Spider Crochet Pattern (Free Amigurumi)

A crochet spider is the friendliest little spooky project you can make. A round plush body, eight curly legs, big bright eyes, and a smile that takes all the scare out of spiders. This free spider crochet pattern walks you through every part, from the round body to the legs and the face, with a stitch count at the end of every round.

This is an original Little Loop Finds design, written in US terms and completely free. The spider is a classic amigurumi plush, worked in the round from the top down, with legs worked separately and sewn on, and the face added with safety eyes and a little embroidery. If you can crochet a magic ring, a single crochet increase, and a decrease, you can crochet this spider. It works as a Halloween decoration, a soft toy, or a funny gift.

A quick note on scope: this post is about one specific spider amigurumi plush, a cute spider toy with a round body and eight legs. It is not a spider web, a spider hat, or a spider web blanket. A leafy plant makes a good display perch, and a spider web decoration pairs well with a hanging spider.

Key Takeaways

• Free original pattern: this spider crochet pattern is a Little Loop Finds original amigurumi design, written in US terms, and completely free.
• A cute spider plush: a round body, eight curly legs, big safety eyes, and an embroidered smile, with a stitch count at the end of every round.
• Beginner friendly amigurumi: simple single crochet shaping, with the legs and face explained step by step.
• Quick Halloween project: one spider takes about 2.5 hours, and it uses about 80 yards of worsted weight yarn.
• Three ways to use it: make it as a soft toy, hang it as a Halloween decoration, or make a set in different colors for a spooky display.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Crochet Spider
• Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time
• Materials You Need
• Abbreviations (US Terms)
• Gauge and Sizing Notes
• Part 1: The Spider Body
• Part 2: Legs, Eyes, and Smile
• Part 3: Assembly, Hanging Loop, and Display
• Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses
• Troubleshooting Spiders That Lean or Wobble
• Care Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Will Love This Crochet Spider

There is something funny about a spider that smiles. The round body, the big eyes, and the curly legs turn a creature most people avoid into a plush that gets picked up first. A crochet spider sits on a bookshelf all year, hangs in a Halloween display in October, or waits in a gift basket, and it always starts a conversation.

A crochet spider is also a wonderful way to learn amigurumi shaping. The body teaches you how to increase and decrease a sphere, the legs teach you a simple curl, and the face teaches you how to place safety eyes so a toy looks friendly instead of scary.

Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time

• Finished size: about 3.5 inches across the body and 7 inches across including the legs, in worsted weight yarn, after stuffing. The pattern also gives notes for a small 2.5 inch version and a large 5 inch body version.
• Skill level: Easy. You need a magic ring, chains, slip stitches, single crochet, increases, and invisible decreases, plus a little simple embroidery for the smile.
• Time: about 2.5 hours per spider: roughly 1 hour for the body, 45 minutes for the eight legs, and 45 minutes for the face and assembly.

Materials You Need

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice for a spider amigurumi because it works up quickly, the stitches are tight enough to hold the stuffing inside, and the finished spider is soft but firm. A smooth acrylic or cotton blend works well, because it shows clean stitch definition and it washes easily. Avoid fuzzy or eyelash yarns, because they hide the shaping and make the decreases hard to see. Choose a deep black for a classic spider, or try purple or orange for Halloween.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• inc = increase, 2 sc in the same stitch
• dec = decrease, single crochet 2 stitches together
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd(s) = round(s)
• rep = repeat
• MR = magic ring

Gauge and Sizing Notes

Gauge for an amigurumi spider is about keeping the stuffing inside, not about hitting an exact number. Work the first 4 rounds of the body and look at the fabric. You should not be able to see through the stitches, and the fabric should feel firm. If you can see daylight through your stitches, go down a hook size. If the fabric is stiff and hard to work, go up a hook size.

To make a smaller spider, use DK weight yarn with a 4.0 mm hook for a body about 2.5 inches across, a good size for a keychain or a hanging decoration. To make a larger spider, use bulky weight yarn with a 6.5 mm hook for a body about 5 inches across. The stitch counts stay the same in every size.

Part 1: The Spider Body

The body is a simple sphere worked in the round from the top down, starting with a magic ring and increasing to the widest point, then decreasing to close the bottom. Work in a continuous spiral and mark the first stitch of every round.

