How to Crochet a Spider Plushie: A Complete Video Pattern Guide for Beginners

If you’ve been scrolling through craft videos lately, chances are you’ve stumbled across the most adorably creepy little crocheted spiders taking over the internet — and for good reason. These tiny eight-legged plushies are surprisingly beginner-friendly, wildly customizable, and make the perfect gift for Halloween, nature lovers, or anyone who appreciates the charm of a creature that most people run screaming from. Whether you’re picking up a crochet hook for the first time or you’ve made a few simple projects and want to try something new, this guide walks you through every step of making your own crochet spider plushie.

We’ll cover the materials you need, the basic stitches used throughout the pattern, a full written pattern with round-by-round instructions, tips for adding personality to your spider, and guidance on how to follow along with video tutorials if you’re more of a visual learner. By the end of this post, you’ll have everything you need to bring your own fuzzy, lovable spider to life.

Why Crochet a Spider Plushie?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why this project has become such a popular choice for beginners. First and foremost, it’s small. A finished spider plushie typically measures about three to four inches across the body, which means it works up quickly — most crafters finish one in a single afternoon. There’s no complicated shaping to worry about, no colorwork charts to follow, and no sewing in dozens of ends. The body is made in two simple pieces, the legs are either crocheted or made from pipe cleaners, and the whole thing gets assembled in a way that’s very forgiving of minor imperfections.

Crochet spiders are also endlessly customizable. You can make a classic black Halloween spider, a colorful rainbow version for a child’s bedroom, an amigurumi-style realistic spider with segmented legs, or a cartoonish big-eyed version that looks like it wandered out of a children’s book. The same basic pattern can become dozens of different characters depending on your yarn color, eye choices, and any small embellishments you add.

Finally, these plushies make incredibly thoughtful handmade gifts. They’re small enough to tuck into a card or hang as an ornament, and because they take so little time to make, you can whip up a whole batch for friends and family without spending weeks on a single project.

Materials You’ll Need

One of the best things about this project is that the supply list is short and affordable. Here’s what you’ll need to gather before you begin.

Yarn: Choose a worsted weight yarn (size 4) in whatever color suits your vision. Black is classic for a Halloween spider, but dusty pink, burnt orange, forest green, or even a sparkly variegated yarn all work beautifully. You’ll need less than 50 yards for a single spider, so this is a perfect stash-buster project.

Crochet Hook: A 3.5mm (US E/4) or 4.0mm (US G/6) hook works well with worsted weight yarn. The slightly smaller hook helps create a tighter fabric that keeps your stuffing from showing through.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill is the most common choice. Use just enough to give the body a rounded, firm shape without overstuffing to the point where the fabric stretches.

Safety Eyes: For a plushie look, 9mm or 12mm black safety eyes are ideal. If you’re making this for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes with yarn instead of using safety eyes, which can pose a choking hazard.

Stitch Marker: A simple locking stitch marker or even a piece of contrasting yarn helps you keep track of the beginning of each round when working in continuous spiral.

Yarn Needle: You’ll use this to close up the body pieces and weave in your ends.

Scissors: You’ll need these to cut your yarn.

Optional Extras: Pipe cleaners for the legs (if you prefer poseable legs over crocheted ones), wire for added structure, fabric glue, small buttons, ribbon, or embroidery floss for decorative details.

Basic Stitches Used in This Pattern

If you’re brand new to crochet, here’s a quick rundown of the stitches you’ll encounter. If you already know these, feel free to skip ahead to the pattern itself — but if you’re unsure, taking a few minutes to practice these before starting will make the whole project feel much smoother.

Magic Ring (MR): Also called a magic circle or magic loop, this technique creates a closed, adjustable ring that you work your first round of stitches into. It’s the foundation of nearly every amigurumi piece. If you find the magic ring tricky, you can chain 2 and work your first stitches into the second chain from the hook as a beginner-friendly substitute.

Chain (ch): The most basic crochet stitch. You yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook to create a chain of interlocked loops.

