Itty Bitty Alligator Crochet Pattern

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Crocheting a zoo? (With all these adorable amigurumi patterns, who can resist?) You can start with this adorable alligator. If you need some guidance, check out our post with Rita Taylor, who gives us advice on reading crochet patterns.
 
Materials:
Skeins of DMC #700 for of body
Less than 1 skein of DMC #3328 for Jaw insert
Less than 1 skein of DMC White for teeth
Size 10 crochet hook for double stand
Size 12 crochet hook for single strand
Small to medium black beads for eyes**
Sewing needle
 
Abbreviations:
SC: Single Crochet
2SC: Single Crochet twice in same stitch
2SCtog: Single Crochet two stitches together, or decrease
SS: Slip Stitch
JWSC: Join with Single Crochet
**: Repeat indicated directions across row
{}: Directions in brackets will be repeated a specified number of times
 
Also See:
Free Beginners How-to Crochet Videos
The Best Videos to Learn How to Make a Granny Square
Best Videos to Learn Amigurumi Crochet

Step 1

Let's start with the tail and body.
 
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second hook from Ch. 6
Round 1. 2SC, SC 5. 7
Round 2. SC around. 7
Round 3. 2SC, SC 6. 8
Round 4. SC around. 8
Round 5. 2SC, SC 7. 9
Round 6. SC around. 9
Round 7. 2SC, SC 8. 10
Round 8. SC around. 10
Round 9. 2SC, SC 4, 2SC, SC 4. 12
Round 10. 2SC, SC 5, 2SC, SC 5. 14
Rounds 11-13. SC around. 14
Round 14. 2SC, SC 6, 2SC, SC 6. 16
Rounds 15-16. SC around. 16
Round 17. 2SC, SC 7, 2SC, SC 7. 18
Rounds 18-19. SC around. 18
Round 20. 2SC, SC 8, 2SC, SC 8. 20
Round 21. 2SC, SC 9, 2SC, SC 9. 22.
Rounds 22-23. SC around. 22
Round 24. SC 5, 2SC in next around. 26
Round 25. SC 6, 2SC in next around. 30
Round 26. SC 7, 2SC in next around. 34
Round 27. SC around. 34
Round 28. SC 8, 2SC in next around. 38
Rounds 29-30. SC around. 38
Round 31. SC 9, 2SC in next around. 42
Rounds 32-40. SC around. 42
Round 41. SC 9, 2SCtog around. 38
Rounds 42-45. SC around. 38
Round 46. SC 19, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 8. 42
Round 47. SC 21, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 46
Round 48. SC 21, {2SC} twice, 2SCtog, SC 8, 2SCtog, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 48

Step 2

Upper Jaw
To create the jaw you’ll switch from working in rounds to working in rows, turning the piece after each row.
Row 1. Begin by Chaining 1 and turning piece, continuing from where you left off on Row; SC 37, Ch 1, turn. 37
Row 2. {2SCtog} twice, SC 29, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 33
Row 3. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 17, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 31
Row 4. 3DC, SC 29, 3DC, Ch 1, turn. 35
Row 5. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 33
Row 6. 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 31
Row 7. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 29
Row 8. SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 25
Row 9. SC 3, {2SCtog, twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 21
Row 10. SC 3, 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, SC 3, Ch 1, turn. 19
Rows 11-21. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 19
Row 22. 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 17
Row 23. 2SCtog, SC 13, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 15
Row 24. {2SCtog} twice, SC 9, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 25. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9
Row 26. {2SCtog} twice, SC 1, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 5
Finish off.

Step 3

Edging
JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 54 stitches.

Step 4

Bottom Jaw
Foundation: With alligator upside down, JWSC to same stitch that you started the edging for Upper jaw.
Row 1. SC across, ending where the last stitch of edging does, Ch 1, turn. 13
Rows 2-9. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 10. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 11
Rows 11-20. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 21. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 11
Finish off.

