Hi there! You're going to crochet a plump little yellow duckling, and no experience is needed at all. We'll take it one tiny step at a time, and each stitch becomes simpler as you go.
At a glance
| Skill level | Easy |
| Finished size | about 6 in (16 cm) tall |
| Yarn | DK (light worsted) cotton |
| Hook | 3.5 mm (US E-4) |
| Colors | Sunny yellow, Orange, Peach, Terracotta |
| Pieces | body, head, bill, wing x2, foot x2, tail |
What you'll need
Yarn
DK (light worsted): yarn weight 3, light
- Sunny yellow: about 93 yd (85 m), 1 ball, 1.75 oz / 137 yd (50 g / 125 m)
- Orange: about 20 yd (18 m), 1 ball, 1.75 oz / 137 yd (50 g / 125 m)
- Peach: a small scrap
- Terracotta: a small scrap
Tools and notions
- 3.5 mm crochet hook: for DK (light worsted) cotton yarn
- 12 mm black safety eyes: 1 pair
- Polyester toy stuffing: a couple of big handfuls
- Yarn needle (big eye, blunt tip)
- 1 stitch marker: A scrap of yarn or a paperclip will do as well.
- Scissors
Size and gauge
In this yarn, the duck ends up around 6 in (16 cm) tall with a 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook: roughly 20 sc and 22 rounds per 4 in (10 cm). Gauge doesn't really matter: a different yarn or hook just changes how big it turns out.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| Rnd | round, worked in a continuous spiral: don't join, move the stitch marker up each round |
| sc | single crochet |
| inc | increase: 2 sc in the same stitch |
| dec | decrease: sc 2 stitches together (the invisible decrease looks neatest) |
| ch | chain |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| ( ) x6 | repeat what's in brackets 6 times |
| (12) | the stitches you have at the end of the round |
If you're just learning them, the crochet abbreviations page walks you through how to make each one.
Good to know
- Work your stitches tight, or the stuffing will peek out. Notice holes? Switch to a smaller hook.
- Work in a spiral, and at the beginning of every round, move your stitch marker up.
- When you're going to sew a piece on, keep a long tail on it.
- Safety eyes and small parts can be a choking hazard for children under 3. For little ones, embroider the eyes instead.
Techniques in this pattern
Just starting out with one of these? Every tutorial walks you through it, step by step, with photos.
- Magic ring: how the round pieces start
- Invisible decrease: smooth shaping without gaps
- Safety eyes: where they go and how they lock
- Sewing the pieces together: neat seams that hide
- Reading the pattern: rounds, repeats and stitch counts
Rather follow pictures? Make the duck in the app.
Crochet Pirate guides you through this pattern, step by step: a photo at each checkpoint, a round counter, and a quick video for every stitch it calls for.
Duck crochet pattern
Work every section one after another, and at the close of each round count your stitches: the figure in brackets tells you how many you ought to have.
Body
Worked in sunny yellow.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | 6 sc in magic ring | (6) |
| Rnd 2 | inc x6 | (12) |
| Rnd 3 | (sc, inc) x6 | (18) |
| Rnd 4 | (sc 2, inc) x6 | (24) |
| Rnd 5 | (sc 3, inc) x6 | (30) |
| Rnd 6 | (sc 4, inc) x6 | (36) |
| Rnd 7 | (sc 5, inc) x6 | (42) |
| Rnd 8 | (sc 6, inc) x6 | (48) |
| Rnd 9 | (sc 7, inc) x6 | (54) |
| Rnd 10 | (sc 8, inc) x6 | (60) |
Check: Yours ought to come out as a flat circle, roughly 3.7 in (9.5 cm) wide, with 60 stitches around the edge.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 11-15 | sc in each st around | (60) |
Check: What you want is something like an open cup, around 3.7 in (9.5 cm) across and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) deep, with 60 stitches around the rim.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 16 | sc in each st around | (60) |
| Rnd 17 | (sc 8, dec) x6 | (54) |
| Rnd 18 | (sc 7, dec) x6 | (48) |
| Rnd 19 | (sc 6, dec) x6 | (42) |
| Rnd 20 | (sc 5, dec) x6 | (36) |
Note: Slip stitch into the next stitch, and then cut your yarn, leaving a long tail (around 12 in / 30 cm). Push the stuffing to the tip with the back of your hook, and stuff it softly.
