Easy Crochet Swing Snoopy Car Charm | Free Dog Amigurumi Pattern

If you’ve been looking for a charming little project to brighten up your keychain, rearview mirror, or bag, this easy crochet swing Snoopy car charm pattern is exactly what you need. This free dog amigurumi pattern walks you through every step of creating an adorable hanging Snoopy-inspired pup that swings playfully wherever you attach it. Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into amigurumi or an experienced crocheter wanting a quick and satisfying make, this pattern is designed to be approachable, fun, and endlessly cute.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know — from materials and stitches to detailed step-by-step instructions for each part of this little charmer.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

Amigurumi car charms have become one of the most popular crochet trends in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. They’re small enough to finish in a single afternoon, they use minimal yarn, and the result is something you’ll genuinely want to show off. Snoopy, with his iconic black and white coloring and floppy ears, is one of the most beloved cartoon dogs in the world — and he translates beautifully into the soft, rounded shapes that define amigurumi style.

This swing charm version is designed so that Snoopy hangs from a small loop, arms slightly outstretched, giving the impression that he’s swinging through the air. Attach him to your car’s rearview mirror and he’ll sway gently as you drive, which adds an extra layer of personality to the whole piece. He also looks wonderful hanging from a zipper pull, a tote bag handle, or even a Christmas tree branch.

The pattern uses basic amigurumi techniques — magic rings, single crochets, increases, decreases, and simple shaping. If you’ve made any small stuffed animal before, you’ll feel right at home. And if this is your very first amigurumi, don’t worry — each step is written out clearly with stitch counts so you can follow along with confidence.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you begin, gather everything together so your project flows smoothly from start to finish.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in white and black are your primary colors. You’ll also want a small amount of tan or light peach for the ears (some versions keep the ears fully black, which is equally adorable and more traditionally accurate to the cartoon). A tiny bit of red yarn is optional for a collar detail.

Hook: A 2.5mm or 3.0mm crochet hook works well for worsted weight at this small scale and gives you a tight enough fabric to prevent stuffing from showing through. Adjust based on your personal tension.

Stuffing: Polyfill stuffing, just a small amount for the head and body.

Safety eyes: 6mm black safety eyes. If you’re making this charm for a young child, embroider the eyes instead for safety.

Other tools: Yarn needle for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends, stitch markers to keep track of rounds, scissors, and a small swivel clip or jump ring to attach the finished charm to whatever you like.

Optional: A small piece of black felt for the ear patches if you prefer not to crochet them separately.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Throughout the instructions, the following abbreviations are used. All stitches are worked in US crochet terms.

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 two stitches, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
st = stitch
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
( ) = repeat the instructions inside the parentheses the number of times indicated

Understanding the Amigurumi Basics

If you’re new to amigurumi, here are a few things worth knowing before you start. Amigurumi is typically worked in continuous rounds rather than joined rounds, which means you don’t slip stitch at the end of each round. Instead, you use a stitch marker to track where each new round begins. This creates a seamless spiral that gives amigurumi figures their smooth, rounded appearance.

Tension matters more in amigurumi than in many other crochet projects. Work your stitches snugly so the stuffing doesn’t peek through the gaps between stitches. If you find your work is too loose, try going down half a hook size.

When you’re ready to stuff a piece, fill it firmly but not so tightly that it distorts the shape. The head in particular should feel round and full, not lumpy or misshapen.

Pattern Instructions

The Head

The head is the most important piece of this charm since it’s the focal point of the whole design. Work it in white yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 1, inc) repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc) repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc) repeat around. (30 sts)
Round 6–10: Sc in each st around. (30 sts) — 5 rounds even
Round 11: (Sc 3, dec) repeat around. (24 sts)

At this point, insert your safety eyes between rounds 7 and 8, approximately 6 stitches apart. This placement gives the face that characteristic wide-eyed Snoopy look. If you’re embroidering the eyes instead, you can do this later once the head is fully closed.

Round 12: (Sc 2, dec) repeat around. (18 sts)

Begin stuffing the head firmly now. Continue adding a little more stuffing as you close up the remaining rounds.

Round 13: (Sc 1, dec) repeat around. (12 sts)
Round 14: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use your yarn needle to close the remaining hole by running the tail through the front loops of the 6 remaining stitches and pulling tight. Weave in the end on the inside.

The Snout

The snout gives Snoopy his recognizable nose shape. Work this in white yarn.

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

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the snout. Using black yarn, embroider a small oval nose at the center top of the snout piece. Then embroider a simple curved smile — just a few stitches in a gentle arc — below the nose. Sew the snout onto the lower center of the face, positioning it just below and between the eyes.

The Ears

Snoopy’s ears are one of his most distinctive features — long, floppy, and black. Work both ears in black yarn.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 4: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 2, dec) repeat around. (9 sts)
Round 6: Sc in each st around. (9 sts)
Round 7: Sc in each st around. (9 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Flatten the ear slightly so it has that characteristic floppy shape rather than a tube. Sew each ear to the sides of the head, positioning them slightly toward the back so they hang naturally downward. The ears should frame the face rather than sitting on top of it.

Make two ears.

