Free Plush Crochet Rat Pattern: Beginner Amigurumi Tutorial with Bobble Feet & Tail

If you’ve been searching for a cute, squishy, and totally beginner-friendly crochet rat pattern, you’ve found it. This free plush crochet rat pattern walks you through every step of creating an adorable amigurumi rat complete with plump little bobble feet and a curling tail. Whether you’re new to amigurumi or you’ve made a few stuffed animals before and want to add something a little quirky to your collection, this pattern is for you.

Rats make surprisingly wonderful crochet subjects. Their little rounded bodies, expressive ears, and long tails translate beautifully into the amigurumi style, and when you work them up in a soft, plush yarn, the result is something irresistibly huggable. Let’s dive in.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Rat Pattern

Before we get into the yarn and hook sizes, let’s talk about why this particular pattern stands out.

First, it’s genuinely beginner-friendly. You don’t need to know any complicated stitches. If you can do a magic ring, single crochet, increase, decrease, and a bobble stitch, you have everything you need. We’ll also walk through the bobble stitch briefly, so even if you’ve never done it before, you’ll be fine.

Second, the bobble feet and textured tail give this rat so much personality. Most beginner amigurumi patterns stick to smooth, uniform shapes, which are lovely but can feel a little plain. The bobble feet here add dimension and a slightly cartoonish quality that makes this rat look like it just wandered out of an illustrated children’s book.

Third, it’s a quick make. Depending on your speed, you can finish this rat in a single afternoon or across two cozy evenings. It’s a satisfying project that doesn’t drag on forever.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s what to gather before you start:

Yarn: A bulky or super bulky plush yarn works best for that soft, squishy look. Lion Brand Yarn’s Pound of Love, Bernat Blanket yarn, or any chenille-style yarn will give you gorgeous results. Choose a main color for the body, a slightly lighter or contrasting color for the inner ears and belly (optional), and a coordinating color for the tail and feet if you want them to stand out.

Hook: A 5.0mm or 5.5mm crochet hook is a good starting point, but always check your gauge against your yarn. Amigurumi is typically crocheted with a smaller hook than the yarn label recommends, which creates a tighter fabric and keeps your stuffing from showing through.

Safety eyes: Two 12mm or 15mm black safety eyes work well for this size rat. If you’re making this for a child under three, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.

Polyfill stuffing: Standard polyester fiberfill stuffing is perfect. You’ll want enough to stuff the body firmly and the head lightly.

Yarn needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.

Stitch markers: To mark the beginning of each round.

Optional: A small amount of pink embroidery floss for the nose, and wire armature if you want poseable feet (not recommended for children’s toys).

Gauge and Sizing

With bulky plush yarn and a 5.5mm hook, your finished rat will be approximately 8 to 10 inches long from nose to the base of the tail, sitting up. The tail adds another 4 to 5 inches. If you use a lighter weight yarn and smaller hook, your rat will be smaller and more detailed.

Gauge isn’t critical for amigurumi in the same way it is for garments, but consistent tension matters. If your stitches are too loose, the stuffing will poke through and the shape will look lumpy rather than smooth.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

Throughout this pattern, the following abbreviations apply:

MR — magic ring
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (2 sc in one stitch)
dec — invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through both, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)
bobble — bobble stitch (explained below)
BLO — back loop only
st — stitch
rnd — round

How to make the bobble stitch: Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops (leaving one loop on hook). Repeat this process four more times in the same stitch, so you have six loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all six loops at once. A bobble stitch creates a raised, rounded bump on the right side of your work. When you’re crocheting in the round, push the bobble to the outside as you work.

Free Crochet Rat Pattern: Step-by-Step Instructions

Head

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] repeat 6 times. (24)
Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] repeat 6 times. (30)
Rounds 6–9: Sc in each st around. (30) — 4 rounds even
Round 10: [Sc 3, dec] repeat 6 times. (24)

Place safety eyes between rounds 7 and 8, with approximately 6 to 8 stitches between them. Embroider a small V-shape in pink floss or yarn just below the eyes for the nose, if desired.

Round 11: [Sc 2, dec] repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 12: [Sc 1, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)

Stuff the head firmly with polyfill.

Round 13: Dec 6 times. (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Close the hole by running the yarn tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pulling tight. Weave in end.

Body

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] repeat 6 times. (24)
Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] repeat 6 times. (30)
Round 6: [Sc 4, inc] repeat 6 times. (36)
Rounds 7–14: Sc in each st around. (36) — 8 rounds even
Round 15: [Sc 4, dec] repeat 6 times. (30)
Round 16: [Sc 3, dec] repeat 6 times. (24)
Round 17: [Sc 2, dec] repeat 6 times. (18)

Stuff the body firmly before the opening becomes too small to work with.

Round 18: [Sc 1, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)
Round 19: Dec 6 times. (6)

Fasten off and close as with the head. Leave a long tail for sewing the head to the body.

Ears (Make 2)

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4: Sc in each st around. (18)

Sl st to close, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the ears. Pinch the base of each ear slightly before sewing to give them a gentle curve, which makes them look much more realistic and three-dimensional when attached to the head.

If you want a two-tone ear with a pink inner, use your contrasting color for rounds 1 and 2 and switch to your main color for rounds 3 and 4.

Bobble Feet (Make 2)

The bobble feet are the star of this pattern. They’re worked flat and then folded slightly when sewn onto the body.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4: Sc 6, [bobble, sc 1] repeat 3 times, sc 6. (18 sts, with 3 bobbles on the toe end)
Round 5: Sc in each st around. (18)
Round 6: [Sc 1, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)
Round 7: Dec 6 times. (6)

Fasten off and close. Stuff lightly — the feet shouldn’t be overstuffed or they’ll look too round. A small pinch of stuffing gives them just enough shape to stand out. Leave a long tail for attaching.