Check: All set! Now your piece should be open, roughly 4 in (10.1 cm) wide and 2.3 in (5.8 cm) long, plus a long yarn tail.
Head
Worked in sunny yellow.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | 6 sc in magic ring | (6) |
| Rnd 2 | inc x6 | (12) |
| Rnd 3 | (sc, inc) x6 | (18) |
| Rnd 4 | (sc 2, inc) x6 | (24) |
| Rnd 5 | (sc 3, inc) x6 | (30) |
| Rnd 6 | (sc 4, inc) x6 | (36) |
| Rnd 7 | (sc 5, inc) x6 | (42) |
| Rnd 8 | (sc 6, inc) x6 | (48) |
| Rnd 9 | (sc 7, inc) x6 | (54) |
| Rnd 10 | (sc 8, inc) x6 | (60) |
| Rnd 11 | (sc 9, inc) x6 | (66) |
| Rnd 12 | (sc 10, inc) x6 | (72) |
Check: Your circle needs to come out flat, roughly 4.5 in (11.5 cm) wide, and you should have 72 stitches around the outside edge.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 13-14 | sc in each st around | (72) |
Note: Eye time! Push the safety eyes in between round 13 and round 14, with 13 stitches between them, on the smoothest side (that's the face, the little jog where laps start goes at the back). Look at it from a distance before snapping the backs on inside: once they click, they stay forever.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 15-17 | sc in each st around | (72) |
| Rnd 18 | (sc 10, dec) x6 | (66) |
| Rnd 19 | (sc 9, dec) x6 | (60) |
| Rnd 20 | (sc 8, dec) x6 | (54) |
Check: Your piece ought to look like an open cup, around 4.5 in (11.5 cm) wide and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) deep, with 54 stitches around the edge.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 21 | (sc 7, dec) x6 | (48) |
| Rnd 22 | (sc 6, dec) x6 | (42) |
| Rnd 23 | (sc 5, dec) x6 | (36) |
| Rnd 24 | (sc 4, dec) x6 | (30) |
| Rnd 25 | (sc 3, dec) x6 | (24) |
| Rnd 26 | (sc 2, dec) x6 | (18) |
Note: Push the filling in now, while the opening is still wide enough. Grab little tufts, start by tucking them into the far end, and keep at it until it feels solid and bouncy. Add a bit more before the final round.
Check: Yours should look like a stuffed piece about 4 in (10.1 cm) wide and 3.1 in (8 cm) tall, with an opening of 18 stitches left.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 27 | (sc, dec) x6 | (12) |
| Rnd 28 | dec x6 | (6) |
Note: When you're done, snip the yarn and leave a tail about the length of your hand. Put it on the yarn needle, pass it through the front loop of every one of the last stitches, then pull it tight, just like a drawstring bag, the hole closes up. If this piece will be sewn on, keep a long tail; if not, tuck it inside.
Check: All finished! Now your head ought to be a fully closed, firmly stuffed piece, roughly 3.6 in (9.2 cm) tall and 3.6 in (9.2 cm) wide.
Bill
Worked in orange.
Note: Ch 6. Make a slip knot, then chain 6. That little chain acts as the oval's spine, you'll work all the way around it.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | sc 4, 3 sc in last ch, sc 4, 3 sc in skipped ch | (14) |
| Rnd 2 | sc 4, inc x3, sc 4, inc x3 | (20) |
Check: What you want is a tiny flat oval, and around its edge there should be 20 stitches.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 3-5 | sc in each st around | (20) |
| Rnd 6 | (sc 9, inc) x2 | (22) |
Note: Slip stitch into the next stitch, then cut the yarn and leave a long tail (around 12 in / 30 cm), you'll use it to sew the bill on. Stuff it gently, using the back of your hook to push the stuffing down to the end.
