Rustling Mystery Make Along Part 5: How to Crochet a Squirrel Amigurumi (Free Pattern – Part 1)
Welcome to the Rustling Mystery Make Along
Welcome back to the Rustling Mystery Make Along (MAL)—our cosy woodland adventure where each new project reveals another piece of the story. 🍂
We've almost reached the end of our woodland adventure! After today's mystery project, there's just one final part left before the complete story comes together. I can't wait for you to see how everything fits into the final reveal.
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Table of Contents Show
Part 5 – Bringing It All Together
Today's mystery project is all about building a character as one continuous piece. Instead of crocheting separate body parts and sewing them together afterwards, you'll see how thoughtful shaping allows much of the body to be worked seamlessly from one section to the next.
By reducing assembly, you can spend more time enjoying the crocheting itself while creating a character with plenty of personality.
Follow along with the written pattern below for every stitch and round, while the companion video highlights the key construction, shaping, and colour change techniques that bring this mystery project to life.
👉 I'd love to see your progress! Feel free to share your makes and tag @pocketyarnlings so I can cheer you on. 🍂
Materials You’ll Need
The materials needed are listed below or if you wish to see what I start off most of my projects with, then check out this post on “My Crochet Tools and Accessories that are Super Simple to Start With”. This time I will be working with chunky weight yarn.
Yarn
Scheepjes Catona or any equivalent fingering or sport weight yarn for accessories
Orange (50g)
Light brown (50g)
Dark brown (stash)
Eyes: Black (stash)
Crochet Hooks
You can use any brand
Rest of Supplies
Darning needle
Filling – use leftover yarn or polyester fiberfill
The full list and where to get them is just below here.
Also check out my full list of commonly used crochet tools and accessories here.
Yarn
1. Fingering weight yarn - Scheepjes Catona for accessories
Crochet Hook
Orange (25g)
Red (25g)
Light brown (50g)
Rest of Supplies
Darning Needles
Stuffing
Use leftover yarn or polyester fibrefill
Stitch Markers
Plastic stitch markers or metal stitch markers
Terminology You’ll Need
Here I have listed the techniques needed to crochet just this first part . Each one is individually linked if you need to learn more about how to master each technique, or you could check out this post on “How to Learn Basic Crochet Stitches step by step for Absolute Beginners - 6 Easy Steps!”.
Basic Crochet Stitches
Ch = chain
St = stitch (refers to number of stitches in one round)
Inc = single crochet increase (meaning 2 single crochet in same stitch)
Sc2tog = single crochet decrease (referring to invisible decrease)
Special Crochet Stitches
4 sc in next st = 4 single crochet in same stitch
Sc5tog = single crochet 5 together
= insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop, [insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop] 4 times, yo, pull through all loops on hook
Dc4tog = double crochet 4 together
= yo, insert hook in indicated, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2, [yo, insert hook in next, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2] 3 times, (5 loops on hook), yo, pull through all loops on hook
3-dc bob = 3 double crochet bobble stitch
= yo, insert hook in indicated, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, [yo, insert hook in same, yo, pull through 2 loops] 2 times, yo, pull through 4 loops on hook
Split-colour increase
= 2 sc in same st using different colours
(e.g. sc in black, sc in white)
Surface sc = surface single crochet
holding working yarn behind piece, hook in front of piece, insert hook through piece, yo, pull yarn through piece, proceed to sc
Make the Mystery Along with me!
🍂 Join the Rustling Mystery MAL to crochet along, unlock the full pattern, and discover the heartwarming story behind it all.
Rustling Mystery MAL Part 5
Squirrel Head
Start off head with orange yarn.
Round 1: Magic ring sc 8 - 8 sts
Round 2: Sc 1, inc, (2 dc, ch 2, sl st 1 in 2nd ch from hook, 2 dc) in next st, inc, sc 1, inc, (2 dc, ch 2, sl st 1 in 2nd ch from hook, 2 dc) in next st, inc - 18 sts
Round 3:
Sc 2, inc, change to light brown,
dc4tog in BLO over next 4 dc (skip ch-2),
change to orange, sc 1, inc, sc 2, inc,
change to light brown,
dc4tog in BLO over next 4 dc (skip ch-2),
change to orange, sc 1, inc — 16 sts
Round 4: Sc 8, inc in next 2 sts, sc 6 - 18 sts
Round 5:
Sc 8, change to light brown, sc 1, inc,
change to orange, sc 1,
change to light brown, inc, sc 1,
change to orange, sc 5 — 20 sts
Round 6:
Sc 8, change to light brown, sc 1, inc,
change to orange, sc 2,
(sc in orange, sc in light brown) in next st,
sc 2, change to orange, sc 5 — 22 sts
Round 7:
Sc 6, 4 sc in next st, sc 2,
change to light brown, sc 2,
change to orange, sc 3,
change to light brown, sc 2,
change to orange, sc 1, 4 sc in next st, sc 4 — 28 sts
Round 8:
Sc 10, change to light brown, sc 5,
change to dark brown, 3-dc bob,
change to light brown, sc 5,
change to orange, sc 7 — 29 sts
Round 9: Sc 8, change to light brown, sc 4, sc4tog x 2, sc 4, change to orange, sc 4 - 22 sts
Round 10: Sc 8, change to light brown, sc 1, sc4tog, sc 1, sc4tog, sc 1, change to orange, sc 3 - 16 sts
Add stuffing to head. Cut off dark brown yarn.
Squirrel Body
Continue from head into body, with orange yarn.
