Looking for a quick and adorable crochet project? Look no further! This free crochet pattern will guide you through making a charming little donkey, perfectly sized to fit in your hand or to use as a cute keychain. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, you’ll find this project fast and easy to complete.
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Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
Start Here:
Please read the whole pattern properly before starting.
The pattern is written using US terms.
This pattern is made of the following parts:
- 1 Body
- 2 ears
- 2 arms
- 2 legs
- 1 tail
- 1 snout
- hair
Size:
- 1.5 inches (4 cm) with light worsted yarn (I used I love this cotton from Hobby Lobby)
- 2.5 inches (7 cm) with plush yarn (I used Premier Parfait chunky)
Material:
- Yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in grey, white and black OR Yarn calling for a US L-11 / 8 mm hook in grey, white and black and Yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in black if you use plush yarn
- Size US C-2 / 2.75 mm crochet hook (a larger hook can be used, your donkey will only be slightly bigger) if you use worsted yarn OR Size US 7 / 4.5 mm crochet hook if you use plush yarn.
- 2 black safety eyes (6 mm) if you use worsted yarn OR 2 black safety eyes (9 mm) if you use plush yarn
- Stitch markers (if needed)
- Tapestry needle
- Polyfill
- Facultative: fabric glue
Abbreviations:
- chain (ch)
- magic ring (mr)
- single crochet (sc)
- increase (inc)
- invisible decrease (dec)
- slip stitch (sl st)
Pattern: How to crochet a Donkey?
Let’s start – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
The body – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
- The donkey is worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
- Remember to stuff as you crochet.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in grey:
-
- Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6) – NB: if you work with plush yarn: ch2; make 6 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (6)
- Round 2: [6 inc]. (12)
- Round 3: [1 inc in the next st, 1 sc]x6. (18)
- Rounds 4-10: [1 sc in all st]. (18)
- Round 11: [1 dec, 1 sc]x6. (12)
Place the eyes between Rounds 9 and 10, spaced by 2 st.
Fill the body with polyfill.
- Round 12: [6 dec]. (6)
Cut the yarn, close the body and fasten off.
The snout – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in white OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in white:
-
- Row 1: ch 3. (3)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc, (1 sc and 1 sl st in the next ch). (3)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the snout centered below the eyes, over Round 8. It is sometimes hard to sew such small pieces. I only sewed the external part of the snout and I added a little bit of glue to the rest of it.
The legs (make 2) – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
With a 2.75 mm crochet and the yarn in black OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in black :
- Round 1: start 5 sc in a magic ring. (5) – NB: if you work with plush yarn: ch2; make 5 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (5)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Insert the yarn in the first sc to close the leg.
Sew the legs to the body over Rounds 2 and 3, spaced by 2 stitches. Note: Just like for the arms, I used a little bit of glue. I also placed the right side of the legs against the cow’s body.
The arms (make 2) – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
With a 2.75 mm crochet and the yarn in grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in grey :
- Row 1: ch 5. (5)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in each chain. (4)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the arms to the body over Rounds 5 and 6, spaced by 3 stitches.
It is sometimes hard to sew such small pieces. I only sewed the external part of the arm (“shoulder” part) and I added a little bit of glue to the rest of the arm.
The ears (make 2) – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
With a 2.75 mm crochet and the yarn in grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in grey :
- Row 1: ch 5. (5)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 sc. (4)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the ears to the head over round 10, space by about 8 st.
The tail – Donkey – Free Crochet Pattern
With a 2.75 mm crochet and the yarn in grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in grey :
- Row 1: ch 7. (7)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sl st in each chain. (6)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing.
If you use a 2.75 mm crochet hook: Cut one strand of black yarn (about 5.5″/14cm) (using the yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in black).
If you use a 4.5 mm crochet hook: Cut two strands of black yarn (about 5.5″/14cm) (using the yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in black).
Insert the hair in the first sc of the tail: grab the yarn by the middle with your crochet hook, insert both ends into the loop, and tighten it up. Separate each strand of the yan as shown in the picture below and trim it to your desired length.
Sew the tail at the back of the body between rounds 3 and 4.
The Hair – Donkey – Crochet Pattern
- If you use a 2.75 mm crochet hook: Cut seven strands of black yarn (about 5.5″/14cm) (using the yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in black).
- If you use a 4.5 mm crochet hook: Cut ten strands of black yarn (about 5.5″/14cm) (using the yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in black).
Insert the strands of hair in the center of the head, starting between Rounds 11 and 12.
Grab the yarn by the middle with your crochet hook, insert both ends into the loop, and tighten it up. Separate each strand of the yan as shown in the picture below and trim it to your desired length.
Congratulations on crafting the cutest crochet donkey!
Copyright Notice:
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You are permitted to sell finished items created from this pattern in limited quantities. If you choose to sell your finished products online, it would be greatly appreciated if you include a statement attributing the pattern to Natalina Craft and provide a link back to the original post. Thank you for your understanding and adherence to these guidelines.