Body

With the black yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sc)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sc)
• Rnd 3: (sc in next st, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (18 sc)
• Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (24 sc)
• Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (30 sc)
• Rnd 6: (sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (36 sc)
• Rnd 7: (sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (42 sc)
• Rnd 8: (sc in next 6 sts, inc in next st) rep 6 times. (48 sc)
• Rnd 9-14: sc in each st around. (48 sc)

The body should now look like a round ball about 3 inches across, with the opening at the bottom. This is the widest point of the spider, and it is where the legs will attach, so keep the rounds even.

• Rnd 15: (sc in next 6 sts, dec) rep 6 times. (42 sc)
• Rnd 16: (sc in next 5 sts, dec) rep 6 times. (36 sc)
• Rnd 17: (sc in next 4 sts, dec) rep 6 times. (30 sc)
• Rnd 18: (sc in next 3 sts, dec) rep 6 times. (24 sc)
• Rnd 19: (sc in next 2 sts, dec) rep 6 times. (18 sc)

Stop here and place the safety eyes before you close the body, because the washers are much harder to fit once the hole is small. Put the eyes between Rnds 10 and 11, about 6 stitches apart, on the front of the body, and press the washers on firmly from the inside. Then stuff the body firmly, pushing the fiberfill up into the top first, then shaping the round sides with your fingers. Add a little more than you think you need, because fiberfill settles.

• Rnd 20: (sc in next st, dec) rep 6 times. (12 sc)
• Rnd 21: dec 6 times. (6 sc)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches, pull it tight to close the hole, and weave in the end.

Your finished body should be a round ball about 3.5 inches across, firm to the touch, with the eyes sitting evenly on the front and the closing point hidden at the bottom.

Part 2: Legs, Eyes, and Smile

The legs are what make the spider, so give them some personality. Each leg is a simple chain worked back with single crochet stitches, and the extra stitches at the bend make the leg curl naturally. Make eight legs the same way, four for each side, and keep the tails long for sewing. The smile is embroidered with white yarn, and two tiny fangs are optional for Halloween.

Legs (make 8)

With the black yarn, ch 16.

• Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 4 ch, 2 sc in the next ch, sc in the next 4 ch, 2 sc in the next ch, sc in the last 4 ch. (17 sc)
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, sl st in each st across. (17 sl st)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Each leg should be about 3.5 inches long, with a gentle bend in the middle where the increases sit. The slip stitch row along one edge pulls the leg into a soft curve, like a real spider leg bent at the joint. Make all eight legs the same way, and lay them out in pairs to match the left and right sides when you sew them on.

If you want straighter legs, skip the increases in Row 1 and work 1 sc in each chain instead. If you want curlier legs, add one more increase in the middle of the row.

Eyes and Smile

The eyes are already placed between Rnds 10 and 11, about 6 stitches apart, with the washers pressed on firmly from the inside. Check that they sit level by holding the spider at eye level. If one eye sits higher than the other, move it one stitch over before you finish the stuffing, because it is much easier to fix now than after the body is closed.

The smile is embroidered with white yarn and a tapestry needle, after the body is stuffed and closed. Work a small curved line under and between the eyes, about 4 stitches wide, using a backstitch so the line is smooth. Keep the curve gentle, with the ends turning up a little, so the spider looks friendly. For a Halloween spider, add two tiny fangs with two short straight stitches in white yarn just below the smile. Our crochet mushroom pattern makes a matching woodland friend, and our crochet strawberry pattern uses the same safety eye placement.

Part 3: Assembly, Hanging Loop, and Display

Assembly is where the spider comes alive. Pin every leg in place before you sew anything, then step back and look at the spider from the front and from above. The legs should fan out evenly, four to the left and four to the right, with the front pair angled forward and the back pair angled back.

Pin the legs around the middle of the body, at about Rnd 11, spacing them evenly along each side. The top two legs on each side should point up and out, the middle legs should point straight out, and the bottom legs should point down and out. Sew each leg on with a whip stitch through the first 3 stitches of the leg, going through the body fabric twice so the leg holds firm. Give each leg a gentle tug after sewing to check it is secure, then weave in all ends.

