Rat Amigurumi – Free Crochet Pattern

If you’ve ever wanted to make the most charming little rodent you’ve ever seen, this rat amigurumi pattern is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or someone who has just started exploring the world of amigurumi, this free crochet pattern from StringyDingDing will walk you through every step of creating an adorable stuffed rat you’ll absolutely love. These little guys make wonderful gifts, shelf companions, and conversation starters, and once you’ve made one, you’ll want to make a whole nest of them.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Amigurumi?

Before we get into the pattern itself, let’s take a quick moment to appreciate the art form. Amigurumi is the Japanese practice of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed yarn creatures. The word itself combines the Japanese words “ami” (knitted or crocheted) and “nuigurumi” (stuffed doll). The style is recognizable by its oversized round heads, small bodies, and irresistibly cute proportions.

Rats are a particularly fun subject for amigurumi because they have such distinct, lovable features — long naked tails, large rounded ears, tiny pink paws, and expressive little faces. Once you’ve captured all of that in yarn, the result is something genuinely magical.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your supplies together before you start will make the whole process smoother. Here’s everything you’ll need for this project:

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in your chosen body color (gray, brown, black, white, or whatever color speaks to you), plus a small amount of pink for the ears and paws. You could also use a light beige or cream for the belly if you want a two-toned look.

Hook: A 3.5mm crochet hook works beautifully with most worsted weight yarn for amigurumi. You want your stitches nice and tight so the stuffing doesn’t peek through.

Safety eyes: Two 9mm or 12mm safety eyes, depending on how large you want your rat’s face to look. Black is classic, but you can also find reddish-brown safety eyes that give your rat an albino appearance — very sweet.

Polyfill stuffing: A good quality polyester fiberfill stuffing will keep your rat plump and hold its shape over time.

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

Scissors: Sharp embroidery scissors make clean cuts.

Stitch markers: Especially helpful for marking the beginning of each round when working in continuous rounds.

Wire (optional): If you want poseable limbs or a tail that can be shaped, you can insert floral wire or pipe cleaners. Just be sure to wrap the ends so they don’t poke through.

Pink felt or embroidery thread: For the nose and any additional facial detailing.

Gauge and Sizing

Working to a gauge of about 4.5 stitches per inch with your 3.5mm hook and worsted weight yarn, the finished rat will measure approximately 5 to 6 inches tall when seated, plus an additional 4 to 5 inches of tail. If you’d like a larger rat, simply go up a hook size or use bulkier yarn. For a mini rat, try fingering weight yarn with a 2mm hook.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern is written in American crochet terminology.

MR — Magic ring
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of next 2 stitches, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all loops)
BLO — Back loop only
FLO — Front loop only
st(s) — Stitch(es)
rnd — Round
pm — Place marker

All rounds are worked in continuous spirals unless otherwise noted. Do not join at the end of each round unless specifically instructed.

Part One: The Head

Start with your main body color.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: Sc 3, inc repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: Sc 4, inc repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 7: Sc 5, inc repeat 6 times. (42 sts)
Rnds 8–14: Sc around. (42 sts, 7 rounds)
Rnd 15: Sc 5, dec repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 16: Sc 4, dec repeat 6 times. (30 sts)

At this point, insert your safety eyes between rounds 10 and 11, approximately 7 to 8 stitches apart. Use your stitch markers to help you find the center front of the head. Once the eyes are placed and secured, continue decreasing.

Rnd 17: Sc 3, dec repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: Sc 2, dec repeat 6 times. (18 sts)

Begin stuffing the head firmly. You want it to feel solid but not so overstuffed that it distorts.

Rnd 19: Sc 1, dec repeat 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 20: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close the opening with your yarn needle, weaving the tail through the front loop of each remaining stitch and pulling tight. Weave in the end securely.

Part Two: The Body

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: Sc 3, inc repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: Sc 4, inc repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnds 7–18: Sc around. (36 sts, 12 rounds)
Rnd 19: Sc 4, dec repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 20: Sc 3, dec repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 21: Sc 2, dec repeat 6 times. (18 sts)

Stuff the body firmly before closing.

Rnd 22: Sc 1, dec repeat 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 23: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close. Leave a long tail for attaching the head. Pin the head to the body and sew it on securely, going around the seam at least twice and pulling gently to make sure it doesn’t wobble.

Part Three: The Ears

Make two in your main color, then two in pink for the inner ear. You’ll layer them together when attaching.

Outer ear (make 2 in main color):

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Sc around. (18 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Inner ear (make 2 in pink):

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat 6 times. (18 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Hold the pink inner ear on top of the outer ear and sew them together around the edges using the pink tail. Then pinch the base of the ear slightly to give it a natural cupped shape before sewing it onto the head. Position the ears between rounds 4 and 7, on either side of the head. Sew them on securely.

Part Four: The Legs (Make 4)

The front legs are slightly shorter and thinner than the back legs, but for simplicity this pattern makes all four the same. Feel free to adjust if you want more anatomical accuracy.

Start with pink for the paw, then switch to your main color.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in pink. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc around in BLO. (12 sts)
Rnd 4: Switch to main color. Sc around. (12 sts)
Rnds 5–10: Sc around. (12 sts, 6 rounds)

Stuff lightly — you don’t want the legs to be too stiff, just enough so they hold their shape. Flatten the top of the leg and sc across to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Attach the two back legs to the lower sides of the body and the two front legs higher up, just below where the head meets the body.

