Terry the Tiger – Free Crochet Pattern

Terry the Tiger amigurumi is ready to join my collection of crochet animals! This free tiger crochet pattern is beginner-friendly, works up very quickly, and makes the perfect handmade plushie. I designed Terry with a mix of crocheted stripes on most pieces and embroidered stripes on the top of the head. I especially love the embroidered stripes; they add the perfect finishing touch!

I would classify this free tiger crochet pattern as “advanced beginner”. It would be helpful to have had some experience with amigurumi before creating this project.

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Free Crochet Pattern for Terry the Tiger

Abbreviations

st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain
SC = single crochet
SC2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together (invisible decrease is recommended)

Special Stitches

SC2tog (using invisible decrease method): Insert hook into front loop of the first stitch. Insert hook into front loop of second stitch. Yarn over. Draw through the first two loops on hook. Yarn over. Draw through both loops on hook.

Notes

• Checking your gauge is not required for this pattern. Use a hook that is smaller than the size recommended for your yarn weight. This will ensure that your stuffing will not show through the stitches.
• All pieces are worked in the round. Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of each round.
• Invisible decreases are recommended. Please see “Special Stitches”.
• Safety eyes and noses pose a choking risk for babies; therefore, if making this toy for a baby, I recommend using yarn, felt, or embroidered details.
• Body, head, legs and arms require stuffing. Stuff each piece as you work to ensure the piece is completely filled. Do not add stuffing to the ears or tail.  
• See tutorial photos.

Quick Tip for Clean Tiger Stripes

Since Terry the Tiger features several stripe transitions, I highly recommend using my invisible color change method to keep your stripes perfectly crisp and seamless! You can learn exactly how to do this in my how to change colors in amigurumi tutorial.

Pattern

Using 4.0mm (G) hook:

Body

Using color A (shown as orange):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R4: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)

R5: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. (30 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R6: 1 SC in each st around. (30 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R7-8: 1 SC in each st around. (30 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R9: 1 SC in each st around. (30 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R10-11: 1 SC in each st around. (30 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R12: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R13-14: 1 SC in each st around. (24 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R15: 1 SC in each st around. (24 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R16: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Fill with stuffing.

Head

Using color C (shown as white):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

R4: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R5-6: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

R7: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times (3 repeats in total). 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (21 sts)

R8: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times (3 repeats in total). 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (24 sts)

R9: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times (3 repeats in total). 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (27 sts)

R10: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 5 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times (3 repeats in total). 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (30 sts)

R11: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times. Add a st marker to the last worked st. **2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from ** an additional 2 times. (36 sts)

The added st marker, and the st marker at the beginning of this round helps to indicate the front sides of the face. The first sequence of sts between the first and second st markers indicates the top of the head. The second sequence of sts between the second and first st markers indicates the bottom of the head. If using safety eyes, insert eyes between R9-10, with 7 sts between. You can now remove your second st marker. See tutorial photos.

R12-15: 1 SC in each st around. (36 sts)

R16: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * around. (30 sts)

R17: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)

R18: 1 SC in each st around. (24 sts)

R19: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

R20: *SC2tog, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sts)

Fill head with stuffing.

R21: *SC2tog. Repeat from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, weave yarn in and out of remaining sts. Pull tight to close. Tie off and weave in ends.

Legs (make 2)

Using color C (shown as white):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

R4: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R5-6: 1 SC in each st around. (24 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R7: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R8-9: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R10: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 7 sts. Repeat from * around. (16 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R11-12: 1 SC in each st around. (16 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R13: 1 SC in each st around. (16 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R14: 1 SC in each st around. (16 sts)

Fill with stuffing.

R15: Fold the leg closed. Working through both sides, 1 SC in each st across, leaving 1 unworked st on each side. See tutorial photos. (7 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Arms (make 2)

Using color C (shown as white):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R4-5: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R6: *SC2tog, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R7-8: 1 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R9: 1 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R10-11: 1 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Fill with stuffing.

R12: Fold the arm closed. Working through both sides, 1 SC in each st across, leaving 1 unworked st on each side. See tutorial photos. (5 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Ears (make 2)

Using color B (shown as black):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3-4: 1 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R5: Fold the ear closed. Working through both sides, 1 SC in each st across, leaving 1 unworked st on each side. See tutorial photos. (5 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Tail

Using color C (shown as white):

R1: Begin with 4 SC in a magic ring. (4 sts)

R2: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (6 sts)

R3-4: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R5-6: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R7: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R8-9: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R10: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R11-12: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R13: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R14-15: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R16: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R17-18: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color B (shown as black):

R19: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Using color A (shown as orange):

R20-21: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Join with a sl st to beginning.

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Assembly & Finishing

See tutorial photos.

Attach each ear on the top of the head between R14-15, with approximately 6 sts between each ear.

Using color B (black), embroider a nose between R3-4 across approximately 5 sts. Embroider a line down from the middle of the nose. See tutorial photos.

Attach head to body so that the nose is facing straight out, attaching body to approximately R11-16 of the bottom of the head.

Attach legs over R4-5 of the body, with each inside end of the legs touching in the middle.

Attach arms over R10-15 on each side of the body. At the top of the arms, leave approximately 9 sts between each arm across the front of the body. At the bottom of the arms, leave approximately 14 sts between each arm across the front of the body.

Attach tail to the back of the body between R5-6.

Using color B (black), embroider 3 nails on each arm, over R3-4, leaving about 2 sts between each nail. Using color B (black), embroider 3 nails on each leg, over R4-6, leaving about 2 sts between each nail. To do so, using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through and wrap around the designated stitch one time. See tutorial photos.

Using color B (black), embroider 3 lines on the top of the head, wrapping the yarn around twice for each line. The middle line should be over R11-17, with a shorter line on each side over R13-15.

I hope you enjoyed this free tiger crochet pattern!

Ad-Free PDF Pattern for Terry the Tiger

Tips & Tricks for Success

• Flawless Assembly: When assembling the pieces of your crochet tiger pattern, use pins to hold the limbs, ears, and tail in place before sewing. This prevents the pieces from shifting and ensures your tiger is perfectly symmetrical.
• Track Your Rounds: Because this project is worked in continuous rounds, always place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you never lose your place.
• Master Your Craft: Looking for more ways to level up your work? Check out my full tutorial guide on amigurumi tips and tricks for expert techniques you can use on this project and all your future crochet animals!

Pattern Variations & Alterations

• Make a Jumbo Plushie: If you want a larger, super-soft, huggable toy, substitute your worsted weight yarn for a bulky chenille yarn like Parfait Chunky. Just remember to choose the right hook size to fit your chosen yarn!
• Crochet a White Tiger: To make a beautiful white amigurumi tiger, simply substitute the main orange yarn with white. For the sections already white (like the muzzle and paws), use a contrasting light gray yarn instead so those details still stand out nicely against the white body.

More Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns

I hope you enjoyed making Terry the Tiger! If you are looking for your next project, I have a whole library of free amigurumi patterns to explore, including my crochet animal collection. If you want to stay on the safari theme, you might especially love making my free lion crochet pattern or my free zebra crochet pattern.