Kiki the Koala Amigurumi: Free Crochet Pattern for Your New Favorite Stuffed Friend

There is something quietly magical about crocheting an amigurumi animal from scratch. You start with a simple loop, work your way through round after round of careful stitches, and somewhere along the way, a personality emerges. A little nose here, a pair of round ears there, and suddenly you are holding something that feels alive in your hands. Kiki the Koala is exactly that kind of project — one of those patterns that begins as yarn and ends as a friend.

This free crochet pattern walks you through every step of making Kiki, from her chubby little body to her oversized, fluffy ears. Whether you are a beginner who just learned the magic ring or an experienced crocheter looking for a satisfying weekend project, this tutorial is written with you in mind. Every stitch is explained, every round is numbered, and every tricky moment gets a little extra guidance so you never feel lost.

Let us get started.

What Is Amigurumi?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the craft behind it. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals and creatures. The word comes from two Japanese words: “ami,” meaning crocheted or knitted, and “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll. The style originated in Japan in the 1980s and has since become one of the most beloved forms of fiber art around the world.

What makes amigurumi so distinct is the way pieces are constructed. Rather than working flat and seaming, most amigurumi pieces are worked in continuous rounds, creating seamless three-dimensional shapes. The fabric is worked tightly — often with a hook one or two sizes smaller than what the yarn label recommends — so the stuffing does not peek through the stitches. This tight tension is part of what gives amigurumi figures their satisfying, firm feel.

Koalas are a perennially popular amigurumi subject, and it is easy to understand why. Their large round ears, wide-set eyes, and plump little bodies translate beautifully into yarn form. Kiki in particular has been designed to capture that characteristic koala silhouette — stout and cuddly, with ears nearly as wide as her head.

Materials You Will Need

One of the best things about this pattern is that it does not require any special or expensive supplies. Everything you need is probably already in your craft basket, or easily found at any craft store.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (Category 4) in your chosen colors. For a classic koala look, you will want a medium grey for the body and head, a lighter grey or off-white for the inner ears and tummy, and black or very dark brown for the nose. Kiki is a small toy, so you will not need much — two small skeins of your main grey and small amounts of the contrast colors will be plenty.

Hook: A 3.5mm crochet hook is recommended for worsted weight yarn in amigurumi. This creates a tight enough fabric that the stuffing stays hidden. If your tension runs loose, go down to a 3.0mm.

Safety eyes: Two 12mm black safety eyes. These are the click-in plastic eyes with a washer back that lock in place permanently. They are available at most craft stores and online. If you are making Kiki for a child under three years old, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, as safety eyes can be a choking hazard.

Polyfill stuffing: A standard polyester fiberfill stuffing works perfectly. You want enough to fill the body firmly but not so much that the seams are stretched.

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

Stitch markers: Helpful for marking the beginning of each round. Even if you have been crocheting for years, stitch markers are worth using in amigurumi because losing your place in a round can throw off the entire shape.

Scissors: You know what scissors are for.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

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

MR — Magic ring (also called magic loop or adjustable 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 front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops)
st — Stitch
sts — Stitches
BLO — Back loop only
FLO — Front loop only
( ) — Work the stitches inside the parentheses as described
[ ] x — Repeat the section in brackets the number of times indicated

The invisible decrease is strongly preferred over a standard decrease in amigurumi because it creates a much neater finished surface. To work it, insert your hook through the front loop only of the next stitch, then through the front loop only of the stitch after that — so you have two front loops on your hook — then complete the decrease as normal.

Pattern Notes

Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Do not join or turn at the end of each round. Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of each round and move it up as you go. This helps you keep track of where each round begins and ends.

The gauge for this pattern is approximately 4.5 single crochets and 5 rows per inch with a 3.5mm hook and worsted weight yarn. Gauge is not critical for a toy, but it will affect the finished size. Kiki as written finishes at approximately 6 inches tall when seated.

Leave long yarn tails when fastening off each piece. These tails will be used to sew pieces to the body, so the longer the better — about 12 inches gives you plenty to work with.

Kiki the Koala Pattern

Head

The head is worked in main grey yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into 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)
Rounds 8–14: Sc in each st around. (42 sts, 7 rounds)

At this point, insert and secure the safety eyes. Position them between rounds 10 and 11, approximately 8 stitches apart. Once the washers are clicked firmly in place, they cannot be removed, so take a moment to make sure you are happy with the placement before locking them in.

Round 15: [Sc 5, dec] x 6. (36 sts)
Round 16: [Sc 4, dec] x 6. (30 sts)
Round 17: [Sc 3, dec] x 6. (24 sts)

Begin stuffing the head now. Add stuffing a little at a time, continuing to stuff as you close.

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 long tail. Use a tapestry needle to weave through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight to close the hole, and weave in the end. Set the head aside.