The Body

The body is worked in white yarn with a black section to mimic Snoopy’s classic look. In the original design, Snoopy is mostly white with a black back.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 1, inc) repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc) repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5–10: Sc in each st around. (24 sts) — 6 rounds even
Round 11: (Sc 2, dec) repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 12: (Sc 1, dec) repeat around. (12 sts)

Begin stuffing the body before the opening becomes too small. Stuff it firmly but not to the point of stretching the stitches.

Round 13: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close the hole the same way you closed the head. Leave a long tail before closing for sewing the head to the body.

To add Snoopy’s black markings, you have two options. You can either work the top rounds of the body in black yarn (switching colors after round 6 or 7), or you can embroider a black patch across the back of the body after the piece is complete. The embroidery method is easier for beginners and still gives a very clean result. Use a flat running stitch or a simple satin stitch to fill in the back section.

The Arms

The arms are small and worked entirely in white yarn. They’re designed to be slightly outstretched, which is what gives the charm that adorable swinging appearance.

Round 1: MR, 5 sc. (5 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (10 sts)
Round 3–6: Sc in each st around. (10 sts) — 4 rounds even
Round 7: Dec around, ending with 5 sts if possible or leaving as close as you can. (5 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the arms — they should be flat or only lightly filled so they hang naturally. Sew one arm to each side of the body, positioning them at about round 4 from the top of the body. Angle each arm very slightly downward and outward so they look relaxed and open rather than rigid.

Make two arms.

The Legs

The legs give Snoopy his standing — or in this case, swinging — silhouette. Work in white yarn with black feet.

Round 1: In black yarn, MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 4: Switch to white yarn. Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 2, dec) repeat around. (9 sts)
Round 6–8: Sc in each st around. (9 sts) — 3 rounds even

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, side by side, angled slightly outward. Make two legs.

The Tail

Snoopy has a small, slightly curved white tail. Work a simple chain of 8 to 10 stitches, then sl st back down the chain to create a slightly thickened cord. Attach this to the back of the body just above where the black markings end.

The Hanging Loop

To make the charm functional, you need a loop at the top of the head. You can either crochet a simple chain loop (chain 12, join with a sl st to form a ring, and then sl st around the ring to reinforce it) or use a purchased metal swivel clip that you attach with a jump ring. The swivel clip option is more durable and allows the charm to spin freely, which enhances the swinging effect.

Before closing the top of the head completely, thread your loop through the last few stitches and close around it so it’s securely anchored. If you’re using a metal hardware option, you can sew the loop attachment point to the top of the finished head using a strong whip stitch.

Assembling Your Charm

Once all pieces are made, lay them out and take a moment to plan the assembly. Having a clear idea of placement before you start sewing makes the whole process much faster and more accurate.

Sew the head to the body first, making sure the faces are aligned. Then attach the arms, legs, and tail. Finally, position the ears and sew them down firmly — since this is a charm that will move around, you want every attachment point to be secure. Double-stitch everything and weave your yarn ends in deeply so they don’t loosen over time.

Once assembled, give the whole charm a gentle squeeze and reshape any pieces that need it. If the snout looks uneven or the ears are sitting at a funny angle, a quick adjustment before the yarn fully sets will save you from having to unpick anything later.

Tips for a Better Finished Charm

Work your magic rings tightly and pull the center closed completely before continuing to the next round. A loose magic ring is one of the most common beginner mistakes in amigurumi and it leaves an unsightly gap at the top of rounded pieces.

When switching colors for the black sections, catch the yarn tails inside your work as you crochet the next few stitches to eliminate the need to weave them in separately. This keeps the inside of your charm neat and prevents ends from working loose.

If you want to add extra character, a tiny red handkerchief embroidered or glued around Snoopy’s neck adds a lovely pop of color and makes the charm look even more finished. A small crocheted collar in red is another option — simply chain enough stitches to wrap around the neck, join with a sl st, and sew in place.

Caring for Your Finished Charm

Since this charm will likely be handled frequently and exposed to movement, it’s worth knowing how to keep it looking its best. Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap if it picks up dirt. Avoid soaking the charm as this can cause the stuffing to clump or the safety eyes to loosen over time. If you used only crocheted eyes, the charm is more washable, but air drying is always the gentler choice.

Store any extra yarn from this project with the charm itself in a small bag so you can make quick repairs if a seam works loose down the road.

Make It Your Own

One of the joys of free amigurumi patterns is how easy it is to personalize them. Once you’ve mastered this basic Snoopy swing charm, there are so many directions you can take it. Try making a Woodstock companion — a tiny yellow bird is just a few rounds of yellow yarn with small orange felt wings. You could also make a miniature red dog bowl or a tiny typewriter to accessorize your charm set.

Color variations are another fun avenue. While classic Snoopy is black and white, a pastel or rainbow version made in colors that match your car’s interior would be equally sweet. Some crafters also scale the pattern up slightly to make a full-size hanging plush or scale it down even further for a truly tiny keychain accessory.

Sharing Your Work

Once your Snoopy car charm is finished, share it with the crochet community. Posting your finished makes to social media with tags like #amigurumi, #crochetCharm, and #freecrochetpattern helps other crafters discover the pattern and gives you a chance to connect with makers who share your love of all things yarn-based. It’s always wonderful to see how different yarn colors, hook sizes, and finishing choices can completely change the personality of the same design.

If you have questions as you work through the pattern, leave a comment — helping other crafters is what this community is all about. Happy hooking, and enjoy every single stitch of your adorable little Snoopy swing charm.