Check: All set! Your bill should now be an open piece around 1.5 in (3.7 cm) wide and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) long, with a long yarn tail.
Wing (make 2)
Worked in sunny yellow.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | 6 sc in magic ring | (6) |
| Rnd 2 | inc x6 | (12) |
| Rnd 3 | (sc 5, inc) x2 | (14) |
Check: When you're done, it should be a flat circle, roughly 0.9 in (2.2 cm) wide, and you'll have 14 stitches around the outside.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 4-7 | sc in each st around | (14) |
Check: What you want is something like an open cup, roughly 0.9 in (2.2 cm) across and 0.9 in (2.2 cm) deep, with 14 stitches around the rim.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 8 | (sc 5, dec) x2 | (12) |
| Rnd 9 | sc in each st around | (12) |
| Rnd 10 | (sc 4, dec) x2 | (10) |
Note: Lightly stuff it, but leave the last little bit by the opening empty so it can sit flat. Flatten the opening, lining up the stitches from both layers. Work across through both layers, 5 sc, one into each pair of stitches, to seal it with a straight seam. Leave a long tail when you cut the yarn (around 12 in / 30 cm), this seam is what you'll use to sew the wing on.
Check: All set! Your wing is now a closed piece, roughly 1.6 in (4.1 cm) long and 1 in (2.6 cm) wide, with a long yarn tail and a straight seam across the end.
Foot (make 2)
Worked in orange.
Note: Ch 4. Make a slip knot and chain 4. That short chain is the spine of the oval, you'll crochet all the way around it.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | sc 2, 3 sc in last ch, sc 2, 3 sc in skipped ch | (10) |
| Rnd 2 | sc 2, inc x3, sc 2, inc x3 | (16) |
| Rnd 3 | sc 2, (sc, inc) x3, sc 2, (sc, inc) x3 | (22) |
| Rnd 4 | sc 2, (sc 2, inc) x3, sc 2, (sc 2, inc) x3 | (28) |
Check: What you want is a little flat oval, with 28 stitches going all the way around the edge.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnds 5-6 | sc in each st around | (28) |
| Rnd 7 | (sc 5, dec) x4 | (24) |
| Rnd 8 | (sc 2, dec) x6 | (18) |
| Rnd 9 | (sc, dec) x6 | (12) |
Note: Put a slip stitch in the next stitch. Then cut the yarn, but leave a long tail, around 12 in (30 cm), since you'll use it to sew the foot on. Stuff it gently, using the back of your hook to push the stuffing down to the end.
Check: All set! Now your foot should be an open piece that's roughly 1.7 in (4.4 cm) wide and 1.1 in (2.7 cm) long, plus a long yarn tail.
Tail
Worked in sunny yellow.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 1 | 6 sc in magic ring | (6) |
| Rnd 2 | (sc, inc) x3 | (9) |
Check: What you should end up with is a flat circle, roughly 0.6 in (1.4 cm) wide, and 9 stitches around its edge.
| Round | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Rnd 3 | sc in each st around | (9) |
| Rnd 4 | (sc 2, inc) x3 | (12) |
| Rnd 5 | (sc 3, inc) x3 | (15) |
| Rnd 6 | (sc 4, inc) x3 | (18) |
| Rnd 7 | sc in each st around | (18) |
Note: Slip stitch into the following stitch. Then, leave a long tail, around 12 in (30 cm), and cut the yarn. You'll use it to sew the tail on. With the back of your hook, push the stuffing to the end and stuff it softly.
Check: All set! Your tail is now an open piece, roughly 1.3 in (3.3 cm) wide and 1 in (2.6 cm) long, with a long yarn tail.
Putting the duck together
Once every part is done, just relax and stitch them all up into a single cheerful duckling.
