Make a whimsical Grinch-inspired amigurumi with step-by-step instructions and helpful photos. This pattern guides you from the feet up with clear shaping, stuffing tips, and finishing notes so you can create a tall 26" plush character. You will learn how to shape legs, tummy, neck and head, plus make expressive eyes, fingers, and an optional cozy Santa coat and hat.
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— Notes :
Info :
Spiral Crochet: work in continuous spiral for this project and for most of my work; do not join rounds or chain up. Use a stitch marker to designate the beginning of each round.
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TIP Counting: you can keep track of rounds by multiplication on a calculator to avoid using stitch markers if you prefer; only advise this if you are comfortable counting without distractions.
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Invisible Decrease: do an invisible single crochet decrease working only in the front loops of the crochets being decreased.
Infos :
Hooks: G/4mm for body. Coat and hat are made with size I/5mm hook. Optional: 2 foam rollers available at dollar stores. I used safety eyes 20mm.
— Legs :
Round 1 :
Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail. (6)
Round 2 :
Make 1 sc in each stitch around (6)
Round 3 :
2 sc in the first stitch, one sc in the rest of the stitches (7)
Round 4 :
Make 1 sc in each stitch around (7)
Round 5 :
2 sc in the first stitch, one sc in the rest of the stitches (8)
Round 6 :
Make 1 sc in each stitch around (8)
Round 7 :
2 sc in the first stitch, one sc in the rest of the stitches (9)
Round 8 :
Make 1 sc in each stitch around (9)
Round 9 :
(Make 1 sc in next 2 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (12)
Round 10 :
(Make 1 sc in next 3 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (15)
Round 11 :
(Make 1 sc in next 4 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)
Round 12 :
(Make 1 sc in next 2 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 13-17 :
5 rounds: Make 1 sc in each stitch around (24) – if working in the spiral that is 120 stitches
Round 18 :
(Make 1 sc in next 2 stitches, make an inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)
Round 19-20 :
2 rounds: Make 1 sc in each stitch around (18) – spiral count is 36 stitches
Info :
Start stuffing and stuff as needed.
Round 21 :
sc in the next 10 stitches, inv dec over the next 8 sc (this is 4 inv dec) (14)
Round 22 :
sc in the next 10 stitches, inv dec over the next 4 sc (this is 2 inv dec) *these two decrease stitches are in the decrease stitches from the row before. (12) *lightly stuff foot
Round 23 :
sc in the next 8 stitches, inv dec 2 over the next 4sc (10)
Round 24 :
inv dec, sc in the next 6, inv dec (8)
Round 25-26 :
Make 1 sc in each stitch around (8)
Info :
Note: if you are choosing to use foam rollers to help the foot bend up, check your opening to make sure your roller will fit. Mine was an exact fit; if you have a tighter gauge you may need to stop the decrease at R23 and skip the last decrease.
Round 27 :
(2sc, sc 3)* (10)
Round 28 :
sc in each stitch around (10)
Round 28 :
(2sc, sc 4)* (12)
Round 29-30 :
sc in each stitch around (12)
Info :
*insert your roller here if you are using one as it may be difficult later. I just twisted around and it went in like a bolt.
Round 31-48 :
You are now going to work straight with no increases or decreases for 18 rows. That is 12 stitches around for 18 rows. For spiral crochet that is 216 stitches.
Round 49 :
(sc 3, inc sc) repeat around (15)
Round 50-59 :
You are now going to work straight with no increases or decreases for 10 rows. That is 15 stitches around for 10 rows. For spiral crochet that is 150 stitches. For only the first leg, finish with a slip stitch and cut yarn.
Info :
Stuff top of leg (quad) very well.
Info :
After finishing the second leg, do not fasten off, but figure out the shape of your legs/feet and how you want them to point/turn/stand on your finished piece and hold them together. You will be joining them with a chain 2 in the middle of the inside of the legs.
Info :
You will slip stitch in the stitch that your chain 2 will start on the second leg, chain 2 and slip stitch on the other leg on the mirror side.
— Body :
Round 1 :
After joining the legs, you will crochet evenly around each leg and in the chain 2 – both on the front and back of the chain 2- that will give you 34 stitches – 15 on each leg and 4 in the chain 2 space (front and back) (34)
Rounds 2-3 :
Sc around in each stitch. (34)(34)
Round 4 :
On this round you need to make 2 inc sc evenly. I chose to make one inc sc on each side of the body (36)
Info :
Start shaping the tummy: increases will all be on the stomach side to create tummy shape. Lay work down and find sides of stomach to place increases.
