Lunch the Monster Amigurumi Crochet Free Pattern
There is something wonderfully addictive about crocheting amigurumi. These small, stuffed creatures have a way of taking over your yarn stash, your shelves, and eventually your heart. If you have been looking for your next project and want something with a little bit of personality — something quirky, squishy, and full of charm — then Lunch the Monster is exactly what you need. This free amigurumi crochet pattern will walk you through creating an adorable little monster from start to finish, and by the end of it, you will have a handmade toy that is guaranteed to make anyone smile.
Whether you are a seasoned amigurumi crafter or someone who has recently discovered the joy of crocheting in the round, this pattern is approachable, fun, and endlessly customizable. Let’s dive in.
What Is Amigurumi?
Before we get into the pattern itself, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the craft. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and fictional creatures. The word combines the Japanese words “ami,” meaning crocheted or knitted, and “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll. The style originated in Japan and has since spread across the globe, creating a passionate community of crafters who love making everything from tiny bunnies to full-blown fantasy creatures.
What makes amigurumi so appealing is the combination of simplicity and creativity. The basic techniques are not complicated — you are mostly working in continuous rounds with single crochets, increases, and decreases — but the results can be incredibly expressive. A small change in eye placement or the addition of a single detail can completely transform the personality of your finished piece.
Lunch the Monster lives right in that sweet spot. He is simple enough that a beginner can tackle him with confidence, yet interesting enough that experienced crocheters will enjoy the process too.
Materials You Will Need
Getting your supplies together before you start is one of the best habits you can build as a crafter. Here is everything you will need to make Lunch the Monster.
For the yarn, you will want a medium weight (worsted weight, category 4) yarn in your main color. This pattern was originally designed in a vibrant green, but monsters come in all colors, so feel free to let your imagination run wild. You will also need small amounts of a contrasting color for the belly patch, and white and black yarn or felt for the eyes. Approximately 100 to 150 grams of your main color should be more than enough for a finished monster that stands around 15 to 18 centimeters tall.
You will need a 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook, depending on your tension. Amigurumi pieces are worked tightly so that the stuffing does not show through, so if your gauge tends to run loose, go down a hook size. A small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing will bring your monster to life, and you will need a yarn needle to sew pieces together and weave in your ends. Safety eyes in 12mm or 15mm are a popular choice, but embroidered eyes work beautifully too, especially if the finished toy is intended for a very young child. Stitch markers will help you keep track of your rounds, and a pair of scissors completes the list.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.
MR stands for magic ring. Ch means chain. Sl st means slip stitch. Sc means single crochet. Inc means increase, which is two single crochets worked into the same stitch. Dec means decrease, which is an invisible decrease worked across two stitches. St means stitch, and sts means stitches. BLO means back loop only. FLO means front loop only. Rnd means round.
If you are unfamiliar with the magic ring, it is worth taking five minutes to practice it before you begin. It creates a tight, invisible center for your rounds and is the foundation of nearly every amigurumi piece you will ever make. There are plenty of video tutorials available online that demonstrate it clearly.
Pattern Notes
All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Do not join rounds with a slip stitch and do not turn your work. Instead, use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go. This is standard amigurumi technique and it gives your finished pieces that clean, seamless look.
Stuff your monster firmly as you go. It is much easier to add stuffing incrementally than to try to cram it in at the end, and a well-stuffed amigurumi holds its shape far better over time.
If you are attaching safety eyes, do so before closing up any piece, because once it is closed you will not be able to reach inside to secure the backs.
The Pattern: Lunch the Monster
Head
Start with your main color yarn.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Work (sc 1, inc) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Work (sc 2, inc) around. You will have 24 stitches.
Round 5: Work (sc 3, inc) around. You will have 30 stitches.
Round 6: Work (sc 4, inc) around. You will have 36 stitches.
Round 7: Work (sc 5, inc) around. You will have 42 stitches.
