Meet Delilah the Donkey – A Free Amigurumi Pattern
Delilah the Donkey is the newest addition to my herd of hoofed cuties! She’s the fourth equestrian crochet pattern in my lineup, joining her cousins Heidi the Horse, Jazzy the Unicorn, and Zane the Zebra. She definitely brings a little extra sass to the stable!
This Donkey Crochet Pattern was Inspired by You
One of my favorite things about my Facebook group is seeing all the creative pattern modifications that our community comes up with.
I’ve seen several group members create donkeys by combining my horse pattern with the long ears from Rose the Rabbit, and the tufted tail I use in several of my designs. Their amigurumi donkeys turned out so cute. I just had to release an official version of the pattern!
Step-by-Step Photos for Every Part of the Pattern
This is my first ever amigurumi pattern to include a photo for every single step: 30 of them, to be exact! That’s right, 30 step-by-step photos to walk you through crocheting a donkey from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail.
Whether you’re crafting on the go or just want a quick reference without watching a whole video, these photos make the pattern super portable and user-friendly, even without an internet connection.
You’ll never be left wondering what your work-in-progress should look like, which makes this amigurumi donkey a great first project if you’re new to my patterns.
Video Tutorials to Help You Along the Way
Not a photo person? No worries! I’ve got you covered with 12 linked video tutorials throughout the pattern. These short, focused clips walk you through all the tricky parts of the pattern so you can feel confident at every step.
That’s my goal with every pattern I write: to make crocheting fun, relaxing, and beginner-friendly. Whether you’re making your first plushie or your fiftieth, crocheting Delilah will be a breeze!
A Must-Make Amigurumi Donkey Pattern
If you’ve been looking for a donkey crochet pattern that’s cute, huggable, and totally free, Delilah’s your girl. She’s the perfect addition to your amigurumi farm animals menagerie. Are you ready to crochet a donkey of your own? Yeehaw, saddle up and let’s go!
Resources
Photo Tutorials
Video Tutorials
Delilah the Donkey
Height: 16 inches (41cm) standing Skill Level: Intermediate Crochet Terms: USDelilah the Donkey is the ultimate barnyard bestie. She may be a little nosy and a little noisy, but she’s got a heart the size of Texas. A bray a day keeps the boredom away!
Supplies
- 3.5mm (E-4) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Fiber fill
- Straight pins
- (2) 15mm safety eyes
- Disappearing ink marker
- Knitting needle gauge tool or cardboard of equivalent size (3in x 5.5in / 8cm x 14cm)
305 yards of acrylic (weight 4) yarn:
Notes
Steps to Complete Pattern
- Crochet the Ears
- Crochet the Head
- Sew the Ears to the Head
- Crochet the Legs
- Crochet the Arms
- Crochet the Body
- Sew the Body to the Head
- Attach the Mane
- Crochet the Tail
- Sew the Tail to the Body
Abbreviations
- BLO – crochet in the back loop only
- ch – chain
- dec – combine two stitches into one with an invisible decrease
- inc – complete two single crochets within the same stitch
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- *sc x* – repeat the instructions between asterisks (*) the indicated number of times
- [sc x, *x* 2 times] – complete the stitches listed in the brackets the indicated number of times in order
- (sc x) – attach a body part while completing the stitches inside parentheses as instructed by the pattern
General Instructions
- This pattern is worked in continuous rounds without joining.
- Use a stitch marker to mark the end of each round. Move the marker up each round.
- Work all stitches in both loops unless the pattern instructs otherwise.
Pattern Gauge
30 sts by 5 rounds in sc = 2 inches (5cm)
Work rounds 01 – 05 of Legs and measure across the diameter of the circle. Piece should measure 2 inches (5cm) across.
Note: Using the same yarn brand for all colors will ensure that all parts of the pattern match gauge once gauge is obtained.
Video Tutorials
I’ve made lots of video tutorials that will be referenced throughout this pattern. They will be marked with a clickable play button symbol. A full list of tutorials can be found in the video tutorials section of the pattern.
Instructions
Ears (make 2)
With gray yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc 3, inc* 3 times [15]
04. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 2 times, sc 2 [18]
05. *sc 5, inc* 3 times [21]
06. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 2 times, sc 3 [24]
07. *sc 7, inc* 3 times [27]
08. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 2 times, sc 4 [30]
09 – 11. sc in each st around [30]
12. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
13. sc 27, dec [28]
14. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
15. sc 25, dec [26]
16. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
17. sc 23, dec [24]
18 – 19. sc in each st around [24]
Fasten off, leaving a 24-inch (60cm) yarn tail. Do not stuff the ear. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed.
Creating a Folded Base for the Ear: Thread the remaining yarn tail through a yarn needle. Fold the final slip stitched edge in half and sew it closed with a running stitch (see Figure 1). Fasten off with a knot and leave the remaining yarn tail. The ears are now ready to sew to the head at a later step (see Figure 2).
Head
With white yarn:
01. Chain 5 Start: inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, sc 5 in last ch. Working on opposite side of chain base: sc 2, sc 3 in last ch (see Figure 3) [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. [inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc] 2 times[26]
04. [inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times] 2 times [32]
05. [inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc] 2 times [38]
06. [inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times] 2 times [44]
07. *sc 10, inc* 4 times [48]
08. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
09. *sc 5, dec* 6 times [36]
10. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
11. sc 7, switch to gray yarn: sc 23 [30]
12. sc in each st around [30]
13. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
14. *sc 5, inc* 6 times [42]
15. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
16. *sc 7, inc* 6 times [54]
17. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
18 – 27. sc in each st around [60]
28. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
29. *sc 7, dec* 6 times [48]
30. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
31. *sc 5, dec* 6 times [36]
32. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Stuff the head.
