If you’ve been searching for an amigurumi project that will stop everyone in their tracks, you just found it. This little tiger is about to become your new favorite crochet project — and yes, the pattern is completely free. Inspired by the gorgeous layout in image_22c6c5.jpg, Toby the Tiger is the ultimate celebration of spring, craft, and detailed stitch work.
With his beautifully detailed forest green overalls, tiny embroidered pocket mushrooms, a gorgeous flower crown, and a complete set of garden props, Toby stands out as a true boutique-quality piece. He makes the perfect whimsical centerpiece for a nursery, a standout gift for a nature-loving friend, or a magnificent star for your social media feed.
This pattern is perfectly tailored for intermediate crocheters or ambitious beginners looking to level up their skills. Throughout this tutorial, you’ll learn how to manage clean color changes, work intricate surface details, shape a expressive muzzle, and tackle delicate embroidery accents. Grab your favorite yarn, pull up a chair, and let’s bring Toby to life!
🧶 What You’ll Need — Materials & Tools
Yarn:
- Main body color: Bright Orange worsted weight yarn (approx 80g)
- Muzzle & Paws: Cream/Off-White worsted weight yarn (approx 30g)
- Shirt color: Pale Yellow worsted weight yarn (approx 20g)
- Overalls Main color: Forest Green worsted weight yarn (approx 40g)
- Overalls Secondary color: Medium Brown worsted weight yarn (approx 20g)
- Accents & Props: Small amounts of Light Green, Pink, Baby Blue, Terracotta, Tan, Purple, and Bright Yellow worsted weight yarn
- Small amounts of black and white embroidery thread for stripes and facial features
Tools & Supplies:
- Crochet hook: 3mm (or size to achieve gauge)
- Safety eyes: 18mm round white eyes with small black pupils, x2
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle + scissors
- Stitch markers
- 2 small wooden buttons (approx 10mm) for the overall straps
- White craft wire or stiff nylon bristles for whiskers
📏 Gauge & Measurements
- Gauge: 5 sc x 5 rows = 1 inch using 3mm hook and worsted weight yarn
- Finished doll height: approximately 32cm from toes to the top of the ears when fully extended (sits beautifully at around 25cm)
- Note: Gauge is important in amigurumi to ensure tight, hole-free fabric. Adjust hook size down if you notice stuffing peeking through your stitches.
📖 Abbreviations Used (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| MR | Magic Ring |
| sc | Single crochet |
| inc | Increase (2 sc in same stitch) |
| dec | Invisible decrease |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| ch | Chain |
| BLO | Back loop only |
| FLO | Front loop only |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
| rnd | Round |
| rep | Repeat |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet |
This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
🪡 Free Crochet Pattern — Toby the Tiger
Head
Using Orange yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
- Rnd 3: [sc, inc] rep 6 times (18)
- Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] rep 6 times (24)
- Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] rep 6 times (30)
- Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] rep 6 times (36)
- Rnd 7-15: sc in each st around (36)
- Rnd 16: [4 sc, dec] rep 6 times (30)
- Rnd 17: [3 sc, dec] rep 6 times (24)(Note: Place safety eyes between Rnds 9 & 10, positioned perfectly side-by-side near the center front, resting right above where the muzzle will sit. Stuff the head firmly.)
- Rnd 18: [2 sc, dec] rep 6 times (18)
- Rnd 19: [sc, dec] rep 6 times (12)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Body
Start with Forest Green yarn (bottom of overalls).
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
- Rnd 3: [sc, inc] rep 6 times (18)
- Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] rep 6 times (24)
- Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] rep 6 times (30)
- Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] rep 6 times (36)
- Rnd 7-10: sc in each st around (36)
- Change color to Medium Brown yarn.
- Rnd 11-14: sc in each st around (36)
- Change color to Pale Yellow yarn (undershirt).
- Rnd 15: Working in BLO, sc in each st around (36)
- Rnd 16: [4 sc, dec] rep 6 times (30)
- Rnd 17-18: sc in each st around (30)
- Rnd 19: [3 sc, dec] rep 6 times (24)
- Rnd 20-21: sc in each st around (24)
- Rnd 22: [2 sc, dec] rep 6 times (18)
- Stuff firmly. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Arms (make 2)
Start with Cream yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: [sc, inc] rep 3 times (9)
- Rnd 3: sc around (9)
- Change color to Orange yarn.
- Rnd 4-10: sc around (9)
- Change color to Pale Yellow yarn.
- Rnd 11-14: sc around (9)
- Stuff the lower half lightly, leave the top half unstuffed. Flatten opening and sc across both sides (4 sc) to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Legs (make 2)
Start with Medium Brown yarn (Sandal sole).
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
- Change color to Cream yarn (Foot).
- Rnd 3: Working in BLO, sc around (12)
- Rnd 4-6: sc around (12)
- Change color to Orange yarn (Leg).
