I have a little tradition I’ve kept for years without even realizing it. Whenever my daughter has a hard week, I make her something. Nothing fancy, nothing planned. I just pick up my hook and start working on whatever looks cheerful and soft and like it might make her smile.

A few months ago she was going through a rough stretch at school, and I came across this little koala with the most enormous eyes and the fluffiest ears I’d ever seen on a crocheted animal. Something about it just felt right. I started it after dinner one night while she was upstairs doing homework, and by the time I finished the head and body, I was completely charmed. The grey and white color combination with that tiny pink bow around the neck, it is genuinely one of the most lovable little creatures I’ve ever made.

If you’re looking for a crochet koala amigurumi pattern that comes together beautifully and gives you the most huggable, expressive result, this is the one. The big safety eyes, the fluffy ear lining, and the little sculpted booty make this koala stand out from anything I’d seen before.

What You’ll Need

• Grey, white and pink chenille yarn
• Fluffy white yarn
• 6.0mm hook (or any size you are comfortable using)
• Safety eyes (18-20mm)
• Stuffing
• Darning needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations

• Mr : magic ring
• Sc : single crochet
• Inc : increase
• Dec : decrease
• Slst : slip stitch
• (Sc, inc)* : * is the number of times you repeat what’s in the (…)
• R : round
• FO : fasten off
• Ch : chain
• St : stitch

Pattern Instructions

Head / Body

Start with grey yarn. Stitches that are in bold have to be in white yarn.

• R1 : 8 sc in MR (8)
• R2 : 8 inc (16)
• R3 : (sc, inc) * 8 (24)
• R4 : (2 sc, inc) * 8 (32)
• R5 : (3 sc, inc) * 8 (40)
• R6-8 (3 rounds) : 40 sc (40)
• R9: 16 sc, 7 sc, 17 sc (40)
• R10-13 (4 rounds) : 15 sc, 9 sc, 16 sc (40)

Add safety eyes between R6-7 approximately 4-5 visible sts apart from each other.

• R14 : (4 sc, inc) * 2, 5 sc, sc in the same st, 4 sc, inc, 5 sc, sc in the same st, (4 sc, inc) * 3 (48)
• R15 : (5 sc, inc) *2, 5 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc, 6 sc, sc in the same st, (5 sc, inc) * 3 (56)
• R16-21 (6 rounds) : 19 sc, 16 sc, 21 sc (56)
• R22 : (5 sc, dec) * 2, 5 sc, dec, (5 sc, dec) * 2, (5 sc, dec) * 3 (48)
• R23 : 17 sc, 13 sc, 18 sc (48)
• R24 : (4sc, dec) * 3, (4 sc, dec) * 2, (4 sc, dec) * 3 (40)
• R25 : 16 sc, 8 sc, 16 sc (40)

Cut white yarn. Continue with the main color. Start stuffing and continue as you go.

• R26 : (3 sc, dec) * 8 (32)
• R27 : (2 sc, dec) * 8 (24)
• R28 : (sc, dec) * 8 (16)
• R29 : 8 dec (8)

Close the hole and FO. Leave a long tail to make the booty later.

Nose

In black. Chain 4. Start in the second stitch from the hook.

• R1 : 2 sc, 3 sc in the last st of the row. Continue on the other side of the row. 2 sc, inc in the last st (8)
• R2 : 8 sc (8)

FO. Leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly. Sew the nose between R4-5 and R9-10, the smallest part on top.

Arms (make 2)

In grey.

• R1 : 5 sc in MR (5)
• R2 : 5 sc (5)
• R3 : (inc, sc) * 2, inc (8)
• R4-6 (3 rounds) : 8 sc (8)
• R7 : (inc, sc) * 2. End your round here.

FO and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly. Sew between R12-13 and R17-18 approximately 4-5 sts away from the eyes. The last sts you did on R7 must be oriented outwards.

