He’s almost one piece. The ears and tail are added after but there’s no annoying sewing on of each leg, etc. individually. I originally posted this pattern a few years back on cult of crochet. I decided to redo the pattern here and convert to American crochet terms. I have plans to use this pattern as a basis for a few other animals so it seemed a good idea to revisit and update first.

Gauge doesn’t matter – you’ll just end up with a slightly bigger or smaller giraffe depending on your yarn / hook combo and how tightly you crochet. The yarn I used here was from a jumper I found in a charity shop so I can’t give you the brand (even though it’s perfect!). I used a 4mm hook and he turned out around 20cm tall.

What you’ll need:

• orange yarn
• a small amount of brown yarn
• a suitable size hook for the yarn used
• yarn needle
• regular needle
• black thread
• beads/buttons for eyes

This pattern is written using American crochet terms. Crochet into the back loop only of all stitches unless the instructions say otherwise and continue working in a spiral, using a stitch marker to keep track of rounds. I’m left handed and so the diagram for the legs is also left handed. You’ll need to reverse the direction if you’re right handed (ie. anti-clockwise).

HEAD

Round 1. With orange yarn create a magic ring containing 6sc.

Round 2. 2sc into each stitch (12 stitches total)

Round 3. *2sc into first stitch, 1sc in next stitch. *repeat 6 times (18 stitches total)

Round 4. *2sc into first stitch, 1sc in each of next 2 stitches. *repeat 6 times (24 stitches total)

Round 5. 1sc in each stitch.

Round 6. *miss 1 stitch, 1sc in each of next 3 stitches. *repeat 6 times (18 stitches total)

Round 7. *miss 1 stitch, 1sc in each of next 2 stitches. *repeat 6 times (12 stitches total)

STUFF. Do not fasten off but continue with neck

NECK

Round 8-17. 1sc in each stitch.

STUFF FIRMLY – insert a pipe cleaner before stuffing if you would like the neck to be poseable

Round 18. *2sc into first stitch, 1sc in next stitch. *repeat 6 times (18 stitches total)

Round 19-20. 1sc in each stitch.

Round 21. *2sc into first stitch, 1sc in each of next 2 stitches. *repeat 6 times (24 stitches total)

Round 22. sc 9 stitches, hdc, 2dc, 2dc, 2dc, 2dc, hdc, sc 9 stitches (28 stitches total)

Round 23. sc 9 stitches, hdc, dc, 2dc, dc, 2dc, dc, 2dc, dc, 2dc, hdc, sc 9 stitches (32 stitches total)

Round 24. sc 10 stitches, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, 2dc, 2dc, 2dc, 2dc, dc, dc, hdc, hdc, sc 10 stitches (36 stitches total)

Round 25-28. 1sc in each stitch.

Do not fasten off but continue with legs:

LEGS

Round 1. The next stitch you are about to complete is stitch number one and there are 36 stitches in the round (see the diagram below)

sc 9 stitches, chain 9, sc back into stitch number one to create a loop. Continue in the direction you are going:

Round 2-5. 1sc in each stitch.

Round 6. Change colour to brown. 1sc in each stitch.

Round 7. *miss 1 stitch, 1sc in each of next 3 stitches. *repeat until there are only a few stitches left, slip stitch the hole closed and fasten off.

With orange start at stitch 10 (on the diagram – the next stitch from the leg you just completed) and repeat steps 1 to 7 for the second leg.

Repeat for the remaining two legs, starting at stitch 19 and 28 respectively.

Stuff the legs and the body:

Using orange yarn stitch the legs together.

Attach a length of orange yarn to the back end and chain ~6 stitches to create a tail:

NOSE

Round 1. With brown yarn create a magic ring containing 6sc.

Round 2. 2sc into each stitch (12 stitches total)

Round 3-5. 1sc in each stitch.

STUFF and sew onto front of head

HORNS

Use a crochet hook to pull a length of brown yarn through a stitch on the top of the head. Knot together 4 or 5 times and trim. Repeat on the other side of the head.

EARS (x2)

In brown ch6.

TURN

sl st in 2nd chain from the hook, sc, hdc, dc, sl st.

Fasten off and sew onto the side of the head

FINISHING

Using black thread sew buttons or beads to the front of the head for eyes and sew two patches of black on the nose for nostrils. Weave in any loose ends and give him a name like Geoffrey, George or Gerald 🙂

Copyright & Legal Stuff: I’m happy for you to sell items you make from this pattern but the images and words are mine – I worked hard writing & testing & photographing so don’t copy or distribute any part of this pattern. If you want to share it then link to this page. Thanks & happy crocheting