Single Crochet (sc): Insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over again and pull through both loops on your hook. This is the main stitch used throughout the spider pattern.

Increase (inc): Work two single crochets into the same stitch. This is how you make your circle grow larger.

Decrease (dec): Also written as sc2tog (single crochet two together). Insert your hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop, then insert into the following stitch, pull up another loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook. This reduces your stitch count and is how you close up the body.

Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. Used to join rounds or finish off sections.

The Full Spider Plushie Pattern

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Place your stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you go.

Spider Body (Make 1)

The body is made as a single sphere, though some versions split it into a smaller head piece and a larger abdomen. For beginners, the single-sphere method is the easiest way to start.

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 stitches)

Round 4: *Sc 2, inc* repeat around. (24 stitches)

Round 5: *Sc 3, inc* repeat around. (30 stitches)

Round 6: *Sc 4, inc* repeat around. (36 stitches)

Rounds 7–10: Sc in each stitch around. (36 stitches per round — work 4 even rounds)

At this point, attach your safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, spacing them about 6 stitches apart. Push the posts through the fabric from the outside and secure the washers on the inside before continuing. Once you close up the body, you won’t be able to reach in to attach them.

Round 11: *Sc 4, dec* repeat around. (30 stitches)

Round 12: *Sc 3, dec* repeat around. (24 stitches)

Begin stuffing the body firmly at this point. Continue adding stuffing as you work the remaining decrease rounds.

Round 13: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 stitches)

Round 14: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 stitches)

Round 15: Dec around. (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Using your yarn needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close the hole completely. Weave in the end securely.

Spider Legs (Make 8)

There are two ways to create the legs, and both produce a great result.

Option A — Crocheted Legs: Chain 25. Slip stitch back down the chain from the second chain from the hook all the way to the end. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. This creates a simple, slightly textured leg. For a stiffer leg with more shape, you can thread a small piece of pipe cleaner through the finished chain before attaching it to the body.

Option B — Pipe Cleaner Legs: Cut four pipe cleaners to about 10 inches each. Fold each one in half to create two legs from each piece. You’ll insert all four folded pieces through the body, spreading them out evenly so each folded piece creates two legs on opposite sides. This method gives you fully poseable legs that you can bend into any position, which is particularly satisfying if you want your spider to look like it’s mid-crawl.

If you use pipe cleaners, consider wrapping them in matching yarn for a finished look. Simply cut a length of yarn and use a bit of fabric glue at the starting point to secure the end, then wrap the yarn tightly around the pipe cleaner from one end to the other, applying a small dab of glue at the finish as well.

Attaching the Legs

If you’re using crocheted legs, thread the long tail onto your yarn needle and sew each leg securely to the side of the body. Place four legs on each side, evenly spaced. For a natural-looking spider posture, attach the legs slightly toward the front half of the body rather than distributing them perfectly from front to back.

If you’re using pipe cleaners, fold each one in half and use the folded end to push through the body from one side to the other (a knitting needle or pencil can help guide this through the stuffed body). Once all four folded pipe cleaners are in place, bend each leg at a slight angle downward, then curve the tips back up slightly so the spider can stand on a flat surface.

Following Along with Video Tutorials

Written patterns are incredibly useful for reference, but many beginners find that watching someone else’s hands is the fastest way to learn. If you search for “crochet spider plushie beginner tutorial” on YouTube, you’ll find a wide range of video guides at different skill levels and in different styles.

When choosing a video to follow, look for a few key things. First, check that the creator shows the magic ring technique clearly and slowly — this step trips up most beginners. Second, look for videos that zoom in closely on the hook and yarn so you can see exactly where the hook is being inserted. Third, pay attention to whether the creator explains what a continuous spiral means versus joined rounds, as this distinction matters for keeping your stitch count accurate.

A helpful habit when following video tutorials is to pause the video after every single round and count your stitches before moving on. It’s much easier to catch a missed increase or decrease right away than to discover the mistake several rounds later when the shape looks off. Many experienced crocheters keep a small tally on a piece of paper, marking off each completed round as they go.

