There are so many summer birthdays! At least it seems that way this year. But I’ve been having fun staying out of the heat of summer some to create for them. I’ve wanted to make a cute monkey pattern for a while. When I had two one-year-old birthdays, my little monkey of a nephew and his cousin that hangs onto her mama like a monkey, I knew I was going to try. Monkeys are tricky I’ve learned. It’s very hard to make the faces cute! But I was pretty happy with the end result. Hope you enjoy!
The free crochet pattern is below if you’d like to try your hand at a monkey!
Monkey
Pattern
I used a size G crochet hook and Lionbrand Fisherman’s Wool Nature Brown yarn, and for the face some wool/acryllic yarn from a sweater I unraveled into yarn. I think any yarn about the same gauge as the Fisherman’s Wool would work fine.
Head
Row 1: 6 sc in a loop, tighten loop
Row 2: 2sc in each around (12 total)
Row 3: sc, 2sc, repeat around (18 total)
Row 4: sc, sc, 2sc, repeat around (24 total)
Row 5: sc, sc, sc, 2sc, repeat around (30 total)
Row 6-12: sc even
Row 13: sc, sc, sc, sc2tog, repeat around (24 total)
Row 14: sc, sc, sc2tog, repeat around (18 total)
Row 15: sc, sc2tog, repeat around (12 total)
Sl st to round off. Stuff with stuffing, finish off
Face
Row 1: 6sc in a loop, tighten loop
Row 2: sc, 3sc, 3sc, sc, 3sc, 3sc (14 total)
Row 3: sc, sc, sc, 2sc, 2sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, 2sc, 2sc, sc, sc (18 total)
Row 4: *sc2tog, sc* repeat around (12 total)
sl st to round off
(The background for the eyes is stitched on.)
Ear (2)
Row 1: 5 sc in a loop, tighten loop
Row 2: 2sc in each around (10 total)
Row 3: sc even
Row 4: sc, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc2tog, sc (8 total)
sl st to round off
Body
Row 1: 6sc in a loop, tighten loop
Row 2: 2sc in each around (12 total)
Row 3: sc, 2sc, repeat around (18 total)
Row 4: sc, sc, 2sc, repeat around (24 total)
Row 5-9: sc even
Row 10: sc, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc, sc2tog, sc the rest of the row even (22 total)
Row 11: sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc (18 total)
Row 12-13: sc even
Row 14: *sc, sc, sc2tog* repeat 4 times, sc, sc (14 total)
Row 15: *sc, sc2tog* repeat 4 times, sc, sc (10 total)
Row 16: sc2tog (do not repeat..), sl to round off
Finish off, stuff with beans in the bottom and stuff the rest with stuffing
Arms (2)
Row 1: 6 sc in a loop, tighten
Row 2-11: sc even, Sl st to round off
Finish off
Legs (2)
Row 1: 8 sc in a loop, tighten loop
Rows 2-3 : sc even
Row 4 (partial row): sc, sc, sc, sc, ch 1, turn
Row 5 (partial row): sc, sc, sc, sc, ch 1, turn
Row 6: skip 1, sc, sc, skip 1, sc in side of row 5, (rest of row is worked on the unworked portion of row 3) sc, sc, sc, sc, sc side of row 5
Row 7-13: sc even (8 total) sl st to round off
Finish off
Tail
Row 1: 5 sc in a loop, tighten loop
Rows 2-16: sc even, sl st to round off
Finish off and sew all parts together
Embroider background for eyes, and face details.
Adorable! These are the cutest monkey patterns I have seen. Your nephew and his cousin will love them. Thanks Bethany!
Thank you, Bethany, for sharing this adorable pattern. I especially love the faces of these little guys! 🙂
they are so cute! simi loves his. 🙂
love these! how did you make the bow?
It’s actually a flower from this pattern http://bethsco.blogspot.com/2011/04/crocheted-puff-flower.html 🙂
I love them but I’m having trouble with their faces.. Please help!
I love this! How big is the monkey when finished?
Guessing… because I gave them as gifts. I think they were 6 1/2 inches tall.
The faces are tricky! I redid the mouth and nose many many times. Is it the crocheting or stitching that is troublesome? I can help with the crocheting. As far as stitching the mouth, nose, and eyes. I’d look at the pictures, look at your monkey, and try to count stitches to see where to put all the features.
The body of this cute monkey is giving me trouble. I am a beginner and have only done scarves and blankets with crochet. This is all new to me. I’m wondering if I could have too tight of a stitch because the head of this monkey is incredibly larger than the body, both in width and length. It seems the head should be wider while the body is longer and more narrow? I’m doing something wrong…
ALso I get confused around rows 10 and 11. On 10 I started as stated but finished off the row counting to 21 and didn’t make it back to the stitch marker I set for the beginning of row 10. I was about 3 stitches short. hmmm….
The head is supposed to be bigger around for sure and not much shorter than the body… I have a tight tension also and keep in mind to be slightly tighter on decrease stitches and looser on increases. I was off by 1 on the total for row 10. Sorry! I fixed it. You can go back to row 9 and make sure the total was 24 to try to figure out the mystery of the other 2 stitches. 🙂 Let me know if that doesn’t work! Thanks!
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And, a note on tension… you want to be consistent whether that is tight or loose. You can use a larger crochet hook if your stitches look too tight, or a smaller on if they are too loose.
