If you are looking for your next quick, satisfying, and utterly charming amigurumi project, you are in the right place. Today, I am sharing the complete, step-by-step free crochet pattern for this Mini Turtle Amigurumi!
Featuring a cozy, textured shell and soft velvet yarn, this little cutie works up fast and makes a wonderful handmade gift, market prep item, or cute desk companion. Let’s grab our hooks and dive right in!
Materials Needed
- Super bulky plush velvet yarn (e.g., Himalaya Dolphin Baby or Bernat Blanket) in main color and shell color.
- Crochet Hook Size: 4.5 mm.
- Safety eyes: 4 mm.
- Polyfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
Abbreviations (US Terminology)
- MR: magic ring
- Ch: chain
- St(s): stitch(es)
- Sc: single crochet
- Sk: skip (skip stitch)
- Sl st: slip stitch
- Inc: increase
- Dec: decrease
- CC: change colour
- FO: fasten off
- FLO: front loops only
- BLO: back loops only
Free Mini Turtle Crochet Pattern
Crocheting the Head
Start with white yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in a MR (6)
Round 2: 6x inc (12) (do one increase per each stitch)
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, 1 inc) x6 (30)
Rounds 6–9 (4 rounds): 30 sc (30)
Round 10: (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24)
Insert safety eyes between R5 and R6, approximately 10 stitches apart.
Round 11: (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18)
Stuff the head firmly.
Round 12: (1 sc, 1 dec) x6 (12)
Sl st in the next st, FO, and leave a very long tail for sewing later.
Crocheting the Fins
Front Fins (Make 2)
Start in white yarn.
Round 1: MR 8 st (8)
Round 2: x8 inc (16)
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x8 (24)
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x8 (32)
Fold the circle in half and work single crochets across the edge to close it. Leave a long tail for sewing.
Back Fins (Make 2)
Start in white yarn.
Round 1: 8 sc in a MR (8)
Round 2: x8 inc (16)
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x8 (24)
Fold the circle in half and work single crochets across the edge to close it. Leave a long tail for sewing.
Once you have made all four fins, use a tapestry needle to flip/reorient the yarn tail direction on 1 front fin and 1 back fin. This ensures you have two proper symmetrical pairs for the right and left sides of your turtle!
Crocheting the Tail
Round 1: 6 sc in a MR (6)
Rounds 2-4 (3 rows): 6 sc (6)
Sl st in the next st, pull through, and leave a tail for sewing.
Crocheting the Shell
Start in purple yarn.
Round 1: MR of 6 st (6).
Round 2: x6 inc (12).
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18).
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24).
Round 5: (3 sc, 1 inc) x6 (30).
Round 6: (4 sc, 1 inc) x6 (36).
Rounds 7-8 (2 rounds): 36 sc (36).
Round 9: 36 sc FLO (36). Place a stitch marker in the back loop of the very first stitch of this round, as you will need to come back to these unworked loops shortly!
Round 10: CC in previous st to white yarn. Then make 36 sc in the unworked BLO left behind from Round 9 (36)
Round 11: 4 sc, ch3, sk 3, 4 sc, ch2, sk 2, 3 sc, ch3, sk 3, 3 sc, ch2, sk 2, 4 sc, ch3, sk 3, 5 sc [36]
Round 12: (4 sc, 1 dec) x6 (30) (When working over the chain spaces, simply work your single crochets into a single loop of the chain).
Round 13: (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24)
Attaching Fins and Tail to the Shell
Before closing the body further, sew your fins and tail into the designated chain holes around the shell base. Place the tail in the center 3-stitch gap, flanked by the two small back fins in the adjacent holes. Place the two large front fins in the front holes.
(Note: Positioning the fins with the neat border stitches facing upwards gives the plushie a cleaner, more professional finish!)
Continue decreasing to close the body:
Round 14: (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18) (Stuff the body firmly here).
Round 15: (1 sc, 1 dec) x6 (12)
Round 16: 6x dec (6)
Thread your tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight to close the gap completely, and weave the yarn tail securely inside the shell.
Final Assembly and Details
Attach the Head
Sew the head securely to the front of the shell using an invisible stitch technique (alternating going upwards into the head stitches and downwards into the shell stitches). Knot and hide all ends inside.
Blush Details
Using a strand of pink yarn, add cute little rosy cheeks just under the safety eyes using a simple surface embroidery stitch, tie a secure knot inside, and snip the excess.
And that’s it!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting this free turtle crochet pattern just as much as I loved designing it. If you decide to make one, I would love to see how it turns out—don’t forget to tag me on Instagram (@crochetbysilvia) so I can admire your cute amigurumi!
Your support means the world and helps me keep creating and sharing more free patterns with you!
Don’t doubt to check our other free crochet patterns.
—Happy crocheting
This pattern is for personal use only. You may not copy, reproduce, alter, publish, or distribute this pattern in any format (including video tutorials). If you wish to share this pattern, please share a link to it rather than reprinting it on your site or blog.
You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern in small quantities, but do NOT use my photos as your listing or promotional photos. Please credit Crochet by Silvia as the designer.
Want to make more cute ocean friends? Check out my free medium turtle crochet pattern or my free squid crochet pattern!