Round 5 :
For this round you will be increasing from 36 to 42 stitches – that is 6 stitches – all on the front. For example, I had 14 stitches in between my markers -so, I added my increases like this: 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc 4, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc (42)
Round 6-7 :
sc in each stitch around (42)
Round 8 :
For this round you will be increasing from 42 to 48 stitches – that is 6 stitches – all on the front. Do the increases evenly like on Row 5.
Round 9-11 :
sc in each stitch around (48)
Round 12 :
For this round you will be increasing from 48 to 54 stitches – that is 6 increase stitches – all on the front like before.
Round 13-15 :
sc in each stitch around (54)
Info :
***now the tummy starts decreasing. You will do inv sc dec evenly on front just like you did the inc sc.
Round 16 :
For this round you will be decreasing from 54 to 48 stitches – that is 6 stitches – all on the front. Inv dec evenly like above.
Round 17-18 :
sc in each stitch around (48)
Round 19 :
For this round you will be decreasing from 48 to 42 stitches – that is 6 stitches – all on the front. Inv dec evenly like above. (42)
Round 20-21 :
sc in each stitch around (42)
Round 22 :
For this round you will be decreasing from 42 to 36 stitches – that is 6 stitches – all on the front. Inv dec evenly like above. (36)
Round 23 :
sc in each stitch around (36)
Info :
***on these next decreases you can go back to traditional decreases.
Round 24 :
(1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)
Round 25-28 :
sc in each stitch around (30)
Info :
Start stuffing and continue as needed.
Round 29 :
(1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)
Round 30-31 :
sc in each stitch around (24)
Round 32 :
(1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)
Round 33-34 :
sc in each stitch around (18)
Info :
Stuff, stuff, stuff *stuff GOOD!!! You need this neck to be firm
Round 35 :
(1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 36-39 :
sc in each stitch around (12)
Round 40 :
(1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)
Round 41 :
(1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 42 :
(1 sc in next 3 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)
Round 43 :
sc in each stitch around (30)
Round 44 :
(1 sc in next 4 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)
Round 45 :
(1 sc in next 5 stitches, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (42)
Round 46 :
sc in each stitch around (42)
Round 47 :
*you will be doing 6 more increases on this round, but like above for the belly, you need to place all 6 of the increases on the front of the face. The cheeks specifically. Place 3 inc sc on each side of the face. Each marked stitch gets 2sc in each one. You are going from 42 to 48 stitches.
Round 48 :
sc in each stitch around (48)
Round 49 :
repeat round 47, but space them out more – like: sc, inc sc, sc, inc sc, sc, inc sc. You are going from 48 to 54 stitches.
Round 50-51 :
sc in each stitch around (54)
Round 52 :
Decreases start now, BUT these decreases need to go above the same place over the cheek where the increases are for shaping. On R52 you go from 54 back to 48. The 6 inv dec stitches are on the cheeks only.
Round 53 :
sc in each stitch around (48)
Round 54 :
repeat round 52. You are going from 48 to 42 stitches.
Round 55 :
back to traditional decreases evenly spaced around. Go from 42 to 36: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, make an inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (36)
Round 56 :
(1 sc in next 4 stitches, make an inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)
Info :
*check your stuffing in the neck and make sure it is stuffed very well. It must hold up the head.
Round 57-66 :
sc in each stitch around (30) *stuff the lower head and cheeks and shape. This part really makes a difference to the face so push the stuffing around and shape the face carefully.
Round 67 :
(1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)
Round 68 :
(1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)
Round 69 :
(1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 70 :
sc in each stitch around. FO and leave a tail to sew closed.
Info :
*I made a short tassel and threaded the tails from the inside the head to the outside and tied them before sewing. I choose to do my eyes and face and sew everything on before I sew the head shut so that I can make sure all my ends are tied and secure from the inside.
— Eyes :
Info :
Eyes: with white: Chain 2 and make 5 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Chain 1 and turn.
Instruction :
Make 2sc in each stitch across (10) Chain 1 and turn.
Instruction :
Make (1 sc, 2sc)* across (15) *on the last stitch change to a darker green or black color. Chain 1 and turn.
Instruction :
In green or black, work down the flat side. Make 6 evenly spaced hdc across the flat side. Chain 1 and turn.
Instruction :
Sc in the first 5 hdc, 2hdc in the last hdc, 2hdc in the next white stitch on the eye and then slip stitch in next. FO and leave a long tail to sew. This long tail is the outside, upper edge of the eye.
Info :
I added safety eyes in the center of the white before I sewed the eyes down. Use tails to also embroider the nose. I used black to make some frown lines and the mouth.
— Arms :
Info :
Arms: Leave a long tail because these arms start at the shoulder and work toward the fingers so you will use that long tail to sew the arm to the body.
