Oh, the Hue Manatee | Free Crochet Pattern
The free manatee crochet pattern is a fast, fun pattern to make a huggable, wrinkly ocean amigurumi.
His name is a pun. “Oh, the hue-manatee!”
I know. I’m a dork.
The hardest part is whether to call him “Oh” or keep calling him “Hue,” which was the name of the original design. What do you think? Leave a comment!
Manatee Pattern Construction
I used a cool new technique to add the wrinkles to my new friend, a method to scrunch up and skip several rounds on a section in order to add shape to the manatee and make him look more chubby.
Every manatee needs a double chin after all. 🙂
And this version of the design is also optimized for bulky yarn. I’ve found that my manatee pattern is very popular made into pillows, so I wanted to indulge in that idea.
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Free Manatee Amigurumi Pattern
Pattern is written in English, in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations. You Need to Know:
Chains (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), increases and decreases, front loops only (FLO), back loops only (BLO), mattress stitch sewing. Be eager to learn and ready to have fun!
For a quick refresher of these basic skills, go to www.hookedbykati.com/basics
You Will Practice Easy Techniques:
- How to use pins to perfectly place and attach amigurumi parts
- Work into front and back loops only
- How to shape using increases and decreases
Supplies
- Caron Chunky Cakes yarn, 100% acrylic, 9.8oz/280 g/297 yds/271m, Size 6 Super Bulky; Rainbow Jellys (RAIN), 1 ball.
- H (5.00 mm) hook
- 2- 25 mm colored round pupil or solid black safety eyes
- Poly-fil stuffing
- Tapestry Needle
- Stitch marker
Measurements
18” long x 7” wide and tall (not including fins on either side)
Gauge
6 sts x 6 rows in sc = 2” x 2”
Pattern Notes
- Work in continuous rounds. Do not slip stitch unless otherwise specified by the pattern.
- This pattern can also be done using other weights of yarn. Change your hook accordingly. For best results, do a gauge swatch with your chosen yarn and make sure your stitches are equally as tall as they are wide (square).
- Before you begin: If you are using self-striping yarn, be sure to make the snout first, then use the same skein to start the body. This will keep the colors consistent through the attachment.
- When instructed, an additional sc(s) will be added at the end of a round to move the starting stitch of the next round to the left (clockwise). This does not change the stitch count of the round. It only moves the starting point.
Special Stitches
- Sc3tog – Single crochet 3 together – [Insert hook through next st, yo, pull up a loop] 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 loops on the hook.
Instructions
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Snout
With RAIN, Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: 10 sc, dc inc in next 3 sts, 2 sc, dc inc in next 3 sts. (24)
Rnd 5: 12 sc, dc inc in next 4 sts, 2 sc, dc inc in next 4 sts. 2 sc. (32)
Rnd 6: 20 sc, sc3tog (see Special Stitches), 9 sc. (30)
Rnds 7-8: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 9: 19 sc, sc3tog, 8 sc. (28)
Rnd 10: Sc evenly around.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.
Body
With RAIN, Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in second st from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] 6 times. (42)
Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] 6 times. +
Rnds 9-10: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 11: 28 sc, 20 sc in FLO. (48)
Place markers in 1st and last exposed back loops to find later.
Rnds 12-14: Working in both loops, sc evenly around. (48)
Rnd 15: 28 sc, working in next st and exposed back loop of Rnd 10, 20 sc. (48)
Rnd 16: Sc evenly around. 4 sc in both loops to move starting st. (see Pattern Notes) (48)
Rnd 17: 20 sc, 28 sc in FLO. (48)
Place markers in 1st and last exposed back loops to find later.
Rnds 18-21: Sc evenly around. (48)
Rnd 22: 20 sc, working in next st and exposed back loop of Rnd 16, 28 sc.
Insert safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, 10-12 stitches apart. When held sideways, the bottom of the eyes should line up with the ends of the first wrinkle.
