If you love giant, huggable plushies as much as I do, you are going to adore today’s new project. Today, I am so excited to share the step-by-step free crochet pattern for this Jumbo Sea Turtle Amigurumi!
Using super chunky chenille yarn, this oversized sea turtle works up surprisingly fast and makes the ultimate cuddly companion or decorative plush. Let’s dive right in and go over everything you need to get started!
Materials Needed
- Jumbo Chenille Yarn (e.g., Honey Bunny Big):
- Approx. 2 skeins in your main body color (e.g., Light Blue)
- Approx. 1 skein for the shell (e.g., Purple)
- Crochet Hook: 8 mm hook (or size matching your yarn tension)
- Safety Eyes: 20 mm size
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR: magic ring.
- Ch: chain.
- St: stitch.
- Sl st: slip stitch.
- Sc: single crochet.
- Sk: skip.
- Inc: increase.
- Dec: decrease.
- CC: change colour.
- FO: fasten off.
- FLO: front loops only.
Not ready to start right now?
Free Jumbo Sea Turtle Crochet Pattern
Crocheting the Head
Start with main color (light blue)
Round 1: MR of 6 st (6)
Round 2: x6 inc (12) (work one increase in each stitch).
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18) (work one single crochet in the first stitch, then one increase in the following stitch; repeat this 6 times until the end of the round).
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 7-10 (4 rounds): 36 sc (36)
Place safety eyes between R6 & R7. Align the eyes horizontally.
Round 11: (4 sc, 1 dec) x6 (30)
Round 12: (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24)
Round 13: (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18)
Stuff the head.
Sl st in the next st, FO, and leave a very long tail for sewing later.
Crocheting the Fins
Make two larger front fins and two smaller back fins.
Front fins (Make 2)
Start with main color (light blue)
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)
Fold in half and crochet single crochets across the border to join both sides.
Back fins (Make 2)
Start with main color (light blue)
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)
Fold in half and crochet single crochets across the border to join both sides.
Once you have made all four fins, use a needle to weave the remaining yarn tail from one end to the opposite end through two of the fins (one front fin and one back fin). Refer to the guide photos for help. This ensures you have two pairs of symmetrical fins.
Crocheting the Tail
Start with main color (light blue)
Round 1: MR of 5 st (5)
Round 2: x5 inc (10)
Rounds 3-6 (4 rounds): 10 sc (10)
Slip stitch in the next stitch, pull the yarn through, and leave a tail for sewing.
Crocheting the Shell
Start with shell color yarn (purple)
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)
Round 7: (5 sc, 1 inc) x6 (42)
Round 8: (6 sc, 1 inc) x6 (48)
Round 9: (7 sc, 1 inc) x6 (54)
Round 10: (8 sc, 1 inc) x6 (60)
Round 11: 60 sc (60)
Round 12: 60 sc in front loops only (FLO). Place a stitch marker in the back loop of the very first single crochet of this round so you can find it later; do not skip this step! (60)
Round 13: Change color to light blue in the previous stitch, then work 60 sc into the 60 back loops you left unworked in Round 12 (this is why you marked that first back loop) (60)
Round 14: 6 sc, ch5, skip 5, 9 sc, ch4, skip 4, 4 sc, ch3, skip 3, 4 sc, ch4, skip 4, 9 sc, ch5, skip 5, 7 sc (60)
Round 15: (8 sc, 1 dec) x6 (54)
Note: Over the chain spaces, crochet in the front loops only (FLO) since you cannot insert your hook through the holes.
Round 16: (7 sc, 1 dec) x6 (48)
Round 17: (6 sc, 1 dec) x6 (42)
After R17, sew the fins and tail onto the shell, making sure to check their correct orientation. Place them into their respective slots: place the tail into the 3-stitch hole (the smallest one), and place the two smaller back fins into the left and right holes right next to it. The two holes at the front of the shell are for the two larger front fins.
Note: I prefer attaching the fins with the border stitches facing upwards, as it looks much neater on the finished plushie.
Round 18: (5 sc, 1 dec) x6 (36)
Round 19: (4 sc, 1 dec) x6 (30)
Round 20: (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24)
Round 21: (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18)
Stuff the shell firmly.
Round 22: (1 sc, 1 dec) x6 (12)
Round 23: x6 dec (6)
Sew the remaining six stitches through the front loops only (FLO), pull tight to close, weave the yarn tail securely inside the shell, and trim.
Finally, sew the head to the body between the two front fins using the invisible sewing method. Sew downwards into the body, then bring the needle upwards through the edge of the head, repeating all the way around. Because jumbo chenille yarn can snap if you pull too hard with the needle, I recommend gently pulling the yarn taut with your hand right after passing the needle through the stitches.
And that’s it!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting this free jumbo 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!