Round 11: Sc 2, inc in next 2 sts, sc 4, change to light brown, inc in next 5 sts, change to orange, sc 3 - 23 sts
Round 12: Sc 3, inc in next 2 sts, sc 8, change to light brown, dc 6, change to orange, sc 4 - 25 sts
Round 13:
Sc 4, inc in next 2 sts, sc 5,
ch 4, skip next 4 sts,
change to light brown, (sc3tog) × 2,
change to orange, ch 4, skip next 4 sts — 15 sts (excluding ch-4 spaces)
Round 14:
Sc 5, inc in next 2 sts, sc 6,
sc 4 in next 4 ch,
change to light brown, sc 2,
change to orange, sc 4 in next 4 ch — 25 sts
Round 15: Sc 18, change to light brown, sc 4, change to orange, sc 3 - 25 sts
Round 16: Sc 6, inc in next 2 sts, sc 9, change to light brown, sc 7, change to orange, sc 1 - 27 sts
Round 17: Sc 18, 4 dc in next st, change to light brown, sc 7, change to orange, 4 dc in next st - 33 sts
Round 18: Sc 22, change to light brown, sc 7, change to orange, sc 4 - 33 sts
Round 19: (Sc 1, sc2tog) x 6, dc4tog, change to light brown, (sc 1, sc2tog) x 2, sc 1, change to orange, dc4tog - 19 sts
Add stuffing to body.
Round 20: Sc 13, change to light brown, sc2tog x 2, change to orange, sc2tog - 16 sts
Round 21:
Sc2tog × 2,
change to light brown, sc2tog × 2,
change to orange, sc2tog × 2,
change to light brown, sc2tog × 2 — 8 sts
Cut off excess yarn and leave some for closing up. Close up in front loops only, using light brown and orange yarn for respective parts.
Squirrel left arm
Use orange yarn to make the left arm.
Join yarn at the top row, working into the front of the ch-4 space from Round 13.
Work surface crochet in a clockwise direction.
Round 1: Surface sc 4 across top, surface sc 4 across bottom — 8 sts
Round 2:
Sc 2, (sc 3, turn, sc 3, turn), sc 3,
sc 3 into next 3 sts on lower row — 8 sts
Note: The “short row section” refers to the stitches created by the previous turn instructions.
Round 3: Sc 2, sc 3 across short row section, sc 3 — 8 sts
Round 4: Sc 3, sc3tog, sc 2 - 6 sts
Round 5: Sc 1, dc2tog, sc 1, sc2tog - 4 sts
Close up in FLO in all stitches of last round.
Squirrel right arm
Use orange yarn to make the right arm.
Join yarn at the top row, working into the front of the ch-4 space from Round 13.
Work surface crochet in a clockwise direction.
Round 1: Surface sc 4 across bottom, surface sc 4 across top — 8 sts
Round 2:
Sc 3, (sc 3, turn, sc 3, turn), sc 3,
sc 2 into next 2 sts on lower row — 8 sts
Round 3: Sc 3, sc 3 across short row section, sc 2 — 8 sts
Round 4: Sc 3, sc3tog, sc 2 - 6 sts
Round 5: Sc 1, sc2tog, sc 1, dc2tog - 4 sts
Round 6: Sl st 1 and end off - 1 st
Close up in FLO in all stitches of last 2 rounds.
Squirrel Feet
Make 2 sets of feet using orange yarn.
Round 1: Ch 7
Round 2: Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sc 5, 3 sc in next st, work along opposite side of chain, sc 4, 3 sc in next st — 15 sts
Round 3: Sc 3, dc6tog, sc 7, sl st 1 — 12 sts
Attach the feet to the bases of the body on either side, where the hips are located. Align the flat part to sew down while the rounded feet should be facing forward.
Squirrel Nostril
Use black yarn to do simple embroidery. Sew down a vertical line in the midline and then 2 curves outwards on either side to form a smile.
Squirrel Eyes
French knot for eyes on either side of nose on light brown parts.
Rustling Mystery MAL Part 5 Video
The complete written pattern can be found above and should be your main guide throughout this project. This companion video covers the first part of today's mystery project, focusing on the key construction, shaping, and colour change techniques rather than every stitch.
The video includes voice-over guidance and captions, making it easy to follow along at your own pace. Be sure to come back for Part 6, where we'll complete the final feature and bring this woodland character fully to life.
If you're enjoying the Make Along, I'd love for you to like the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel so you'll be notified whenever the next mystery part is released. Happy crocheting! 🍂
What To Do Next?
Choose any of these next steps or a combination of them! Remember to hang tight for the rest of the MAL!
👉 1. Watch out for the last part!
The last part of our Rustling Mystery MAL will be released on Thursday, September 3rd. Don’t miss it — the mystery at the end!
👉 2. Get MAL updates by email.
Want a reminder the moment each part is live? Go ahead and join the email list below. You can share each part with your fellow crochet friends so they can join in too!
👉 3. Access the MAL hub.
Missed a part or want to revisit earlier sections? You can always head back to the main MAL hub page to find all the links in one place. 🧶
👉 4. Grab the full bundle.
Want everything in one easy download — plus the storybook and bonus goodies? ✨ You can grab the Rustling Mystery Make Along Bundle here, and enjoy the complete set at once.
👉 5. Share your progress.
Share your progress in the comment box below! Or post your photos on Instagram with the and tag me @pocketyarnlings right over here. I’ll be cheering you on — and will even feature your work!
👉 6. Pin this for later.
Save this part of the pattern to your holiday crochet board in case you cannot get into now, since each page includes the pattern and the video, pin it below to your board so you don’t miss out!