1. Attach the bill
At round 11, put it on the head, in the middle of the front. Pin it all round, keeping the open edge flat against the head. With the long tail, sew around the whole edge: under one stitch of the bill, then under the head right beside it. Just before the gap closes, add a last bit of stuffing. It should point straight out in the end.
2. Attach the head
Put it centered right on the top of the body, that's its last round, 20. Take the starting end of the head (the magic ring spot) and hold it against the body, then sew back and forth around where they meet. After that, pull the yarn tight so no gap shows. It should point straight out when you're done.
3. Attach the wings
At round 17, put the first one on the body, one on each side. Line up the straight seam with the body, then sew back and forth along it through both pieces. It should sit right along it, pointing down. After that, do the same thing with the other one on the opposite side, but mirrored.
4. Attach the feet
At round 6, put the first one on the body, one on each side of the front. Pin it all around, keeping the open edge flat against the body. With the long tail, sew around the whole edge: under one stitch of the foot, then under the body right beside it. Right before the gap closes, add a final bit of stuffing. It should point straight out when you're done. Next, do the same for the other one on the opposite side, mirrored.
5. Attach the tail
At round 13, put it on the body, in the middle of the back. Lay the open edge flat against the body and pin it around the whole way. With the long tail, stitch all around the edge: under one stitch of the tail, then under the body right beside it. Right before the gap shuts, tuck in a final bit of stuffing. In the end it should point out and up, roughly 50 degrees from straight out.
6. Sew the cheeks
Using peach yarn on the head, near round 10, place one on each side of the front. Here's how: 2 short stitches next to each other create one cheek.
7. Sew the mouth line on the bill
With terracotta yarn on the bill, around round 1, at the front, in the middle. How: small stitches, each one stitch long, one after another.
8. Sew the toe groove (outer)
Using terracotta yarn on the foot, near round 6, on the toy's left side. How: little stitches, one after another, working up the rounds, one stitch each round.
9. Sew the toe groove (inner)
Using terracotta yarn on the foot, near round 6, on the toy's left side. How: little stitches, one after another, working up the rounds, one stitch each round.
10. Hide the tails
For every loose tail: thread it on the needle, poke it into the toy and out somewhere else, give it a little tug, and snip it close. The end disappears inside. All done!
All done!
Your own little duckling is done, you did it! Give it a squeeze and feel proud, since you made all of it with your own two hands.
Finished one? Show it to #crochetpirate. We would love to see it.
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Questions about this pattern
How is the duck's bill made?
This bill is a tiny orange oval: make 6 chains, then work around both sides of that chain, and go up a few rounds. It stays open, and you sew it to the front of the head along its open edge. Then stitch a small mouth line on it in terracotta.
How do you crochet the duck's webbed feet?
Every foot is also an orange oval: make 4 chains, then crochet around the chain on both sides, do a few rounds going up and decrease back down, and stuff it lightly. You sew it to the front of the body along its open edge, and two little lines of terracotta stitches show the toes.
How are the wings attached?
Every wing is a small tube, stuffed just a bit, flattened at the open end, then crocheted closed with a straight seam. At round 17, sew it along that seam onto the side of the body, so it sits along the body pointing down.
How big is the finished duck?
With DK (light worsted) yarn and a 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook, the duck ends up around 6 in (16 cm) tall. If you use thicker yarn and a bigger hook, you get a bigger toy; the rounds don't change.
What yarn and hook do I need?
DK (light worsted) cotton with a 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook, in 4 colors: sunny yellow, orange, peach, terracotta. Any yarn works if you go up or down a hook size to keep the stitches tight.
Is this pattern good for beginners?
Yep, it's labeled Easy: single crochet worked in the round, plus increases and decreases, and each round has a stitch count.
Can I sell what I make?
Sure, you can sell the toys you make using this pattern, and it's nice if you give a shout-out to Crochet Pirate. But please don't share or sell the pattern itself, just send folks to this page instead.
Copyright 2026 Crochet Pirate. This pattern is free for personal use.
