Ginnie the Giraffe is the fourth pattern in a series of six safari amigurumi animals I’m making for my nephew, Charlie! Check out her friends Harriet the Hippo, Laurence the Lion, and Zane the Zebra.
Because Ginnie’s neck is so long, her head might end up a bit floppy. If you aren’t giving your giraffe to a small child, you can stabilize the head and neck by inserting a chopstick through the top of the head when completed and push it down until it’s completely hidden inside.
Next week I’m publishing a tiger pattern! Make sure you’re subscribed if you want to be notified when I release new patterns. 🙂
Update: My set of six matching safari animal amigurumi patterns is now complete! Click on any animal below to be taken to its pattern.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Ginnie the Giraffe
The other animals on the savanna look up to Ginnie, and not just because of her height! 😉 She's ultra-cuddly and makes a great friend.
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Height: 17" standing
Skill Level: Intermediate Ravelry: Ginnie the Giraffe The other animals on the savanna look up to Ginnie, and not just because of her height! 😉 She's ultra-cuddly and makes a great friend.
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- 3.5mm (E) hook
- 15mm safety eyes (buy here)
- Yarn needle
- Fiber fill
- Light Orange (I used I Love This Yarn! – Light Peach)
- Medium Orange (I used Big Twist Baby – Goldfish)
- Dark Orange (I used Red Heart Super Saver – Carrot)
- With light orange yarn:
01. Chain 5 start: ch5, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc [26]
04. inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times [32]
05. inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc [38]
06. inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times, inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 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* [36]
Now sc 9 additional stitches. Consider this the official end of round 9. Continue with round 10 as normal.
Switch to medium orange yarn (tutorial):
10. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
11 - 12. sc in each st around [30]
13. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
14. *sc 5, inc* [42]
15. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
16. *sc 7, inc* [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* [48]
30. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
31. *sc 5, dec* [36]
32. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Stuff head ¾ full. Decide on placement of eyes, sew between the two spots to sculpt the head. Insert eyes and secure backings.
33. *sc 3, dec* [24]
34. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
35. *sc, dec* [12]
Finish stuffing.
36. dec in each st around [6]
Close with an ultimate finish.
- With medium orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. *sc, inc* [9]
03. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 2 times, sc [12]
04. *sc 3, inc* [15]
05. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 2 times, sc 2 [18]
06. *sc 5, inc* [21]
07. sc in each st around [21]
08. *sc 5, dec* [18]
09. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 2 times, sc 2 [15]
10. *sc 3, dec* [12]
11 - 12. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
- With light orange yarn:
01. Chain 7 start: ch7, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 4, 3sc in the last ch [18]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
- With dark orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc in each st around [18]
Switch to medium orange yarn (tutorial):
05. sc in each st around [18]
06. *sc, dec* [12]
07. *sc, dec* [8]
Stuff the top.
08 - 09. sc in each st around [8]
10. sc 6, dec [7]
11. sc 5, dec [6]
12. sc in each st around [6]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Finish stuffing firmly with fiber fill.
- With medium orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
07. *sc 5, inc* [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
09. *sc 7, inc* [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 [54]
20. *sc 7, dec* [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* [36]
26 - 27. sc in each st around [36]
28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
29 - 30. sc in each st around [30]
31. *sc 3, dec* [24]
32. sc in each st around [24]
33 - 35. sc in each st around [24]
36. sc 22, dec [23]
37. sc 21, dec [22]
38. sc 20, dec [21]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill.
- With dark orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
- With dark orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
- With dark orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
06 - 07. sc in each st around [24]
Switch to medium orange yarn (tutorial):
08. 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 [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* [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
- With dark orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
07 - 08. sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium orange yarn (tutorial):
09. 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 [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* [16]
23. *sc 2, dec* [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
- Cut 12 strands of dark orange yarn, approx. 6” long
With medium orange yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02 - 08. sc around [6]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Root in strands of dark orange yarn to flat end, secure and trim as desired.
Abbreviations
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
BLO: back loop only
dec: invisible decrease
Attaching with thread vs. yarn tail
For a cleaner look, I opted to cut the yarn tails short on the inner ears and weave them into the back of the work, then attach the inner ears to the ears with matching thread. However, you can also attach them using a yarn needle and the yarn tail. It's up to you!
How to indent the eyes
Note: The video above shows a unicorn, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns. My newer patterns indicate exactly where you should place your safety eyes, and instruct you to mark those stitches accordingly. This is one of my older patterns and it doesn't indicate where to place the eyes. I plan to update my older patterns when I have a chance, but for now use your best judgement. 🙂
Step 1 – Cut a strand of yarn approximately 18" long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread the other end through your yarn needle.
Step 2 – Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and sew between the two spots where you'll be placing your safety eyes.
Step 3 – Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents.
Step 4 – Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.
She is adorable. Thank you so much for this lovely pattern.
Thank you so much! Your animals are the cutest I’ve seen!