Rnds 23-36: Sc evenly around. (48)
Rnd 37: [6 sc, dec] 6 times. (42)
Begin stuffing.
Rnd 38: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 39: [5 sc, dec] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 40: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 41: [4 sc, dec] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 42: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 43: [3 sc, dec] 6 times. (24)
Finish stuffing. Leave remainder of piece (tail) unstuffed.
Rnds 44-45: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 46: [3 sc, inc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 47: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 48: [4 sc, inc] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 49: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 50: [5 sc, inc] 6 times. (42)
Rnd 51: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 52: [5 sc, dec] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 53: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 54: [4 sc, dec] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 55: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 56: [3 sc, dec] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 57: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 58: [2 sc, dec] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 59: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 60: [Sc, dec] 6 times. (12)
Cut yarn. Thread needle through front loops of even numbered stitches of last round (sts 2,4,6,8,10,12). Pull tight to close. Weave in ends.
Press tail flat at Round 44-45, with the curve facing down, making sure the tail is flattened
parallel to the eyes and wrinkles.
To prevent stuffing from shifting into the tail, use some scrap yarn to sew along Round 43 to
hold in the body stuffing.
Attach snout to body 2 rows from first wrinkle on the bottom and 1 row from eyes on the top. Be sure to center the mouth indention on the head, using the eyes as a guide to find the centerline. Pin snout in place to sew. Stuff when snout is 2/3 attached, then close.
Flippers
(Make 2)
With RAIN, Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: [2 sc, inc] twice. (8)
Rnd 3: [3 sc, inc] twice. (10)
Rnd 4: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 5: [4 sc, inc] twice. (12)
Rnd 6: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] twice. (14)
Rnds 8-9: Sc evenly around.
Rnd 10: 3 sc, dec twice, 7 sc. (12)
Rnd 11: 3 sc, dec, 7 sc. (11)
Rnd 12: 3 sc, dec, 6 sc. (10)
Rnds 13-15: Sc evenly around.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing. Press flat.
Mark two straight vertical lines 5 sts long on Rnd 24, at either end of second wrinkle. Sewing through both layers of the last rnd of the flippers, sew the flippers to the body. The bend in the flipper should face down.
Eyelids
(Make 2)
With RAIN, Ch 7.
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook, 5 hdc. (6)
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.
Attach to body 1 sts over eyes, following the curve of the eye. Eyelid will lay over upper edge of safety eye. Sew with finished edge facing out, with the chain edge sewn to body.
Finishing
With contrasting strand of RAIN, sew two nostrils 2 stitches apart, angled upward, centered over midline of jowls.
Weave in all attachment ends when parts are positioned as desired.
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Find more free patterns like this at allfreecrochet.com.
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HUBERT THE BLOB FISH
NOT SO GIANT SQUID
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Yarn on,
Kati
Kati is the designer behind Hooked by Kati. With thousands of patterns sold around the world, Kati prides herself in creating innovative, easy-to-follow amigurumi patterns. She has designed for several publications, including Crochet!, Crochet World, Simply Crochet, and I Like Crochet. Kati finds her inspiration in science fiction, video games, and numerous visits to the zoo — all passions she shares with her husband and two boys.
I love him! Thanks for all your help!
I used your old pattern to make a gift about 2 weeks ago and I was going to make another one, but I came back and now the pattern has been changed for chunky yarn. I checked the website for the old pattern but I couldn’t find it. Do you think you could keep the old pattern up because I found it really helpful.
Hello! I also had this same issue. Would you be able to publish both versions, or indicate the differences between the old and new patterns? Thank you!
I’m so obsessed with my manatee!! I cheated and omitted the wrinkles (sorry), but he still came out lovely. In future if I try this pattern again I’ll definitely do them, but because I was crocheting in the back loop as I like the pattern it gives, it was pretty difficult to adjust the stitches to add the wrinkles. In future I’ll do it in the front loop and make sure to add the wrinkles. I love his little eyebrows!!
Could you explain further about the eye placement?
I would like to know also please