Rounds 8 through 14: Work sc in each st around for 7 rounds. You will maintain 42 stitches throughout.
Now is the time to attach your safety eyes if you are using them. Position them between rounds 10 and 11, with approximately 8 to 10 stitches of space between them. The placement of the eyes has a huge impact on the personality of your finished monster, so take your time here and try a few different positions before committing.
Round 15: Work (sc 5, dec) around. You will have 36 stitches.
Round 16: Work (sc 4, dec) around. You will have 30 stitches.
Round 17: Work (sc 3, dec) around. You will have 24 stitches.
Begin stuffing the head firmly at this point.
Round 18: Work (sc 2, dec) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 19: Work (sc 1, dec) around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 20: Work dec around. You will have 6 stitches.
Fasten off, leaving a short tail. Use your yarn needle to close the remaining gap by weaving through the front loops of the 6 remaining stitches and pulling tight. Weave in the end securely.
Body
With your main color, begin at the base of the body.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Work (sc 1, inc) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Work (sc 2, inc) around. You will have 24 stitches.
Round 5: Work (sc 3, inc) around. You will have 30 stitches.
Rounds 6 through 8: Work sc in each st around for 3 rounds.
Now switch to your contrasting color for the belly.
Round 9: Work sc in each st across the first 15 sts in your contrasting color, then switch back to your main color for the remaining 15 sts. You will have 30 stitches.
Round 10: Continue in the same color arrangement, working 15 sts in contrasting color and 15 sts in main color.
Round 11: Switch back entirely to your main color and work sc in each st around.
Rounds 12 through 17: Work sc in each st around in your main color for 6 rounds.
Round 18: Work (sc 3, dec) around. You will have 24 stitches.
Round 19: Work (sc 2, dec) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Begin stuffing the body firmly now.
Round 20: Work (sc 1, dec) around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 21: Work dec around. You will have 6 stitches.
Fasten off and close the gap as you did for the head. Leave a longer tail for sewing if needed.
Arms (Make Two)
With your main color.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 12 stitches.
Rounds 3 through 10: Work sc in each st around for 8 rounds.
At round 7, flatten the arm and work the next few rounds through both layers simultaneously if you prefer a flat arm, or continue in the round for a more cylindrical look. Both approaches work well. Stuff lightly or not at all, depending on your preference. Lightly stuffed arms have a slightly floppy, endearing quality that suits a monster personality perfectly.
Fasten off with a long tail for sewing.
Legs (Make Two)
With your main color.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Work (sc 1, inc) around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Work sc in BLO around to create a defined base edge.
Rounds 5 through 12: Work sc in each st around for 8 rounds.
Begin stuffing the leg firmly, especially the foot area.
Round 13: Work (sc 1, dec) around. You will have 12 stitches.
Fasten off with a long tail for sewing.
Horns (Make Two)
With your main color or a contrasting color.
Round 1: Work 3 sc into a magic ring. You will have 3 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 3: Work (sc 1, inc) around. You will have 9 stitches.
Rounds 4 through 6: Work sc in each st around for 3 rounds.
Fasten off with a long tail for sewing. These horns do not need to be stuffed.
Ears (Make Two)
With your main color.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. You will have 6 stitches.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. You will have 12 stitches.
Rounds 3 through 4: Work sc in each st around.
Fold the ear flat and work 6 sc through both layers to close it. Fasten off with a long tail.
Mouth
The mouth for Lunch the Monster is what gives him his signature look. Using black yarn or embroidery floss, embroider a wide, toothy grin directly onto the face below the eyes. A simple back stitch works well for the main line of the mouth. Add small vertical stitches along the bottom edge to suggest individual teeth. If you want your monster to look particularly hungry — as his name implies — consider making the mouth extra wide, stretching it from cheek to cheek.
You can also cut a small felt smile shape and stitch it directly onto the face for a cleaner look, adding white felt or small white yarn stitches for the teeth.
