Cute Crochet Clown Doll Pattern: Step-by-Step Amigurumi Tutorial

Introduction

Are you looking to add a whimsical, handmade touch to your crochet collection? This adorable amigurumi clown doll is the perfect project! With her colorful pastel ruffles, oversized bow tie, bouncy curly hair, and sweet heart-shaped cheeks, she makes a wonderful gift, nursery decoration, or keepsake toy.

Standing at approximately 10 inches tall (12 inches including her festive party hat), this pattern is wonderful for intermediate crocheters or ambitious beginners looking to try new techniques like color changing, working in the third loop, and making perfect spirals. Let’s grab our hooks and bring this cute little clown to life!

Materials & Abbreviations

Materials Needed

Yarn: Sport weight (or DK weight) cotton/acrylic blend yarn in the following colors:
- Light Pink (Body stripe, shoes, and hair)
- Bright Pink (Leg stripes and hair accents)
- Light Cream/Beige (Hair accents)
- Cherry Red (Nose and shoe accents)
- Soft Yellow (Neck bow)
- Sunny Yellow (Shoe body)
- Sky Blue (Sleeves and shirt stripe)
- Mint Green (Sleeves and shirt stripe)
- Variegated Pastel/Rainbow (Skirt)
- Off-White (Skin tone and pants)
Embroidery Floss: Black (for eyes and details) and Candy Pink (for cheek hearts).
Crochet Hooks: US Size B-1 (2.0 mm) hook for the main body; US Size 4 Steel Hook (1.75 mm) for the delicate cheek hearts.
Safety Eyes: One pair of 12 mm safety eyes.
Stuffing: Premium polyester fiberfill.
Neck Support: A firm plastic roll or a fabric-wrapped wooden dowel to keep the head upright under the weight of the hair.
Notions: Tapestry needle, embroidery needle, scissors, pins, and pink beads for the optional shoe bows.

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)

MR: Magic Ring
ch: Chain
sc: Single Crochet
hdc: Half Double Crochet
dc: Double Crochet
sl st: Slip Stitch
inc: Increase (work 2 single crochets into the same stitch)
dec: Decrease (single crochet two stitches together using the invisible decrease method)
BLO: Back Loop Only
FLO: Front Loop Only
sc3lp: Single crochet in the third loop (used to create defined ridges on soles)
Rnd(s): Round(s)
Row(s): Row(s)
St(s): Stitch(es)

Special Stitch: Single Crochet in the Third Loop (sc3lp)

To give the doll’s shoes and feet a highly defined, sturdy base, we will work some rounds into the third loop. Look at the back/wrong side of your work, just below the back loop. You will find a horizontal bar (the third loop). Inserting your hook here and pulling up a loop leaves both the front and back loops of the previous round completely untouched, creating a perfect right-angle fold for a clean, flat sole.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Arms (Make 2)

Note: Stuff the arms very lightly as you work, leaving the top 1 inch completely unstuffed so they lay flat against the body.

Start with Off-White yarn:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnds 2-4: Sc in each st around (6)

Fasten off the Off-White yarn.

For the Right Arm, join Mint Green yarn.

For the Left Arm, join Sky Blue yarn.

Rnd 5: Working in BLO, inc in each of the 6 sts (12)
Rnds 6-13: Sc in each st around (12) – 8 rounds total
Rnd 14: (1 sc, 1 dec) x 4 (8)
Rnd 15: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 2 (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sleeve Ruffles:

For the Right Arm sleeve ruffle, join Sky Blue yarn.

For the Left Arm sleeve ruffle, join Mint Green yarn.

Hold the arm upside down (hand pointing upwards) and insert your hook into one of the exposed front loops of Rnd 5. Ch 2, then work:

Rnd 1: FLO 2 dc in each loop around (12 dc)

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Legs & Feet (Make 2)

Start with Light Pink yarn:

Rnd 1: Ch 6. Starting in the second ch from hook, work: 4 sc, 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate to work along the opposite side of the chain: 3 sc, 1 inc in the first chain (12)
Rnd 2: 1 inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18)
Rnd 3: 18 sc3lp (sc in the third loop only) (18)
Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around (18)
Rnd 6: 5 sc, 4 dec, 5 sc (14)
Rnd 7: 5 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc (12)

The legs are worked in alternating color stripes of Bright Pink and Light Pink. Ensure you keep your increases aligned on the outside of each leg to form correct calf shapes. Stuff the legs firmly as you go.