You know those little moments that just stay with you? I was sitting on the back porch one evening last summer, watching my grandson chase fireflies in the yard, and he stopped, looked at me with those big eyes, and said, “Grandma, can you make me a frog?” Just like that. Out of nowhere. I laughed so hard. But that night I went inside and started searching for the perfect frog pattern, and when I found this one, I knew it was exactly right. That little round body, those giant googly eyes, the tiny red tongue peeking out. It is just too much. I finished it in one sitting, and when I handed it to him the next morning, he carried it around all day and named it “Hoppy.” That is all I need to know about this pattern.

This little frog is approximately 7 cm, which makes it the perfect size for little hands, a keychain bag charm, or just a sweet desk companion. It is a 2-in-1 design, meaning the body is made from two separate flat pieces joined together, which gives it that satisfying plump shape. The puff stitch paws are honestly the most fun part to make.

What You’ll Need

• 100% cotton yarn for crocheting the frog (the pattern used PaintBox Yarns Cotton DK, 125 m / 50 g, in the following colors: Lime Green (629), Paper White (601), a small amount of Pillar Red (615), and Spearmint Green (626))
• Crochet hook 2.0 mm (the pattern used a Clover hook)
• Stuffing, hollow fiber
• Safety eyes or black beads, 6 mm in diameter
• A needle with a large eye
• Sewing pins

Finished Size

Approximately 7 cm (2.7 inches), using the same materials listed above.

Important note: The toy must be crocheted with tight stitches to make sure there are no holes through which the stuffing can be seen. If you notice tiny holes, switch to a smaller hook size.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• puff stitch = crochet 4 dc in the same stitch and then join them together to finish the stitch
• sl.st. = slip stitch
• sc inc = increase
• sc dec = decrease
• *(sc, inc)n = repeat those in brackets n times

Pattern Instructions

Belly

With white yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook. The belly is crocheted in a spiral.

• Row 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
• Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12)
• Row 3: (1 sc, sc inc)*6 (18)
• Row 4: (2 sc, sc inc)*6 (24)
• Row 5: (3 sc, sc inc)*6 (30)
• Row 6: (4 sc, sc inc)*6 (36)
• Row 7: (5 sc, sc inc)*6 (42)
• Row 8: (6 sc, sc inc)*6 (48)
• Row 9: (7 sc, sc inc)*6 (54)
• Row 10: (8 sc, sc inc)*6, sl.st. (60)
• Tie off the thread and cut it

Back

With green yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook. The back is crocheted in a spiral.

• Row 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
• Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12)
• Row 3: (1 sc, sc inc)*6 (18)
• Row 4: (2 sc, sc inc)*6 (24)
• Row 5: (3 sc, sc inc)*6 (30)
• Row 6: (4 sc, sc inc)*6 (36)
• Row 7: (5 sc, sc inc)*6 (42)
• Row 8: (6 sc, sc inc)*6 (48)
• Row 9: 48 sc (48)
• Row 10: (7 sc, sc inc)*6 (54)
• Row 11: 54 sc (54)
• Row 12: (8 sc, sc inc)*6 (60)
• Rows 13 to 14: 2 rows of 60 sc (60)
• Do not cut the work thread

Joining the belly and the back together: Put the wrong sides of the pieces to each other, insert the crochet hook through the loops of both pieces and crochet sc. Work sc around the edge. Stuff the body as you go around. Finish with sl.st. Tie off the thread and hide it inside.

Eyes (make 2)

With white yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook. The eyes are crocheted in a spiral.

• Row 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
• Close the magic ring, but not too tight so that you can insert the safety eyes easily
• Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12)
• Row 3: (3 sc, sc inc)*3 (15)
• Rows 4 to 5: 2 rows of 15 sc (15)
• Insert the safety eyes into the middle of the magic ring
• Row 6: (3 sc, sc dec)*3 (12)
• Stuff the eye
• Row 7: 6 sc dec (6)
• Finish with sl.st.
• Tie off the thread and leave enough for sewing

Eyelids (make 2)

With green yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook. The eyelids are crocheted in a spiral.

• Row 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
• Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12)
• Row 3: (1 sc, sc inc)*6 (18)
• Rows 4 to 6: 3 rows of 18 sc (18)
• Finish with sl.st.
• Tie off and leave enough thread for sewing

Paws (make 4)

With green yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook.

• Row 1: 2 ch, 12 dc in magic ring, sl.st. (12)
• Row 2: 4 sl.st., (6 ch., puff stitch in the 3rd loop from the hook and 1 sc in the 4th, 5th and 6th loops from the hook, 1 sl.st. in the next loop of the first row) * repeat this pattern two more times, 4 sl.st.
• Tie off the thread and leave enough for sewing

Tongue

With red yarn. Use a 2.0 mm hook.

• Crochet 4 ch
• Row 1: Start in the second loop from the hook and crochet 2 sc, 3 sc in last ch, do not turn the work and crochet continuously in circle direction, 1 sc, 1 sc inc (8)
• Finish with sl.st.
• Tie off the thread and leave enough for sewing

Assembly

• Place the eyes into the eyelids and sew them. Tie off the white yarn at the bottom of the eye.
• Sew the eyes onto the head/body between the 4th and 8th rows.
• Sew the front paws onto the bottom of the frog symmetrically to the muzzle.
• Sew the back paws onto the bottom of the frog. The back paws should be placed pointing outward to the sides.
• Sew the tongue onto the muzzle.
• Embroider french knots on the back of the frog using the dark green yarn. Note: You can also use green beads for decorating.

Congratulations! Your little frog is ready!

Tips for Success

Crochet tightly throughout. This pattern specifically calls for tight stitches, especially on the body pieces. If you can see any of the stuffing peeking through, just go down one hook size. Cotton yarn and a 2.0 mm hook already make for a pretty firm fabric, so trust the process.

Stuff the body as you join the two pieces. Do not wait until the seam is almost closed to stuff. Add the filling gradually as you work around the edge so you can get an even, round shape without any lumpy spots.

Do not close the magic ring too tightly on the eyes. You need to be able to push the safety eye post through the center. Close it just enough to be snug, then insert the safety eye before continuing.

Use sewing pins to place the eyes before sewing. It makes such a difference to pin everything in place first and step back to check the look before committing with the needle and thread.

The puff stitch paws look tricky but are not. Take it one step at a time and watch how the little toes form as you work. Once you do the first paw, the other three go much faster.

For the french knot spots, use dark spearmint green yarn. You can also skip the embroidery and glue on small green beads if you prefer a quicker finish. Both look really cute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this pattern beginner-friendly? A: It is a light intermediate pattern. If you know how to do a magic ring, single crochet, and slip stitch, you can handle most of it. The puff stitch paws are the trickiest part, but the instructions walk you through each step clearly.

Q: Can I make this frog bigger? A: Yes! You can use a heavier weight yarn with a larger hook. Just keep in mind the puff stitch paws will also be bigger, and you may need to adjust stuffing amounts. The overall shape will stay the same.

Q: What if I cannot find PaintBox Cotton DK yarn? A: Any 100% cotton DK weight yarn in lime green, white, and red will work just fine. The important thing is the weight and the hook size match, so your tension stays consistent and the stitches stay tight.

Q: Can I use safety eyes for children under 3? A: If this frog is for a very young child, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes instead using black yarn. Embroidered eyes are completely safe and still look adorable.

Q: How long does this project take to finish? A: Most crocheters with some experience can finish this in one sitting of about 3 to 4 hours. It is a wonderful afternoon project.