Crochet Sloth Amigurumi Pattern – Free Beginner Tutorial

If you have ever wanted to make your own adorable stuffed sloth, you are in exactly the right place. This free crochet sloth amigurumi pattern walks you through every step of the process, from the materials you need to the finishing touches that bring your little creature to life. Whether you are picking up a crochet hook for the first time or you have made a few small projects and want to try something new, this tutorial is written with you in mind. Amigurumi — the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed animals and figures — is one of the most rewarding crafts you can take up, and a sloth makes a particularly perfect first character project because its round, simple body shape is very forgiving.

Before we dive in, take a moment to appreciate what you are about to make. Sloths are universally beloved. They are slow, peaceful, endearing little animals with their long arms, slightly sleepy expressions, and perpetual half-smile. A crocheted sloth captures all of that charm in a palm-sized amigurumi that works beautifully as a nursery decoration, a gift for a friend, a keychain charm, or simply a desk companion for yourself. Once you finish your first one, you will almost certainly want to make another.

What Is Amigurumi and Why Start with a Sloth?

Amigurumi is traditionally worked in continuous rounds using single crochet stitches, which means there are no complicated stitch patterns to memorize and very little seaming to worry about until the very end. Most of the pieces are small and quick to complete, which is perfect for beginners who want to see progress fast. The sloth pattern below uses only single crochet, increases, and decreases — three things you can learn in about an afternoon if you are brand new to the craft.

The sloth is also a great choice because its shaggy, casual look means minor imperfections in tension are almost invisible. If one row is slightly tighter than another, the finished toy will still look charming. That kind of built-in forgiveness makes this an encouraging project for new crocheters.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your supplies before you start will make the whole experience much smoother. Here is everything you need for this crochet sloth amigurumi.

Yarn: You will need worsted weight yarn in three colors. Choose a medium tan or oatmeal for the body, a darker brown for the face mask and claws, and a soft cream or off-white for the eye patches and belly. Acrylic yarn works perfectly for amigurumi because it holds its shape well, is easy to care for, and comes in a huge range of colors. About 100 grams of your main body color and small amounts of the other colors will be more than enough.

Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook is ideal for worsted weight amigurumi. You want to crochet fairly tightly so that the stuffing does not show through the gaps between stitches. If you are someone who tends to crochet loosely, go down a half size.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing is the standard choice. It is washable, holds its shape over time, and is available at any craft store.

Safety eyes: Two 12mm black safety eyes give your sloth that sweet, slightly sleepy look. If you are making this toy for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead of using safety eyes, which can become a choking hazard.

Yarn needle: Also called a tapestry needle or darning needle. You will use this for sewing pieces together and weaving in your ends.

Stitch marker: A small stitch marker or even a piece of contrasting yarn helps you keep track of the beginning of each round.

Scissors: A small, sharp pair works best for snipping yarn cleanly.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

This pattern uses US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference for every abbreviation you will see.

MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle)
Ch — chain
Sl st — slip stitch
SC — single crochet
Inc — increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
Dec — decrease (invisible decrease: insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops)
BLO — back loop only
St — stitch
Rnd — round

Pattern Notes

All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Do not join rounds with a slip stitch; instead, use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go. This keeps the seam invisible and gives your work a much cleaner look.

When you finish stuffing and closing each piece, leave a long tail of yarn for sewing. This makes assembly much easier.

The Pattern

Head

Start with your main body color (tan or oatmeal).

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC into the ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: SC 1, Inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: SC 2, Inc repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: SC 3, Inc repeat around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: SC 4, Inc repeat around. (36 sts)
Rnd 7–12: SC in each st around. (36 sts) — work 6 rounds even
Rnd 13: SC 4, Dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Rnd 14: SC 3, Dec repeat around. (24 sts)

At this point, attach your safety eyes between rounds 9 and 10, about 6 to 8 stitches apart. If you are embroidering the eyes, you will add those after the head is closed.

Rnd 15: SC 2, Dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Begin stuffing the head firmly. You want it to feel solid and round.

Rnd 16: SC 1, Dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 17: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leave a long tail, and use your yarn needle to weave through the remaining 6 front loops and pull tight to close. Weave in the end securely.

Eye Patches (Make 2)

Switch to your cream or off-white yarn.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: SC 1, Inc repeat around. (18 sts)

Fasten off with a long tail for sewing. These flat circles will be sewn onto the face around the safety eyes to create that classic sloth mask look.

Face Mask

Switch to your dark brown yarn.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: SC 1, Inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: SC 2, Inc repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: SC 3, Inc repeat around. (30 sts)

Fasten off with a long tail. This larger flat circle is sewn onto the lower-center area of the face to create the sloth’s characteristic dark snout area. Once attached, you can embroider a small curved smile in dark brown or black yarn just below the center.

Body

Return to your main body color.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: SC 1, Inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: SC 2, Inc repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: SC 3, Inc repeat around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: SC 4, Inc repeat around. (36 sts)
Rnd 7–16: SC in each st around. (36 sts) — work 10 rounds even
Rnd 17: SC 4, Dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Rnd 18: SC 3, Dec repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 19: SC 2, Dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Stuff the body firmly before closing.

Rnd 20: SC 1, Dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 21: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close the same way as the head.

Arms (Make 2)

Start with dark brown for the claw section.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3–5: SC in each st around. (12 sts) — work 3 rounds even

Switch to main body color.

