Tiny Crochet Chicken Pattern: An Easy Amigurumi Tutorial

Are you looking for a quick, adorable project to brighten up your desk or add to a nursery collection? This tiny crochet chicken is the perfect solution! Whether you are looking to make a cute Easter decoration, a small gift for a friend, or a whimsical desk buddy, this amigurumi project is designed to be fast, fun, and beginner-friendly.

This little hen is worked in a way that creates a sturdy, plump little body, making it look incredibly cute and “chonky.” Because it is such a small project, you can whip up several of these in a single afternoon using scrap yarn. In this tutorial, we will walk you through every single step, from the first magic ring to the final stitch of the tiny yellow feet.

Materials and Abbreviations

Before we pick up our hooks, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Since this is a small amigurumi project, you don’t need much, but having the right tools will make the process much smoother.

What You Will Need

• Yarn: Medium weight (worsted) yarn works best for this size. You will need white for the body, red for the comb, and yellow for the beak and feet. You’ll likely only need a few yards of each.
• Crochet Hook: A hook appropriate for your yarn weight (typically a 3.5mm or 4.0mm hook) to ensure your stitches are tight enough to prevent stuffing from showing through.
• Safety Eyes: 6mm black safety eyes. If you prefer not to use plastic eyes, you can always embroider the eyes with black yarn.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill to give your chicken its shape.
• Tapestry Needle: A blunt-tipped needle for sewing the pieces together and weaving in ends.
• Scissors: To trim your yarn as you go.

US Crochet Abbreviations

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. If you are used to UK terms, please be sure to adjust your stitches accordingly!

• MR: Magic Ring (or Magic Circle)
• sc: Single crochet
• inc: Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
• dec: Decrease (joining two stitches into one)
• ch: Chain
• sl st: Slip stitch
• hdc: Half double crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• st(s): Stitch(es)
• [ ] x 6: Repeat the instructions inside the brackets six times

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

The Body

The body is the most important part of your chicken. Instead of working in a continuous sphere, this pattern uses a clever technique where we create a flat piece and then work around the edges to create a pouch-like shape. This results in a very stable and cute little body.

Part 1: The Main Shell

1. Round 1: Start with a Magic Ring and work 6 sc into the ring. (6)
2. Round 2: [inc] in every stitch around. (12)
3. Round 3: [1 sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
4. Round 4: [2 sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (24)
5. Round 5: [3 sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (30)
6. Round 6: [4 sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (36)
7. Round 7: [5 sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (42)
8. Rounds 8-15: Work 1 sc in each stitch around for 8 full rounds. (42)

Part 2: Creating the Enclosure

Now, we are going to create the “back” of the chicken to close the shape. To do this, we will split the work. Find the middle of your oval (at the 21st stitch) and insert your hook into the opposite side of the piece to start working the second half of the body.

1. Rounds 16-18: Work 21 sc.
2. Round 19: [5 sc, dec] repeat 3 times. (18)

Note on Eyes: Before you continue, insert your 6mm safety eyes between rounds 19 and 20. Make sure they are centered on the “face” side of your piece.

20. Rounds 20-21: Work 18 sc. (18)
21. Round 22: [1 sc, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)

Note: Once you have finished Round 22, you will have two halves of a body that need to be sewn together. Use your tapestry needle and white yarn to sew the two edges together, leaving a small gap to stuff the chicken with fiberfill. Once stuffed, sew the remaining gap shut.

The Tail

The tail is simple and adds a lovely bit of movement to the back of your chicken. You can use the same white yarn you used for the body.

1. Chain 5.
2. Work a slip stitch into the body of the chicken.
3. Repeat this process two more times so that you have three small tail feathers.
4. Fasten off and weave in your ends securely.

The Wings

To give your chicken some personality, we will make two slightly different wings to create a natural, asymmetrical look. This adds a wonderful “handmade” charm to the finished piece.

Wing One:

1. Chain 7.
2. Starting from the 2nd chain from your hook, work the following: 2 sc, 2 hdc, and 2 dc.
3. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Wing Two:

1. Chain 7.
2. Starting from the 2nd chain from your hook, work the following in reverse order: 2 dc, 2 hdc, and 2 sc.
3. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Use your tapestry needle to sew these wings onto the sides of the body. Tip: Position them slightly angled backward to make the chicken look like it is in motion!

The Red Comb

No chicken is complete without its bright red comb! This is a very quick detail that adds a pop of color to the top of the head.

1. Attach red yarn to the very top of the chicken’s head.
2. Chain 3, then work a single crochet into the head.
3. Repeat this two more times to create three little bumps.
4. Fasten off and hide the yarn tail inside the head.

The Yellow Beak

The beak is worked with a unique technique to give it a little bit of dimension. Use your yellow yarn for this step.

1. Attach yellow yarn just below the eyes.
2. When you attach the yarn, leave a long tail sticking out to the side (as seen in the tutorial photos).
3. Chain 3, then work a single crochet into the head, making sure this stitch is placed slightly higher than your initial attachment point.
4. Pull your yarn through to the same spot where the long tail is sticking out.
5. Tie the two tails together in a knot and weave the ends into the head to secure it.

The Tiny Feet

Finally, let’s give our chicken some feet so it can stand! We will make two of these.

1. Chain 8.
2. In the 4th chain from your hook, work a slip stitch.
3. Chain 3, then work a slip stitch into that same stitch.
4. Chain 3 again, and work a slip stitch into that same stitch. (This creates the “toes”).
5. Now, work 4 sc along the remaining length of the chain to create the base of the foot.
6. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Sew the feet to the bottom of the body. If you want your chicken to stand up more easily, you can add a tiny bit of extra stuffing to the feet or use a slightly stiffer yarn.

Finishing and Assembly

Once all the pieces are crocheted, the assembly is where the magic happens! Take your time sewing the wings, beak, and feet onto the body. Because this is a small project, small mistakes in placement can be quite noticeable, so measure twice and sew once!

Ensure all your yarn tails are woven in deeply and securely. Since this is an amigurumi piece, you don’t want the stuffing to start peeking through the stitches later on.

Tips for Success

If this is your first time making amigurumi, don’t worry if things don’t look perfect right away. Here are a few pro tips to help you succeed:

• Maintain Tight Tension: In amigurumi, you want your stitches to be tight. This keeps the stuffing inside and makes the toy look professional. If you find your stuffing is showing, try using a slightly smaller hook.
• Use Stitch Markers: When working in rounds, it is very easy to lose track of where your round starts. Use a stitch marker or even a piece of scrap yarn to mark the first stitch of every round.
• Stuffing Technique: When stuffing your chicken, don’t just shove it all in at once. Use your crochet hook or a pencil to push the stuffing into the small crevices (like near the neck and the bottom) to ensure a smooth, even shape.
• Color Choice: While white is the classic look for a hen, don’t be afraid to get creative! A pink chicken or a spotted one can be just as adorable.

Happy crocheting! We can’t wait to see your tiny chicken creations.