Free Jimothy the Raccoon Crochet Pattern: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve been searching for a free crochet pattern for an adorable amigurumi raccoon, you’ve found exactly what you’re looking for. This complete guide will walk you through every step of crocheting Jimothy the Raccoon — a charming, huggable little critter with his signature masked face, ringed tail, and irresistible personality. Whether you’re a beginner who has just learned the magic ring or an experienced crocheter looking for a fun weekend project, Jimothy is the perfect companion to bring to life with your hook and yarn.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know to make your very own Jimothy.
Who Is Jimothy the Raccoon?
Jimothy started as a little sketch — the idea of a raccoon who looks perpetually surprised, slightly mischievous, and deeply cuddly all at once. His round body, small rounded ears, and oversized eyes give him that classic amigurumi charm, while his grey and cream color palette with dark markings makes him unmistakably raccoon. He stands about six to seven inches tall when finished, which makes him perfect for a shelf decoration, a gift for a child, or a travel companion tucked into a bag.
He’s named Jimothy because he simply looks like a Jimothy. You’ll understand once you finish him.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather your supplies. Having everything ready before you start will make the process smooth and enjoyable.
For yarn, you’ll need worsted weight yarn in the following colors: medium grey (main body color), cream or off-white (for the face and belly), black (for the eye patches, nose, and paw pads), and dark grey or charcoal (for the tail rings and ear tips). You don’t need large amounts of any of these — a single skein of grey and small amounts of the others will be more than enough.
For your hook, a 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works beautifully with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi. The smaller size keeps your stitches tight enough that the stuffing won’t show through, but not so tight that your hands cramp up.
You’ll also need polyester fiberfill stuffing, two 12mm safety eyes (or you can embroider eyes if you’re making this for a very young child), a yarn needle for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends, stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, and scissors.
Optional but helpful: a small amount of black embroidery floss for the nose details, and blush or chalk pastel in a peachy pink if you want to give Jimothy rosy cheeks.
Abbreviations and Stitches Used
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference for the abbreviations you’ll encounter throughout:
MR — magic ring
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — invisible decrease (insert hook through the front loops of the next two stitches and complete as one single crochet)
st — stitch
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rnd — round
All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you go.
Pattern Instructions
Head
The head is the first and most important piece because it sets the whole character of your raccoon. Work it slowly and enjoy the process.
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (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: Sc 5, inc repeat around. (42 sts)
Rnd 8–14: Sc around. (42 sts, 7 rounds even)
Rnd 15: Sc 5, dec repeat around. (36 sts)
Rnd 16: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Now is the time to attach your safety eyes. Jimothy’s eyes should sit between rounds 9 and 10, spaced about 10 stitches apart. If you’re adding embroidered eye patches in black yarn, you’ll sew those on after the head is stuffed and closed, but place the safety eyes now before you close up.
Rnd 17: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)
Stuff the head firmly at this point. You want it to hold its round shape without being rock-hard.
Rnd 19: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 20: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off and close the opening by weaving the yarn through the remaining stitches and pulling tight. Weave in the end.
Body
The body is worked similarly to the head but a little larger at the base and slightly more oval in shape.
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (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 7–13: Sc around. (36 sts, 7 rounds even)
Rnd 14: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30 sts)
Rnd 15: Sc around. (30 sts)
Rnd 16: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)
Rnd 17: Sc around. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)
Stuff the body firmly before you close it up. Leave the top open for now so you can sew the head on with better access.
Rnd 19: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 20: Dec around. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Close the opening, then use the tail to attach the head to the body. Position the head slightly forward on the body rather than perfectly centered on top — it gives Jimothy a more natural, inquisitive look. Sew through several stitches all the way around, pulling firmly so the head sits securely.
Ears (Make Two)
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4–5: Sc around. (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The ears are not stuffed. Flatten them slightly and pinch the bottom edges together to create a gentle cup shape before sewing them onto the head. Position them at about round 2 or 3 on the top of the head, spaced about 8 stitches apart. If you’re using dark grey or charcoal yarn, you can work an inner ear accent by crocheting a smaller circle (MR, sc 6, inc around, sc 1 and inc around) in a contrasting color and either sewing it on or holding it against the ear before attaching.
Arms (Make Two)
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3–4: Sc around. (12 sts)
Rnd 5: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (9 sts)
Rnd 6–10: Sc around. (9 sts, 5 rounds even)
Stuff lightly — you want the arms to have a little give so they can be posed or squished. Flatten the top of the arm and sc across the opening to close it (about 4 or 5 stitches). Leave a long tail and sew the arms onto the sides of the body, just below where the head sits.
Legs (Make Two)
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4–5: Sc around. (18 sts)
Rnd 6: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 7–12: Sc around. (12 sts, 6 rounds even)
The first few rounds create the rounded foot and the later rounds become the leg. Stuff firmly through the foot and more lightly through the leg. Flatten and close the top as you did with the arms. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, angling them slightly outward so Jimothy can sit up on his own — a crucial quality in any well-made raccoon.
