The Original Crochet Giraffe Free Pattern
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Learn how to crochet a unique and adorable Stripy Giraffe toy with this free pattern from I Love Buttons By Emma. Follow step-by-step instructions to make this colorful stuffed animal that is perfect for children and adults alike. This pattern is easy to follow and allows for customization with your own choice of colors and yarns. Let your creativity shine with this fun and rewarding crochet project!
Many years ago I crocheted my first Stripy Giraffe with the free pattern from I Love Buttons By Emma. I’ve made 3 of these giraffes over the years, because it was and is still one of my favorite crochet toys. It is also a crochet stuffy that my daughter loves too (even now that she is 12!).
I recently noticed that the links to Emma’s blog were no longer working. I reached out to Emma to ask if she would like me to add her Crochet Stripy Giraffe Pattern to my blog and she said yes. I am beyond excited to have permission to share her fantastic pattern with you here, for free!
You can visit Emma on her Instagram @ilovebuttonsbyemma and on her Facebook I Love Buttons by Emma to say thanks and to let her know how much you love her Stripey Giraffe too! You can also visit Emma’s shop to see what finished items she has crocheted and has available to purchase, here.
The original crochet giraffe free pattern from I Love Buttons by Emma
is available for free in my post below.
The Original Crochet Giraffe Free Pattern
Designed by Emma Dent
I Love Buttons
Supplies
- 3 mm crochet hook
- Cotton Blend with Acrylic, Sport Weight Yarn [2] in white and as many other colors as you wish.
- *One example that I know of is Scheepjes Stone Washed. 78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic.*
- You can substitute a different yarn weight and crochet hook for this project. When I made my giraffes from this pattern I used 5 colors of Worsted / Medium Weight Yarn [4] and a 4 mm (G) crochet hook. My finished giraffes measured 19 inches tall X 12 inches wide (arms wide). I used 12 mm safety eyes for my crochet giraffes.
- Scissors, tapestry needle (yarn needle) and stitch markers, safety eyes
Abbreviations
US Terminology used
- ch- chain
- sc- single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together
- st/sts – stitch/stitches
- R – round
- rep- repeat
- * to **– Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain multiple instructions.
- [] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
- () – important notes AND sets of stitches to be worked within one stitch, or space
Notes:
- You can substitute a DMR (double magic ring) or MR (magic ring) for the ch 2 to begin.
- sc2tog is worked over 2 stitches to decrease 1 stitch
- Change color every 2 rounds: you can change color on the last yarn over of the last stitch worked in the round before the ‘change color’ OR you can finish off your yarn with an invisible join and begin the first stitch of the ‘change color’ round with a standing single crochet stitch.
- Weave in ends as you go.
- Do not weave in your final yarn end of a section, unless indicated in the instructions. We need those ends for sewing your giraffe together.
- Over the years Emma has modified her pattern slightly and if you are interested in trying the new version changes they are at the end of the post.
Stripy Giraffe Crochet Pattern
This project is worked in continuous rounds without joining.
Stripy Giraffe Arms (make 2)
In white
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in second ch from hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3: *1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in next st**. Work from * to ** around. [18]
R4-R5: 1 sc in each st around. [18]
R6: *1 sc in the next st, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [12]
Change color every 2 rounds
- Emma used: orange, blue, pink, tan, green, light pink, brown, purple
R7- R23: 1 sc in each st around [12]
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing together.
- Stuff firmly as you go, leave near the end lightly stuffed.
Stripy Giraffe Legs (make 2)
In white
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in the second ch from the hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3: *1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [18]
R4: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [24]
R5-R8: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
R9: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. (18)
R10: *1 sc in the next st, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [12]
Change color every 2 rounds
- Emma used: red, brown, yellow, light pink, purple, light green, tan, blue, pink, orange, green
R11-R33: 1 sc in each st around. [12]
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing together.
- Stuff firmly as you go, leave near the end lightly stuffed.
Stripy Giraffe Horns (make 2)
In white
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in the second ch from the hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3-R5: 1 sc in each st around. [12]
R6: Sc2tog around. [6]
R7-R13: 1 sc in each st around. [6]
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing together.