Body

The body is worked in main grey yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into 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)
Rounds 7–10: Sc in each st around. (36 sts, 4 rounds)
Round 11: [Sc 4, dec] x 6. (30 sts)
Rounds 12–14: Sc in each st around. (30 sts, 3 rounds)
Round 15: [Sc 3, dec] x 6. (24 sts)
Rounds 16–17: Sc in each st around. (24 sts, 2 rounds)

Stuff the body firmly. The body should feel solid and hold its shape when you set it down.

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 and close the opening as you did with the head.

Ears (Make 2 — Outer Ear in Main Grey, Inner Ear in Light Grey)

The ears are Kiki’s most distinctive feature. Each ear is made of two pieces — an outer ear in main grey and a smaller inner ear in light grey — that are joined together before being attached to the head.

Outer Ear:

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into 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)
Rounds 5–7: Sc in each st around. (24 sts, 3 rounds)

Fasten off with a long tail, leaving the piece flat (do not stuff).

Inner Ear:

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

Fasten off with a long tail.

Joining the Ear Pieces:

Place the inner ear on top of the outer ear, lining up the centers. Using the tail from the inner ear and a tapestry needle, whip stitch around the edge of the inner ear, attaching it to the outer ear. When finished, the inner ear should sit like a soft oval nestled in the center of the outer ear. Weave in any remaining ends on the inside of the ear where they will not be visible.

Arms (Make 2)

The arms are worked in main grey yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rounds 3–4: Sc in each st around. (12 sts, 2 rounds)
Round 5: [Sc 2, dec] x 3. (9 sts)
Rounds 6–12: Sc in each st around. (9 sts, 7 rounds)

Lightly stuff only the lower half of the arm (the rounded end). The upper half can be left unstuffed so it sits more naturally against the body. Fasten off with a long tail.

Legs (Make 2)

The legs are worked in main grey yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc in BLO in each st around. (18 sts)
Rounds 5–6: Sc in each st around. (18 sts, 2 rounds)
Round 7: [Sc 1, dec] x 6. (12 sts)
Rounds 8–14: Sc in each st around. (12 sts, 7 rounds)

Stuff the foot portion firmly and the leg lightly. Fasten off with a long tail.

Nose

The nose is worked in black yarn.

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

Fasten off with a long tail. Do not stuff. The nose sits flat against the face.

Assembling Kiki

Assembly is where the magic really happens, and it is worth taking your time here. A well-assembled amigurumi has that polished, intentional look. A hastily assembled one can look lopsided and sad, even if every individual piece is perfect.

Attaching the nose: Center the nose on the head, positioned over rounds 9–12 and centered between the eyes. Use the yarn tail and a tapestry needle to sew around the edge, making sure the nose lies flat and feels secure. Weave in the end on the inside of the head.

Adding a smile: Thread a length of black yarn onto your tapestry needle and embroider a small curved line just below the nose for a simple, sweet smile. A few straight stitches in a gentle U-shape are all it takes.

Attaching the head to the body: Position the head on top of the body and pin it in place with a few straight pins or stitch markers before sewing. The bottom of the head should overlap the top of the body slightly. Use the yarn tail from the head and sew in a circle around the neck opening, going through stitches on both the head and body. Pull firmly to make the connection secure.

Attaching the ears: Position the ears on either side of the head, just above the eyes. Koala ears sit wide and high — almost on the very top and sides of the head. Pin them in place and step back to look at the overall silhouette. When you are happy with the placement, sew each ear down firmly using the yarn tail, going through both the outer edge of the ear and the corresponding stitches on the head.

Attaching the arms: The arms attach to the sides of the body, roughly at round 16 from the bottom. Position them so they angle slightly downward and forward, which gives Kiki a natural, relaxed posture. Sew around the top opening of each arm to attach.

Attaching the legs: The legs attach to the bottom of the body on either side of the center. They should point forward and slightly outward so that Kiki can sit upright on her own. Sew around the top opening of each leg.

Finishing Touches and Customization

Once all of Kiki’s pieces are attached and all ends are woven in, give her a gentle squeeze and fluff to distribute the stuffing evenly. If any part of her face looks asymmetrical, you can use a tapestry needle to gently adjust the stuffing from the outside.

One of the best things about a free crochet pattern like this is how easily it invites personalization. Kiki looks wonderful in any shade of grey, but there is no rule that says she has to be grey. A dusty lavender koala, a warm taupe koala, or even a pastel pink koala would each be completely charming in their own way.

You might also consider adding a little bow between her ears, stitched from a length of ribbon or crocheted from a contrasting yarn. A small accessory goes a long way toward giving an amigurumi figure a distinct personality. Some crafters also like to give their koalas a small crochet eucalyptus sprig to hold — a fun additional mini project that makes the finished piece feel extra special.

If you are making Kiki as a gift for a baby or very young child, remember to embroider the eyes rather than using safety eyes, and make sure all pieces are very securely attached with no loose yarn ends that could present a hazard.

Tips for Amigurumi Beginners

If this is one of your first amigurumi projects, here are a few things that will make the experience smoother and more enjoyable.

The magic ring can feel fiddly at first, but it is worth learning. It creates a tight, seamless beginning that a foundation chain simply cannot replicate. Watch a few video tutorials