Crochet Llama Pattern (Free Amigurumi Plush)

A crochet llama is a sweet amigurumi friend you can make. This free crochet llama pattern makes a soft plush llama with a fluffy neck, long ears, and a colorful saddle blanket, perfect for a nursery shelf or a birthday gift. It works up in about four hours.

This is an original Little Loop Finds design, written in US terms and completely free. The body, neck, and head are worked in simple rounds of single crochet, the fluffy neck is made with an easy loop stitch, and the saddle blanket is a small striped rectangle. If you can crochet a magic ring, you can crochet this llama.

A quick note on scope: this post is about one specific crochet llama, a standing amigurumi llama with a fluffy neck and saddle blanket. It is not a llama applique or a wall hanging. If you want another farmyard friend, our crochet highland cow plush is a shaggy little cow in the same style.

Key Takeaways

• Free original pattern: a Little Loop Finds original design, written in US terms, and completely free.
• A fluffy standing llama: a soft body, a loop stitch neck, and a striped saddle blanket.
• Beginner friendly: simple rounds of single crochet, with an easy loop stitch neck.
• A four hour project: one llama takes about 4 hours.
• Three ways to use it: nursery shelf decor, a birthday gift, and a desk companion.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Crochet Llama
• Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time
• Materials You Need
• Abbreviations (US Terms)
• Gauge and Sizing Notes
• Part 1: The Body and Legs
• Part 2: The Neck, Head, and Ears
• Part 3: The Saddle Blanket, Face, and Finishing
• Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses
• Troubleshooting a Llama That Will Not Stand
• Care Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Will Love This Crochet Llama

A llama has a gentle face and a wonderfully silly charm, and a crochet llama brings that charm to a shelf. The fluffy neck is soft to touch, and the saddle blanket adds a splash of color.

A crochet llama is also a great next step after your first amigurumi animal. The pieces are all simple shapes, the fluffy neck is just one new stitch, and the blanket is flat. Make one in classic cream, or a whole herd in rainbow blanket colors. Our crochet cloud sheep plush makes a sweet matching farmyard friend.

Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time

• Finished size: about 10 inches tall to the ear tips, with the body about 5 inches long.
• Skill level: Easy. You need a magic ring, single crochet, increases, decreases, and a loop stitch.
• Time: about 4 hours per llama: 90 minutes for the body and legs, 90 minutes for the neck and head, 60 minutes for the blanket and finishing.

Materials You Need

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice for a crochet llama because it works up quickly, the loop stitch neck looks full and fluffy, and the body holds its shape when stuffed. A smooth acrylic or cotton blend works well and washes easily. Choose a soft cream for the body and a warm brown for the muzzle and hooves. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the shaping. For a small child, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead of using safety eyes.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec = decrease (sc 2 together)
• lp = loop stitch (insert hook, wrap yarn around your index finger to make a loop about 1 inch long, pull the loop through, yarn over, pull through both loops on the hook)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rep = repeat

Gauge and Sizing Notes

Gauge matters because the stitches need to be tight enough that the stuffing does not show through. Work a swatch of 12 sc stitches and 12 rounds in color A. It should be about 4 inches square. If it is wider, go down a hook size. If it is narrower, go up a hook size.

Count your stitches at the end of every round, because a missed increase makes the body lopsided. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go. Make all four legs the same length, because uneven legs are the most common reason a llama will not stand.

Part 1: The Body and Legs

The body is a soft oval worked in the round, and the legs are four small tubes sewn underneath. Stuff the body firmly and the legs lightly.

The Body

With color A, make a magic ring.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24 sts)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) 6 times. (30 sts)
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) 6 times. (36 sts)
• Rnds 7 to 12: sc in each st around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 13: (4 sc, dec) 6 times. (30 sts)
• Rnd 14: (3 sc, dec) 6 times. (24 sts)
• Rnd 15: (2 sc, dec) 6 times. (18 sts)

Stop here and stuff the body firmly with polyester fiberfill, filling both ends first, then the middle.

