As a follow-up to the Goat, I was also asked to make a standing giraffe! These standing amigurumi are a lot of fun to design, as well as a bit different from the typical amigurumi out there, so I’d love to try make more animals like this in the future!

• 1/50 skein Caron Simply Soft — a worsted weight (4) yarn (colour A: Sunshine)
• 1/100 skein Lion Brand Yarns Heartland — a worsted weight (4) yarn (colour B: Mammoth Cave)
• 10g Loops and Threads Classic FiberFill
• 2 safety eyes (8.00 mm)
• 3.00 mm hook

Pattern by tick-tock hobbies

(abbreviations: SC = single crochet; INC = two single crochet into a single stitch; DEC = one single crochet over two stitches)

HEAD

1. Using colour A, start a magic circle with six SC. (6 stitches)
2. INC in each stitch around the circle. (12 stitches)
3. *Do two SC. INC in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * three more times. (16 stitches)
4. SC in each stitch around the circle. (16 stitches)
5. *Do two SC. DEC over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * three more times. Add safety eyes at this point. (12 stitches)
6. *Do one SC. DEC over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * three more times. Begin to stuff the head lightly. (8 stitches)
7. *Do two SC. DEC over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * one more time. (6 stitches)
8. *Do one SC. DEC over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * one more time. Cut the yarn and weave in ends. (4 stitches)

OSSICONES (“HORNS”)

1. Using colour B, chain-two. Do three SC into the second stitch from the hook. Cut the yarn and fold it in half to form the “cone” shape. Attach to the head. (3 stitches)
2. Repeat step 1 for the other side.

EARS

1. Using colour A, chain-three. Beginning in the second stitch from the hook, SC in each stitch across the row. When you reach the end, turn the chain over so that you are now working in the bottom of the original chains and SC across the row. Cut the yarn, and attach to the head. (5 stitches)
2. Repeat step 1 for the other ear.

BODY + NECK

1. Using colour A, chain-eleven. Beginning in the second stitch from the hook, SC in each stitch across the row. When you reach the end, turn the chain over so that you are now working in the bottom of the original chains, and SC across the row. Slip stitch and join to the first stitch in the row (20 stitches)
2. *Do three SC. INC in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * four more times. Slip stitch and join to the first stitch in the row (25 stitches)
3. *Do four SC. INC in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * four more times. Slip stitch and join to the first stitch in the row (30 stitches)
4. Chain-one. SC in each stitch around the row. Slip stitch and join to the first stitch in the row. (30 stitches)
5. Repeat step 4 two more times.
6. Do five SC. Do ten DEC. Do five SC. (20 stitches)
7. Do six SC. Do four DEC. Do six SC. Begin to stuff the body at this point. (16 stitches)
8. Do four SC. Do four DEC. Do four SC. (12 stitches)
9. *Do one SC. DEC over the next two stitches*. Repeat from * to * three more times. (8 stitches)
10. SC in each stitch around the row. (8 stitches)
11. Repeat step 10 six more times. Stuff the neck and cut the yarn and leave a long tail for attaching to the head. (8 stitches)

LEGS

1. Using colour B, start a magic circle with six SC. (6 stitches)
2. In the back loop only, SC in each stitch around the circle. (6 stitches)
3. Switch to colour A and SC in each stitch around the circle. (6 stitches)
4. Repeat step 3 three more times. Cut yarn and leave a long tail for attaching to the body. (6 stitches)
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 three more times for the other legs.

TAIL

1. Using colour A, foundation single crochet four stitches. Cut the yarn and attach the tail to the body. (4 stitches)
2. Using colour B, attach a small “fringe” tail.

SPOTS

1. Using colour B, use a combination of the magic circle technique, working in short rows, and whatever else you want to make an assortment of spots! They look more natural when they aren’t uniform, so just go for what feels right!

This was a project that looked not very giraffe-like until the last moment when everything came together, so I was feeling unsure if the vision I had in my head would translate to real life. My parents actually both thought it was a duck when I showed them the body and head without the ears and “horns”, so that was a little bit of a downer in the moment, but since finishing, my parents have both been won over by this little guy.

Something that I always struggle with is the idea of “random”, so making these spots in the different shapes and then attaching them to disperse evenly throughout the body was hard for me. I actually ended up having to consult a lot of different people about the where the spots should go.

I’ve also got some fun facts about giraffes that I’d love to share at this point. As you may have noticed from the instructions, it turns out that the real name for those “horn” nubbins on a giraffe’s head are called ossicones! For another, did you know that giraffes have purple tongues?

My friend actually told me that giraffes are experiencing a silent extinction right now, which was really disappointing to hear about! I don’t claim to be any kind of eco-warrior, but I think it’s important to try and do our parts in supporting nature and reducing our impact wherever we can.

Until next time, happy crafting!

This pattern is an original pattern by June Cheung at Tick-Tock Hobbies – please do not claim this pattern as your own or reprint it on another site or any other format. If you want to share this pattern (and I’d love it if you do!), just link to this pattern and give me the proper credit. You may keep a copy of the pattern for your own personal use, but please DO NOT sell this pattern. Permission is NOT granted for any finished products to be sold for profit, or for mass production, or for factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you so much for your respect and understanding!