The three bobbles across round 4 represent the rat’s little toes. They look especially charming in a slightly contrasting color, so consider switching yarn for just round 4 if you want defined toes.

Tail

The tail is worked as a long, slightly tapering chain and single crochet tube.

Chain 30 (or more for a longer tail).
Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each chain. (29 sc)
Row 2: Turn, sl st in BLO of each stitch across.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. The BLO slip stitch row along the back creates a gentle curl in the tail, which is exactly what you want. If you’d like more curl, dampen the tail slightly and wrap it around a pencil, then let it dry.

You can also work the tail in the round for a rounder, more dimensional look. Simply chain 30, join into a ring at one end (carefully, without twisting), and sc 1 around for the entire length. This technique is a little trickier but gives a very polished result.

Arms (Make 2)

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rounds 3–7: Sc in each st around. (12) — 5 rounds even
Round 8: Dec 6 times. (6)

Stuff lightly. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail. The arms are small and slender and will sit close to the body. You can leave them unstuffed if you prefer a flatter, floppy arm, which is especially charming in a softly posed rat.

Assembling Your Crochet Rat

Assembly is where your rat really comes to life, and taking your time here makes a big difference in how the finished piece looks.

Start by pinning all the pieces in place before you sew anything permanently. This lets you adjust positioning until you’re happy with the overall look.

Head to body: Position the head at the top of the body with about a 6-stitch overlap. Use your yarn needle and the long tail from the body to sew the head on using a whip stitch around the join, pulling snugly as you go. Make sure the face is oriented the way you want before you start sewing.

Ears: Pin the ears to the top of the head, roughly above the eyes and angled slightly outward. Sew them on using the long tail, catching stitches on both the ear and the head for a secure join. Once sewn, you can nudge them into position with your fingernail.

Arms: Attach the arms on either side of the body just below where the head meets the body. Sew through several stitches on each side for stability.

Feet: The feet sit at the base of the body, with the bobble toes pointing forward. Sew them flat against the underside of the body so the rat can sit upright. If you want the rat to stand rather than sit, angle the feet slightly downward.

Tail: Attach the tail to the back base of the body with several stitches worked back and forth for security. The tail should emerge from just above the base and curl naturally downward and around.

Tips for Beginners

If this is your first amigurumi or your first time using plush yarn, here are a few things that will make the process smoother.

Plush and chenille yarns can be tricky to see into because of all that fuzz. Working in good lighting and counting your stitches at the end of each round will save you from having to frog (unravel) work later. Some crocheters prefer to do a practice round on a scrap of the yarn before starting the actual pattern to get a feel for the texture.

The invisible decrease is your best friend in amigurumi. It creates a much smoother surface than a standard decrease, which can leave a gap or ridge. If you haven’t tried it before, it’s worth taking five minutes to practice on a small swatch.

Don’t rush the stuffing. A well-stuffed amigurumi holds its shape beautifully and looks professionally made. An under-stuffed one goes floppy and looks sad. Aim for firm but not rock-hard.

When attaching pieces, work slowly and check the positioning frequently. If something looks off, it’s always easier to remove a few stitches and reposition than to live with a wonky ear or a head that tilts to one side forever.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about making your own plush rat is that you can customize it endlessly.

Try making a group of rats in different colors — soft grey, warm brown, creamy white, or even a fantasy-colored pink or lavender rat for a more whimsical look. You could give your rat a little crocheted piece of cheese to hold, or a tiny scarf worked in a contrasting color wrapped around the neck.

For a Halloween version, work the rat in black yarn and add tiny felt bat wings. For a more refined look, try a sleek grey yarn with satin-finish safety eyes.

If you want to make a family of rats in different sizes, simply change your yarn weight. Worsted weight with a 3.5mm hook will give you a smaller, more detailed rat. A chunky yarn with a 6.5mm hook will give you an oversized, pillow-like rat that makes a fantastic nursery decoration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell items made from this free pattern? Yes, you’re welcome to sell finished products made from this pattern. Please don’t sell or redistribute the pattern itself.

What’s the best yarn for amigurumi rats? Any smooth, medium-weight yarn works well for clean stitch definition. If you want that plush, velvety look, chenille yarn or Bernat Blanket yarn are excellent choices.

How do I make the tail curlier? Sew the slip stitch row along the back of the tail more tightly, or pin the finished tail into a curl and steam it gently with an iron held several inches away.

Is this pattern safe for babies? Replace the safety eyes with embroidered eyes if making this for a child under three, and ensure all pieces are very securely attached.

Final Thoughts

This free plush crochet rat pattern is one of those projects that looks impressive but genuinely doesn’t take a lot of skill or time to complete. The bobble feet add a playful detail that makes the finished rat look considered and unique, and the soft plush yarn turns what could be a simple stuffed animal into something genuinely cuddly.

Whether you’re making it for yourself, as a gift for someone with a love of unusual things, as a prop for a photo shoot, or as part of a larger amigurumi collection, this little rat has a lot of personality packed into its small crocheted body.

Save this pattern, share it with your crochet friends, and tag your finished rat when you share it online — there is truly nothing more satisfying than seeing someone else’s version of a pattern come to life in their own colors and yarn choices.

Happy crocheting, and may your magic rings be tight and your yarn never tangle.