Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern

If only we could all look as cute with dark circles around our eyes! Rita’s hobbies include dumpster diving and collecting shiny objects. This crochet raccoon stands 13.5 inches tall when made with a 3.5mm hook and worsted-weight yarn.

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This free raccoon amigurumi pattern is the fourth pattern release in my set of 6 free woodland animal patterns! Her friends Fredric the Fox, Benedict the Bear and Walter the Wolf have already been completed, and patterns for a bunny and deer will be released in the coming weeks!

On another note, you may have noticed it’s been a few weeks since my last pattern release. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet on my website, but I am currently about 6 months pregnant!

I was mostly bed-ridden the first several months of my pregnancy due to low blood pressure and extreme morning sickness (why do they call it that? For me it was all-the-time sickness). That gave me a lot of time to crochet and I was able to release a new pattern every week for 12 weeks in a row!

I’m very proud that I was able to use that time productively, but thankfully I’m starting to feel better and I’m getting back to my regular routine, which sadly means less crochet time.

I’ll be releasing new patterns here and there as time allows, but won’t be sticking to a set schedule, so make sure to subscribe in the pink box here on my website to be notified about new pattern releases. 🙂

  • Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern
  • Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern
  • Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern
  • Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern
  • Rita the Raccoon Free Amigurumi Pattern

Rita the Raccoon

Height: 14" standing
Skill Level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Rita the Raccoon

If only we could all look as cute with dark circles around our eyes as Rita the Raccoon! Her hobbies include dumpster diving and collecting shiny objects.

Notes

Abbreviations
st: stitch
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
dec: invisible decrease
BLO: back loop only

Attaching with thread vs. yarn tail
For a cleaner look on the eye ovals, I opted to cut short tails, weave them in, and attach the pieces to the head with a standard needle and matching thread. However, you can also attach the snout using a yarn needle and the yarn tail. It's up to you!

Stitch markers
The pattern indicates to insert 4 different stitch markers in various places besides the one you use to track the beginning/end of each round.
I recommend using strands of yarn in 3 different colors as your stitch markers: One strand in color 1 (blue) to mark where you will start attaching the nose, two strands color 2 (pink) to mark where you will start attaching each ear, and one long strand in color 3 (green) to track the beginning/end of each round.
The photos above demonstrate how to mark a stitch while crocheting a round: lay your strand of yarn acting as a marker over your working yarn and the stitch you'll be working into, then complete the stitch as normal.
You'll essentially be weaving the long strand in color 4 through your work with each round. On odd rounds you'll be laying the strand back-to-front, and on even rounds you'll be laying the strand front-to-back.
The advantage of using this technique is you'll have the beginning of every single round marked, which makes it much easier to find your place if you make a mistake. That said, It's perfectly fine to use a regular ol' safety pin-like marker to keep track of your rounds instead. 🙂

How to attach the tip of the nose to the snout
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 exit the needle through the starting magic ring on the snout.
Step 3 – Next, thread your needle through the starting magic ring of the nose, then insert your needle back through the starting magic ring on the snout.
Step 4 – Flip the head over. Secure the two black strands with a large knot on the inside of the snout, then trim the excess.

How to attach the top of the nose to the snout
Step 1 – Take the yarn tail from the top of your nose and thread it through a yarn needle. Thread your needle through the stitch marked with color 1. Then attach the remaining 5 stitches across the top of your nose to the next 5 stitches following your marked stitch on the snout.
Step 2 – Tighten down your stitches, secure the end with a knot, and hide the yarn tail inside the head.

How to indent the eyes
Note: The video above shows a unicorn, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.
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 between the starting chains in each eye oval.
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, then insert and secure your safety eyes. I found it difficult to push the safety eyes through two crochet layers, so I “drilled a hole” where the eye would go with a pair of scissors first. That made it much easier!

Instructions

  • Be sure to read the Notes section before proceeding.

Nose

  • With black yarn:
    01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
    02. *sc, inc* [9]
    03. sc in each st around [9]

    Switch to light gray yarn (tutorial):
    04 - 05. sc in each st around [9]
    06. sc 4, inc, sc 4 [10]
    07. sc in each st around [10]
    08. sc 9, inc [11]
    09. sc in each st around [11]
    10. sc 5, inc, sc 5 [12]
    11. 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.

