Walter the Walrus | Free Pattern

Welcome to 2019! I thought it would be fun to publish an amigurumi walrus plushie pattern right off the bat this year. Enjoy this adorable little face! I know I do!

Ah, my dear friend Walter the Walrus. I LOVE this little guy. 🙂 He has been to many a craft fair with me, both as my mascot in my bag and as a sale item on the table. Walter is one of a kind. His shaping and huge, thick wrinkles are all with the help of sl st and a little sewing from the inside out. (Don’t worry, there are pictures!)

Walter was first published in Knotions Magazine online. If you haven’t checked it out, DO SO NOW! It’s a free e-zine with access to all the past issues at your fingertips! A great place to bookmark for cool patterns.

This pattern can also be purchased as a Premium Pattern for only $3.00 (printable, ad-free, downloadable .pdf file) here. It can also be found on Etsy or Ravelry.

Walter is a handsome devil who looks even more dashing in any of his collection of hats. He likes long flops on the beach.

Walter the Walrus

All patterns are written in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.

Intermediate pattern.  You need to have knowledge of single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), slip stitch (sl st), and both increases and decreases. The pattern uses non-traditional assembly methods and use of slip stitch rows to add wrinkles.

Gauge

Gauge is not important for this pattern.

Measurements

8 inches tall x 9 inches long

Supplies

• Furls Odyssey H (5.00mm) hook
• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver, 364 yds: Mushroom (MC).
• Scraps of less than 100 yds: Oatmeal (OAT), Off White (WHT),Delft Blue (BLU), Spring Green (GRN), Burgundy (BUR) .
• 2-15mm brown safety eyes
• Yarn Needle
• Straight Pins
• Stitch marker or stitch saver (safety pins work as well)

Pattern Notes

Work in continuous rounds.  Do not join rounds with slip stitch.

Assemble in order as directed for best positioning results.

Ch 2 at beginning of row counts as dc.

Special Stitches

Single Crochet Two Together (sc2tog]: insert hook through first stitch, yo, pull through a loop, insert hook through next st, yo, pull through all three loops on hook. (1 Decrease made)

Instructions

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Body

Before beginning Body, reserve a 2 yd piece of MC yarn for later use.

With MC, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 Sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times. (30)

Rnds 6-12: Sc evenly around. (30)

Rnd 13: [4 sc, inc] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 14-15: Sc evenly around. (36)

Rnd 16: [5 sc, inc] 3 times, 18 sc. (39)

Rnd 17: [6 sc, inc] 3 times, 18 sc. (42)

Rnd 18: Sc evenly around. (42)

Rnds 19-21: 6 sc, 8 sl st, 12 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Rnds 22-24: 26 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Rnds 25-26: 5 sc, 10 sl st, 11 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Rnds 27-29: 26 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Rnds 30-31: 5 sc, 8 sl st, 13 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Rnds 32-33: 26 sc, 10 hdc, 6 sc. (42)

Lay out with sl st sections to the right. Insert safety eyes between rows 6 and 7, 6 sts apart.

Rnd 34: [5 sc, dec] 6 times. (36)

Rnds 35-36: Sc evenly around. (36)

Rnd 37: [4 sc, dec] 6 times. (30)

Rnds 38-40: 10 sl st, 5 sc, 10 hdc, 5 sc. (30)

Rnd 41: Sc evenly around. (30)

Rnd 42: [3 sc, dec] 6 times. (24)

Rnds 43-44: Sc evenly around. (24)

Rnds 45-46: 5 sl st, 6 sc, 7 hdc, 6 sc. (24)

Rnd 47: Sc evenly around. (24)

Rnd 48: [2 sc, dec] 6 times. (18)

Rnds 49-50: Sc evenly around. (18)

Do not bind off. Attach stitch saver or safety pin to prevent losing stitches. Turn work inside out.

Pinch sl st rows together so slip stitches form a ridge. Pin in place. Using a needle and reserved piece of MC yarn, sew through the ridge of each sl st section to make pinch permanent. Repeat with all sl st sections.

Turn work right side out and continue.

Stuff.

Rnd 51: [Sc, dec] 6 times. (12)

Press open end flat with next st at one end. Working through both thicknesses, sc across. (6)

Bind off and weave in ends.

Tail Flippers

(Make 2)

With MC, ch 8, leaving long tail at beginning.

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (counts as first two dc), 3 dc, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (7)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 5 dc, 2 dc in top of ch. Turn. (9)

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in next st, 5 dc. Turn. (7) Do not work last 2 sts – this is a short row.

Row 4: Ch 1 (does NOT count as st), 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc. Turn. (7)

Row 5: Ch 1 (does NOT count as st), 3 sc, sc2tog. Turn. (4) Do not work last 3 sts – this is a short row.

