Charmander crochet pattern: beginner skills you will use

This free Charmander crochet pattern is a confident-beginner project if you already know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, increases, decreases, and sew small pieces together. It is not a first-ever crochet project, but it is a useful next step for learning clean shaping and assembly.

If you are collecting amigurumi crochet patterns for your next project, this guide helps you practise accurate stitch counts, light stuffing, and tidy finishing. For another small toy project, explore our mini cat amigurumi pattern.

Materials

For a polished finish, this Charmander crochet pattern works best with a firm, even fabric and careful stuffing.

Abbreviations

Head and body — use orange yarn

Begin at the top of the head and continue directly into the body. Insert the eyes between R9 and R10 with 6 stitches between them, checking the face from the front before securing.

1. R17 sc in a MR. [7]
2. R2Inc around. [14]
3. R3(sc, inc) × 7. [21]
4. R4(2 sc, inc) × 7. [28]
5. R5(3 sc, inc) × 7. [35]
6. R6–R10sc around for 5 rounds. [35]
7. R118 sc, 6 inc, 2 sc, 4 inc, 2 sc, 6 inc, 7 sc. [51]
8. R12sc around. [51]
9. R138 sc, 6 dec, 2 sc, 4 dec, 2 sc, 6 dec, 7 sc. [35]
10. R14(3 sc, dec) × 7. [28]
11. R15(2 sc, dec) × 7. [21]
12. R16(sc, dec) × 7. [14]
13. R17Inc around. [28]
14. R18(sc, inc) × 14. [42]
15. R19–R22sc around for 4 rounds. [42]
16. R23(5 sc, inc) × 7. [49]
17. R24sc around. [49]
18. R25(5 sc, dec) × 7. [42]
19. R26(4 sc, dec) × 7. [35]
20. R27(3 sc, dec) × 7. [28]
21. R28sc around. [28]
22. R29(2 sc, dec) × 7. [21]
23. R30(sc, dec) × 7. [14]
24. R31Dec around. [7]
25. R32Dec around, sl st to fasten off, then sew the opening closed.

Arms — make 2 with orange yarn

1. R14 sc in a MR. [4]
2. R2Inc around. [8]
3. R3(sc, inc) × 4. [12]
4. R4sc around. [12]
5. R5(sc, dec) × 4. [8]
6. R6–R7sc around for 2 rounds. [8]

Stuff lightly, fold the opening flat, and work single crochet through both sides to close it. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Legs — make 2 with orange yarn

1. R1Ch 5. [5]
2. R2Skip the first stitch, 3 sc, inc in the last stitch; turn to the other side of the chain, 3 sc, inc. [10]
3. R3Inc around. [20]
4. R4sc around. [20]
5. R5Dec around. [10]

Stuff evenly and leave a sewing tail. After attaching both legs, embroider 3 small white toe lines on each foot.

Tail — use orange yarn

Stuff the tail firmly enough to hold a gentle curve, but do not overstuff it.

1. R14 sc in a MR. [4]
2. R2sc around. [4]
3. R3(sc, inc) × 2. [6]
4. R4sc around. [6]
5. R5(2 sc, inc) × 2. [8]
6. R6sc around. [8]
7. R7(3 sc, inc) × 2. [10]
8. R8sc around. [10]
9. R9(4 sc, inc) × 2. [12]
10. R10sc around. [12]
11. R11(5 sc, inc) × 2. [14]
12. R12sc around. [14]
13. R13(6 sc, inc) × 2. [16]
14. R14sc around. [16]

Tail base and flames

With yellow yarn, make 5 sc in a MR for each small yellow tail-base circle. For the flame pieces, make 2 yellow flames from a foundation chain of 7, shaping the points with chains of 2, 3 and 2. Make 1 red flame from a foundation chain of 8, shaping the points with chains of 2, 3, 4, 3 and 2. Place the red flame between the two yellow flames, then sew the cluster to the end of the tail.

Optional Pikachu hat

Hat base — use yellow yarn

1. R17 sc in a MR. [7]
2. R2Inc around. [14]
3. R3(sc, inc) × 7. [21]
4. R4(2 sc, inc) × 7. [28]
5. R5(3 sc, inc) × 7. [35]
6. R6–R9sc around for 4 rounds. [35]
7. R10In BLO: sl st, then repeat (sc, HDC, sc) around to create the brim.

Hat ears — make 2

1. R1With brown yarn, 6 sc in a MR. [6]
2. R2Inc around. [12]
3. R3sc around; change to yellow in the last stitch. [12]
4. R4–R5sc around in BLO for 2 rounds. [12]
5. R6sc around. [12]
6. R7(4 sc, dec) × 2. [10]
7. R8sc around. [10]

Assembly and finishing

• Place the eyes between R9 and R10 with 6 stitches between them before securing.
• Use black yarn to stitch 2 short nostril lines around the R11 face area, then add pink felt cheeks below the eyes.
• Pin the arms just below the head, around R17–R21, before sewing. Attach the legs at the base, keeping them parallel so Charmander sits evenly.
• Centre the tail on the back of the body between R19 and R26, then attach the flame cluster at its tip.
• Attach the optional hat ears to the yellow hat base. Decide whether you want the hat removable before adding it to the plush.
• Weave in every yarn end, reshape the filling, and check each seam before gifting or displaying your finished Charmander.