Thanks for the quick response!! I am actually going to redo the whole thing. It’s good practice and perhaps I’ll get it this time and stay more consistent with my stitches!!
Good luck! And you’re welcome. 🙂
I just started my first monkey and was wondering how you make the eyes. I made the face via the directions but how do the eyes come into play?
I just embroidered them with a satin stitch. You can google satin stitch if you’re unsure what it is:)
I’m ready to assemble and so excited. However, since this is my first project like this, can you offer help as to how to attach all the parts… is there something I can run an internet search on?
Thanks!!
I’ve had lots of questions about that… Finally answered 🙂 http://bethsco.blogspot.com/2011/11/amigurumi-how-to-sew-together.html
Thank you!! My sister in law is doing a monkey theme for her first baby due in December! This is wonderful!!
These are sooooo cute! Thanks for posting the pattern. I have been searching for a very long time for something monkeyish to crochet for my granddaughters nursery. 🙂
These are so stinkin’ adorable! I just posted about it on my blog (http://daisycottagedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinterest-finds-crochet-ideas.html). Found this on Pinterest and hope to be able to make it for my two year old as a “big sister” gift as we’re expecting our second little girl in March.
I found that row 14 within the head instructions is missing. Could you let me know what to do on this row? Thank you for your time. This is the second of your animal pattterns I am using for my Grandchildren. thank you so much for sharing.
Oh geez! Sorry, Teri! I’ll fix it. Apparently I had trouble counting. 🙂
Thank you so much. Just to let you know that I have a little one watching me, with much anticipation for her moneky to be completed. Thank you again for sharing. Have a fantastic day!
Thank you so much for posting this pattern! These are the cutest monkeys I’ve seen!! I made mine today and it looks great! The eyes were a little tricky though.
These are so cute! Thank you!
I can’t seem to get the monkey’s legs, It’s row 6 that’s confusing me. Unless im doin something wrong on row 4 and 5.
What part of row 6 is confusing? Row 4 and 5 are partial rows to make up the turn at the heel. At the end of row 4, make sure you are turning. The same at the end of row 5. Let me know if that doesn’t clear up the confusion…
Im understand row 4 and 5, and i am turning. I must be doing something wrong on 6. Row 6: skip 1, sc, sc, skip 1, sc in side of row 5, (rest of row is worked on the unworked portion of row 3) sc, sc, sc, sc, sc side of row 5
After the skip 1 sc is their only 1 sc in then side or is their suppose to be a little space their?. i think its more less where is says( rest of row is worked on the unworked portion of row 3..
It’s my first time crocheting like this.and the last 5 sc does it all go into one stitch?
There is only 1 sc in the side of row 5. The rest after that are spaced out over the remaining part of row 3 that was left exposed. Since row 4 was only a partial row, then you turned and worked row 5 over row 4 you still have some of row 3 that hasn’t been stitched on top of. That is where the last scs go. Hope that helps!
these r cute. Im trying to make them. but this is all new to me. how do you do sc in a loop?
There are a couple good ways to do it. Try searching youtube for an instructional video. It’s too hard to explain. You have to see it. 🙂
thank you. on the head row 13. i have 38 stitches n 9 sc2tog. you say a total of 24. does that man all stitches or sc2tog stich? do u know how many stiches r on rows 6-12?
Rows 6-12 should be 30 stitches each as you’re not increasing at all. Row 13 is 24 stitches total, including sc2tog and sc. You must have lost track somewhere… try counting each row as you go and make sure you’re not accidently increasing. Hope that helps!
Mistake? Row 11 for body…total stitch count 18 but number of stitches listed is 17. I could be wrong.
Thanks! I’ll correct that!
Hi!! This is such a cute pattern! I’m going to try it out. Thanks so much for posting!
Thanks so much! I attached the head & arms to a granny square to make a lovie for a newborn 🙂
Thank you it’s adorable 🙂
hi… i have a question, i am starting crocheting this monkey still in the heah…on row 6-12 what does >> Sc even<<< means? thanks!!! i appreciate it!
Hi, Emma. “sc even” means to “sc in each stitch” so you are not adding or reducing any stitches. 🙂
This little guy is adorable! I’m attempting to make him for my monkey obsessed nephew whose birthday party is this weekend, but I’m having a bit of a problem understanding row two in the ear… Maybe you could break it down and explain it? Like how many do I chain? Thanks (:
Thanks, Kae! I was wrong on the ear there. It was supposed to be sc not ch. So I fixed it. Thanks for letting me know!
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Part of me did just want to for SC but I had to check! (:
At the end of row 11 in the body total stitch count I get is 18 but your instructions say 17?
Hi, I’m making some of these for charity and wondered where the white background on the eyes comes into the pattern. I have done the “snout” but I don’t see the two semicircles that you stitched eyes onto. Did you freehand those? Thanks!
Hi, Lauren. I added a note in the pattern. The two semicircles are stitched on/free-handed. Thanks.
Thanks!
i’m wondering how tall these cute monkeys are?
Thank you so much for the pattern! I made one as a gift for my friend and she loves it so much, it is so adorable! I posted the pictures on my blog, I’d be glad if you can drop by.. 😀
http://raf-selinda.blogspot.com/2014/01/crocheted-monkey.html