• Rnd 16: (sc, dec) 6 times. (12 sts)
• Rnd 17: dec 6 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the 6 remaining stitches, pull tight to close the hole, and weave the end inside. The body should be about 5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide.

The Legs (make 4)

With color B, make a magic ring.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: sc in each st around, working in the back loops only. (12 sts)
• Rnds 4 to 7: sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Change to color A at the start of round 8.

• Rnds 8 to 9: sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff each leg lightly and set them aside. Each leg is about 2 inches tall, with a brown hoof at the bottom.

Attaching the Legs

Pin the four legs to the underside of the body first, two near the front and two near the back, spaced evenly. Stand the body on a table and check that all four legs touch the table. If one leg is shorter, add a little more stuffing to it before you sew.

Sew each leg to the body with its long tail, working around the top edge of the leg and into the body stitches, going around twice for strength. Stand the llama up after each leg and check that it still stands straight. When all four legs are on, the body should stand level.

Part 2: The Neck, Head, and Ears

The neck is the star of this llama, a tall tube worked with loop stitches on the outside, which makes it look wonderfully fluffy and holds the head high.

The Neck

With color A, make a magic ring.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: sc in each st around, working in the back loops only. (18 sts)
• Rnds 5 to 12: (lp, sc) 9 times around. (18 sts, with 9 loops per round)

Work the loop stitch with the loops on the outside of the tube, keeping each loop about 1 inch long. The fluff hides small differences, so do not worry if the loops are not perfectly even.

• Rnd 13: (sc, dec) 6 times. (12 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the neck firmly, filling the base first, then the top. The neck should be about 4 inches tall.

The Head

With color A, make a magic ring.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24 sts)
• Rnds 5 to 9: sc in each st around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 10: (2 sc, dec) 6 times. (18 sts)
• Rnd 11: (sc, dec) 6 times. (12 sts)

Stop here and stuff the head firmly into a soft oval.

• Rnd 12: dec 6 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the 6 remaining stitches, pull tight to close the hole, and weave the end inside.

The Muzzle

With color B, make a magic ring.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the muzzle lightly, and sew it to the front of the head, centered low, between rounds 6 and 10.

The Ears (make 2)

With color A, ch 6.

• Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (5 sc)
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, dec, sc in the next st, dec. (3 sc)
• Row 3: ch 1, turn, dec, sc in the next st. (2 sc)
• Row 4: ch 1, turn, dec. (1 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Each ear is a small triangle about 1.5 inches tall. Sew the ears to the top of the head, about 2 inches apart, with the tips pointing up. Tilt them slightly outward, like a real llama, and stitch each one firmly at the base.

Attaching the Neck and Head

Sew the neck to the front top of the body, tilting it slightly forward. Stitch around the base of the neck twice, and check from the side that the neck stands straight up. Then sew the head to the top of the neck, with the muzzle facing forward, stitching around the join twice. Check that the head sits level. Our crochet bunny plush uses the same head to neck join if you want another long eared friend.

Part 3: The Saddle Blanket, Face, and Finishing

The saddle blanket is a small striped rectangle with a fringed edge. Change the stripe colors to change the personality of the llama.

The Saddle Blanket

With color C in pink, ch 19.

• Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (18 sc)
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 3: change to turquoise, ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 5: change to mustard, ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 7: change to pink, ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)
• Row 8: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (18 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The blanket should be about 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall.

The Fringe

Cut 12 short lengths of pink yarn, about 4 inches each. Fold each length in half, pull the folded end through a stitch along the two short edges of the blanket, then pull the loose ends through the loop and tighten. Space the fringe evenly, 6 pieces on each short edge, and trim the ends even.

Lay the blanket over the middle of the llama's back, centered between the neck and the tail end, and sew it down along the top edge only. Leave the sides and the fringe free.

