Introduction
A koala’s nose occupies the centre of its face, so a crossbody strap cannot be allowed to compete with that vertical line. This koala amigurumi crochet pattern uses DK cotton, a 3.5 mm hook and 15 mm safety eyes to make a standing figure approximately 18–20 cm tall. The intermediate project includes cupped ears, a fitted orange sweater and a removable acorn pouch for woodland displays.
The Design: What Makes Gumdrop the Koala Different
Gumdrop uses a 36-stitch head with wide circular ears placed above the eye line. Their folded lower edges create shallow cups without adding a second inner-ear panel. The nose is worked as a narrow stuffed oval because a flat embroidered shape would disappear against the raised eye rims. A tapered body supports the sweater while keeping the grey legs visible below its hem. The koala with sweater crochet pattern also uses shortened sleeves, allowing the paws to project beyond the orange cuffs. One common error in a dressed koala amigurumi is attaching the arms before fitting the garment. That sequence can place the sleeves several stitches away from the shoulders. Fit the sweater first, mark both sleeve openings and only then pin the arms. The maker should also check the diagonal bag strap from the front, since a loose strap can cross the nose instead of the chest.
Project Info at a Glance
| Skill Level | Time | Finished Size | Hook | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 9–11 hours | Approximately 18–20 cm standing | 3.5 mm | Woodland displays and dressed animal collections |
Materials and Tools
Yarn
- Light grey — DK cotton or smooth light worsted — approximately 55 g — YarnArt Jeans, Scheepjes Catona or Paintbox Cotton DK.
- Burnt orange — matching yarn weight — approximately 30 g — used for the sweater.
- Black — matching yarn weight — approximately 8 g — used for the nose and eyebrows.
- White — matching yarn weight — approximately 6 g — used for the eye rims.
- Pink — matching yarn weight — approximately 5 g — used for the cheek patches.
- Dark brown — matching yarn weight — approximately 8 g — used for the acorn cap and strap.
- Olive green — matching yarn weight — approximately 6 g — used for the acorn pouch.
Tools
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
- 15 mm safety eyes
- Polyester stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Locking stitch markers
- Sewing pins
- Scissors
Use embroidered eyes and omit the removable bag when the finished koala is intended for a child under three.
Abbreviations
- MR — magic ring
- sc — single crochet
- inc — two single crochet stitches in one stitch
- dec — invisible decrease over two stitches
- sl st — slip stitch
- ch — chain
- hdc — half double crochet
- BLO — back loop only
- FO — fasten off
An invisible decrease is worked through the front loops of the next two stitches before one single crochet is completed through both loops.
Pattern — Step by Step
Work all stuffed parts in continuous spirals unless joined rounds or rows are specified. Move the marker into the first stitch of every new round.
Head
Yarn: light grey — original shaping based on standard six-stitch amigurumi expansion.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
R7–R14: sc around (36)
Place the safety eyes between R10 and R11, 8 visible stitches apart. Test the eye rims before pressing the washers into place.
R15: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
R16: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
R17: (2 sc, dec) × 6 (18)
Stuff around the eye stems first, then fill the back and crown.
R18: (sc, dec) × 6 (12)
R19: dec × 6 (6)
Fasten off. Draw the final six stitches closed and weave the tail through the head.
Body
Yarn: light grey — medium 36-stitch body.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
R7–R12: sc around (36)
R13: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
R14–R16: sc around (30)
R17: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
R18–R19: sc around (24)
R20: (2 sc, dec) × 6 (18)
Stuff the base firmly. Leave the shoulder area slightly softer for the head seam.
R21: (sc, dec) × 6 (12)
R22: dec × 6 (6)
Fasten off. Leave a 35 cm tail for sewing the head to the body.
Arms — Make 2
Yarn: light grey. Only the paws remain visible beyond the sweater sleeves.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3–R5: sc around (12)
R6: (sc, dec) × 4 (8)
R7–R10: sc around (8)
Stuff the paw firmly and leave the upper half unstuffed.
R11: Flatten and work 4 sc through both layers (4)
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm sewing tail.
Back Legs — Make 2
Yarn: light grey. The broad first rounds form flat standing feet.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4–R6: sc around (18)
R7: (sc, dec) × 6 (12)
R8–R12: sc around (12)
Stuff the foot and lower leg firmly. Add less filling near the upper opening.
R13: dec × 6 (6)
Fasten off. Leave a 30 cm tail and close the opening after pinning the leg.
Outer Ears — Make 2
Yarn: light grey. Published koala patterns commonly use expanded circular ears.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R5: sc around (24)
Fasten off. Leave a 35 cm tail.
Inner Ears — Make 2
Yarn: white or a paler grey.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: sc around (18)
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm tail.
Sew one inner circle to each outer ear. Fold the lower 2 cm of the completed ear inward and secure the fold with three stitches to form a cup.
Eye Rims — Make 2
Yarn: white. Work these as flat circles.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
Fasten off. Stretch one rim around each eye stem before installing the washer. Sew the outer edge flat after the eyes are locked.
Nose
Yarn: black. Work around both sides of the starting chain.
