Fiona: A Crochet Flamingo Snuggler
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There’s something about the squishy goodness of this crochet flamingo snuggler that gets me every time.
Meet Fiona, my latest crochet snuggler pattern. This little darling with her cute little wings and beautiful shades of pink is ready for a tropical paradise adventure.
I don’t know what it is about a flamingo that has me smitten. Their glorious shades of pink and the majestic way they make their way in the world are intriguing. I also love that I almost always see them in a beautiful flock. A reminder that while it’s nice going it alone in the world, its often better with others around you.
On the snuggler front, I crocheted up a whole little zoo of snugglers before our kitchen remodel that was.. ahem.. 2 years ago already. So far 3 others made their debut here on the blog but the others have been sitting on shelf waiting for their turn to shine.
Flamingos always remind me of warm, sunny, tropical places and somehow that makes it feel like summer time in Michigan even though flamingos and Michigan weather definitely don’t mix. So summer feels like the perfect time for little miss Fiona the Flamingo to make her entrance.
Let’s talk all the details!
A crochet snuggler is part amigurumi and part lovey. Typically the head, feet and hands are stuffed, but the rest of the Snuggler remains unstuffed. Using a bulky chenille style yarn makes this a fun and fast project.
I love working with Premier brand #6 bulky chenille style yarn. It works up beautifully. Most of my bird and snuggler patterns are made using Premier Parfait Chunky yarn. The bright pink on this flamingo was actually Premier Just Chenille in Flamingo color. I paired this color with Premier Parfait Chunky yarn in Ballet Pink.
Unfortunately the Just Chenille line seems to only be available in a large quantity on Premier’s website. So I recommend picking a different combination of colors in the Premier Parfait Chunky line. Hibiscus works well for the darker color and Coral is a nice compliment for the leg color.
You’ll also need some scraps in black and white for this cute flamingo’s beak.
My crochet snuggler patterns use 2 different hooks and 2 different main stitches. To get the perfect snuggler, be sure to pay close attention to which hook and stitch is used for each section.
An 8.0 mm larger crochet hook is used for the arms, legs and body. These pieces are mostly worked in Half Double Crochet Stitches. A smaller 6.5 mm crochet hook is used for the head, snout, ears, horns and tail and the single crochet stitch is main stitch used.
A few of you sometimes miss this important part of the pattern and then end up with a long, oblong head from not working the head in the correct single crochet stitch. So make sure to take those few extra minutes to make sure you have the right crochet hook and stitch in mind!
Grab your crochet hooks and your squishy yarn and let’s dive into this fun pattern!
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Flamingo Crochet Snuggler
Materials
- Super Bulky Weight #6 yarn (try Herrschners, Amazon or Etsy)
- Main: 100 yards dark pink, sample used Premier Just Chenille in Flamingo (could substitute Premier Parfait Chunky in Hibiscus)
- Legs: 30 yards light pink, sample used Premier Parfait Chunky in Ballet Pink (if using Hibiscus for body, Pink Lemonade goes well for legs)
- Small amounts of white and black
- Crochet Hook Sizes:
- L/8.00 mm for legs, wings and body
- K/6.50 mm for head, beak and top feathers
- 15mm safety eyes. NOTE: if making for a baby or young child, embroider eyes instead
- Stitch markers to keep track of rows and to mark the center top of foot
- Polyester Fiberfill
- Tapestry needle and scissors
Gauge: Using the smaller, 6.50 mm hook, my gauge is 5.5 sc to 2 inches. However, gauge is not important in this pattern. You may use other weights of yarn. Adjust hook size to fit your needs.
Note: Use a stitch marker to mark the last stitch of each round as you work, moving the stitch marker as you work each round.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart. Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches such as the single crochet, double crochet and chain stitch used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.
Crochet Abbreviations:
Special Stitches:
Half Double Crochet 2 Together (hdc 2 tog): I use a modified half double crochet decrease in this pattern. Complete the stitch as follows: Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop, Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook. Half double crochet decrease made.
Finished Crochet Snuggler Size
Flamingo snuggler shown measures 16-1/2” from bottom of feet to top of head (excluding top feathers).
If you’re looking to learn how to make the best amigurumi, be sure to check out my Amigurumi: A Beginner’s Guide. It’s a massive 165 page ebook of detailed tutorials, tips and tricks (plus exclusive patterns). You’ll learn everything you can think of from the magic ring and working in continuous rounds to invisible decreases and other pro tips. .
How to Crochet a Flamingo Snuggler
The legs of the flamingo snuggler are crocheted first, then joined together to work the body. The head is crocheted next, followed by the beak, wings and top feathers. A few minutes to assemble at the end and your snuggler is complete! Let’s dive into the details:
Legs (make 2):
With light pink yarn and the larger (L/8.00 mm) hook, make a magic ring.
R1: 6 sc into ring (6 sts). Work in rounds
R2: *2hdc in ea st, repeat from * around (12 st)
R3: *hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around (15 st)
R4: hdc in next 5 st, (hdc 2 tog) three times, hdc in last 4 st (12 st)
Note: Use an additional stitch marker to mark around the 2nd decrease (to identify the top center of the foot)
R5: *hdc in next 2 st, (hdc 2 tog) repeat from * around (9 st)
R6: *hdc in next st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around (6 st)
Stuff feet only, leaving rest of leg and body unstuffed.