Rnd 6–15: SC in each st around. (12 sts) — work 10 rounds even

Stuff lightly. Sloths have long, somewhat flat arms, so do not overstuff — a light fill gives them a relaxed, dangling look.

Fasten off, flatten the opening, and close with a few stitches rather than gathering. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with dark brown.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3–4: SC in each st around. (12 sts) — work 2 rounds even

Switch to main body color.

Rnd 5–10: SC in each st around. (12 sts) — work 6 rounds even

Stuff lightly. Fasten off and flatten the opening.

Ears (Make 2)

Use your main body color.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 SC. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Fasten off and leave a tail. Do not stuff. Flatten and pinch slightly before sewing to give them a gentle curve.

Assembly Instructions

This is the step that really brings your sloth to life, so take your time and enjoy it. Lay all your finished pieces out in front of you before you start sewing.

Start by attaching the eye patches. Position each cream circle on the head, centered over a safety eye. Using your yarn needle and the tail from the eye patch, whip stitch all the way around the edge, pulling gently to keep it flat and secure. Knot off and hide the tail inside the head.

Next, attach the face mask. Center it on the lower portion of the face, overlapping the bottom of the eye patches slightly. Sew it down the same way. Once the mask is secure, use a length of dark brown or black yarn to embroider a small curved line for the nose and a gentle upward curve for the smile. A simple backstitch or straight stitch works well here. This tiny detail is what gives your sloth its personality.

Pin the ears to the sides of the head before sewing. Positioning them in round 2 or 3 from the top of the head, roughly even with where the safety eyes sit, looks most natural. Sew them down flat against the head.

Now sew the head to the body. Position the head so it sits slightly forward on the body rather than perfectly centered — this gives your sloth that characteristic hunched, looking-down posture. Use your yarn needle and a length of matching yarn to whip stitch all the way around, stuffing a little extra fiberfill into the neck area if needed before you close the seam completely.

Attach the arms next. Sew them to either side of the body at roughly round 4 from the top, angling them slightly downward and forward. A few strong stitches through the flattened opening and into the body stitches are enough to hold them securely.

Attach the legs at the base of the body, spacing them evenly. Point them slightly outward or downward depending on whether you want your sloth to hang or sit.

Finishing Touches

Once everything is sewn on and all your ends are tucked away, take a good look at your sloth from different angles. You can use the tip of a pencil or a blunt toothpick to gently fluff or reposition the stuffing if any areas look uneven.

If you want to add extra texture to your sloth’s fur, you can use a pet slicker brush or a stiff-bristled craft brush to gently brush the yarn surface on the body and head. This gives the yarn a slightly fuzzy, shaggy texture that looks wonderfully sloth-like. Not all yarn brushes well, so test a small section first.

For a hanging sloth version, attach a small length of yarn or ribbon to the top of the head and tie a loop. Your sloth can then hang from a branch, a curtain rod, or a display hook.

Tips for Beginner Crocheters

If you are new to amigurumi, a few things will make this pattern go much more smoothly.

Tension matters more than you might expect. Crochet tightly enough that you cannot see the white fiberfill through your stitches when the piece is stuffed, but not so tightly that your hands or wrists ache.

Stuff firmly and gradually. Add small amounts of stuffing as you go rather than trying to cram it all in at the end. This gives you much better control over the final shape.

Magic rings can feel awkward at first. If yours tends to loosen, try doing a slip knot first and working your stitches through that — it is slightly more visible but very secure.

The invisible decrease (working through front loops only) makes a much neater finished surface than a standard decrease. It is worth practicing a few times before you start.

Sewing the pieces together is often the trickiest part for new crocheters. Take your time, pin pieces in place before committing, and remember that small adjustments to position can make a big difference to the finished look.

Customizing Your Sloth

One of the great joys of amigurumi is how easy it is to personalize. Here are a few ideas for putting your own stamp on this pattern.

Try variegated yarn for the body to get a subtle color-shift effect that mimics the natural patchy coloring of a real sloth’s fur. Add a tiny crochet flower or bow to one ear for a feminine touch. Make the arms longer and stuff them with a thin wire armature so your sloth can actually grip and hang from things — just be sure to wrap the wire ends completely in stuffing so there are no sharp points. Use a textured bouclé or loop yarn for the body to get an incredibly realistic shaggy fur effect. Make a miniature version with fingering weight yarn and a 2mm hook for a sweet keychain or bag charm.

Caring for Your Finished Sloth

Acrylic yarn amigurumi can generally be gently hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry. If the safety eyes are secure and well-set, they should handle gentle washing without any trouble. Avoid wringing or twisting the toy, which can distort the shape. If the fiberfill inside shifts around after washing, simply reshape the toy while it is still slightly damp and let it dry in the correct position.

A Few Words Before You Begin

Crochet is a craft that rewards patience and practice above almost everything else. If your first sloth does not look exactly the way you imagined, do not be discouraged. Every amigurumi maker has a box somewhere full of first attempts that turned out lumpy or lopsided, and every single one of those makers kept going and got better. The stitch count gets easier to track. Your tension evens out. Sewing pieces together starts to feel intuitive rather than fiddly.

What matters most is that you sat down with some yarn and made something. That is genuinely worth celebrating.

This free crochet sloth amigurumi pattern is yours to use, adapt, and share as much as you like. If you make one, share it — there is a wonderfully warm and supportive community of amigurumi makers online who love seeing finished projects, especially from beginners. Your little sloth deserves