Looking for a fun crochet project that’s not yet another granny square blanket? How about learning to crochet an amigurumi flamingo?
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting super-cute animals, dolls, and other creatures. And, there’s nothing much cuter than a flamingo. Learning how to crochet a mini flamingo is an advanced-beginner project, so it helps to know your way around a crochet hook before you begin, but it’s not difficult and doesn’t require many supplies. Read on to learn how to crochet a flamingo to give as a gift or, well, to simply admire in your home.
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Tools and Supplies
Amigurumi Flamingo Patterns
Crochet patterns tell you which stitches to use and when, as well as all of the supplies you’ll need. While they’re not essential for simple items like blankets, it’s a good idea to follow a pattern when you’re crocheting something like a stuffed animal. After all, if the neck’s too short or the body the wrong size, your flamingo just won’t look right.
Amigurumi flamingo patterns are easy to find with a quick search online. Simple patterns are often free, while more complex ones cost a bit more. Crochet patterns use abbreviations and codes, so have a good read through to make sure you’re comfortable with the instructions before you start.
Crochet Hook
Nobody’s doing any crocheting without a crochet hook. With experience, you may find a type of crochet hook you like best, but to begin with, use the type suggested in the pattern so your amigurumi flamingo is the right size, shape, and proportions.
Yarn
Patterns are usually designed to be made with yarn of a particular weight or texture, so follow your pattern’s suggestion for which type to use.
To crochet a flamingo, you’ll probably want some shade of pink, but note that real-life flamingos range from white with pink accents to candy pink to a deep shade of orangey salmon, so you can have some fun choosing shades. You’ll also want some accent colors—a gray or brown would be ideal for the legs, and black and/or light pink for the beak.
Stuffing
The head, neck, and body of the flamingo will need to be filled with something so it’s not flat and droopy. You could use scrap yarn or fabric or polyester stuffing from a craft store.
Other Supplies
Other supplies you’ll find useful for making a flamingo are:
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Darning needle
- Embroidery thread
- Sewing pins
How to Crochet an Amigurumi Flamingo
The following steps are based on Skillshare instructor Allison Stynchula’s video tutorial. In addition to providing visual lessons, she includes a written amigurumi flamingo pattern you can refer back to.
(Note: If you’re new to crocheting, consider taking a beginner’s tutorial to learn the basics before moving on to projects like a crochet flamingo.)
Step 1: Cast On the Head
Begin your project by casting on, or making your first stitches. Cast on the number and type of stitches your pattern states. Start by crocheting a circle of stitches.
Step 2: Increase the Stitches
“Increasing” is shorthand for the practice of increasing the number of stitches that you’re working on. Your amigurumi flamingo pattern will require you to increase and decrease your stitches at certain points—if you didn’t, you’d just have a flat square of crochet stitches, and definitely not a flamingo. Follow the instructions on increasing carefully to make sure you do them at the right time. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your work as you go, so you know where each row begins and ends. You’re essentially crocheting a ball at this point.
Step 3: Decrease the Stitches
To create the circular ball of the head, you won’t want to increase your stitches forever: it’s time to start decreasing. Like increases (but the opposite!) decreases decrease the number of stitches you’re working with—i.e., they make your crocheted item smaller. In this case, you’re crocheting a ball, so once you’ve reached the widest point in the ball’s circumference, it’s time to make it smaller. Follow your pattern regarding when to decrease, and by how many each time.
Step 4: Stuff the Flamingo’s Head
Before you complete the decreases and close up the ball, stuff the flamingo’s head with your filling material. Stuff it until it’s firm and doesn’t have much give.
Step 5: Continue Decreasing and Close the Head
After stuffing the head, continue with rounds of decreases until the ball is closed up. Secure the small hole that remains by knotting your yarn before cutting the end off. Push the remaining tail of yarn into the stuffed crochet ball with a thick darning needle or knitting needle so it doesn’t show.
Step 6: Crochet and Stuff the Body
Crocheting the flamingo body generally follows the same technique as crocheting the head, but you’ll be making a different shape, so be sure to follow your pattern carefully. Begin by casting on again, using the same yarn color as for the head. Stitch the increases and decreases in the order stated in your pattern.
When the body is almost fully formed, stuff it with filling.
Step 7: Crochet the Neck
After stuffing the body, don’t continue decreasing—as you did with the head—to close it up. That’s because it’s time to stitch the neck (an important feature of flamingos!) directly from the body. To crochet the neck, simply crochet several rounds (or follow the instructions of your pattern). Once you’ve finished, fasten off, leaving a tail of a few inches that you can use to sew the neck to the head.
Step 8: Stuff the Neck
Stuff the neck with filling. Set the body and head aside.
Step 9: Crochet the Wings
Flamingos have two wings, so you’ll need to crochet these parts, too, although they’re much smaller than the head and body, so they won’t take as long. Follow your pattern’s suggestion for the number and type of stitches to do here. After fastening off, tuck the tail of yarn into the wing. There’s no need to leave a long tail this time.
Step 10: Crochet the Feet, Legs, Beak, and Tail
Switch to your other shades of yarn for the feet, legs, and beak. As with the wings, these parts are smaller than the body and head, so this shouldn’t take you long, though it can get a little fiddly as you’re crocheting on a smaller scale. Follow your pattern’s directions for each part. Then, when fastening off, leave a tail of yarn for sewing them on later.
Step 11: Assemble the Flamingo
Pin the parts together to ensure everything is in the right place. Then, using a darning needle and the same color yarn as the parts you’re attaching, sew the flamingo’s different body parts together. Start by sewing the neck onto the head, followed by each of the other features. Don’t forget to sew the feet onto the legs before sewing the legs onto the body.
Step 12: Embroider the Eyes
To finish off your flamingo and bring her to life, embroider on some eyes. Voilá! Your beautiful flamingo is ready to go out into the world.
A Flamingo in a Flock of Pigeons
Flamingos are beautiful birds, but they’re not the only ones that are fun to make with crochet. Although the shapes and proportions of different birds (and other animals, for that matter) vary, once you’ve made your first amigurumi crochet flamingo, you’ll have all the skills and knowledge you need to crochet a whole range of cute friends. From bumblebees to seahorses to octopuses, see where this kawaii craft will take you. Have fun!
Can You Handle the Cuteness?
Beginner’s Guide to Amigurumi Crochet
