Free Manatee Crochet Pattern – Oh, The Hue Manatee | Rainbow Amigurumi
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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Here’s a few more FREE crochet patterns you might like:
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Yarn on,
Kati
Kati is a crochet pattern designer, dragon obsessive, and certified geek who has been turning yarn into fantasy creatures since 2016. Her patterns lean heavily toward dragons, fantasy beasts, and whatever her brain decides is a good idea at 2am. She is proudly anti-AI crochet and very pro-finishing-your-WIPs (she’s working on it). When she’s not crocheting something with too many horns, she’s probably watching something nerdy or playing dog agility with her two American Hairless Terriers. Want to work together or just say hi? Contact her here.
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 would also like to know! I had made two manatees from the old pattern and loved it, but I gave them away! Now I wanted to make one for myself and I can’t remember what it was like before the change!
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
Hi,
It looks so cute, I would love to make one but 10 inches is too big, how can I make it smaller ?
Thank you !
You just have to use a smaller hook (e.g. a 2mm) and crochet with a lot of tension. Also make sure you use a thin yarn. The manatee will automatically be smaller.
Hey Kati.
I’ve just finished my first manatee, and it turned out very charming. I’m not sure, what I do wrong, but my work didn’t fit with how your pattern told me it should be. The problem is, how to start each turn, but since your pattern is so easy to follow, it was not at problem just to change the start of the turn.
I’m expecting my first grandchild in january, and I think I’ll make one more manatee for a mobile.
Greatings from Denmark
Birgitte
Es primera vez que sigo un patrón me podría decir que es fpsc y hdc por favor gracias
This turns out super cute but I noticed mine has a twist and the tail looks crooked. I also noticed that the last 2 wrinkles are also off centered. I ended up frogging and redoing but couldn’t use the stitch counter you provided. Any suggestions for my next attempt?
Would you ever consider recording the process of making this manatee. I learned how to crochet through videos so I find it difficult to make something by just reading. I’d honestly pay double what the pdf costs if it means I can see the process
I agree, I just started crocheting as well and videos help so much!!!!!
OMG! I thought I was the only one that felt this way, lol. My Godmother taught me how to crochet a blanket when I was 10 years old and I never learned to read it. I’m a visual learner, however, I am 40 now and I taught myself the crochet terms. It was difficult but I managed and I am proud of myself. Its not as hard as it may seem, so I know you can do it if I can. Good luck to you
Hi, I just tried the pattern cuz I love manatees. Mine worked up with no discernible nose shape, just like a bowl that increased in length. I’m going to try it again, did I miss something somewhere? I did the wrinkles – no problem, but he was shaped more like a teardrop than manatee face.
The shaping comes mostly in the attachment. The instructions read: Attach nose to body 2 rows from first wrinkle on the bottom and 1 row from eyes on the top. Be sure to sew in a heart shape on the bottom of the snout to keep the jowls the right shape. When you have sewn nose 2/3 around, stuff.
I’m needing help on round 31 please. It says (6 sc, dec) 6 times (42 st) but starting with 48 st in the previous round going to 42 st does not work, there is 1 stitch left over. This is such an adorable little guy, I determined to finish this project for my kiddos at school.
Thanks, Theresa
I’m finished. Thank you for sharing your patterns with us, my kiddos at school are going to love him!!!
Theresa
Would you ever consider recording the process of making this manatee. I learned how to crochet through videos so I find it difficult to make something by just reading. I’d honestly pay double what the pdf costs if it means I can see the process
Hi Kati. I am fairly new to crochet and made a manatee for my nephew. The pattern was so easy to follow and I think the “wrinkles” are a very clever way to contour the body. My manatee came out so cute and I am very excited to give her as a gift (I am certain that mine is a girl) . Thank you so much for the free pattern!
Loved this pattern! Easy to read and follow. Looks so realistic. Found it when looking for a baby shower gift for a mama who is obsessed with manatees. Added a tiny now on head for baby girl. Thanks! It was a hit!
love all your patterns
Hello. I’m confused on round 41. In round 40, I have 36 stitches. I need to sc 4 decrease 6 times, but when I do this, I only have 24 stitches and 6 extra (after the decrease). Can you please help me?
Sorry I put question in wrong place earlier.
41 should look like this:
4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec. That should make 6 decreases, so you will decrease from 36 sts to 30 sts. Hope that helps!
In the future, the fastest way to get help would be to use the contact form or email me directly. Thanks!
Are the flippers supposed to be folded? After looking back at your pictures mine look really wide in comparison.
The flippers are pressed flat but not folded.