R1: ch 5; starting in the second ch, 3 sc, 3 sc in the final ch, 2 sc along the opposite side, inc (10)
R2: inc, 2 sc, inc × 3, 2 sc, inc × 2 (16)
R3–R4: sc around (16)
R5: (2 sc, dec) × 4 (12)
Add a small amount of stuffing. Flatten the final edge slightly while keeping the centre rounded.
Fasten off. Leave a 30 cm tail.
Cheek Patches — Make 2
Yarn: pink. Work flat.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
Fasten off. Leave a 15 cm tail and press each patch flat.
Orange Sweater Body
Yarn: burnt orange. Work in joined rounds from the lower hem upward.
R1: ch 37, join without twisting; 36 sc around (36)
R2–R8: ch 1, 36 sc, join (36)
R9: ch 1, (4 sc, dec) × 6, join (30)
R10–R11: ch 1, 30 sc, join (30)
R12: ch 1, (3 sc, dec) × 6, join (24)
R13: ch 1, 4 sc, ch 5, skip 4, 8 sc, ch 5, skip 4, 4 sc, join (26 including chains)
R14: ch 1, sc in each stitch and chain around, join (26)
R15: ch 1, work 13 dec evenly around, join (13)
Fasten off. Weave in the neck edge while preserving enough stretch to pass over the body.
Sweater Sleeves — Make 2
Yarn: burnt orange. Join directly to one armhole.
R1: Join yarn and work 10 sc evenly around the opening (10)
R2–R5: sc around (10)
R6: (3 sc, dec) × 2 (8)
R7: sc around (8)
Fasten off. Repeat for the second sleeve.
Acorn Pouch
Yarn: olive green. The lower section forms the usable pocket.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4–R6: sc around (18)
R7: (sc, dec) × 6 (12)
Fasten off. Leave the top open and weave in the tail.
Acorn Cap
Yarn: dark brown. Work as a shallow lid.
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: BLO sc around (18)
R5: sc around (18)
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm tail. Sew the back half of the cap to the green pouch and leave the front half free as a flap.
Acorn Stem
Yarn: dark brown.
Ch 7. Starting in the second chain, sl st in each chain (6)
Fasten off. Sew both ends to the centre of the cap to form a small loop.
Crossbody Strap
Yarn: dark brown.
Ch 66, or continue until the relaxed chain measures 32–34 cm. Starting in the second chain, sl st across (65)
Fasten off. Sew one end to each side of the acorn cap.
Eyebrows
Yarn: black.
Embroider one curved line above each eye between R7 and R8. Each eyebrow should span approximately four stitches and remain at least one round above the white eye rim.
Assembly
- Pin the head to the body with the eyes facing directly away from the body’s round marker line. Sew through one complete stitch from each part.
- Add stuffing through the remaining neck gap until the head no longer tilts, then close the seam.
- Install and sew the white eye rims, keeping an equal border visible around both safety eyes.
- Centre the black nose between the eyes, with its upper edge level with the lower third of each eye rim.
- Sew the pink cheek patches below the outside edges of the eyes and embroider the two eyebrows.
- Attach the cupped ears between head R4 and R11. Match their upper and lower attachment rounds before tightening either seam.
- Sew the legs to the lower body and place the koala on a flat surface to test the standing angle.
- Fit the sweater over the body, align its armholes and attach the arms through the sleeve openings between body R14 and R17.
- Finish both sleeves around the attached arms, then arrange the cuffs so 2–3 cm of each grey paw remains visible.
- Place the strap over one shoulder, position the acorn at the opposite hip and weave all loose tails through the interior stitches.
The completed koala stands approximately 18–20 cm tall when made with the stated yarn and hook.
7 Technical Tips
- Rotated nose placement: A nose shifted by two stitches makes one eye appear closer to the centre. Mark the midpoint between the eyes with a pin before attaching the black oval.
- Flattened ears: Sewing the full circular edge against the head removes the cupped profile. Attach only the folded lower section and approximately 4 cm of each side edge.
- Weak standing base: Lightly stuffed legs can bend beneath the sweatered body. Pack the first six rounds firmly and keep both finished legs equal within 3 mm.
- Visible decrease bars: Ordinary decreases create diagonal ridges on the grey head. Work all decreases through the front loops and keep each working loop below 4 mm.
- Restricted sleeves: An armhole narrower than 4 cm compresses the attached limb. Test each opening over the widest part of the arm before completing sweater R14.
- Crossed facial line: A strap longer than 34 cm can slide upward and pass across the nose. Shorten it until the acorn rests at the lower edge of the sweater.
- Escaping yarn tails: Cotton tails shorter than 8 cm can pull through the pouch seam. Weave each end in three directions behind solid single-crochet stitches.
Conclusion
Set the koala on a level surface and inspect the ear height, nose centre and leg spacing before trimming the final tails. The orange hem should remain horizontal, both grey paws should extend equally from the sleeves, and the acorn should rest near the lower side of the sweater. Record the finished strap length and standing height in the project notes. Pin the completed koala amigurumi crochet pattern to Pinterest, then share front and side photographs on Instagram with #GumdropAcornKoala. The next concrete step is to test the pouch flap with one small snap or embroidered loop. Should Gumdrop carry the acorn at the green base or by its brown cap?