Tail
The tail is one of Jimothy’s most distinctive features. You’ll work it in stripes, alternating between grey and dark grey (or charcoal) to create those signature raccoon rings.
Rnd 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4–6: Sc around in dark grey. (18 sts)
Rnd 7–9: Sc around in medium grey. (18 sts)
Rnd 10–12: Sc around in dark grey. (18 sts)
Rnd 13–15: Sc around in medium grey. (18 sts)
Rnd 16–18: Sc around in dark grey. (18 sts)
Rnd 19: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 20–22: Sc around in medium grey. (12 sts)
Stuff the tail well. It should be firm enough to hold its shape. Flatten and close the top, then attach it to the lower back of Jimothy’s body. You can curve it slightly to one side as you sew it on, giving it a natural, relaxed drape.
Facial Details
The face is where Jimothy truly comes to life. You have a few options depending on your preference and skill level.
For the eye patches, cut two oval pieces from black felt, or crochet small flat ovals in black yarn. To crochet the patches: MR, sc 6, then in the next round alternate between inc and sc twice, giving you an oval shape with about 9 stitches. Sew these around the safety eyes so that each eye is framed in black.
For the nose, you can use a 9mm black safety nose positioned at about round 7 of the head, centered between the eyes, or embroider a small triangle in black yarn. A few small stitches in a slightly lighter color across the nose center can give it a little dimension.
For the muzzle area, you can optionally sew on a small flat circle of cream yarn between the eye patches and the nose area, using your needle to smooth it into an oval muzzle shape. This detail takes only a few minutes but makes a huge difference in how finished and expressive the face looks.
If you want to add rosy cheeks, brush a tiny amount of pink chalk pastel or blush below the eye patches with a dry makeup brush. This gives Jimothy a perpetually cheerful, slightly embarrassed expression that is absolutely endearing.
Finishing Touches and Assembly Tips
Once all your pieces are assembled and your facial details are in place, take a moment to look at your raccoon from all angles. Are the eyes level? Is the head tilted the way you want it? Now is the time to make any small adjustments before everything is locked in.
Use your yarn needle to work any loose ends in thoroughly. With amigurumi, loose ends can work their way out over time, so it’s worth taking an extra minute to secure each one by weaving it back and forth through the stuffed piece a couple of times before trimming.
If Jimothy is a gift for a child under three, skip the safety eyes and safety nose entirely. Embroider all facial features using black yarn, using French knots or flat satin stitches for the eyes and a small satin stitch triangle for the nose. This makes the toy completely safe for small hands.
Customizing Jimothy
One of the joys of amigurumi is that every maker puts their own spin on a pattern. Here are a few ideas for making your Jimothy uniquely yours.
You could give him a little scarf by crocheting a simple rectangle in any color and tying it loosely around his neck. A tiny crocheted mushroom or berry in his paw is charming if you want to suggest he’s been foraging. Some crafters prefer to give their raccoon a slightly more serious expression by placing the eyes closer together and lower on the face — experiment and see what personality emerges.
You can also scale the entire pattern up or down by switching yarn weights. Using bulky yarn and a 6mm hook will give you a large, pillow-like Jimothy that’s perfect for a toddler to carry around. Using fingering weight yarn and a 2mm hook will produce a tiny, precious Jimothy barely bigger than your thumb.
Caring for Your Finished Raccoon
If Jimothy is going to be loved hard — carried to school, taken on trips, snuggled nightly — it’s worth knowing how to keep him clean. Most acrylic yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle inside a mesh laundry bag. Use cold water and lay flat to dry rather than putting him in the dryer, which can distort the shape of the stuffing. If you used safety eyes and nose, machine washing is generally fine, but hand washing is gentler over the long term.
For display-only Jimothys made from more delicate yarn, spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap.
A Few Notes on the Pattern
This pattern is written for intermediate beginners — if you’re comfortable with the magic ring, increases, decreases, and working in continuous rounds, you have everything you need. If you’re just learning, don’t be intimidated. Amigurumi is one of the most forgiving types of crochet because the stuffing hides a lot of imperfections. Tension doesn’t have to be perfect. Gauge doesn’t have to be exact. What matters is that the stitches are tight enough to hold the stuffing in and that your pieces are roughly the right size relative to each other.
Take your time with the assembly. Many crocheters will tell you that sewing the pieces together is the part they like least, but it’s also the part that makes or breaks the final look. Use plenty of yarn, sew through multiple stitches, and don’t be afraid to unpick and redo an attachment if it doesn’t look right. Jimothy will thank you for it.
Most importantly, enjoy the process. There is something genuinely meditative about working round after round, watching a flat circle of yarn slowly become a round head, a body, a tail. By the time you’re sewing on those last details and your raccoon starts to look back at you, you’ll understand why so many people fall in love with amigurumi.
Welcome to the Jimothy fan club. You’re going to want to make at least three.
If you make Jimothy, share your finished raccoon — the crochet community loves seeing how different makers interpret the same pattern, and every Jimothy that gets made in the world is a small act of joy. Happy crocheting!
