No-Sew Crochet Little Googly Eyed Monster Tutorial

If you’ve ever wanted to make the most ridiculously adorable little creature imaginable without having to thread a single needle, you are in exactly the right place. This no-sew crochet little googly eyed monster tutorial is everything — it’s beginner-friendly, it’s fast, it’s customizable, and the finished result is so charming that you’ll want to make an entire army of them. Whether you’re crafting for a toddler, filling up a Halloween basket, decorating a shelf, or just looking for a fun weekend project, these little monsters deliver maximum cuteness with minimum frustration.

Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This No-Sew Crochet Monster Pattern

Before we dive into the how-to, let me tell you why this particular pattern has become one of my absolute favorites to return to again and again.

First, the no-sew factor is a genuine game-changer. A lot of crochet amigurumi patterns require you to sew pieces together at the end — arms, legs, ears, tails — and while that’s totally manageable, it does add time and a level of precision that not everyone loves. This pattern is designed so that everything comes together through crochet joins or is worked in the round continuously, meaning you can go from yarn to finished monster with nothing but your hook and a pair of scissors.

Second, the googly eyes. Oh, the googly eyes. There’s something about those little plastic wiggly eyes that transforms a simple crocheted blob into something with personality. They give each monster its own expression, and because they’re slightly random in where they land when you look at them, no two monsters ever look exactly alike even when you follow the same pattern.

Third, this is a pattern that works beautifully for yarn stash busting. Each monster uses such a small amount of yarn that you can make them from scraps. Got half a skein of bright purple left over from a blanket project? A little ball of neon green you impulse-bought at the craft store? This is the project those yarns have been waiting for.

Materials You’ll Need

Gathering your supplies before you start is always the best way to set yourself up for a smooth crafting session. Here’s what you’ll need for one no-sew crochet monster:

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn works best for a monster that’s about 4 to 5 inches tall. You really only need about 50 yards of your main color, which makes this perfect for leftover yarn. Any fiber works, though acrylic is especially great for toys because it’s machine washable and easy to work with.

Crochet Hook: A 4mm or 5mm hook pairs nicely with worsted weight yarn and creates a tight enough fabric that the stuffing won’t poke through.

Googly Eyes: Self-adhesive googly eyes in a variety of sizes add the most personality. I love using a mix of sizes — maybe one large eye and one tiny eye — but matching sizes look great too. You can find bags of assorted googly eyes at any craft store or online for very little money.

Polyester Fiberfill: A small handful is all you need. This is the kind of stuffing sold in bags at craft stores, often labeled as polyfill or toy stuffing.

Stitch Marker: Optional but helpful for keeping track of the beginning of your rounds.

Scissors: Just for cutting your yarn at the end.

A Yarn Needle (Optional): Even though this is a no-sew pattern, you’ll want a blunt tapestry needle to weave in your ends. This is not the same as sewing pieces together — it’s just tidying up, and it takes about thirty seconds.

Craft Glue (Optional): If your googly eyes are not self-adhesive, a dab of craft glue or a hot glue gun will hold them in place beautifully.

Crochet Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

If you’re new to reading crochet patterns, here’s a quick reference for the abbreviations you’ll see throughout this tutorial.

MR stands for magic ring, also called a magic circle. This is a technique for starting crochet in the round that gives you a neat, closed center with no hole.

SC means single crochet, the most basic and common crochet stitch.

Inc means increase, which is two single crochets worked into the same stitch.

Dec means decrease, which joins two stitches together into one. In amigurumi, the invisible decrease is preferred because it leaves a neater finish.

BLO means back loop only, which means inserting your hook under only the back loop of the stitch rather than both loops.

St means stitch, and Sts means stitches.

Rnd means round.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds, meaning you do not join at the end of each round with a slip stitch. Instead, you keep working in a spiral. Using a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round makes it much easier to keep count.

The finished size will vary slightly depending on your yarn weight and how tightly you crochet. With worsted weight yarn and a 5mm hook, you should end up with a monster approximately 4 to 5 inches tall. Use a smaller hook for a firmer fabric and a slightly smaller monster, or a larger hook if you prefer a softer, squishier feel.