R7-10: hdc around (6 st)
R11: *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around (9 st)
R12: *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next, repeat from * around, changing to dark pink yarn in the last stitch. (12 st)
R13: With dark pink yarn, *hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around (15 st)
For first leg, at end of last round, single crochet into next stitch, slip into next stitch, then fasten off, leaving a long strand for sewing.
Repeat for 2nd leg, but do not fasten off.
Flamingo Body
In the next row, the legs are crocheted together and form the bottom of the body. Position the legs so that they are in the correct position with both feet facing forward, using the stitch markers in the top center of each foot to assist in alignment. Use an additional stitch marker to mark where the two legs meet in the middle. This stitch marker holds the center stitch from each leg to each other. Make sure that you also have a stitch marker in the last stitch worked in the leg just completed. This stitch will be the last stitch worked in this row.
R1: hdc in the next stitch of the leg just worked. Continue to half double crochet in each stitch until you reach the marker holding the 2 legs together. Work a half double crochet in the next stitch (which is the stitch holding the legs together). THEN work a half double crochet in the matching stitch on the OTHER leg. You can remove the stitch marker if you’d like. Continue to half double crochet all the way around the other leg (15 stitches on that leg). You are now at the middle of the doll on the opposite side. Half double crochet in the remaining unworked stitches on the first leg worked in this row, finishing in the stitch you marked as the end of the row. Count your stitches for this row. There should be 30 stitches in the row. If you have more or less than this, take a look at the stitches worked at the joining points and see if you’ve missed or worked an extra stitch here.
R2-4: hdc around (30 st)
R5: *hdc in next 3 st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around (24 st)
Pause your work and sew up the hole between the 2 legs with the fastened off yarn left from one of the legs. Weave in ends, then continue with remainder of body as follows:
R6-7: hdc around (24 st)
R8: *hdc in next 2 st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around (18 st)
R9: hdc around (18 st)
R10: *hdc in next st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around (12 st)
R11: (hdc 2 tog) around (6 st)
R12: working in BLO, sc around (6 st), cut long strand, weave through ends to close.
Head
Using dark pink yarn and the smaller (K/6.5mm) hook, make a magic ring.
R1: 6 sc into ring (6 sts). Work in rounds
R2: 2 sc in ea st (12 st)
R3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (18 st)
R4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (24 st)
R5: sc in next st, 2 sc in next *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around until last 2 stitches, then sc in the next 2 st. (30 st)
R6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (36 st)
R7-14: sc around. (36 st)
R15: *sc in next 4 st, sc next 2 st together. Repeat from * around (30 st)
R16: *sc in next 3 st, sc next 2 st together. Repeat from * around (24 st)
R17: *sc in next 2 st, sc next 2 st together. Repeat from * around (18 st)
Insert safety eyes between rows 11 & 12, leaving 5 stitches in between them. Begin stuffing.
R18: *sc in next st, sc next 2 st together. Repeat from * around (12 st)
R19: *sc next 2 st together. Repeat from * around (6 st). Fasten off, leaving a long strand for finishing.
Beak
Using black yarn and the smaller (K/6.5mm) hook, make a magic ring.
R1: 3 sc into ring. (3 sts) Work in rounds
R2: 2 sc in ea st, changing to white yarn in the last stitch. (6st)
R3: With white yarn, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (9 st)
R4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (12 st)
R5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next. Repeat from * around. (15 st)
Slip stitch to next stitch and fasten off leaving a long strand for joining. Lightly stuff beak.
Top Feathers
Using dark pink yarn and the smaller (K/6.5mm) hook, *ch 10, sl st to first ch. Repeat from * twice. Fasten off leaving a long strand for joining (3 loops)
Wings (Make 2)
With dark pink yarn and the larger (L/8.00 mm) hook, make a magic ring.
R1: 3 sc into ring (3 sts). Work in rounds
R2: *2hdc in ea st, repeat from * around. (6 st)
R3: *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (9 st)
R4: *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (12 st)
R5: *hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (15 st)
R6: *hdc in next 3 st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around. (12 st)
R7: *hdc in next 2 st, (hdc 2 tog), repeat from * around. (9 st)
R8: hdc in next 4 st, (hdc 2 tog), hdc next 3 st. (8 st)
R9: hdc in next st, (hdc 2 tog), hdc next 5 st. (7 st)
R10: hdc in next 3 st, (hdc 2 tog), hdc next 2 st. (6 st)
R11: hdc in next st, (hdc 2 tog), hdc next 3 st. (5 st)
R12: hdc around. (5 st.)
Sc in next st, then sl st to next stitch and fasten off, leaving a long strand for sewing. Note: wings are not stuffed.
Assembly
Using strand of yarn from head, position on body so that head is facing the front. Attach last row of head to the free front loops from the last round of the body. Go around the head a second time, working through all layers to sew it firmly on the body. Then fasten off and weave in ends.
Sew the beak to the face, centered as shown. Then fasten off and weave in ends.
Flatten the top of the wings. Leaving the wings unstuffed, whip stitch closed, then sew the wings on either side of the body near the head. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Sew the top feathers to the top of the head.
Weave in any remaining ends.
I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making this Crochet Flamingo Snuggler pattern, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
