Adorable Amigurumi Plush Monkey Free Pattern – Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns

If you love crocheting cute stuffed animals, then this adorable amigurumi plush monkey free pattern is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or someone who has just discovered the wonderful world of amigurumi, making a tiny stuffed monkey is one of the most rewarding projects you can tackle. These little creatures are charming, huggable, and incredibly fun to bring to life with just a hook and some yarn. In this post, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know — from materials and gauge to every single stitch — so you can create your very own amigurumi monkey from start to finish, completely free.

Amigurumi is a Japanese art form that combines the words “ami,” meaning knitted or crocheted, and “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll. These small crocheted toys have taken the crafting world by storm, and it’s easy to see why. They’re compact, endlessly customizable, and make some of the most heartfelt handmade gifts you can give. A plush monkey in particular is always a crowd-pleaser — kids adore them, adults find them irresistible, and they sit beautifully on shelves and in nurseries alike.

So grab your hook, pick out your favorite yarn colors, and let’s get started on this free amigurumi crochet pattern for a plush monkey you’ll be proud to display or gift.

Why You’ll Love This Amigurumi Monkey Pattern

Before we dive into the actual pattern, let’s talk about what makes this particular design so special. This monkey pattern is designed to be beginner-friendly while still producing a finished toy that looks polished and professional. The construction is straightforward — you work mostly in continuous rounds using single crochet stitches, which is the foundation of virtually all amigurumi. Each body part is made separately and then assembled at the end, giving you full creative control over the pose and personality of your finished monkey.

The finished monkey stands approximately 7 to 8 inches tall when assembled, making it the perfect size for small hands to hold. It’s chunky enough to be satisfying to squeeze but compact enough to make a great travel or car companion for little ones. You can also scale the pattern up or down simply by changing your yarn weight and hook size.

Materials You Will Need

To make this adorable amigurumi plush monkey, you’ll need the following supplies. Most of these are likely already in your craft stash, making this pattern even more accessible.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in brown (main color for the body), tan or beige (for the face, ears, and tummy), and a small amount of black or dark brown for details. You can use any brand you love — Lion Brand, Red Heart, Paintbox, and Drops are all excellent choices for amigurumi.

Crochet Hook: Size 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm hook. The tighter your tension, the less the stuffing will show through your stitches. Many amigurumi makers prefer going down a hook size from what the yarn label recommends to create a tighter fabric.

Polyester Fiberfill: For stuffing all the body parts to a nice, firm finish.

Safety Eyes: Two 9 mm or 12 mm black safety eyes. If you’re making this monkey for a child under 3 years old, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.

Yarn Needle: A blunt tapestry needle for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.

Stitch Marker: To mark the beginning of each round, especially important when working in continuous rounds.

Scissors: For cutting yarn between pieces.

Optional: A small piece of felt in tan or pink for the inner ears, and black embroidery floss for the nose and mouth details.

Gauge

Gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but as a general reference, with worsted weight yarn and a 3.5 mm hook, you should get approximately 4 stitches and 4 rows to the inch in single crochet. The most important thing is that your stitches are tight enough that the stuffing doesn’t show through.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern uses US crochet terminology.

MR – Magic ring
Ch – Chain
Sl st – Slip stitch
Sc – Single crochet
Inc – Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
Dec – Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of the next 2 stitches and single crochet them together)
BLO – Back loop only
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Rnd – Round

The Pattern

HEAD

The head is worked in continuous rounds. Use your main brown yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: *Sc 2, inc* repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: *Sc 3, inc* repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6: *Sc 4, inc* repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 7: *Sc 5, inc* repeat around. (42 sts)
Rounds 8–14: Sc in each st around. (42 sts) — 7 rounds even.
Round 15: *Sc 5, dec* repeat around. (36 sts)
Round 16: *Sc 4, dec* repeat around. (30 sts)

At this point, attach your safety eyes between rounds 10 and 11, approximately 8 to 10 stitches apart. If you’re embroidering the eyes instead, you can do this after the head is fully assembled. Stuff the head firmly with fiberfill.

Round 17: *Sc 3, dec* repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 18: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 19: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 20: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use your yarn needle to close the remaining 6 stitches by weaving through the front loops and pulling tight. Weave in the end.

MUZZLE

Use your tan or beige yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts)
Rounds 4–5: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff the muzzle before attaching. Sew the muzzle onto the center of the face, just below the eyes. Embroider a small nose on the top center of the muzzle using black yarn or embroidery floss, and add a curved smile beneath it.

BODY

Use your main brown yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: *Sc 2, inc* repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: *Sc 3, inc* repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6: *Sc 4, inc* repeat around. (36 sts)
Rounds 7–10: Sc in each st around. (36 sts)

Switch to tan or beige yarn for the tummy section.

Rounds 11–15: Sc in each st around. (36 sts)

Switch back to brown yarn.

Round 16: *Sc 4, dec* repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 17: *Sc 3, dec* repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 18: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 sts)

Stuff the body firmly. Continue stuffing as you close.

Round 19: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 20: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close as with the head. The open end will become the top of the body where you attach the head.

ARMS (Make 2)

Use brown yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rounds 3–12: Sc in each st around. (12 sts) — 10 rounds even.