Part Five: The Tail

The tail is one of the most recognizable features of a rat, and getting it right makes all the difference. You can make it in a simple chain stitch, or use a continuous single crochet tube for something with more dimension.

Simple chain tail:
Using pink yarn (or a pale grey to match the body), chain 30 to 40 stitches. Slip stitch back along the chain from the second stitch from the hook for a slightly thicker look. Fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching.

Tube tail (more dimensional):
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc in pink. (4 sts)
Rnds 2–35: Sc around. (4 sts, 34 rounds)

Do not stuff. Fasten off and attach to the lower back of the body. If you’d like the tail to curl naturally, use a length of wire inside the tube.

Part Six: The Nose and Face

Using pink embroidery thread or a length of pink yarn, embroider a small oval or triangular nose just above the center of the face between rounds 15 and 16. A few straight stitches layered on top of each other create a nice solid nose.

For whiskers, you can thread a length of stiff thread or thin wire through the nose area, leaving equal lengths on either side. Knot them in place and trim to about 1.5 inches on each side. Nylon monofilament (thin fishing line) also works wonderfully for realistic whiskers.

If you’d like to add a little smile, use the same embroidery thread to stitch a subtle curved line below the nose.

Assembly Tips

When putting your rat together, laying all the pieces out first helps you plan the pose. Rats look charming in a sitting position, which you can achieve by angling the back legs slightly forward and the front legs out to the sides. If you want a rat that looks like it’s mid-scurry, angle the legs more dramatically.

Pinning everything in place before sewing is always worth the extra few minutes. A misplaced ear or lopsided leg is much easier to fix before the thread goes in than after.

Use your yarn needle and matching yarn to sew each piece on in a circular motion, going through both the body and the limb repeatedly until it feels firmly attached. Give each joint a gentle tug — if anything feels loose, reinforce it before moving on.

Yarn Color Ideas

One of the best things about making a rat amigurumi is how much personality you can give it through color. Here are some fun combinations to consider:

A classic grey rat with pink accents is timeless. Try a medium heather grey for the body with soft blush pink for the ears, nose, paws, and tail.

A white rat with red safety eyes makes an absolutely gorgeous albino rat — very dramatic and striking on a shelf.

A black rat with deep burgundy ears is elegant and a little gothic, perfect for Halloween-themed makes or fans of dramatic aesthetics.

A brown rat in warm chocolate tones with a cream belly looks wonderfully realistic. To add a belly, work the first several rounds of the body in cream before switching to your main color.

A fancy rat with a hooded pattern — mostly white with a colored cap on the head — mimics the real-life “hooded” rat variety and is a beautiful challenge if you enjoy colorwork.

Finishing Touches and Customization

The base pattern gives you a sweet, simple rat, but there’s so much room to personalize. You can dress your rat in a tiny crocheted sweater using leftover yarn scraps. A miniature scarf looped around the neck adds instant coziness. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even add a tiny crocheted wheel of cheese to place in your rat’s paws — it’s outrageously cute and very popular for photos.

Adding eyelids with a small crocheted semicircle above each safety eye gives the face more expression. Embroidered eyebrows are another simple touch that transforms the character completely — arch them for a worried rat, angle them inward for a determined-looking one, or keep them flat and straight for a distinguished, scholarly rat.

Some makers add inner ear detailing with more elaborate embroidery, stitching the curves of the ear canal with a darker pink thread. It’s a small detail but adds a wonderful level of realism.

Caring for Your Amigurumi Rat

If your rat is for display, you mostly just need to keep it dust-free with the occasional gentle shake or soft brush. If it’s a gift for a child or someone who will handle it often, you’ll want to make sure it’s made with washable yarn. Most acrylic worsted weight yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle inside a mesh laundry bag. Air drying is always preferable to protect the stuffing and shape.

If your rat gets a little flat in spots from handling, a gentle re-stuffing through the seam is possible, or you can use a thick needle to loft the fiberfill back up without opening the seam.

A Note on Safety Eyes and Young Children

Safety eyes are called “safety eyes” because they have a locking washer on the back, but they are still a small part that could be a choking hazard for very young children. If you’re making this rat for a baby or toddler under three years old, embroider the eyes instead using black yarn or embroidery thread. French knots make wonderful embroidered eyes — they’re round, dimensional, and just as expressive.

Why Rats Make the Best Amigurumi

Rats often get an unfair reputation, but anyone who has kept a pet rat knows just how affectionate, intelligent, and playful they are. Amigurumi rats are a lovely way to celebrate these wonderful animals. They’ve become increasingly popular in the crafting community, especially among pet rat owners who want a little yarn version of their beloved companions.

If you’re making this as a memorial piece for a rat who has passed, you can personalize the colors and markings to match your specific pet. Many makers have found this to be a meaningful and comforting project, and creating something with your hands in memory of a pet you loved is a beautiful way to honor them.

Share Your Makes

If you make this rat amigurumi, StringyDingDing would love to see it. Share your finished rat on Instagram or Pinterest and tag us — seeing how makers around the world bring these patterns to life is one of the most joyful parts of sharing free crochet patterns. Every rat is unique depending on the yarn colors chosen, the size adjustments made, and the little personal touches each crafter adds. Your rat will be one of a kind, and that’s the whole point.

Whether this is your first amigurumi or your fiftieth, rats are a wonderful