Step 5

Edging
Foundation: JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 48 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 48
 
Edging
Row 1. 2SCtog, SC 42, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 46
Row 2. SS 3, SC 40, SS 3.
Finish off.

Step 6

Lower insert
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12
Rows 2–9. SC across
Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11
Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9
Lower insert
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12
Rows 2–9. SC across
Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11
Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9
Row 19. 2SCtog, SC 5, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 7
Finish off.
 
Edging
Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 39

Step 7

Teeth
Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 5th and 6th stitch from corner, for 28 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 28
Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 14 teeth, 42 stitches

Step 8

Upper insert
 
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 15, turn. 15
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook, SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15
Rows 2–19. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15
Row 20. 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 21. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9
Finish off.
 
Edging
Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 51

Step 9

Teeth
Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 6th and 7th stitch from corner, for 40 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 40
Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 20 teeth, 60 stitches

Step 10

Legs {Make 4}
 
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second Ch from hook. 6
Round 1. 2SC in each around. 12
Round 2. SC 1, 2SC in next around. 18
Round 3. SC 2, 2SC in next around. 24
Round 4. SC 10, {2SCtog} five times in back loop only , SC 4. 19
Round 5. SC 8, {2SCtog} four times, SC 3. 15
Round 6. SC 8, {2SCtog} twice, SC 3. 13
Rounds 7–12. SC around. 13
Finish off.
 
Working the toes
JWSC to third stitch for Row 4, working in the front loop only; SC 1, Ch 1, DC 1,
Ch 1, SC 1
repeat four times and finish off.

Step 11

Nostrils {Make 2}
 
Foundation: Ch 2, 5DC in second Ch from hook. 5
Finish off.

Step 12

Assembly
Step 1: Stuff body fully and let stuff extend into upper jaw.

Step 13

Step 2: Sew upper jaw insert into upper jaw, going through only the top loops of the stitches so your thread won’t show through either side.

Step 14

Step 3: Sew lower jaw and upper jaw together at ends.

Step 15

Step 4: Sew lower jaw insert into lower jaw using the same method as for upper jaw.

Step 16

Step 5: Using a long thread, loop through the head where you made the extra stitches. This will give a recessed area to sew on your eyes.

Step 17

Step 6: Sew eyes into recesses you just made. For this project I recommend going with beads or small buttons, something a little larger and shinier than a French knot looks best.

Step 18

Step 7: Sew nostrils to front of upper jaw.

Step 19

Step 8: Take legs and pinch them sideways, then sew to body at evenly spaced intervals.
 
You're done!

Step 20

This pattern is excerpted with permission from "Itty Bitty Crocheted Critters: Amigurumi with Attitude!" by Erin Clark and published by Tuttle Publishing.



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Responses

(3 comments)
  • by renateleuk
    User profile
    renateleuk

    I have started to make first part of the pattern and numbers do not add up in this part.
    I am worried that all will get misshaped.
    eg
    row 41. requires 44 stitches to do 9 and 2 together all around, but we have just 42 stitches.
    row 46. to do it requires 39 stitches to be available, but there are just 38 according to the row 42.
    Does anyone had the same difficulties? Maybe the pattern needs to be checked and amended?

    • by renateleuk
      User profile
      renateleuk Rate this comment 0 0 | Report

      I figured it out that mistakes start from round 24. Round 23 has 22 stitches, so to add EQUALLY 4 we need to have 24 stitches after 23 round. Round 24. SC 5, 2SC in next around. 26 Maybe it can be corrected by making Round 21. 2SC, 2SC SC 8, 2SC, 2SC SC 8. 24. then a carry on with 4 increases as it is recommended in the pattern. the number of overall stitches will change though.

  • by lilmrsval
    User profile
    lilmrsval

    Adorable! The patience to crochet with such fine thread! I'm challenged to try now!!

  • by grannypat1957
    User profile
    grannypat1957

    This is too cute.....