Bring sleepy eyes, tiny bobble feet, and festive accessories together in this palm-sized Christmas crochet capybara, complete with hat, scarf, and candy cane.
Sleepy embroidered eyes, rounded bobble feet, tiny ears, and festive accessories give this Christmas crochet capybara its instantly recognizable holiday character. Its palm-sized shape makes it easy to display, gift, or turn into a seasonal crochet ornament.
Work begins with an oval foundation for the body, followed by shaping rounds that create four small bobble feet before stuffing and closing. From there, separate ears, hat, scarf, and candy cane details bring personality to the finished crochet capybara, while careful placement of facial features helps give it its sleepy expression.
Credit Yui Crochet
Materials & Tools Needed
- Yarn: Light brown or tan for body, dark brown for ears, red for hat, textured fluffy white yarn for hat trim and pom-pom, and green for scarf
- Black Yarn or Thread: Small amount for embroidered facial features
- Red and White Yarn Scraps: For mini candy cane
- Crochet Hook: Size appropriate for chosen yarn weight
- Stuffing: Polyfill or fiberfill
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers
- Soft Craft Wire: 1 mm, 3 cm piece
- Craft Glue
Finished Size & Customization
Size will vary depending on yarn weight and hook size, but the finished capybara typically fits comfortably in your palm. This makes it suitable for small holiday displays, ornaments, or keychain-style use.
For different looks, swap the green scarf for a red or striped scarf, or leave off Christmas accessories for classic year-round capybara amigurumi.
Pattern Abbreviations & Terminology
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single crochet
- inc: Increase – 2 sc worked into same stitch
- dec: Invisible decrease
- triple dec: Triple decrease – 3 stitches crocheted together into 1
- slst: Slip stitch
- BLO: Back loops only
- MR: Magic ring
- Bobble stitch: Cluster stitch used to create raised 3D feet
- (…) x N: Repeat instructions inside brackets N times
- ( ): Total stitch count at end of round
How to Crochet Christmas Capybara Amigurumi
Body
Use light brown yarn for body. Body begins with a foundation chain, creating an oval-shaped base. Keep round joins neat as shaping develops, and watch stitch counts after each round so body proportions stay consistent.
Round 1: Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 3 sc, 3 sc in last chain. Working down the opposite side of the chain: 2 sc, 1 inc. Slst to join. (10)
Round 2: Ch 1, 1 inc, 2 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 2 inc. Slst to join. (16)
Round 3: Ch 1, 1 inc, 3 sc, (inc, 1 sc) x 3, 2 sc, (inc, 1 sc) x 2. Slst to join. (22)
Round 4: Ch 1, 1 inc, 4 sc, (inc, 1 sc) x 4, 3 sc, (inc, 1 sc) x 3. Slst to join. (30)
Rounds 5–7: Ch 1, 30 sc. Slst to join. (30)
Round 8: Ch 1, 1 sc, 1 inc, 8 sc, 1 dec, (1 sc, 1 dec) x 2, 9 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc, 1 inc. Slst to join. (30)
Round 9: Ch 1, 10 sc, 3 dec, 14 sc. Slst to join. (27)
Round 10: Ch 1, 10 sc, 1 triple dec, 14 sc. Slst to join. (25)
Round 11: Ch 1, 5 sc, 1 Bobble stitch (forms first foot), 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 1 Bobble stitch (forms second foot), 9 sc. Slst to join. (28)
Rounds 12–14: Ch 1, 28 sc. Slst to join. (28)
Round 15: Ch 1, 6 sc, 1 Bobble stitch (forms third foot), 11 sc, 1 Bobble stitch (forms fourth foot), 9 sc. Slst to join. (28)
Round 16: Ch 1, (1 dec, 2 sc) x 7. Slst to join. (21)
Round 17: Ch 1, (1 dec, 1 sc) x 7. Slst to join. (14)
Stuffing: Fill body firmly with polyfill or fiberfill before closing. Add enough stuffing to hold a rounded shape while avoiding an overly stretched fabric surface.
Round 18: Ch 1, 7 dec. (7)
Finishing: Leave a long yarn tail, cut the yarn, sew the remaining hole closed, and fasten off securely.
Ears
Make 2 using dark brown yarn. Small ears add definition around upper sides of head, so leave sufficient tail length for secure sewing during assembly.
Row 1: Ch 3. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 2 sc. Slst.
Finishing: Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing ears to head.
Christmas Hat
Start with red yarn. The hat gradually widens through increase rounds before fluffy white trim is added.
Round 1: MR, 4 sc. Slst to join. (4)
Round 2: Ch 1, (1 sc, 1 inc) x 2. Slst to join. (6)
Round 3: Ch 1, 1 inc, 2 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc. Slst to join. (8)
Round 4: Ch 1, (3 sc, 1 inc) x 2. Slst to join. (10)
Round 5: Ch 1, 2 sc, 1 inc, 4 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc. Slst to join. (12)
Color Change: Switch to fluffy white yarn.
Round 6: Ch 1, 12 sc. Slst to join. (12)
Finishing: Fasten off and weave in ends. Stuff inside hat lightly with a tiny amount of fiberfill so the hat keeps its shape.
Scarf
Use green yarn. BLO slip stitches create narrow scarf fabric with defined texture.
Row 1: Ch 48. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work in BLO: 47 slst. (47)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Work in BLO: 47 slst. (47)
Finishing: Fasten off and seamlessly weave in ends.
Mini Candy Cane Accessory
Cut a 3 cm piece of 1 mm soft craft wire. Apply craft glue along the wire surface. Take one strand of red yarn and one strand of white yarn, then tightly wrap both strands around the wire side-by-side to create a striped candy cane effect.
Trim any exposed wire from the ends with pliers, then gently bend the upper section into a hook shape.
Tip: Keep wire fully covered with yarn before shaping hook. This gives the finished candy cane a cleaner appearance and helps prevent exposed wire from showing beside the capybara.
Final Shape Check
Before displaying the finished capybara, check the four bobble feet from front and side views. Feet should remain visible beneath body rather than being hidden by stuffing or accessory placement.
Check hat sits centered, the ears look balanced, the scarf remains secure, and the candy cane stays positioned beside one front paw. Small placement adjustments can make facial expression and holiday details look much more polished.
Your Christmas capybara is now ready for festive decorating, gifting, or use as a small seasonal ornament. Removing the hat, scarf, and candy cane also gives the same crocheted character year-round appeal.
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