- Stuff firmly as you go
Stripy Giraffe Head
In white
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in the second ch from the hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3: *1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [18]
R4: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [24]
R5: *1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [30]
R6: *1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [36]
R7-R10: 1 sc in each st around. [36]
Change color
- Emma used purple
R11-R12: 1 sc in each st around. [36]
Change color
- Emma used yellow
R13: 1 sc in each st around. [36]
R14: *1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [42]
Change color
- Emma used red
R15: *1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [48]
R16: 1 sc in each st around. [48]
Change color
- Emma used green
R17-R18: 1 sc in each st around. [48]
Change color
- Emma used light pink
R19: *1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [42]
R20: *1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [35]
- Sew on face *eyes around R14 with about 9-11 stitches between them)
Change color
- Emma used blue
R21: *1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [28]
R22: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [21]
- Stuff firmly.
Change color
- Emma used pink
R23: *1 sc in the next st, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [14]
R24: Sc2tog around. [7]
- Fasten off and weave in end.
Stripy Giraffe Ears (make 2)
In one color
- Emma used orange
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in the second ch from the hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3: *1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st*. Work from * to ** around. [18]
R4-R9: 1 sc in each st around. [18]
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing together.
- When attaching the ears to the head, pinch the outsides of the ears in to make them more life-like.
Stripy Giraffe Body
In Color A (pick a color)
- Emma used red
- Stuff firmly as you go
R1: Ch 2, make 6 sc in the second ch from the hook. [6]
R2: 2 sc in each st around. [12]
R3: *1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st*. Work from * to ** around. [18]
R4: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [24]
R5: *1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [30]
R6: *1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [36]
Change color
- Emma used purple
R7: *1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [42]
R8: *1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [48]
Change color
- Emma used orange
R9: *1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, 2 sc in the next st**. Work from * to ** around. [54]
R10: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
Change color
- Emma used light green
R11-R12: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
Change color
- Emma used white
R13-R14: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
Change color
- Emma used pink
R15-R16: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
Change color
- Emma used blue
R17-R18: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
Change color
- Emma used yellow
R19: 1 sc in each st around. [54]
R20: *1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [48]
Change color
- Emma used green
R21: *1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [42]
R22: *1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [36]
Change color
- Emma used tan
R23: *1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [30]
- Stuff firmly
R24: *1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc2tog**. Work from * to ** around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used pink
R25-R26: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used red
R27-R28: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used white
R29-R30: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used brown
R31-R32: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used light green
R33-R34: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
Change color
- Emma used pink
R35-R36: 1 sc in each st around. [24]
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing together.
Assembly
- Use the follow photo as an example for assembling your Stripy Giraffe.
- I added a braided tail to my Stripy Giraffes.
Emma’s New Stripy Giraffes
When Emma makes her Stripy Giraffes today, she has made a few minor modifications (not included in the original written instructions). If you want to try these out too, here’s what she does now:
BODY:
- to make the neck longer, add a few extra rounds of stitches at the end of the section (24 stitches)
- add one extra round of stitches worked even, after R20 (48 stitches) and R22 (36 stitches)
HEAD:
- to make the nose a bit longer, add 2 to 3 more rounds before R10 (worked in white yarn)
EARS:
- to make the ears slightly longer, add 2 more rounds of 18 stitches
ARMS:
- to make the arms thinner, work rounds of 5, 10, 15 stitches (instead of 6, 12, 18 stitches)
- to make them longer, work a few additional rounds, worked even
LEGS:
- to make the legs thinner, work rounds of 5, 10, 15, 20 stitches (instead of 6, 12, 18, 24 stitches)
- to make them longer, work a few additional rounds, worked even
The design, pattern, and images marked with I Love Buttons by Emma, are the property of Emma Dent. Oombawka Design Crochet has received written permission to share this pattern in it’s entirety from Emma Dent.
Whether you’re an experienced crocheter or just starting out, the Stripy Giraffe crochet toy is a great project to add to your collection. With its easy-to-follow pattern and customizable options, you’ll enjoy the process of creating a unique toy your child will treasure. So grab your yarn and hook, and get started on making the best crochet toy for hours of fun and cuddles!
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Hi Karen, I don’t know exactly but I used less than 1 ball in total of Red Heart Yarn when I made one in a single solid color. I hope this helps! Rhondda
Hi! Any idea how much yarn I would need to use, for the regular pattern with 4 weight yarn? Thanks
I’m happy to hear this!
thank you so much for the instructions. The giraffe is BEAUTIFUL! I am making many more for gifts. I am new to crocheting but this came out professional.