Free Spider Crochet Pattern (No-Sew): Spooky Amigurumi Tutorial

If you’re looking for a fun Halloween project that works up quickly and requires zero sewing, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. This free spider crochet pattern is designed for crafters who want all the spooky satisfaction without the tedious finishing work. Using a no-sew amigurumi technique, you’ll create an adorably creepy little spider complete with chunky legs, beady eyes, and a round, plump body that sits perfectly on a shelf, mantel, or hanging from a doorframe.

Whether you’re a beginner getting comfortable with amigurumi or an experienced crocheter looking for a quick Halloween make, this pattern is beginner-friendly, clearly written, and completely free. Let’s get into it.

What Is Amigurumi?

Before diving into the pattern itself, it’s worth taking a moment to talk about amigurumi for anyone who’s new to the craft. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. The word combines the Japanese words “ami,” meaning crocheted or knitted, and “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll. These little figures are worked almost entirely in continuous rounds using a magic ring start, and they result in tight, seamless fabric that holds stuffing beautifully without gaps.

The traditional approach to amigurumi involves sewing separate pieces together — a body, a head, legs, and so on. While that technique gives you a lot of creative freedom, it can also feel tedious and time-consuming, especially when you’re making something with eight legs. That’s where this no-sew spider pattern really shines. The legs are attached as you go using a technique that integrates them directly into the body rounds, so you finish the project with almost no assembly required beyond tucking in a few yarn ends.

Materials You’ll Need

One of the best things about this project is how few supplies it requires. Here’s everything you’ll need to make your own spooky amigurumi spider.

Yarn: Approximately 50–75 yards of bulky or super bulky black yarn. Any fiber will work — acrylic is a great choice for beginners because it’s affordable, easy to work with, and holds its shape well. If you want a slightly fuzzy, more lifelike spider texture, look for a yarn with a bit of texture or halo to it. Brands like Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick or Bernat Blanket Yarn are both widely available and work beautifully for this project.

Crochet Hook: A 5.0mm to 6.5mm hook depending on your yarn weight. If you’re using a standard worsted weight yarn, a 5.0mm hook works well. For chunky or super bulky, go up to a 5.5mm or 6.0mm. For amigurumi, you typically want to go down one hook size from what the yarn label recommends in order to create tighter fabric that won’t gap or allow stuffing to show through.

Polyfill Stuffing: A small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing is all you need. You won’t need much — just enough to give the body a nice, round shape.

Safety Eyes: One pair of 12mm or 15mm safety eyes. Black safety eyes on a black body give that classic creepy look, but red or orange eyes can make your spider look extra sinister. If you’re making this for a small child, you can embroider eyes using white yarn instead of using safety eyes, which are a choking hazard.

Stitch Markers: Useful for keeping track of your rounds, especially when working in continuous rounds without a slip stitch join.

Scissors and a Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finished Size

Gauge isn’t critical for amigurumi since there’s no sizing required, but just so you know what to expect: using bulky yarn and a 5.5mm hook, the finished spider body measures approximately 3 to 3.5 inches in diameter. The legs extend outward another 2 to 3 inches on each side, making the total width from leg tip to leg tip roughly 8 to 10 inches.

If you want a larger spider, simply use super bulky yarn and a 6.5mm hook. For a mini version that works well as an ornament or keychain, try fingering weight yarn with a 2.5mm hook.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

MR — Magic Ring
SC — Single Crochet
INC — Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
DEC — Invisible Decrease (insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook)
CH — Chain
SL ST — Slip Stitch
ST — Stitch
BLO — Back Loop Only
FLO — Front Loop Only
PM — Place Marker
RM — Remove Marker

A Note on the No-Sew Technique

This pattern uses two methods to avoid sewing. First, the spider’s eight legs are crocheted as separate chains and single crochet rows, then attached by picking up stitches from the body mid-round. Second, any remaining ends are woven securely through the stuffed body rather than sewn to other pieces. The result is a finished toy that feels secure and professional without a single whipstitch.

The key to making the no-sew technique work is tension. Keep your stitches snug when picking up leg stitches along the body, and weave your ends in multiple directions through the stuffing interior when you’re done. This locks everything in place and prevents unraveling.

The Spider Body Pattern

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 SC into the magic ring. Pull ring closed. (6 stitches)

Round 2: INC in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 3: SC 1, INC repeat around. (18 stitches)

Round 4: SC 2, INC repeat around. (24 stitches)

Round 5: SC 3, INC repeat around. (30 stitches)

Round 6: SC 4, INC repeat around. (36 stitches)

Rounds 7–10: SC in each stitch around for 4 rounds. (36 stitches)

At this point, attach your safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7, spaced about 6 to 8 stitches apart. Secure the backs firmly. If you’re embroidering eyes instead, you’ll add those after the body is closed.

Round 11: SC 4, DEC repeat around. (30 stitches)

Begin stuffing the body now. Add a generous amount of polyfill, pressing it in firmly to get a nice round shape. Continue to add small amounts of stuffing as you work the closing rounds.

Round 12: SC 3, DEC repeat around. (24 stitches)

Round 13: SC 2, DEC repeat around. (18 stitches)

Round 14: SC 1, DEC repeat around. (12 stitches)

Round 15: DEC around. (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Use your yarn needle to weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close the hole completely. Weave the end deep into the body through the stuffing, pulling gently to bury the knot before trimming.

The Spider Legs (No-Sew Attachment Method)

Your spider needs eight legs, and this is where the no-sew magic happens. Each leg is worked as a crocheted piece and then attached directly to the body by working into the existing stitches around the body’s equator.