Ears (make 2)

With grey yarn

• R1 : 3 sc in MR, ch 1 and turn (3)
• R2 : 3 inc, ch 1 and turn (6)
• R3 : (sc, inc) * 3, ch 1 and turn (9)
• R4 : (2 sc, inc) * 3, ch 1 and turn (12)
• R5 : (3 sc, inc) * 3, ch 1 and turn (15)
• R6 : 9 sc, (3 dc in the same st, slst) * 3 (21)

Make 6 sc across the chain. FO and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the top of the ear between R3-4, the middle on R7-8 and the bottom between R12-13. The two ears must be approximately 4 sts away from each other.

Feet

With grey yarn.

• R1 : 6 sc in MR (6)
• R2 : (sc, inc) * 3 (9)
• R3 : in BLO, 9 sc (9)
• R4 : (2 sc, inc) * 3 (12)
• R5 : 12 sc (12)

FO and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly. Sew the feet between R20-21 and R25-26 approximately 5 sts away from each other.

Details

• Add blush below the eyes with pink yarn.
• Make a small loop with the color of your choice around his neck.
• Sew white fluffy yarn in the hollow of the ears.
• To make the booty, insert the yarn from the body with a needle into the center of the hole you closed and pull it out between R27-28. Then insert the yarn between R19-20 and pull it out again between R27-28. Pull tight to shape the booty and FO.

Tips for Success

Pay attention to which stitches are white. The head and body section uses color changes throughout, with the white stitches forming the belly panel. Keep a close eye on those bold sections in the pattern and switch colors at the right moments. It makes a big difference in how the finished koala looks.

Use big safety eyes. This pattern calls for 18-20mm safety eyes, and those large eyes are really what give Kali her sweet, expressive face. Don’t go smaller than what the pattern suggests or you’ll lose that adorable look.

The booty technique is easier than it sounds. The pattern uses a simple needle and yarn technique to cinch and shape the bottom of the body. Just take your time, follow the round references carefully, and pull slowly and evenly. The result is that cute little rounded shape.

Sew the fluffy white yarn into the ears last. Putting the fluffy white yarn into the inner ear after all the sewing is done keeps things cleaner and easier. It’s one of those finishing touches that really makes Kali feel special and soft.

Use stitch markers consistently. Because this pattern works in continuous rounds and involves color changes, a stitch marker at the start of each round will save you a lot of counting stress, especially during the longer rounds in the middle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skill level do I need for this pattern? The pattern is listed as intermediate. If you’ve made a few basic amigurumi before and are comfortable with increases, decreases, and working in continuous rounds, you should be able to follow along without too much trouble.

Why are some stitches in the head and body section written in bold? The bold stitches in the head and body section indicate where you switch to white yarn to create the belly panel. Those stitches form the white area in the center of Kali’s front.

Can I use regular acrylic yarn instead of chenille? You can, though the finished texture will be different. Chenille gives this koala a soft, velvety look and feel that really adds to her charm. If you do use regular yarn, choose something soft and consider going down a hook size to keep your stitches tight.

How big will the finished koala be? Size will vary depending on your yarn and hook, but with chenille yarn and a 6.0mm hook you can expect a nice palm-sized plush that’s soft and squeezable.

Can I sell finished koalas made from this pattern? Yes, you may sell finished products made using this pattern. Just be sure to credit the original pattern creator when sharing your work.

Conclusion

My daughter picked up that koala and immediately named her. She didn’t even hesitate. She set her on the corner of her desk where she could see her while she studied, and that was that. There is something so quietly satisfying about making something small and soft that ends up meaning something to the people you love.

This crochet koala amigurumi pattern is a genuine treat to make. From the very first rounds of the head to that final little bow around the neck, every part of Kali has personality. The big ears, the giant eyes, the plush belly, it all adds up to one of the most charming amigurumi I’ve made in a long time. I hope you love making her just as much as I did.