Hey, y’all! Let me spill the beans about the cutest little water buddy I stumbled across – a chubby otter crochet pattern. What’s not to love about its oatmilk colored head and delectably chocolate body and tail?
Oh, when I first laid eyes on it, I thought to myself, “Now, that’s a pattern that’ll make hearts flutter!” And it’s just the right size for a hug – not too big or small. Now, crochet critters are my jam, and this one’s got a special place in my heart. It’s simple enough for intermediate crocheters, but if you’re new to the craft, take a deep breath and give it a whirl. A bit of perseverance, and you’ll be snuggling with this otter in no time!
Here’s the skinny on making this darling: you’ll work in rounds, using single crochets for that tight stitch, creating a firm shape that holds up to love and cuddles. The magic is in the color changes – that’s where the chocolate merges into oatmilk, like a sunset melting into the horizon.
Oopsy, missed a loop there, but that’s just between us; nobody’s perfect, right? Anyway, grab your hook, and some squishy yarn, and let’s dive in – just like otters love to do!
Designer: Lex In Stitches
Materials & Tools
- Yarn: Hobbi Honey Bunny (chunky chenille) colors:
- Chocolate #12, white #01, oatmilk #03
- 4 mm hook
- 8 mm safety eyes
- Toy stuffing
- White and brown thread or yarn for embroidering
- Stitch markers
Abbreviations
Ch – chain
Rnd – round
Mr– magic ring
Sl st – slip stitch
Sc – single crochet
Dc – double crochet
Inc – increase
Dec – decrease
PM – place marker
FLO – front loops only
BLO – back loops only
Head
Start with head color:
Rnd 1: sc x 8 in to Mr (8)
Rnd 2: inc x 8 (16)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 8 (24)
Rnd 4: sc x 5, change to ear color, make 4 dc in the FLO next st (place a stitch marker on the BLO). change to head color, skip st (PM on the BLO of the skipped st), sc x 10, change to ear color, make 4 dc in the FLO next st (PM on the BLO), change to read color, skip st (PM on the BLO of the skipped st), sc x 5 (28)
Rnd 5: in this round do NOT work in to the brown dc clusters.When racing the dc clusters instead work in the open back loops of the previous round and the back loops of the skipped stitches (where you placed your stitch markers).
(sc x 2, inc) x 8 (32)
Rnd 6: sc x 32 (32)
Rnd 7: (sc x 3, inc) x 8 (40)
Rnd 8: sc x 40 (40)
Rnd 9: sc x 15, change to face color sc x 10, change to head color sc x 15 (40)
Rnd 10-11: sc x 14, change to face color sc x 12, change to head color sc x 14 (40)
Rnd 12: (sc x 3, dec) x 3, sc, change to face color sc x 2, dec, sc x 3, dec, change to head color (sc x 3, dec) x 3 (32)
Rnd 13: sc, dec, (sc x 2, dec) x 7, sc (24)
Body
Continue with body color.
Rnd 14: (sc x 2, inc) x 8 (32)
Rnd 15: (sc x 3, inc) x 8 (40)
Now we will add the facial details. Add 8 mm safety eyes 8 sts apart between rnd 8 and 9 central on the face.
Using brown thread of left over yarn, embroider whiskers on either side of the face between rnd 9, 10 and rnd 10 and 11. Stuff the head.
Using chocolate chenille embroider the nose. Make a small vertical stitch centrally over rnd 9. Then make several horizontal stitches, 4 stitches long, between rnd 8-9 to form a T shape.
Rnd 16: sc x 14, change to paw color, make 4 dc in the FLO of next st, change to body color. PM on the BLO, skip st. PM on the BLO of the skipped st, sc x 10, change to paw color, make 4 dc in the FLO of next st, change to body color, PM on the BLO, skip st. PM on the BLO of the skipped st, sc x 12 (44)
Rnd 17: as we have done previously in this round do NOT work in the dc cluster. Insread work in the open back loops behind the dcs and of the skipped stitch. Sc x 40 (40)
Rnd 18-23: sc x 40 (40) 6 rounds
Rnd 24: sc x 16, change to paw color, make 4 dc in the FLO of next st, change to body color, PM on the BLO, skip st, PM on the BLO of the skipped st, sc x 10, change to paw color, make 4 dc in the FLO of next st, change to body color, PM on the BLO, skip st,PM on the BLO of the skipped st, sc x 10 (44)
Rnd 25: as we have done previously in this round do NOT work in the dc cluster. Instead work in the open back loops behind the dcs and of the skipped stitch.
Change to chocolate yarn inc x 6, change to body color sc x 34 (46)
Stuff the body and continue to stuff as you go.
Rnd 26: ch 6, skip 12 sc (there are the chocolate inc stitches). The next stitch made will now will be the start of your round. Do not work in the skipped inc stitches of the tail. The last stitches of your round will be made across the ch 6.
(sc x 3, dec) x 8 (32)
Rnd 27: (sc x 2, dec) x 8 (24)
Rnd 28: (sc, dec) x 8 (16)
Rnd 29: dec x 8 (8)
Tail
With the head downwards, rejoin chocolate yarn on the right-hand side of the ch 6 from rnd 26 of the body.
Rnd 1: sc x 6 across the ch 6, sc in the corner space between the ch 6 and the chocolate inc sts (as show with the pink st marker), sc x 12, sc in the corner space between the inc stitches and the ch 6 (20)
Rnd 2: sc x 20 (20)
Rnd 3: sc x 7, dec, sc x 8, dec, sc (18)
Rnd 4-5: sc x 18 (18)
Rnd 6: (sc x 7, dec) x 2 (16)
Rnd 7-8: sc x 16 (16)
Rnd 9: (sc x 6, dec) x 2 (14)
Rnd 10-11: sc x 14 (14)
Rnd 12: (sc x 5, dec) x 2 (12)
Rnd 13-14: sc x 12 (12)
Rnd 15: (dec, sc x 4) x 2 (10)
Rnd 16-17: sc x 10 (10)
Rnd 18: (dec, sc x 3) x 2 (8)
Rnd 19-20: sc x 8 (8)
Fasten off. The tail is not stuffed.
Weave the yarn tail through the FLO of the final round to close and secure. Fold the tail flat.
Optional details – embroider small oblique lines on the upper body using white thread or yarn.