Hi there! Thanks for the amazing pattern! I am getting a bit confused with right side and wrong side of work showing. Normally I have to turn my work inside out to get the “right” side showing, but it seems with this pattern I shouldn’t do this? Chris
I think I’ve realised what’s going on… I’m a left gander but I crochet right handed counter clockwise. I’ve just watched your crinkle video again and seen you crochet clockwise. This is where I am getting in a muddle! So ignore me – I just have to decide whether to unpick what I have done and start again!
I didn’t know if I had done it right, so I undid all my stitches and started again. I was a little confused because normally one row down means the immediate row down, like the row you’re working on top of, but in this video it means the row UNDER the row you’re working on top of. I hope this helps.
Hi.
I bought the pattern, but don’t see how to make the tail.
Linds
I loved working this pattern. Your instructions were very clear and readable and my end result came out adorable. Thank you!!
Thank you! He turned out adorable! Love the blue!
Hello, I really love you patterns.
But as my mothertongue isn´t english – I don´t understand “2 dc in next 3 sts”.
what does it mean?
Work 2 double crochets in each of the next 3 stitches. So, you will work 2 dcs, then 2 dcs in the next stitch, then 2 dcs in the next st. 🙂
Your pattern is fine. I only had troyble with the snout/nose. I need a picture, looking straight into the nose and undeneath, so I can see what you actually did. Shapinf it like a heart?? It’s already shaped like a heart…
I used a round marker, and I constantly count the stitches…. (I like counting!) I know there’s that slight move/lean of the rounds. That at least kept it from being too far off. Maybe it’s just a difference in tension or yarn or something like that. 🙂 Thanks.
Looking back at your photos, I realized something. Your stitches seem to lean to the right each round a lot more than mine do. That would account for the wrinkles on mine being off! I’ll just have to adjust something a little, and it’ll be fine. Thanks, Kati!
Here (if it works) is the second attempt. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/431276952335155203/517626207609552907/redonecompare.jpg So much closer in slant! The rear folds are much better centered. I guess tension and other quirks really can throw things off, sometimes. Good lesson for me to learn. Thanks, Kati!
Thankyou so much for commenting this, I was so confused why mine were doing the same thing and this made me realise its because of the slant of the stitches. I cant be bothered to redo it so it will just be a little wonky
New problem/question… 😀 I’ve gotten to round 40. and I’m working on putting in the stuffing. I noticed, however, that the wrinkles seem twisted. I was sure I followed the rounds and the stitch counts right. Will it work out once I get it fully stuffed? (It’s at about half full atm)
The wrinkles are not the same length. There is a double chin, one long one under this arm pits (from fin to fin), and the last curves the tail down. The shorter ones are soft of centered against the longest one. Keep going. 🙂
This is what I mean, if the link works… https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/289231323728707585/498696873083666434/eachside.png The rear folds aren’t centering AT ALL on the big second front fold.
I would check you stitch count and remember that your starting stitch moves over slightly to the right each round, just because of the way the stitches work. But You could always just tear out that round and redo it with the wrinkle centered. I’ve redone this a few times and I haven’t had this problem, so I don’t think it’s in the pattern.
I have a question (well, two questions), and a comment on the video instructions.
Question: in the video, you talk about the fpsc being two rows below, I’m seeing you go 3 rows – to me, 1 row is where you say a normal fpsc is, 2 rows is where you say 1 row down is, and 3 rows down is where you say 2 rows down is. Which is it, 2 or 3 rows down? The reason I ask is that in row 11, you say to put the fpsc in row 10, which is the “normal” 1 row down place, but then you say one row down. So, are the fpsc done in the round 10 stitches or in the round 9 stitches?
Comment: You say in the video that for a normal fpsc, you’d go back to the tops of the row before the fpsc stitches were done, and just leave the fpsc done. I have never seen that in a pattern. Normally, from the years I’ve been crocheting, the next round gets worked in the tops of the fpsc, like you say to do in the video, so that’s what I would have done even if I hadn’t watched the video. It doesn’t make sense to me to go to the “skipped” row, it makes sense to me to follow the fpsc the previous row did. The ridge effect ends up on the other side of the work. I have no idea if I explained what i mean in a way anyone will understand, though. 🙂
Just to clarify, I really do like how this pattern ends up looking. I just want to understand what you’re trying to say in the instructions, so I might need to translate it into what I am used to thinking of.. 🙂
I’m sorry if it was confusing. You got the right idea though. To go one row down would just be normal placement, and therefore would not be a row below where you are working. If it said to make a regular fpsc, then you would jsut put it where it goes (that next post), not the one under that. In a standard pattern, if you need to work on any row other than the one you would normally, you have to specify, which is why I stated it the way I did. A standard fpsc would not need instructions as to which row to use.
