Amigurumi Monkey with Baby Free Pattern
There’s something undeniably magical about a tiny crocheted monkey cradling an even tinier baby. Whether you’re a seasoned amigurumi crafter or someone who has recently discovered the joy of making stuffed animals from yarn, this free amigurumi monkey with baby pattern is the perfect project to add to your crochet collection. Cute, huggable, and full of personality, this mama monkey and her little one are sure to become a treasured handmade gift or a beloved addition to your home décor.
In this post, you’ll find a complete free pattern with step-by-step instructions, material requirements, helpful tips, and guidance for assembling your finished pieces. Grab your hook and let’s get started.
Why You’ll Love This Amigurumi Monkey Pattern
Amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed animals and characters, has captured the hearts of crafters all over the world. The term comes from the Japanese words “ami” (crocheted or knitted) and “nuigurumi” (stuffed doll), and the style is characterized by oversized heads, small bodies, and an irresistibly charming appearance.
This particular pattern is special because it features two characters in one: a mama monkey and a baby monkey. The baby can be cradled in the mama’s arms or tucked into a little pouch, making it an interactive and storytelling piece that children especially adore. It also makes a thoughtful handmade baby shower gift, a nursery decoration, or simply a fun weekend project.
The pattern is rated beginner-friendly to intermediate. If you know how to single crochet, increase, decrease, and work in the round, you have everything you need to complete it.
Materials You Will Need
Before diving into the pattern, gather your supplies. Having everything ready before you start will make the process much smoother.
Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (approximately 100g) in medium brown for the mama monkey’s body, light tan or beige for the face patches and inner ears, and a smaller amount of the same brown in a lighter shade for the baby. You can also use any color you like — some crafters love making these in gray, cream, or even pastel tones.
Hook: 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook, depending on your tension. The goal is to crochet tightly enough that the stuffing doesn’t show through.
Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, enough to firmly fill both monkeys.
Eyes: Two 12mm safety eyes for the mama monkey and two 8mm safety eyes for the baby monkey.
Other supplies: Yarn needle for sewing pieces together, stitch markers to keep track of rounds, scissors, and black embroidery thread or yarn for the nose and mouth details.
Optional: Small piece of felt in pink or light tan for additional facial detail, a small amount of wire if you’d like poseable arms (though this is optional and not recommended for items intended for young children).
Pattern Notes and Abbreviations
Throughout this pattern, all pieces are worked in continuous rounds (also called the magic loop method). Do not join rounds unless specifically instructed.
MR – Magic ring
ch – Chain
sl st – Slip stitch
sc – Single crochet
inc – Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
dec – Decrease (invisible decrease: insert hook in front loops only of next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops)
st(s) – Stitch(es)
BLO – Back loop only
FLO – Front loop only
[x] – Repeat instructions in brackets the number of times indicated
Gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but your finished mama monkey should be approximately 18–20cm tall (7–8 inches) and the baby should be approximately 7–8cm (about 3 inches).
Mama Monkey Pattern
Head
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] x 6 (30 sts)
Round 6: [Sc 4, inc] x 6 (36 sts)
Round 7: [Sc 5, inc] x 6 (42 sts)
Round 8–14: Sc around (42 sts) — 7 rounds even
Round 15: [Sc 5, dec] x 6 (36 sts)
Round 16: [Sc 4, dec] x 6 (30 sts)
At this point, attach the safety eyes between rounds 10 and 11, spaced about 10–12 stitches apart. Stuff the head firmly before continuing.
Round 17: [Sc 3, dec] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 18: [Sc 2, dec] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 19: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
Round 20: Dec x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a short tail. Close the opening with your yarn needle and weave in the end.
Face Patch (Make 1)
Using tan or beige yarn:
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc around (24 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. This oval patch will be sewn onto the front of the head over the area where the eyes are placed, centering it between and below the eyes. Flatten and pin before sewing for best results.
Once the face patch is sewn on, embroider a small nose using black embroidery thread with a few horizontal stitches centered just below the eyes. For the mouth, bring your needle down from the nose and create a small curved “U” shape or a simple straight line with two slight curves at the corners.
Ears (Make 2 — Outer Ear in Brown, Inner Ear in Tan)
Outer ear:
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc around (18 sts)
Inner ear:
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Fasten off the inner ear with a long tail. Place the inner ear flat against the outer ear piece (right sides facing out) and sew around the edge to attach them together. Then sew the completed ears to the sides of the head, approximately at round 6–8, one on each side.
Body
Using brown yarn:
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] x 6 (30 sts)
Round 6–16: Sc around (30 sts) — 11 rounds even
Round 17: [Sc 3, dec] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 18: [Sc 2, dec] x 6 (18 sts)
Stuff the body firmly. Continue closing:
Round 19: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
Round 20: Dec x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off and close the opening.
Arms (Make 2)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts) — this forms the hand
Round 4: BLO sc around (18 sts)
Round 5: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
Round 6–16: Sc around (12 sts) — 11 rounds even
Stuff lightly (overstuffing will make the arms stiff and hard to pose). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the arms to the sides of the body at the shoulder area, approximately at round 16–18 of the body.
