The axolotl went from niche to everywhere, helped along by games and its genuinely cute real-life face. The amigurumi is a flat-lying creature with a wide head, a long tapering tail, four small legs, a smiley face, and its signature feature: three frilly external gills sticking out from each side of the head.
The gills are what make it an axolotl rather than a generic critter. They are small frilled or branched pieces sewn to the sides of the head, usually in a brighter pink than the body. The body itself is a straightforward tube-and-head worked flat, so once the gills are done the rest is beginner territory. Pink, white, blue, and a wild brown are the common colorways.
What you need
- Yarn
- Amigurumi cotton or worsted (CYC 4) in pink with a brighter pink for the gills, 3.0 mm hook. About 100 yards.
- Skill
- Beginner to intermediate. The body is simple; the frilly gills are the one new technique.
Axolotl projects to make
- 1Lying axolotl. A flat body and tail with a smiley face and frilly gills. The classic make.
- 2Mini axolotl. A keychain-sized version in fine yarn. Fast and giftable.
- 3Color-pop axolotl. A white body with bright pink gills, or a blue variant. Teaches color choices and gill contrast.
- 4Chunky axolotl. A larger, squishier version in worsted on a 3.5 mm hook. A fast, huggable make.
Where to find free axolotl patterns
Axolotl patterns are newer but spreading fast. Ravelry filters them by free, and amigurumi blogs publish photo tutorials. Look for a pattern with a clear diagram of how the gills attach, since that is the trickiest part.
Stitches you will use
- Single CrochetUS: sc / UK: dc
- Chain StitchUS: ch / UK: ch
- Slip StitchUS: sl st / UK: ss
Looking for more? See all crochet amigurumi patterns.