Adorable Sleepy Lamb Crochet Pattern: Free Amigurumi Tutorial

Looking for a cozy, cuddly project to brighten up a nursery or create the perfect handmade baby gift? Meet the Sleepy Lamb! This charming amigurumi character combines the classic look of a little lamb with a whimsical twist—complete with tiny shoes and a sleepy little hat.

This pattern uses a mix of traditional cotton-blend yarn for the detailed parts and a plush, velvet-style yarn for the body to give your lamb a professional, high-end feel that is incredibly soft to the touch. Whether you are an experienced crocheter or a beginner looking to expand your skills, this step-by-step guide will walk you through every loop and stitch.

Materials & Abbreviations

To get started on your Sleepy Lamb, gather the following materials. We recommend using a plush chenille yarn for the body to achieve that “cloud-like” effect.

Materials Needed

  • DK Weight Yarn (e.g., YarnArt Jeans): White, Beige, Light Green, Turquoise, and small amounts of Brown and Black.
  • Plush/Chenille Yarn (e.g., Himalaya Dolphin Baby): White.
  • Crochet Hooks: 2.0mm (for detailed parts) and 3.5mm (for the plush body).
  • Fiberfill Stuffing: High-quality polyester stuffing.
  • Safety Eyes: Sized to fit the muzzle.
  • Tools: A yarn needle for sewing, stitch markers, and scissors.

US Crochet Terms & Abbreviations

  • MR: Magic Ring
  • sc: Single Crochet
  • inc: Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
  • dec: Decrease (sc 2 together)
  • ch: Chain
  • BLO: Back Loop Only
  • st(s): Stitch(es)
  • sl st: Slip Stitch
  • dc: Double Crochet

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Legs and Shoes

We begin with the feet, working from the shoes up to the legs. Use the light green yarn and the 2.0mm hook.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
  2. R2: 6 inc (12)
  3. R3: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  4. R4: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  5. R5: (3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)
  6. R6: (4 sc, inc) * 6 (36)
  7. R7: (5 sc, inc) * 6 (42)
  8. R8: 42 sc in BLO (42)
  9. R9-11: Work even (42)
  10. R12: 19 sc, 2 dec, 19 sc (40)
  11. R13: 1 dec, 16 sc, 2 dec, 16 sc, 1 dec (36)
  12. R14: 16 sc, 2 dec, 16 sc (34)
  13. R15: 15 sc, 2 dec, 15 sc (32)
  14. R16: 14 sc, 2 dec, 14 sc (30)
  15. R17: 13 sc, 2 dec, 13 sc (28)
  16. R18: 1 dec, 10 sc, 2 dec, 10 sc, 1 dec (24)
  17. R19: 10 sc, 2 dec, 10 sc (22). Change yarn to white on the last stitch.
  18. R20: 22 sc in BLO (22)
  19. R21: 10 sc, 1 inc, 10 sc, 1 inc (24)
  20. R22-35: Work even for 14 rows (24)

Shoe Detailing: Using light green yarn, surface crochet double crochets along the sole line and the top edge of the shoe (where the BLO row was worked) to define the footwear. Stuff the shoe firmly and the leg halfway. Fasten off.

Note: For the second leg, stop 4 stitches short of the marker on the final row to ensure the legs are slightly angled toward each other.

Shoe Eyes and Eyelids

Each shoe needs a little face! Make 4 of each using a 2.0mm hook.

Shoe Eyes (Make 4):

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR using black (6)
  2. R2: 6 sc using white (6)
  3. R3: 6 inc (12)
  4. R4: 12 sc (12)
  5. R5: 6 dec (6). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Eyelids (Make 4): Using light green, ch 6. Work 3 rows of sc in turning rows. Sew these over the shoe eyes.

The Arms

Use beige yarn and a 2.0mm hook.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
  2. R2: 6 inc (12)
  3. R3: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  4. R4: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  5. R5-8: Work even (24). Change to white on the last stitch.
  6. R9: (6 sc, dec) * 3 (21). Change to white on the last stitch.
  7. R10-34: Work even for 25 rows (21)

Stuff the arms halfway, fold them flat, and sc the edges together to close them.

The Body

Now we move to the soft part! Use white plush yarn and a 3.5mm hook.