Don’t be discouraged if your first spider doesn’t look exactly like the one in the video. Tension varies from person to person, and your hands will naturally adjust as you work more projects. The great thing about a small project like this is that if something feels very off, you can frog it (pull out the yarn and start over) in just a few minutes and try again with everything you learned from the first attempt.

Customizing Your Spider Plushie

Once you’ve mastered the basic pattern, the real fun begins. Here are some ideas for making your spider uniquely yours.

Color variations are the simplest way to change the whole personality of your spider. A deep burgundy spider with orange eyes looks striking and autumnal. A pale lavender spider with rosy cheeks becomes a sweet children’s room decoration. A shiny black spider with red eyes has serious Halloween energy.

Adding a face beyond just the eyes makes your spider look much more expressive. Use black embroidery floss to stitch a small curved smile or a row of tiny fangs beneath the eyes. You can also add rosy cheeks by either embroidering small circles or by applying a touch of pink blush cosmetics to the yarn with a cotton swab before the finished plushie gets handled too much.

Accessories can transform your spider into a character. Tie a tiny bow around one of the front legs using narrow ribbon. Crochet a tiny witch hat (there are many free patterns online) and stitch it to the top of the body. Add a small crocheted web to hang your spider from, using a chain and slip stitch spiral pattern to mimic the spoke structure of a real web.

Size variations are easy to achieve by switching to different yarn weights and corresponding hook sizes. Bulky yarn with a 6mm hook makes a chunkier, faster spider. Fingering weight yarn with a 2mm hook creates a tiny, delicate spider perfect for jewelry or ornaments. The stitch counts in this pattern stay the same regardless of yarn weight — only the finished size changes.

Tips for Crochet Beginners

A few general pieces of advice will make this project more enjoyable if you’re just starting out.

Work with good lighting. It sounds obvious, but trying to crochet in dim light makes it very hard to see your stitches clearly, especially with dark yarn colors. If you’re working with black yarn, consider placing a white or light-colored cloth in your lap to create contrast and make each stitch easier to see.

Don’t crochet too tightly. Beginners often grip the yarn and hook with significant tension, creating a very stiff, tight fabric that’s hard to work into. Practice relaxing your grip and letting the yarn flow a little more freely. Your stitches should be snug but not so tight that inserting the hook into them becomes a struggle.

Count, count, count. This project has relatively low stitch counts per round, which makes it very manageable. But even one missed stitch can cause the finished shape to look lumpy or asymmetrical. Counting at the end of every round takes only a few seconds and saves significant frustration later.

Use contrasting yarn for your stitch marker. A small loop of bright yellow or red yarn woven through the last stitch of each round is a highly visible reminder of where your round ends. It’s easy to lose track in continuous spiral crochet, and a visible marker prevents confusion.

Be patient with stuffing. Getting the right amount of stuffing takes a little practice. Too little and the body looks deflated; too much and the fabric becomes sheer and stretched. Aim for a firm, rounded shape where the fabric still has a bit of give when you press it gently with your thumb.

Finishing and Displaying Your Spider

Once your spider is fully assembled, give it a gentle reshape with your hands, bending the legs into your preferred pose. If you used pipe cleaners, you can arrange them so your spider appears to be climbing, sitting, or leaping. Place a small dot of hot glue or craft glue at the base of each leg where it meets the body to reinforce the connection and prevent shifting over time.

Your finished spider plushie can be displayed in dozens of ways. Perch it on a bookshelf, hang it from a window with monofilament thread, pin it to a corkboard, place it in a web of string lights for a Halloween display, or tuck it into a gift box as part of a handmade present. These spiders have a way of turning even the most arachnophobic people into fans once they see how genuinely cute they can be.

If you share your finished project online, the crochet community on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Ravelry, and Pinterest is wonderfully supportive of beginners. Searching hashtags like #crochetspider, #amigurumibeginners, or #crochetsoftie will show you a world of inspiration and connect you with other makers who love these little creatures as much as you’re about to.

Happy crocheting — may your legs be even, your magic ring tight, and your spider absolutely adorable.