At the end of Round 12, stuff lightly. You want the arms to be a bit floppy, not rock solid.

Round 13: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Close the opening and sew the arms to the sides of the body, just below where the head will sit.

LEGS (Make 2)

Use brown yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts)
Rounds 4–5: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
Round 6: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)
Rounds 7–14: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Stuff the legs firmly, especially the foot area. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body.

EARS (Make 2)

You will make two pieces for each ear and join them.

Outer Ear (brown):
MR, 6 sc. Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts). Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts). Fasten off.

Inner Ear (tan/beige):
MR, 6 sc. Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Place the inner ear on top of the outer ear and sew around the edge to join them. Then sew the completed ears to the sides of the head. The exact placement is up to you — a little higher on the head gives your monkey a younger look, while placement near the center gives a more mature expression.

TAIL

Use brown yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rounds 2–20: Sc in each st around. (6 sts) — 19 rounds even.

Stuff lightly as you go. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Attach the tail to the back of the body, curling it slightly upward for that classic monkey look.

Assembly

Once all pieces are complete, lay them out and start assembling your monkey. Begin by attaching the head to the body — pin it first with stitch markers or straight pins to make sure it’s centered before you start sewing. Use your yarn needle and matching yarn to stitch around the neck opening, catching stitches from both the head and the body as you go. Pull firmly and weave in the end securely so the head doesn’t wobble.

Next, sew on the arms, positioning them at the sides of the upper body. Then attach the ears to the head, followed by the tail at the back. Do a final check to make sure everything is balanced and symmetrical. Adjust as needed before fastening all tails securely.

If you’d like to embroider facial features rather than use safety eyes, now is the time to add those finishing touches with black embroidery floss or yarn.

Customization Ideas

One of the most joyful parts of amigurumi is how endlessly customizable each pattern is. Here are a few ways you can put your own spin on this free amigurumi monkey pattern.

You could dress your monkey up with a tiny crocheted hat or bow — a simple magic ring, a few rounds of single crochet, and a slip stitch border is all it takes. A little top hat in black gives your monkey a debonair look, while a flower crown in pastel colors makes for an adorable spring variation.

Try making a family of monkeys in different sizes by adjusting your hook size and yarn weight. A fingering weight yarn with a 2 mm hook produces a tiny pocket-sized monkey that’s perfect for keychains or miniature displays. Bulky yarn and a 6 mm hook, on the other hand, gives you a generous, squishy version that’s basically a stuffed animal.

You can also change the color scheme entirely. A grey and white monkey has a chimpanzee feel, while a golden yellow with cream tones gives you something more like a golden lion tamarin. Swap out the tan tummy for a bright color like coral or mint and you’ve got a quirky, modern twist on the classic design.

If you want to make the monkey into a gift for a baby shower, consider adding a small heart shape to the hands by crocheting a simple two-round motif and sewing it into the palm of one hand. It’s a sweet detail that takes only a few extra minutes but adds a world of charm.

Tips for Amigurumi Beginners

If this is your first amigurumi project, welcome — you are going to have so much fun. Here are a few tips to help your monkey turn out beautifully.

Always use a stitch marker. When working in continuous rounds, it’s very easy to lose your place. Move your stitch marker at the end of every round and you’ll always know exactly where you are.

Don’t skip the magic ring. It creates a seamless, tight beginning that a simple chain ring can’t replicate. If you haven’t learned the magic ring yet, take five minutes to practice it before starting — it truly makes a big difference.

Stuff as you go for smaller pieces. Once you’ve decreased past a certain point, it’s difficult to add stuffing later without distorting the shape. When in doubt, add a little more stuffing than you think you need, because amigurumi tends to compress over time with handling.

Use the invisible decrease instead of a standard decrease. The invisible or “magic” decrease (inserting through the front loops only of two consecutive stitches) creates a much smoother, less bumpy look on the outside of your work. It’s the standard for amigurumi and makes a noticeable difference in the finished appearance.

Take breaks between body parts. Amigurumi assembly can feel overwhelming if you try to power through an entire project in one sitting. Make the head one day, the body the next, and the limbs throughout the week. When you sit down to assemble, you’ll feel refreshed and excited rather than fatigued.

Caring for Your Finished Monkey

Once your amigurumi monkey is complete, it’s good to know how to keep it looking its best. Most acrylic yarns can be hand-washed in cool water with a gentle detergent and then laid flat to dry. Avoid wringing or twisting the monkey, as this can distort the shape and stuffing. If you used safety eyes, they are completely waterproof and will not be affected by washing.

For display monkeys or those used as decorations rather than toys, a light mist of water-resistant fabric spray can help protect against dust and minor spills.

Share Your Make

Once you’ve finished your amigurumi plush monkey, we’d absolutely love to see it! Share your finished project on Instagram or Pinterest and tag it with #amigurumimonkey or #freeamigurumipattern so other crocheters can find inspiration from your work. The amigurumi community is one of the most supportive and enthusiastic corners of the crafting world, and sharing your makes is one of the best ways to stay motivated and connected.

If you found this free amigurumi crochet pattern helpful, feel free to share it with your friends, your local crochet group, or anyone who loves adorable handmade things. Patterns like this are meant to be passed