  1. R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6)
  2. R2: 6 inc (12)
  3. R3: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  4. R4: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  5. R5: (3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)
  6. R6: (4 sc, inc) * 6 (36)
  7. R7: (5 sc, inc) * 6 (42)
  8. R8: (6 sc, inc) * 6 (48)
  9. R9 (Joining Legs): 15 sc, join first leg by working 6 sc through the leg’s stitches (skipping one stitch on the leg), 6 sc, join second leg (skipping one stitch), 6 sc, 15 sc (48)
  10. R10-12: Work even (48)
  11. R13: (6 sc, dec) * 6 (42)
  12. R14-15: Work even (42)
  13. R16: (5 sc, dec) * 6 (36)
  14. R17-18: Work even (36)
  15. R19: (4 sc, dec) * 6 (30)
  16. R20-21: Work even (30)
  17. R22: (3 sc, dec) * 6 (24)
  18. R23-24: Work even (24)
  19. R25: (2 sc, dec) * 6 (18)
  20. R26-27: Work even (18)
  21. R28 (Joining Arms): In this row, join the arms similarly to the legs, skipping one stitch on the arm for a secure fit (18)
  22. R29-30: Work even (18)

The Muzzle and Face

Use beige yarn and a 2.0mm hook for the base.

  1. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
  2. R2: 6 inc (12)
  3. R3: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  4. R4: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  5. R5: (3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)
  6. R6: (4 sc, inc) * 6 (36)
  7. R7: (5 sc, inc) * 6 (42)
  8. R8: (6 sc, inc) * 6 (48)
  9. R9-12: Work even (48)
  10. R13: (7 sc, inc) * 6 (54)
  11. R14-18: Work even (54)
  12. R19: (8 sc, inc) * 6 (60)
  13. R20-22: Work even (60)

Switching to Plush: Change to white plush yarn and a 3.5mm hook. In R23, sc into every second stitch to reduce the count to 30.

  1. R24: 12 sc, (1 inc, 1 sc) * 4, 10 sc (34)
  2. R25: 3 dec, 4 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc) * 6, 6 sc, 3 dec (34)
  3. R26-30: Work even (34)
  4. R31: 2 dec, 26 sc, 2 dec (30)
  5. R32: (3 sc, dec) * 6 (24)
  6. R33: (2 sc, dec) * 6 (18)
  7. R34: (1 sc, dec) * 6 (12)
  8. R35: 6 dec (6). Fasten off.

Face Details & Extras

Face Semi-Circle: Use beige yarn (2.0mm hook). In a MR, work 5 sc, ch 1, turn. R2: 3 inc, ch 1, turn. R3-8: Continue increasing by 3 stitches per row, ending with (6 sc, inc) * 3. You can finish the bottom edge with a chain or a decorative blanket stitch.

Ears (Make 2): 6 sc in MR. R2: (1 sc, inc) * 3 (9). R3: (2 sc, inc) * 3 (12). R4: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18). R5-6: Work even (18). R7: (5 sc, inc) * 3 (21). R8-20: Work even (21). R21: (5 sc, dec) * 3 (18). R22: (1 sc, dec) * 6 (12). Fold flat and sc the edges. Do not stuff.

Tail: White plush yarn (3.5mm hook). Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch. R2: 6 inc (12). R3-5: Work even (12). Stuff and flatten.

The Hat: Turquoise yarn (2.0mm hook). 4 sc in MR. R2: 4 inc (8). R3: Work even (8). R4: (1 sc, inc) * 4 (12). R5: Work even (12). R6: (2 sc, inc) * 4 (16). R7: Work even (16). Repeat this pattern of (work even, then increase) until the hat fits the lamb’s head. Work a few final rows even for length.

Nostrils: Brown yarn (2.0mm hook). 6 sc in MR, then 6 inc (12). Sew to the muzzle.

Finishing

Now comes the magic of assembly! Start by placing the safety eyes into the beige semi-circle and securing them. Sew the semi-circle onto the plush muzzle, then attach the muzzle to the body. Stitch the ears to the top of the head and the tail to the back so the lamb can sit upright. Finally, place the turquoise hat on the head, tilting it slightly for that “sleepy” look. Add a few embroidered lines on the hands and feet to add character.

Tips for Success

  • Working with Plush Yarn: Plush yarn can be tricky because the stitches are hidden. Use a stitch marker at the start of every round so you don’t lose your place.
  • Tension Control: When switching from the 2.0mm hook to the 3.5mm hook, be mindful of your tension. You want the plush parts to be firm enough to hold stuffing but not so tight that they lose their softness.
  • Seamless Joins: When joining the legs and arms to the body, ensure you skip the suggested stitch to prevent the limbs from pulling the body out of shape.
  • Customization: Feel free to change the hat color to match a specific nursery theme! A soft pink or lemon yellow would look equally adorable.

More Patterns