The Face

If you are using safety eyes, insert them on the head between rounds 7 and 8, about 6 stitches apart, above the muzzle. Push the washers on firmly from the inside before you stuff the head.

If you are embroidering the eyes, use black yarn and a tapestry needle. Work a small vertical stitch, about 2 stitches tall, on each side of the face, above the muzzle, and add a tiny white stitch beside each eye for a sparkle.

With black yarn, stitch a small nose on the muzzle, using 2 straight stitches side by side at the top, and a tiny smile below them, using backstitch in a gentle curve about 3 stitches wide. With pink yarn, stitch two small cheeks, one on each side of the muzzle, using 3 straight stitches in a tiny cluster.

Final Finishing

Weave in every yarn end, working the tail through the back of several stitches in the same color, then trimming it close. Fluff the neck loops with your fingers so the neck looks full. Check the llama by standing it on a table. It should stand on all four legs without tipping, the neck should stand tall, and the blanket should sit centered on its back. If it tips forward, add a little more stuffing to the back of the body. Our crochet pineapple pattern uses the same embroidered face technique if you want another smiling friend.

Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses

• Classic cream llama: work the body in cream with a brown muzzle and a pink, turquoise, and mustard blanket, the colorway in the photos. Our crochet ladybug pattern makes a sweet tiny companion.
• Brown farm llama: make the body in soft brown with a cream muzzle and a green and cream blanket for a farmyard set.
• Rainbow party llama: make the blanket in rainbow stripes, one row per color, for a party table centerpiece.
• Mini llama keychain: use fingering weight yarn and a 2.5 mm hook, skip the fringe, and add a keychain ring to the top of the head.

Troubleshooting a Llama That Will Not Stand

• My llama tips over. One leg is shorter than the others. Count the rounds on each leg and add stuffing to the short leg.
• My neck leans to one side. The neck was sewn on at an angle. Take the neck off, re-stuff it evenly, and sew it back on centered.
• My stuffing shows through the stitches. Your gauge is too loose. Go down a hook size and use a little less stuffing.
• My loop stitches look uneven. Some loops were pulled longer than others. Trim the longest to match.
• My blanket slides off. The blanket was sewn down too loosely. Add a few more stitches along the top edge.

Care Instructions

Hand wash a crochet llama in cool water with a mild detergent, and press the water out gently without wringing. Reshape the body and neck while it is damp, fluff the loop stitches, and let it dry flat on a clean towel. Keep it out of direct sunlight so the cream yarn does not yellow. If the llama has safety eyes, check them before every wash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this crochet llama pattern good for beginners?

Yes, it is a great next step after your first amigurumi. You need a magic ring, single crochet, increases, decreases, and one loop stitch. One llama takes about 4 hours.

What yarn is best for a crochet llama?

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice, because it works up quickly and the loop stitch neck looks full. Cream with a brown muzzle gives the classic look.

How big is the finished llama?

The finished llama is about 10 inches tall from the feet to the ear tips, with the body about 5 inches long. A mini version in fingering weight yarn comes out about 5 inches tall.

How do I make the loop stitch for the fluffy neck?

Insert the hook, wrap the yarn around your index finger to make a loop about 1 inch long, pull the loop through, yarn over, and pull through both loops on the hook. The loops sit on the outside of the neck.

Are safety eyes safe for a baby toy?

No, safety eyes are not safe for babies under three, because they can work loose. For a baby llama, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.

Can I make the llama in different colors?

Yes, any soft color works well. Brown with a cream muzzle makes a farmyard llama, and dusty pink with a rainbow blanket makes a party llama. Keep the body and the blanket in contrasting colors.

Can I sell llamas made from this pattern?

Yes, you may sell finished llamas made from this free pattern, with credit to Little Loop Finds. Do not sell or republish the pattern text itself. A pair of llamas with matching blankets makes a lovely market stall bundle, and pairs nicely with our crochet cloud sheep plush.

Happy stitching, and may your little llama bring a gentle smile to whoever receives it.