As for the placement of the fpsc stitches, I have seen it down in many ways, but the majority of the time a fpsc is used to create a more prominent ridge than, say, an hdc, in which case the designer wants the ridge on the right side (front) of the work. That is why I make sure to specify that these ridges need to be on the back side, because they are not decorative, they are structural.
I hope that cleared up any confusion. It seems you understood the pattern though, and I would love to see your work!
I think I’m understanding, now. In rnd 11, you mention rnd 10, but you mean skip the posts of the stitches made in rnd 10 and go around the posts made in rnd 9? And in rnd 12, it says rnd 11 stitches get skipped, butit’s the tops of the rnd 10 stitches that get skipped (the ones ignored when doing the fpsc get ignored again) as you go into the tops of the fpsc made in rnd 11?
I think this it mostly just me translating what you’re saying into terms I’m used to… 🙂 My brain gets silly like that, sometimes.
Your brain is not silly! I do that too. I still read every increase round much differently than it is written because my brain says “every, 5th, every 6th, every 7th” instead of counting the sts between. So I totally get it! Do it how your brain reads it, and then if it does not come out the way you thought it should, go back and re-read from a different angle. 🙂
Thanks, Kati! And I made an instagram acct so I can show a pic when I’m done. 🙂 I’ve gotten to round 13, and I really like how your “wrinkle” method looks, so far. Would have been useful when I made up a duck pattern for a friend, last year. 😀
SO cute and so easy to do! Few nights of crocheting while watching TV and I have a fabulous baby shower gift for a manatee loving friend.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
When you say [ sc 3, inc] 6 times, does that mean that I am single crocheting in one stitch, then increasing in the next six times? I have been trying to find cheats on how to read that but I wanted to make sure so I don’t mess up! I love your blog, and manatees so I am excited!
Thank you for asking, Alia! When a pattern uses brackets in this way, it means that you are to repeat the whole section within the brackets the number of times specified. So in this case, you should make 3 sc, then increase, then 3 sc, then increase… until you have 6 increases with 3 sc between them. I hope that makes it more clear. 🙂
Hello. I’m confused on round 41. In round 40, I have 36 stitches. I need to sc 4 decrease 6 times, but when I do this, I only have 24 stitches and 6 extra (after the decrease). Can you please help me?
Hi! I love this pattern! I’ve tried to make it, but I don’t get round 11.. I have to translate the pattern in Dutch en it makes no sense 🙂 Could you maybe help me? Are there some video’s who explain the idea of making a crinckle?
There is a video on how to make the crinkles listed on the pattern page. It can also be found on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7GR3do1yMU&t=7s
Is there a reason the body is written to start with ch 2 and 6 sc into the 2nd chain from hook rather than starting with a magic ring?
Maddie, I am not a huge fan of the Magic Ring. I find that it often leaves a hold in the center and sometimes even comes undone easily. The ch-2 method works for more crocheters more often, so I use that instead. If you are more comfortable with the magic ring, you may use that in place of the ch-2. It is just a preference.
Do you have a description for how to make the tail?
Basically, once you have the decreases done, finish stuffing the body and then stop stuffing for the remainder. When you do the tail, it will look 3D like the body, but as you close it, press it flat and it will curve naturally on its own. I do not have a video of this…yet.
This is so cute
I had a problem with shaping the snout but I got it.
I agree with you on the Magic Ring, I’m used to doing chains. The magic ring sometimes falls apart. Sometimes new isn’t as good as the old ways!
Adorable! Thanks for sharing this pattern, and for the video you recorded explaining how to do the wrinkles. I can’t wait to make one of my very own! I love the idea of doing the rainbow Manatee. I have some the the Retro stripe Red Heart yarn in my stash. I plan sharing your website on my weekly crochet podcast. My Youtube Channel is called MyPugifulLife crochet. Thanks!
Yay! That’s so exciting! I’ll be watching!
Love this pattern! I made a small change in adding another wrinkle to row 25 (SC 10, 8 fpsc (1 row back), 30 sc). It gave him just a little more bend and character to his middle. Happy hooking!
Hello! This pattern is absolutely adorable. The manatee I made turned out well without any complications (other than that I forgot to not stuff the tail). I was wondering, would I be able to sell any products I make from this pattern? Or from any of your other patterns? I would of course credit you for the pattern and make a note that can direct people back to your website.
Absolutely! You can make and sell any finished product made by any of my patterns. As you stated, please credit me on social media or on your listing. Thank you for asking!