Round 1 :
Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.
Round 2 :
Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail.
Info :
After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening. Now, pull that long tail back out the top of the arm for sewing later.
Round 3 :
(Make 1 sc in next stitch, make 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)
Round 4-5 :
sc in each stitch around (18)
Round 6 :
(1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 7-16 :
sc in each stitch around (12) *you can add a bit of stuffing to just the shoulder or not.
Round 17 :
(sc, sc, inv dec) * (9)
Round 18-27 :
sc in each stitch around (9)
Fingers :
Slip stitch in the next stitch, chain 6, sc back up this chain for 5 sc, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, chain 6, sc back up the chain for 5 sc, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, chain 7, sc 6 back up the chain, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, chain 8, sc 7 back up the chain, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, chain 6, sc back up the chain for 5 sc, FO and use the tail to sew the hand shut.
Info :
It is best to take the arms to your steam iron and relax them a little with a bit of steam to soften and relax arms and fingers. Gently pull to lengthen a little if desired, then sew onto body.
— Coat and Hat (New Addition) :
Info :
This coat is super easy to make and easy to modify to be shorter or longer. I used my size I/5mm hook for the coat and hat.
Instruction :
For the length of the coat: Chain 51.
Row 1 :
In the 2nd chain from the hook, hdc and hdc in each chain across (50) Chain 1 and turn
Rows 2-5 :
hdc across the chain for each row with a chain 1 and turn at the end of each.
Row 6 :
After row 5 you will chain 1 and turn, but then hdc only 25 hdc. Then, Chain 26 and turn.
Row 7 :
In the 2nd chain from the hook you will hdc and hdc in each chain/stitch back down for (50 hdc)
Rows 8-11 :
Repeat 2-5. Do NOT Finish off.
Info :
Now, fold the front pieces down and pin in place to make an arm hole. Decide how many stitches to leave open for the arms. Pick up yarn and crochet or slip stitch through two layers to close the side of the coat. Make about 20 sc or slip stitch up, but leave the arm hole open. SC about 14 sc around the arm hole – front and back. Continue working in a continuous spiral until the length of the coat arm is what you need. Mine was about 17 rounds. Finish with a slip stitch and cut yarn. You can weave in the end or work over it with your white trim. Do a few rows in white for the cuff.
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Join red yarn on the other side and repeat to make second arm. After both arms complete, attach yarn to the front bottom side and sc evenly up the side, around the neck and down other side. Continue around bottom and make 3 sc in each corner on front.
Info :
Before doing round 2 in the white for the collar, mark the 10/11 neck stitches on each side. After marking, sc in each stitch around for round 2, but make hdc in all the stitches between the markers for the collar. Round 3 repeat round 2. Finish and weave in the end.
Hat Start :
Start in red with your size I/5mm hook. Chain 2. Single crochet 4 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.
Info :
Continue in the spiral with no join. Work over your starting tail for a few rounds and then pull to cinch up opening. Leave this tail if you wish to use it to sew on your pompom.
Round 2-3 :
sc in each stitch around (4) *only do round 2 for less of a point
Round 4 :
(1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (6)
Round 5-6 :
sc in each stitch around (6) *only do round 5 for less of a point
Round 7 :
(1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (8)
Round 8-9 :
sc in each stitch around (8) *only do round 8 for less of a point
Round 10 :
(1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (12)
Round 11 :
(1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (15)
Round 12 :
(1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)
Round 13 :
(1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 14-15 :
sc in each stitch around (24)
Round 16 :
(1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)
Round 17+ :
sc in each stitch around for length. (30) I did 8 rounds on my example. You can do more or less depending on the fit you want.
Info :
Attach your white when done and sc around in white. After this first round in white finish do another round of HDC in the FLO to help the edge of the hat lift up like a cuff. Hdc around again for one or two more rounds for the hat edge and then finish off. Weave in your end and attach your pompom.
— Assembly & Finishing :
Info :
I choose to sew eyes and face details on before I sew head shut so ends are secure inside. If you prefer, finish face after head is closed.
Info :
Sew arms to the body using the long tail left in the arm; position arms at shoulders and sew securely. Pin before sewing to check placement.
Info :
Sew legs/feet and shape feet; if using foam rollers insert when opening is accessible. Use photos for eye and nose placement as reference.
This Grinch-inspired amigurumi pattern brings playful mischief to your handmade collection with a sculpted tummy, expressive eyes and a cozy holiday coat. Make it as a tall display piece or a cuddly friend for the season—customize colors and trims for a unique look. Happy stitching and holiday crafting! 🧶🎄
