Free Crochet Tutorial: Plush Zebra by Natalia (@natalัya_plฯ shki_tะพys)
Follow this step-by-step guide to crochet a plush zebra using amigurumi techniques. The finished toy will be about 35-38 cm tall (including the ears).
Materials Needed:
- Yarn: YarnArt Dolce in white and black (1 skein each)
- Yarn for mane and tail (black and white yarn of your choice)
- Crochet hook: 4-5 mm
- 16 mm safety eyes
- Doll nose (optional)
- Toy stuffing
- Thin plastic or cardboard for the hooves reinforcement
- Ribbon (for decoration)
- Needle and thread for embroidery and sewing
- Scissors
You can purchase all the necessary materials here.
Crochet Abbreviations:
- KA โ Magic ring
- sc โ Single crochet
- inc โ Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
- dec โ Decrease (sc 2 together)
- (โฆ) x n โ Repeat the instructions in parentheses n times
Back Legs (Make 2)
Start crocheting with black yarn.
- 6 sc in KA
- 6 inc (12)
- (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
- 30 sc (work in the back loop only)
7-8. 30 sc - (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Switch to white yarn and continue alternating black and white every two rows.
- (White): 24 sc (in the back loop only)
- (White): (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- (Black): 18 sc
- (4 sc, dec) x 3 (15)
At this point, insert a firm material (such as cardboard or plastic) to form the hooves, and stuff the leg lightly. Donโt forget to alternate colors every two rows!
14-21. 15 sc (8 rows)
Add more stuffing, filling about 1/3 of the length of the leg.
- (3 sc, dec) x 3 (12)
- 12 sc
Fold the leg in half and crochet both sides together. Repeat for the second leg.
Front Legs (Make 2)
Start crocheting with black yarn.
- 6 sc in KA (6)
- 6 inc (12)
- (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- 24 sc (in the back loop only)
6-7. 24 sc - (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Switch to white yarn and continue alternating black and white every two rows.
- 18 sc (in the back loop only)
- (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- 12 sc
12-21. 12 sc - (4 sc, dec) x 2 (10)
- 10 sc
Fold the piece in half and crochet both sides together.
Ears (Make 2)
- 6 sc in KA (6)
- (2 sc, inc) x 2 (8)
- (3 sc, inc) x 2 (10)
- (4 sc, inc) x 2 (12)
- (5 sc, inc) x 2 (14)
- (6 sc, inc) x 2 (16)
- 16 sc
- 8 sc
Fold the ear in half and crochet both sides together.
Head
Start crocheting with black yarn.
- 6 sc in KA (6)
- 6 inc (12)
- (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
- (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
7-10. 36 sc - 15 sc, 6 inc, 15 sc (42)
Between rows 11-12, insert the safety eyes, before and after the increases. Switch to white yarn.
12-14. 42 sc (3 rows)
- (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)
- 48 sc
Switch to black yarn and alternate between black and white every two rows. - (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)
- 42 sc
- (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
- 36 sc
- (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
- 30 sc
Attach the safety eyes. Stuff the head. - (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
- (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Dec (6 stitches left)
Stuff the head. Tighten the remaining stitches and hide the yarn. Attach the ears, embroider the eyebrows and nostrils, and create the mane.
Body
Start crocheting with black yarn.
- 6 sc in KA (6)
- 6 inc (12)
- 12 inc (24)
Switch to white yarn. Alternate black and white yarn every two rows.
- (1 sc, inc) x 12 (36)
- (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
- (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)
7-8. 48 sc - 48 sc (insert the front legs into the body)
10-12. 48 sc - (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)
- 42 sc
- (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
16-17. 36 sc (start stuffing)
Stuff the body. - (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
19-20. 30 sc - (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
22-23. 24 sc - 24 sc (insert the front legs)
- (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- 16 sc
Stuff the body.
Assembling the Toy
- Stuff the body fully.
- Attach the head securely.
- Make the zebra’s tail: Use the same yarn as the mane, cut strips about 30 cm long (the more strips, the thicker the tail). Thread the strips between the stitches where the tail will be, and braid them.
Your zebra is ready to be loved!