Safety eyes are an alternative to googly eyes if you’re making this monster for a very young child who might put it in their mouth. Safety eyes are installed before you close up the head and are locked in from the inside, making them much more secure. However, the googly eye look is what makes these monsters so uniquely fun, so for older children and adults, stick with the wiggly ones.

No-Sew Crochet Little Googly Eyed Monster Tutorial

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for. This pattern makes a basic monster body that you can customize in all sorts of ways, which we’ll talk about after the pattern itself.

The Monster Body

Round 1: Make a magic ring. SC 6 into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sts)

Round 3: SC 1, inc — repeat from to around. (18 sts)

Round 4: SC 2, inc — repeat from to around. (24 sts)

Round 5: SC 3, inc — repeat from to around. (30 sts)

Rounds 6 through 12: SC in each stitch around. (30 sts) — Work these 7 rounds straight with no increases or decreases.

Round 13: SC 3, dec — repeat from to around. (24 sts)

At this point, begin stuffing your monster with fiberfill. You want it to feel plump and solid but not stretched so tight that the stitches pull apart. Add a little stuffing as you go rather than trying to cram it all in at once — it’s much easier to control the shape that way.

Round 14: SC 2, dec — repeat from to around. (18 sts)

Round 15: SC 1, dec — repeat from to around. (12 sts)

Round 16: Dec around. (6 sts)

Add any final stuffing you need now before the opening gets too small.

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Use your yarn needle to run the tail through the front loops of those remaining 6 stitches and pull to close. Weave in the end securely. This is the only “sewing” involved and it’s really more of a gathering technique — no needle and thread, just your tapestry needle and the working yarn tail.

Adding the Face

Here’s where the magic happens. Take your self-adhesive googly eyes and peel off the backing. Place them somewhere on the upper third of your monster’s body — this is entirely up to you. You can do two eyes close together for a classic look, or set them far apart on opposite sides for a funny alien vibe. Try one large eye centered on the face and a tiny one off to the side. Try three eyes in a row. Try eyes on top of the head. Seriously, there are no rules, and every combination looks amazing.

Press each eye firmly against the yarn for several seconds to help the adhesive bond. If you want extra security, especially if the monster will be handled a lot, put a small dab of craft glue around the edge of each eye after placing it.

That’s it. Your monster is done.

Customizing Your Googly Eyed Monster

The basic body is just the beginning. Here’s how to make each monster completely unique.

Monster Horns

To add little horns, make a small magic ring, SC 3 into it, then work one or two rounds straight before fastening off. Leave a long tail and use it to attach the horn to the top of the head during your final stuffing stage, working it through the existing stitches rather than sewing it separately. You can add one horn, two symmetrical horns, or three horns in a row across the top.

Monster Arms

For little stubby arms that stick out from the sides, make a small tube: chain 6, join into a ring, and SC around for 3 to 4 rounds, stuff lightly, then fasten off. Before you close up the main body completely, fold the arm flat and crochet it directly to the side of the body by working a few stitches through both layers as you’re working your decreasing rounds. This is the no-sew trick — by timing when you attach pieces, you can join them into the fabric itself.

Monster Legs

Similarly, legs can be worked as small tubes and attached at the bottom of the body before closing. Work them in the round for 4 to 6 rounds, stuff slightly, flatten, and either crochet them to the bottom as you close up, or use the same fold-and-slip-stitch method to work them into the existing stitches.

Stripes and Color Changes

Stripes are one of the easiest ways to add interest to your monster. When you reach the end of a round and want to switch colors, simply pull your new color through the last loop of your final decrease in that round and keep going with the new yarn. Work as many rounds in the new color as you want, then switch back. Loose ends from color changes can be crocheted over as you work, which means even less weaving in at the end.

Texture Variations

Working the body rounds in back loop only (BLO) creates a ridged, textured effect that looks especially cool on monsters. Try working rounds 6 through 12 in BLO for a totally different surface texture without changing anything else about the pattern.