Adding the Safety Eyes: Using straight pins, mark location of eyes 16 stitches apart between rounds 15 & 16, centered horizontally above the Chain 5 Start (see Figure 4). Replace straight pins with safety eyes, then secure backings (see Figure 5).
Indenting the Eyes: Using an 18-inch (46cm) strand of gray yarn and a yarn needle, indent the eyes by adding tension between them (see Figure 6). Watch my Indent Eyes 2.0 video.
33. *sc 3, dec* 6 times [24]
34. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
35. *sc, dec* 6 times [12]
Finish stuffing.
36. *dec* 6 times [6]
Close with an Ultimate Finish.
Sewing the Ears to the Head: Using straight pins, mark location of ears 12 stitches apart between rounds 21 & 22, centered above the eyes (see Figure 7). Using the attached yarn tails and a yarn needle, sew the ears to the head back-to-front at the marked stitches (see Figure 8 & Figure 9).
Legs (make 2)
With black yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
Tip: Use my Jogless BLO method when starting round 06.
06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
07 – 08. sc in each st around [30]
09. switch to gray yarn: sc in each st around [30]
10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
11. sc 27, dec [28]
12. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
13. sc 25, dec (see Figure 10) [26]
14. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
15. sc 23, dec [24]
16. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
17. sc 21, dec [22]
18. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
19. sc 19, dec [20]
20. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
21. sc 17, dec [18]
22. *sc 7, dec* 2 times [16]
23. *sc 2, dec* 4 times [12]
Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch (30cm) yarn tail.
Stuff the leg. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed, then hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.
The legs are now ready to attach as you crochet the body at a later step (see Figure 11).
Arms (make 2)
With black yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
Tip: Use my Jogless BLO method when starting round 05.
05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
06 – 07. sc in each st around [24]
08. switch to gray yarn: sc in each st around [24]
09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
10. sc in each st around [23]
11. sc 21, dec [22]
12. sc in each st around [22]
13. sc 10, dec, sc 10 (see Figure 12) [21]
14. sc in each st around [21]
15. sc 19, dec [20]
16. sc in each st around [20]
17. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
18. sc in each st around [19]
19. sc 17, dec [18]
20. sc in each st around [18]
21. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
22. sc in each st around [17]
23. sc 15, dec [16]
24 – 25. sc in each st around [16]
26. *sc 2, dec* 4 times [12]
Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch (30cm) yarn tail.
Stuff the arm. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed, then hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.
The arms are now ready to attach as you crochet the body at a later step (see Figure 13).
Body
With gray yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
Attaching the Legs: Attach the legs as you crochet the next round (see Figure 14, Figure 15, & Figure 16). To view a tutorial, watch my Attach Legs video.
07. attach the first leg: (sc 5, inc), sc 5, inc, attach the second leg: (sc 5, inc), *sc 5, inc* 3 times [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
09. *sc 7, inc* 6 times [54]
10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
11 – 17. sc in each st around [60]
18. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
19. sc in each st around (see Figure 17) [54]
20. *sc 7, dec* 6 times [48]
21. sc in each st around [48]
22. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
23 – 24. sc in each st around [42]
25. *sc 5, dec* 6 times [36]
26 – 27. sc in each st around [36]
28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
29. sc in each st around (see Figure 18) [30]
Attaching the Arms: Attach the arms as you crochet the next round (see Figure 19 & Figure 20). To view a tutorial, watch my Attach Arms video.
30. sc, attach the first arm: (sc 6), sc 8, attach the second arm: (sc 6), sc 9 [30]
At the end of round 30, the arms should appear centered above the legs (see Figure 21). If your arms appear off center, redo the round and adjust the placement of the arms as necessary.
Stuff the body.
31. *sc 3, dec* 6 times [24]
Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail the length of your arm span (~65in / ~165cm).
Sewing the Body to the Head: Using the attached yarn tail and a yarn needle, sew the body to the head (see Figure 22). To view a tutorial, watch my How to Sew Body to Head video.
Mane
Cutting Black Strands of Yarn: Wrap yarn multiple times around the short side of a knitting needle gauge tool or piece of cardboard in equivalent size (3in x 5.5in / 8cm x 14cm). Cut along one edge. Repeat until you have 100 or more 6-inch (15cm) strands of yarn.
Attaching the Mane: Using a disappearing ink marker, draw a rectangle six stitches wide to outline the placement of the mane. The rectangle should start at the base of the neck on the back of the head (see Figure 23), and end even with the ears (see Figure 24).
Starting at the back of the head and working up, attach the mane: fold one strand of yarn in half, insert your hook under a stitch, pull the yarn strand loop under the stitch, yarn over with the tail ends and pull them through the loop, then pull tight to secure (see Figure 25). Repeat for every stitch within the rectangle (see Figure 26).
To view a tutorial, watch my How to Add Yarn Strands for Hair video.
Trim the mane to a length of approximately 2 inches (5cm) so it stands up straight (see Figure 27).
Tail
With gray yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
02 – 08. sc in each st around [6]
Fasten off, leaving an 18-inch (46cm) yarn tail. Do not stuff the tail. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed. Using a yarn needle, thread the yarn tail through the tail and out the magic ring.
Adding the Tail Tuft:
With black yarn, on the end of the tail that was slip stitched closed:
01. join with a sl st to first st, ch 6, sl st into same st, *sl st in next st, ch 6, sl st in same st* 2 times [24]
Fasten off and hide the black beginning and ending yarn tails inside the work.
To view a video tutorial, watch my Tail Tuft video.
Sewing on the Tail: Using the attached yarn tail, sew the tail centered over round 11 on the back side of the body. Secure with a knot, then hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work (see Figure 28, Figure 29, & Figure 30).