To hang your spider as a Halloween decoration, make a hanging loop from black yarn. Chain 20, join into a ring with a slip stitch, and sew the ring firmly to the top of the body, going through the fabric several times. Hang the spider from a hook, a branch, or a doorway, and test it with a gentle tug before you leave it up. Our crochet bee pattern makes a matching hanging decoration in the same size, and our crochet snake pattern is another creepy crawly friend for the same display.

To display your spider without hanging it, set it on a flat surface with the legs spread wide, so the body sits a little above the table. A spider with spread legs looks like it is standing, and it photographs well from the front. Our mini octopus crochet pattern is another eight legged friend for the same shelf, and our crochet frog pattern free makes a good companion for a woodland shelf.

Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Uses

• Classic black spider: work the body and legs in deep black with big safety eyes and a white smile, the colorway in the photos. A crochet mushroom makes a matching woodland friend.
• Purple Halloween spider: make the body in purple with black legs for a spooky Halloween version. Change only the yarn color.
• Orange pumpkin spider: make the body in bright orange with black legs for a spider that looks like a tiny pumpkin with legs. Add the fangs for extra Halloween fun.
• Tiny spider: make the small 2.5 inch version with DK weight yarn and a hanging loop for a bag charm or a keychain. The spider stays cute at any size.
• Giant spider: make the large 5 inch body version with bulky yarn for a statement Halloween decoration. Use 15 mm safety eyes so the face stays in proportion.

Troubleshooting Spiders That Lean or Wobble

• My spider leans to one side. The stuffing is uneven, or one side has more legs pulling it over. Add more fiberfill to the light side, and check that the legs are spaced evenly on both sides.
• My spider will not sit upright. The body is too round to balance on its legs. Spread the legs wider and bend the bottom pair down so they act as feet, or display the spider hanging from its loop.
• My legs are uneven. The legs were sewn on without pinning first. Pin all eight legs in place and count the spacing on each side before you sew, so the left and right sides mirror each other.
• My stuffing shows through the stitches. Your stitches are too loose for the yarn. Go down a hook size on the next spider, and use denser fiberfill so it does not poke through the gaps.
• My eyes sit crooked. The eyes were placed without counting the stitches between them. Count 6 stitches between the eyes and check they sit on the same round, marking the spots before you press the washers on.

Care Instructions

Hand wash a crochet spider gently in cool water with a tiny amount of mild soap, squeeze gently without wringing, and lay it flat to dry so the spider keeps its round shape. If the yarn label says machine washable, use a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag, and lay the spider flat to dry. Do not put an amigurumi spider in the dryer on high heat, because the fiberfill can clump. Fluff the spider by hand after washing, reshape the legs while it is still damp, and keep it out of direct sunlight, so the black stays deep and rich.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this spider crochet pattern good for beginners?

Yes, it is a great first amigurumi project. You need chains, single crochet, increases, and decreases, and every round ends with a stitch count. One spider takes about 2.5 hours.

What yarn is best for a crochet spider?

Worsted weight yarn is the best choice, because it works up quickly and the stitches are tight enough to hold the stuffing inside. A smooth acrylic or cotton blend works well and washes easily. Deep black with white yarn for the smile gives the classic look.

How big is the finished spider?

About 3.5 inches across the body and 7 inches across including the legs, in worsted weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook, after stuffing. Use DK weight yarn for a small 2.5 inch body, or bulky weight yarn for a large 5 inch body.

How do I make the legs curl?

Each leg has two increases worked into Row 1, and a slip stitch row along one edge, which pulls the leg into a gentle curve. For straighter legs, skip the increases. For curlier legs, add one more increase.

Can I use safety eyes on a toy for a small child?

Safety eyes are not recommended for children under three, because they can come loose with hard chewing. For a toy for a small child, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, using French knots or small circles, and skip the fangs. Check the stitching now and then.

Can I sell spiders made from this pattern?

Yes, you may sell finished spiders made from this free pattern, with credit to Little Loop Finds. Please do not sell or republish the pattern text itself. Halloween spiders sell well at autumn craft markets.

Happy stitching, and may your little spider bring a friendly smile to whoever picks it up.