Monster Mouths

A row of chain stitches can be curved across the face and tacked down at the ends to create a smile or a frown. You could also cut a small piece of felt and glue it on in whatever mouth shape you like, adding felt teeth if you want to get really festive. Since this is a no-sew pattern, felt shapes attached with craft glue keep everything consistent without a needle.

Tips for the Best Results

Use a hook that’s slightly smaller than the yarn label recommends. Amigurumi looks best when the stitches are tight enough to hold the stuffing inside without it showing through.

Don’t overstuff. It’s tempting to pack in as much fiberfill as possible, but a slightly underfilled monster has a nicer, more natural shape. You want it to feel substantial but not rock-hard.

If your magic ring has a small hole, simply pull the tail a little tighter before weaving it in, and then weave it in in multiple directions to lock it closed.

Give your monster a little squeeze and smooth it into shape while the yarn is still flexible. Sometimes things need a gentle reshape right after finishing, and the texture of yarn is forgiving enough that a little manipulation goes a long way.

If you’re making these as gifts for children under three, skip the googly eyes entirely or use safety eyes installed before closing. Better yet, use embroidery to create eyes by stitching circles or crosses in a contrasting color. It’s the one step that would involve a needle, but safety always comes first for little ones.

How to Display or Use Your Finished Monster

These little guys are incredibly versatile. Here are just a few ideas for what to do with your finished crochet monster.

Line them up on a bookshelf or window sill as quirky decor. A collection of different colored monsters in varying sizes looks fantastic displayed together, and you’ll get so many compliments on them.

Use them as bag charms. Attach a small lobster clasp or key ring to the top before fully closing, and you’ve got a charming handmade bag charm or keychain that’s completely one of a kind.

Put them in Easter baskets, Halloween treat bags, or Christmas stockings. They’re small enough to tuck in easily and feel so much more personal than store-bought filler items.

Give them as party favors. If you’re hosting a monster-themed birthday party, a little crochet monster at each place setting is incredibly sweet, and making a batch of ten or twelve over the course of a few evenings is totally achievable with this quick pattern.

Turn them into finger puppets by not fully closing the bottom and skipping the stuffing on the last few rounds, leaving a hole large enough to fit a finger inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this monster bigger or smaller? Absolutely. For a larger monster, use bulky yarn and a 6mm or larger hook. For a tiny monster, use fingering weight yarn and a 2mm or 3mm hook. The stitch counts stay the same — the yarn and hook do all the sizing work.

How do I make the googly eyes stay on? Self-adhesive eyes are surprisingly sturdy once properly pressed onto yarn, but if you’re worried, run a thin bead of craft glue around the perimeter of each eye after placing it. Let it dry fully before giving the monster to anyone or displaying it somewhere where it might get jostled.

What if I can’t do a magic ring? You can start with a slip knot and chain 2, then work 6 single crochets into the second chain from the hook. It won’t close quite as neatly, but it works perfectly well.

Do I really need a stitch marker? It makes counting much easier, especially in the middle rounds when there’s nothing visual to guide you. A scrap of contrasting yarn looped through a stitch works just as well as a plastic stitch marker.

Can I wash these monsters? If you’ve used acrylic yarn, yes — machine wash on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag, then lay flat or hang to dry. Avoid high heat in the dryer, which can warp the plastic googly eyes. If you’ve used wool, hand wash only.

Final Thoughts

There is something genuinely joyful about crocheting a creature this silly and lovable. The no-sew approach keeps the process flowing so smoothly that you might find yourself finishing one and immediately wanting to start another in a completely different color combination. That’s the beauty of a pattern like this — it’s simple enough to be relaxing, but the customization options keep it interesting every single time.

Once you’ve made your first monster, you’ll start seeing possibilities everywhere. Every weird skein of yarn becomes potential monster material. Every googly eye configuration becomes a new personality. And every finished little creature feels like it has its own name and backstory.

I’d love to see what you make. If you try this no-sew crochet little googly eyed monster tutorial, share a photo and tag us — there is nothing better than seeing your creations come to life. Happy crocheting!