Making Each Leg:

The legs are worked as simple chains with single crochet rows that give them a slight bend and dimensional look.

CH 15.

Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, SC across all 14 chains. CH 1, turn.

Row 2: SC across 7 stitches. Leave the remaining 7 stitches unworked for the “bent knee” effect. Fasten off, leaving an 8-inch tail for attachment.

Repeat this process to make 8 legs total.

Attaching the Legs:

Place your body in front of you with the eyes facing forward. Identify the equator of the body — roughly rounds 7 through 9, the widest and most even section of the sphere.

Using your crochet hook, insert it through a stitch in that equator section from the outside of the body to the inside. Hook the tail end of one leg piece and pull it partway through so you have a loop on the outside. Take the remaining tail length and thread it onto your yarn needle. Run the needle back through the same stitch, pulling the yarn through the stuffing interior in a different direction, then trim closely. The leg is now mechanically secured at two points through the body, with no visible seam.

Space the 8 legs evenly around the body — 4 on each side. Working from front to back, attach the first pair roughly 2 stitches behind the eyes, the second pair about 4 stitches further back, the third pair at the body’s midpoint, and the fourth pair near the back. This placement gives your spider that realistic, slightly forward-leaning look.

Optional Additions to Personalize Your Spider

The basic pattern above gives you a classic, spooky amigurumi spider, but there are plenty of ways to make it your own.

Add a web: Cut a length of white or silver yarn about 24 inches long. Thread it onto your yarn needle and weave it in and out of several stitches near the top of the body in a loose, zigzag pattern to suggest a web strand. Leave a long tail at the top so you can hang the spider from a doorframe or curtain rod.

Make it sparkly: Swap your black yarn for a black metallic or glitter yarn to give your spider a shimmery, otherworldly look under holiday lights. Many craft stores carry metallic yarn in the Halloween season that works perfectly with this kind of project.

Make a family: Work the same pattern in multiple sizes by changing yarn weight. A super bulky mama spider, a worsted weight medium spider, and a baby spider worked in sport weight make an adorable and creepy little family display for your Halloween mantel.

Embroider fangs: Using a small length of white yarn and a yarn needle, work two or three small vertical stitches just below the eye line to suggest fangs. This takes about 30 seconds and makes the spider look substantially more menacing.

Color variety: While black is the classic choice, don’t be afraid to try dark purple, deep orange, or even a variegated Halloween yarn that shifts between black, orange, and purple. The pattern works exactly the same in any color.

Tips for Beginners

If you’re new to amigurumi, here are a few things that will make this project go more smoothly.

Always use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round. When you’re working in continuous rounds without a slip stitch join, it’s very easy to lose track of where one round ends and the next begins. A simple locking stitch marker or even a piece of contrasting yarn looped through the first stitch of each round will save you a lot of frustration.

Don’t be discouraged if your magic ring feels awkward at first. It’s the foundation of almost all amigurumi, and it takes a few tries to feel natural. If the hole won’t close completely, try pulling the yarn tail more firmly, or practice the technique a few times on scrap yarn before starting your actual project.

Tight tension is your friend in amigurumi. If you can see the stuffing through the gaps in your stitches, your tension is too loose. Try going down one hook size, or simply hold the yarn a bit more firmly as you work. The goal is a dense fabric where the stuffing inside is completely invisible.

Take your time with the invisible decrease. Regular decreases in single crochet leave a small visible ridge on the outside of your work. The invisible decrease (working through only the front loops of the next two stitches) creates a much neater finish and is worth learning even if it feels slightly awkward at first.

Caring for Your Finished Spider

If you’ve used an acrylic yarn, your finished spider is fully machine washable on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag. Lay flat to dry to maintain the shape. If you used a wool or wool-blend yarn, hand wash only in cool water and lay flat to dry.

Safety eyes are permanently attached once the backing is snapped on, so they won’t come off in the wash. The polyfill stuffing will hold its shape through many washes. If your spider looks a little deflated after washing, simply pat and reshape it while still damp.

Displaying Your Spider

This little amigurumi spider is surprisingly versatile as a Halloween decoration. Here are a few ideas for showing it off.

Hang it from a length of black elastic thread attached to its back so it appears to dangle from the ceiling. The slight bounciness of elastic makes it look eerily lifelike when anyone walks past. Cluster several spiders at different heights for a dramatic entryway installation.

Tuck it into a web of white yarn or store-bought faux cobwebs on your mantel or bookshelf alongside other Halloween décor. It looks especially effective peeking out from behind a candle or a small pumpkin.

If you’ve added the hanging web yarn described in the optional additions section, loop it over a curtain rod in a window for a simple and striking Halloween window display.

Smaller versions make great trick-or-treat bag toppers or Halloween party favors. Work up a dozen mini spiders in an afternoon and use them as gift tags, ornaments, or festive decorations for a Halloween party table.

Final Thoughts

This free spider crochet pattern is one of those projects that proves Halloween crafting doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be absolutely charming. From start to finish, an experienced crocheter can knock out one of these spiders in an hour or two. Beginners might take a bit longer, but the pattern is forgiving, the stitches are basic, and the no-sew technique means you don’t have to worry about fussy assembly at the end.

The best part is that once you’ve made one, you won’t stop at one. These are genuinely addictive little makes, and they’re the perfect project to work on while watching a scary movie in the week leading up to Halloween.

If you make your spider, please share a photo — seeing how other crafters interpret a pattern is one of the great joys of the crochet community. Happy crocheting, and happy haunting.