Legs (Make 2)
Round 1: Ch 5, sc in second ch from hook, sc 2, inc in last ch. Turn to work along the other side of the chain: sc 2, inc (10 sts)
Round 2: Inc, sc 2, inc x 2, sc 2, inc (14 sts)
Round 3: Sc around (14 sts)
Round 4: Sc 4, dec x 3, sc 4 (11 sts)
Round 5: Sc 4, dec, sc 5 (10 sts)
Round 6–14: Sc around (10 sts) — 9 rounds even
Stuff the legs firmly, especially the foot portion. Fasten off with a long tail and sew to the bottom of the body. The feet should face forward.
Tail
Using brown yarn, chain 30. Starting in the second chain from hook, sl st across all 29 chains. This creates a curling tail. Fasten off, leaving a long tail, and sew to the back of the body at the base.
Baby Monkey Pattern
The baby monkey is made using the same techniques but on a smaller scale. You can use a slightly thinner yarn or simply crochet more tightly with your regular yarn.
Baby Head
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
Round 5–9: Sc around (24 sts) — 5 rounds even
Round 10: [Sc 2, dec] x 6 (18 sts)
Insert safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7, spaced about 6 stitches apart. Stuff firmly.
Round 11: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
Round 12: Dec x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off and close.
Baby Face Patch
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Fasten off and sew onto the front of the baby’s head. Embroider nose and mouth as with the mama.
Baby Ears (Make 2)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Fasten off. Make a smaller inner ear with just round 1 (6 sts in tan). Sew together and attach to the sides of the baby’s head.
Baby Body
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
Round 4–9: Sc around (18 sts) — 6 rounds even
Round 10: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
Stuff firmly.
Round 11: Dec x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off and close.
Baby Arms and Legs (Make 4)
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12 sts) — for the tiny hands/feet
Round 3: BLO sc around (12 sts)
Round 4: Dec x 3, sc 6 (9 sts)
Round 5–8: Sc around (9 sts) — 4 rounds even
Stuff lightly and fasten off. Sew two to the upper sides of the baby body (arms) and two to the lower portion (legs).
Baby Tail
Chain 15, sl st across 14 chains. Sew to the back of the baby’s body.
Assembly and Finishing Touches
Once all your pieces are complete, it’s time to bring your monkey family together.
Start by sewing the mama’s head onto the body. Position it so the face is looking slightly forward and upward — this gives the monkey a natural, curious expression. Use a generous amount of yarn and sew through several stitches on both the head and body to ensure a secure attachment.
Attach the arms to the upper sides of the body, angling them slightly forward so they appear to be reaching out or cradling the baby. The legs should be attached pointing downward and slightly forward so the monkey can sit flat on a surface. Try positioning all the limbs before sewing them permanently — a few pins or stitch markers can help you find the perfect placement.
For the baby, follow the same assembly steps on a smaller scale. Once the baby is fully assembled, you can pose it in the mama’s arms and tack it in place with a few invisible stitches through the baby’s body and into the mama’s arms. This keeps the baby secure without making the pose look stiff.
If you want the baby to be removable — great for play — simply don’t sew it in place. The mama’s arms can be stitched in a curved position so the baby rests naturally without needing to be sewn down.
Tips for a Beautiful Finish
Tension is everything in amigurumi. If your stitches are too loose, the fiberfill will poke through and the finished piece won’t have that smooth, polished look. Try going down a hook size if you find your tension is too open.
When stuffing, add fiberfill gradually and check the shape as you go. It’s easy to overstuff or understuff in the early rounds — aim for a firm but not rock-hard result.
For the embroidered face details, use a long needle and keep your stitches small and consistent. Practicing on a scrap piece of yarn or fabric before committing to the final piece is always a good idea.
If you’re making this as a gift for a baby or toddler, avoid using safety eyes and instead embroider the eyes with black yarn or felt. Remove the wire from any poseable elements, and ensure all parts are securely attached so nothing can come loose.
Customizing Your Monkeys
One of the most delightful things about amigurumi is how easily a pattern can be personalized. Here are some ideas for making your monkey duo uniquely yours.
You can dress the mama monkey in a tiny crocheted outfit — a simple tube skirt worked in the round, or a small vest made from a rectangle of crochet sewn together at the sides, adds a charming touch. A tiny bow tied between the ears or a little crocheted flower attached to the side of the head instantly transforms the mama into a girl monkey.
For the baby, a mini swaddle blanket made from a small crocheted or knitted square can make the set look even more precious. Simply wrap the baby in the blanket and tuck it into the mama’s arms.
You can also experiment with color. A gray monkey with a pink face patch looks lovely. An all-white monkey with blue eyes reads more as a snow monkey. A bright yarn in unexpected colors like teal or coral makes for a whimsical, modern take on the classic design.
Sharing Your Finished Monkey
If you make this amigurumi monkey with baby, we’d absolutely love to see it. Share your finished project on Instagram or Pinterest and tag it with #AmigurumiToday or #MonkeyAmigurumi so the community can admire your work