Eye Ovals (make 2)

  • With dark gray 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]
    02. inc, sc 6, *inc* 3 times, sc 6, *inc* 2 times [24]
    03. inc, sc 8, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 8, *inc* 2 times, sc [30]

    Switch to white yarn (tutorial):
    04. inc, sc 10, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 10, *inc, sc* 2 times [36]

    Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Ears (make 2)

  • With light gray yarn:
    01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. sc 11, inc [13]
    04. sc 6, inc, sc 6 [14]
    05. sc 13, inc [15]
    06. sc 7, inc, sc 7 [16]
    07. sc 15, inc [17]
    08. sc 8, inc, sc 8 [18]
    09. sc 17, inc [19]
    10. sc 9, inc, sc 9 [20]

    Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.

Snout & Head

  • With white yarn:
    01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* [18]
    04. *sc 5, inc* [21]
    05. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 2 times, sc 3 [24]
    06 - 11. sc in each st around [24]

    Switch to light gray yarn (tutorial):
    12. *sc, inc* 5 times, insert marker color 1 into the next sc (16th st from start of round), inc, *sc, inc* 6 times [36]
    13. *sc 5, inc* [42]
    14. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
    15. *sc 7, inc* [54]
    16. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
    17 - 23. sc in each st around [60]
    24. sc 27, insert marker color 2 into the next sc (28th st from start of round), sc 9, insert marker color 2 into the next sc (38th st from start of round), sc 22 [60] 25 - 26. sc in each st around [60]
    27. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
    28. *sc 7, dec* [48]
    29. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
    30. *sc 5, dec* [36]
    31. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]

    Complete the next steps:

    Step 1 – Follow the steps under “How to attach the tip of the nose to the snout” in the notes section.

    Step 2 – Follow the steps under “How to attach the top of the nose to the snout” in the notes section.

    Step 3 – Stuff head ¾ full. Attach the eye ovals to the head symmetrically above the nose, then create indents for the eyes by following the steps under "How to indent the eyes" in the notes section.

    32. *sc 3, dec* [24]
    33. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
    34. *sc, dec* [12]

    Finish stuffing.

    35. *dec* [6]

    Cut working yarn and close with an ultimate finish.

    Attach one ear starting in the stitch marked with color 2 on the right side of the head, and in each of the 9 previous stitches of the round.

    Attach the other ear starting in the stitch marked with color 2 on the left side of the head, and each of the 9 next stitches of the round.

Body

  • With light gray 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]

    Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill, then attach the head to the body.

Legs (make 2)

  • With dark gray 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 - 09. sc in each st around [30]
    10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
    11. sc 27, dec [28]

    Switch to light gray yarn (tutorial):
    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, then fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Finally, attach the legs to the body.

Arms (make 2)

  • With dark gray 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 - 08. sc in each st around [24]
    09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
    10. sc in each st around [23]

    Switch to light gray yarn (tutorial):
    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, then fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Finally, attach the arms to the body.

Tail

  • When changing colors on the tail, I recommend using Planet June's no-cut join method.

    With dark gray yarn:
    01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
    02. *sc, inc* [9]
    03. sc in each st around [9]

    Switch to light gray yarn:
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 2 times, sc [12]
    05. *sc 3, inc* [15]
    06. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 4 times, sc [20]

    Switch to dark gray yarn:
    07. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 3 times, sc 2 [24]
    08 - 09. sc in each st around [24]

    Switch to light gray yarn:
    10. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 3 times, sc 2 [20]
    11. *sc 3, dec* [16]
    12. sc 3, dec, sc 6, dec, sc 3 [14]

    Switch to dark gray yarn:
    13. *sc 5, dec* [12]
    14. sc 10, dec [11]
    15. sc 9, dec [10]


    Stuff firmly with fiber fill.

    Switch to light gray yarn:
    16. sc 8, dec [9]
    17. sc 7, dec [8]

    Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Finish stuffing, then fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Attach the tail to the body.

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