Assembly
This is where Lunch the Monster really comes to life, and it is worth taking your time with assembly because the positioning of every piece affects the finished character.
Begin by sewing the head to the body. Thread your yarn needle with a long length of the main color yarn and use a whip stitch around the base of the head, catching stitches from both the head and the body alternately. Work all the way around until the head is firmly attached with no gaps. This joint carries a lot of stress, especially if the toy will be played with, so reinforce it by going around twice if needed.
Next, attach the horns to the top of the head, spacing them evenly on either side of the center. Position the ears on the sides of the head, roughly in line with the eyes or slightly behind them. Secure both horns and ears with a strong whip stitch and make sure to knot your yarn several times before weaving in the end.
Attach the arms to the sides of the body, positioning them at approximately round 18 or wherever feels natural given the proportions of your specific piece. Pinning everything in place before you sew is a great habit. Use locking stitch markers or pins to test the placement and step back to evaluate the overall look before committing.
Finally, attach the legs to the base of the body, again pinning first. The legs should be positioned so that your monster sits stably on a flat surface, which usually means placing them slightly toward the front of the body base.
Once all pieces are attached, weave in any remaining yarn ends carefully and trim them close. Give your monster a gentle squeeze to redistribute the stuffing evenly and check that every seam feels secure.
Customization Ideas
One of the greatest joys of amigurumi is how easy it is to make each piece your own. Lunch the Monster is a foundation, and with a few small changes you can create an entire family of monsters, each with their own personality.
Try changing the color scheme entirely. A deep purple monster with gold horns reads as royalty. An orange and black version is perfect for Halloween. Pastel versions with oversized eyes lean sweet and innocent. Neon colors with mismatched eyes give off a chaotic, lovable energy.
You can add additional arms for a particularly alarming look, or skip the horns and add floppy antenna instead. A short fringe of yarn along the top of the head creates a wild hairdo. Tiny felt accessories like a bow tie, a hat, or even a small crocheted scarf can completely change the vibe of the finished toy.
If you want to create a whole series of monsters, consider making each one in a different size by adjusting your hook and yarn weight. The same pattern worked in fingering weight yarn on a 2mm hook will yield a tiny monster that fits in the palm of your hand, while bulky yarn on a 6mm hook produces a large, huggable companion.
Tips for Beginners
If this is one of your first amigurumi projects, a few extra pointers might save you some frustration. The tension in amigurumi is intentionally tighter than in most other crochet projects. If your tension is too loose, you will be able to see the white stuffing peeking through the gaps in your stitches, which is generally not the desired effect. Work tightly, and if you find it uncomfortable, try using a larger hook rather than loosening your grip.
Counting your stitches at the end of every round is not optional — it is essential. One extra stitch or one missed decrease will accumulate into a visible distortion in your finished piece. Keep your stitch marker moving and count consistently, and you will save yourself the frustration of having to frog several rounds because of a count error that happened three rounds ago.
Invisible decreases are strongly preferred over standard sc decreases in amigurumi. They create a much flatter, neater result that does not leave a visible ridge on the outside of your piece. If you are not familiar with the invisible decrease, it is worth practicing it on a swatch before you begin.
Finally, do not rush the assembly. More amigurumi projects are let down by a rushed or uneven sewing job than by any mistake in the crocheting itself. Take your time, pin your pieces, step back and look before you sew.
Final Thoughts
Lunch the Monster is the kind of project that reminds you exactly why you fell in love with crochet in the first place. There is something deeply satisfying about turning a ball of yarn into a small, squishy creature with a personality all its own. Whether you make him as a gift, a decoration, or just for the pleasure of the making, he is going to bring a little bit of joy into the world.
This free pattern is yours to use, share, and adapt. If you make your own version of Lunch the Monster, we would love to see it. Share your work on social media with the hashtag #LunchTheMonster and tag your favorite amigurumi communities to inspire other crafters who might be looking for their next project.
Happy crocheting, and may your yarn never tangle.