Row 6: Ch 1 (does NOT count as st), sl st 2, sc, hdc.  (4)

Bind off. Weave in ends on narrow side. Sandwich both flippers together. Using needle and starting tail, attach to six flat stitches at end of body, ridged side facing inward.

Front Flippers

(Make 2)

With MC, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)

Rnds 3-4: Sc evenly around. (12)

Rnd 5: [2 sc, inc] 4 times. (16)

Rnds 6-10: Sc evenly around. (16)

Rnds 11-12: Inc, 8 sc, dec, 5 sc. (16)

Rnd 13: Inc, 6 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc. (15)

Rnd 14: Inc, 5 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc. (14)

Rnd 15: Inc, 4 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc. (13)

Rnd 16: Inc, 3 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc. (12)

Stuff top half. Do not stuff below row 11.

Rnd 17: Inc, 3 sc, 2 dec, 4 sc. (11)

Rnd 18: Inc, 2 sc, 2 dec, 4 sc. (10)

Rnd 19: Inc, 2 sc, 2 dec, 3 sc. (9)

Rnd 20: Inc, 1 sc, 2 dec, 3 sc. (8)

Rnd 21: Inc, 1 sc, 2 dec, 2 sc. (7)

Rnd 22: Inc, 1 sc, 2 dec, 1 sc. (6)

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing. Using needle and working through the back loops only, thread yarn through remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close. Weave in ends.

Bend unstuffed portion of flipper.

Using new MC yarn, attach front flippers to body, decreases facing backward. Align top of flipper with round 20. Front flippers should hold up the body, making the head vertical without a tilt. There will be a distinct gap between the body, the flipper, and the surface it sits on.

Cheeks

(Make 2)

With OAT, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [2 sc, inc] 4 times (16)

Rnd 4: Sc evenly around. (16)

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.

Stuff lightly.

Attach with whip stitch, 1 row below eyes, touching in the middle.

Tusks

(Make 2)

With WHT, ch 2.

Rnd 1: Sc 4 in 2nd ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: Sc evenly around. (4)

Rnd 3: [Inc, sc] twice. (6)

Rnd 4-9: Sc evenly around.

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Press open end together. Using needle, attach to bottom of cheek, hanging straight down.

Eyebrows

(Make 2)

With MC, ch 6.

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing. Using needle, sew eyebrows along curve of each eye, slightly overlapping the eye.

Mustache

With OAT, cut 20 strands of yarn 10 inches long.

To attach, fold yarn in half, forming a loop. Insert hook through desired stitch, put loop over hook and pull through stitch, wrap both halves of yarn over over hook and pull through loop. Pull tight.

Attach 10 whiskers to each cheek in two rows along the top edge.

Brush for a fluffy look, finger-comb for a stringy one.

Winter Hat

Note: This hat is NOT worked in continuous rounds.

With BUR, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Change to GRN. Inc 6 times. Sl st in first st. (12)

Rnd 3: Change to BUR. [sc, inc] 6 times. Sl st in first st. (18)

Rnd 4: Change to GRN. [2 sc, inc] 6 times. Sl st in first st. (24)

Rnd 5: Change to BUR. [3 sc, inc] 6 times. Sl st in first st. (30)

Rnd 6: Change to GRN. Sc evenly around. Sl st in first st. (30)

Rnd 7: Change to BUR. Sc evenly around. Sl st in first st. (30)

Rnd 8: Change to GRN. Sc evenly around. Sl st in first st. (30)

Rnd 9: Change to BUR. Sc evenly around. Sl st in first st. (30)

Rnd 10: Change to GRN. Ch 2, 29 dc. Sl st in first st to join. (30)

Bind off and weave in ends.

Make 1 ½ inch pom pom using any method desired. Attach to top of hat.

Newsboy Hat

With BLU, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] 8 times. (24)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 8 times. (32)

Rnds 5-6: Sc evenly around (32)

Rnd 7: [2 sc, dec] 8 times. (24)

Rnd 8: [1 sc, dec] 8 times. (18)

Rnd 9: (Brim) 2 hdc in next st, 2 dc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st, sl st into next st. Bind off and weave in ends.

All finished? Share your artwork by posting a picture in the Gallery!!

Post comments and pictures on social media with the hashtag #hookedbykati, or tag me @hookedbykati. You can also post pictures on the Facebook Page, or in the Hooked by Kati Crochet Community Facebook Group.

You may sell products made by this pattern, but please link back to hookedbykati.com or credit Hooked by Kati on the craft fair tag. Do not copy this pattern for distribution or sale; that’s not nice and also illegal.

If you run into a snag, drop me a line! I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.

Find more free patterns like this at allfreecrochet.com.

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Here’s a few more FREE crochet patterns you might like:

BORIS THE FROG

SUNNY THE PUFFER FISH

SUMMER MANATEE

Yarn On,

Kati