ITTY BITTY ALLIGATOR CROCHET PATTERN
Crocheting a zoo? (With all these adorable amigurumi patterns, who can resist?) You can start with this adorable alligator. If you need some guidance, check out our post with Rita Taylor, who gives us advice on reading crochet patterns.
Materials: Skeins of DMC #700 for of body Less than 1 skein of DMC #3328 for Jaw insert Less than 1 skein of DMC White for teeth Size 10 crochet hook for double stand Size 12 crochet hook for single strand Small to medium black beads for eyes** Sewing needle
Abbreviations: SC: Single Crochet 2SC: Single Crochet twice in same stitch 2SCtog: Single Crochet two stitches together, or decrease SS: Slip Stitch JWSC: Join with Single Crochet **: Repeat indicated directions across row {}: Directions in brackets will be repeated a specified number of times
Also See:
Free Beginners How-to Crochet Videos
The Best Videos to Learn How to Make a Granny Square
Best Videos to Learn Amigurumi Crochet
Step 1
Let's start with the tail and body.
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second hook from Ch. 6 Round 1. 2SC, SC 5. 7 Round 2. SC around. 7 Round 3. 2SC, SC 6. 8 Round 4. SC around. 8 Round 5. 2SC, SC 7. 9 Round 6. SC around. 9 Round 7. 2SC, SC 8. 10 Round 8. SC around. 10 Round 9. 2SC, SC 4, 2SC, SC 4. 12 Round 10. 2SC, SC 5, 2SC, SC 5. 14 Rounds 11-13. SC around. 14 Round 14. 2SC, SC 6, 2SC, SC 6. 16 Rounds 15-16. SC around. 16 Round 17. 2SC, SC 7, 2SC, SC 7. 18 Rounds 18-19. SC around. 18 Round 20. 2SC, SC 8, 2SC, SC 8. 20 Round 21. 2SC, SC 9, 2SC, SC 9. 22. Rounds 22-23. SC around. 22 Round 24. SC 5, 2SC in next around. 26 Round 25. SC 6, 2SC in next around. 30 Round 26. SC 7, 2SC in next around. 34 Round 27. SC around. 34 Round 28. SC 8, 2SC in next around. 38 Rounds 29-30. SC around. 38 Round 31. SC 9, 2SC in next around. 42 Rounds 32-40. SC around. 42 Round 41. SC 9, 2SCtog around. 38 Rounds 42-45. SC around. 38 Round 46. SC 19, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 8. 42 Round 47. SC 21, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 46 Round 48. SC 21, {2SC} twice, 2SCtog, SC 8, 2SCtog, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 48
Step 2
Upper Jaw To create the jaw you’ll switch from working in rounds to working in rows, turning the piece after each row. Row 1. Begin by Chaining 1 and turning piece, continuing from where you left off on Row; SC 37, Ch 1, turn. 37 Row 2. {2SCtog} twice, SC 29, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 33 Row 3. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 17, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 31 Row 4. 3DC, SC 29, 3DC, Ch 1, turn. 35 Row 5. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 33 Row 6. 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 31 Row 7. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 29 Row 8. SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 25 Row 9. SC 3, {2SCtog, twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 21 Row 10. SC 3, 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, SC 3, Ch 1, turn. 19 Rows 11-21. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 19 Row 22. 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 17 Row 23. 2SCtog, SC 13, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 15 Row 24. {2SCtog} twice, SC 9, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 13 Row 25. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9 Row 26. {2SCtog} twice, SC 1, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 5 Finish off.
Step 3
Edging JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 54 stitches.
Step 4
Bottom Jaw Foundation: With alligator upside down, JWSC to same stitch that you started the edging for Upper jaw. Row 1. SC across, ending where the last stitch of edging does, Ch 1, turn. 13 Rows 2-9. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 13 Row 10. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 11 Rows 11-20. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11 Row 21. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 11 Finish off.
Step 5
Edging Foundation: JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 48 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 48
Edging Row 1. 2SCtog, SC 42, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 46 Row 2. SS 3, SC 40, SS 3. Finish off.
Step 6
Lower insert Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12 Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12 Rows 2–9. SC across Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11 Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11 Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9 Lower insert Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12 Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12 Rows 2–9. SC across Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11 Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11 Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9 Row 19. 2SCtog, SC 5, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 7 Finish off.
Edging Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 39
Step 7
Teeth Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 5th and 6th stitch from corner, for 28 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 28 Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 14 teeth, 42 stitches
Step 8
Upper insert
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 15, turn. 15 Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook, SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15 Rows 2–19. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15 Row 20. 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 13 Row 21. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9 Finish off.
Edging Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 51
Step 9
Teeth Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 6th and 7th stitch from corner, for 40 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 40 Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 20 teeth, 60 stitches
Step 10
Legs {Make 4}
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second Ch from hook. 6 Round 1. 2SC in each around. 12 Round 2. SC 1, 2SC in next around. 18 Round 3. SC 2, 2SC in next around. 24 Round 4. SC 10, {2SCtog} five times in back loop only , SC 4. 19 Round 5. SC 8, {2SCtog} four times, SC 3. 15 Round 6. SC 8, {2SCtog} twice, SC 3. 13 Rounds 7–12. SC around. 13 Finish off.
Working the toes JWSC to third stitch for Row 4, working in the front loop only; SC 1, Ch 1, DC 1, Ch 1, SC 1 repeat four times and finish off.
Step 11
Nostrils {Make 2}
Foundation: Ch 2, 5DC in second Ch from hook. 5 Finish off.
Step 12
Assembly Step 1: Stuff body fully and let stuff extend into upper jaw.
Step 13
Step 2: Sew upper jaw insert into upper jaw, going through only the top loops of the stitches so your thread won’t show through either side.
Step 14
Step 3: Sew lower jaw and upper jaw together at ends.
Step 15
Step 4: Sew lower jaw insert into lower jaw using the same method as for upper jaw.
Step 16
Step 5: Using a long thread, loop through the head where you made the extra stitches. This will give a recessed area to sew on your eyes.
Step 17
Step 6: Sew eyes into recesses you just made. For this project I recommend going with beads or small buttons, something a little larger and shinier than a French knot looks best.
Step 18
Step 7: Sew nostrils to front of upper jaw.
Step 19
Step 8: Take legs and pinch them sideways, then sew to body at evenly spaced intervals.
You're done!
Step 20
This pattern is excerpted with permission from Itty Bitty Crocheted Critters: Amigurumi with Attitude!
by Erin Clark and published by Tuttle Publishing.