- Rnd 7-16: sc around (12)
- Stuff the lower foot firmly, and the leg moderately. Flatten opening and sc across both sides (6 sc) to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Muzzle
Using Cream yarn.
- Rnd 1: Chain 6. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: 4 sc, 3 sc in the last chain stitch. Turn to work along opposite side of foundation chain: 3 sc, inc in the final st (12)
- Rnd 2: inc, 3 sc, [inc] 3 times, 3 sc, [inc] 2 times (18)
- Rnd 3: sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, sc (22)
- Rnd 4-6: sc around (22)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Ears (make 2)
Using Orange yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
- Rnd 3: [sc, inc] rep 6 times (18)
- Rnd 4-5: sc around (18)
- Flatten ear (do not stuff). Change to Black yarn and sc across the outer curved edge to create the black ear tipping. Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Overalls Details & Straps
Bib Panel: Join Forest Green yarn to the front FLO stitches of Rnd 14 on the body. Ch 1, sc across 10 sts. Row 2-5: Ch 1, turn, sc across 10 sts. Fasten off.
Straps (make 2): Using Forest Green yarn, Ch 18. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, hdc across 17 sts. Fasten off, leaving a tail to attach to the back of the waistband, crossing over to sew onto the front bib with small wooden buttons.
Mini Crossbody Bag
Using Medium Brown yarn.
- Row 1: Ch 9, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (8)
- Row 2-12: Ch 1, turn, sc across (8)
- Fold the bottom up (Rows 1-5) to meet Row 10, creating a pocket. Join Light Green yarn and sc down the sides through both layers to join.
- Flap: Continue with Light Green across the top remaining rows to form a fold-over flap.
- Strap: Attach Brown yarn to one side, Ch 45, sl st to the opposite side of the bag. Fasten off.
Theme Hat (Straw Sun Hat)
Using Tan yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc around (12)
- Rnd 3: [sc, inc] around (18)
- Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] around (24)
- Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] around (30)
- Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] around (36)
- Rnd 7: Working in BLO, sc around (36)
- Rnd 8-10: sc around (36)
- Rnd 11 (Brim): Working in FLO, [sc, inc] around (54)
- Rnd 12: [2 sc, inc] around (72)
- Change to Purple yarn for Rnd 13 to create a decorative hatband line, then finish with Tan for Rnd 14. Fasten off.
Prop 1 — Watering Can
Using Baby Blue yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc around (12)
- Rnd 3: Working in BLO, sc around (12)
- Rnd 4-8: sc around (12)
- Rnd 9: [sc, dec] around (8). Stuff lightly and close ring.
- Spout: Attach yarn to side of Rnd 5, Ch 4, hdc back down. Sew to front.
- Handle: Attach yarn to opposite side of Rnd 7, Ch 6, sl st to Rnd 3.
Prop 2 — Flower in Terracotta Pot
Using Terracotta yarn.
- Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
- Rnd 2: inc around (12)
- Rnd 3: Working in BLO, [sc, inc] around (18)
- Rnd 4-7: sc around (18)
- Rnd 8 (Rim): Working in FLO, hdc around (18). Fasten off.
- Put a small round of brown crocheted earth inside, stuff beneath it, and sew a basic green stem with pink petals to the center soil piece.
🔧 How to Assemble Your Toby the Tiger Doll
Follow these steps in order for the best result:
- Insert safety eyes into the head before closing. Position them perfectly side-by-side at round 9. Secure washers firmly from inside.
- Finish stuffing the head and close with a sl st. Weave in end.
- Stuff and close the body. Sew the head to the top of the body using your tapestry needle, ensuring the yellow shirt lines align nicely under the chin.
- Attach the arms at shoulder level on each side of the body, right at the collar line of the shirt. Sew through both layers for strength.
- Attach the legs to the bottom sides of the body, ensuring Toby sits beautifully and balances properly when resting on a flat surface.
- Sew the Muzzle and Ears: Position the large cream muzzle directly beneath the safety eyes, stuffing it lightly before sewing completely down. Attach ears on Rnds 3-6 of the head.
- Embroider the face details: Use pink yarn to embroider a thick, horizontal textured nose on the upper muzzle. Use black thread to create the vertical jowl line, muzzle freckles, and dramatic tiger stripes around the sides of the head and arms. Glue or insert thin white wire pieces through the muzzle for whiskers.
- Dress and Accessorize: Slip the crossed overall straps over his shoulders and anchor them to the front bib with your wooden buttons. Stitch small light-green fabric pockets onto the front legs and embroider mini red/yellow mushrooms bursting out.
- Attach the crossbody bag by threading the chain strap over one arm and positioning it naturally at the hip.
- Style the scene: Place his beautiful flower crown over his ears, set the tan straw hat, watering can, and flower pot right beside him on your rustic display surface.
