Crochet Jellycat Hearts

This crochet penguin amigurumi pattern is small, simple, and genuinely fun to make. Standing at 14 cm tall, it works up faster than you expect. A great weekend project for beginners and experienced crocheters alike no complicated stitches, no frustration.

There is a reason penguin amigurumi patterns are so popular they are compact, expressive, and satisfying to finish. This particular pattern uses basic stitches only, so if you have held a crochet hook even once before, you are ready. The body comes together in two separate pieces that join midway, which sounds tricky but actually makes the whole shape much easier to control. By the end, you have a sturdy little penguin that sits, stands, and somehow always looks like it has opinions.

Bright Crochet Jellycat Hearts Amigurumi Pattern for Home Accents — Made By:Pattern

Skill Level

This pattern is beginner-friendly. If you know how to single crochet, increase, and decrease, you have everything you need to finish this penguin confidently.

Materials

Any size and type of beige or brown yarn (for legs)
White yarn (for eyes area)
One other colour of your choice (for body)
Crochet hook matching your yarn size
Safety eyes
Stuffing
Needle, scissors, stitch marker

Abbreviations

sc — Single crochet

inc — Increase

dec — Decrease

MR — Magic ring

slst — Slip stitch

FO — Fasten off

Body

Make 2 pieces

Round 1: 6 sc in MR
Round 2: 6 inc — (12)
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 — (18)
Rounds 4–5: 18 sc

FO the 1st piece. Do not FO the 2nd piece — continue crocheting.

Join: 3 slst from 2nd piece to 1st piece
Round 6: 8 sc on 1st piece, 1 inc, 8 sc — then 8 sc on 2nd piece, 1 inc, 8 sc — (36 sc total)
Rounds 7–8: 36 sc around
Round 9: 4 sc, dec — (30)
Round 10: 30 sc
Round 11: 3 sc, dec — (24)
Round 12: 24 sc — stuff here
Round 13: 2 sc, dec — (18)
Round 14: 1 sc, dec — (12)
Round 15: dec x6 — (6) — stuff a little more, then FO

Legs

Make 2

Round 1: 6 sc in MR
Round 2: 6 inc — (12)
Rounds 3–4: 12 sc
Round 5: 5 dec, 2 sc — (7) — stuff
Rounds 6–7: 7 sc — stuff a little more
3 sc across, then FO

Attach legs between rows 14 and 15, about 2–3 stitches apart

Details Finishing

Embroider the mouth
Attach safety eyes between rows 9 and 10, about 4–5 stitches apart
Optionally add a little white yarn under the eyes for extra cuteness

Gifting Ideas

This little penguin makes a genuinely thoughtful gift mostly because it is handmade, and people can tell the difference. Tuck it into a gift box for a baby shower, birthday, or just because. It is small enough to attach to a gift bag as a topper instead of a regular bow, which honestly looks better anyway. New moms love receiving handmade toys, and kids are obsessed with anything soft and penguin-shaped. You can also turn it into a keychain by adding a simple lobster clasp through the top. One pattern, endless gifting options.

Customisation & Variations

Swap the body colour to match someone’s favourite shade navy, pastel pink, deep green, anything works with this shape.
Use chunky yarn for a bigger, squishier version or go thinner for a tiny keychain-sized penguin.
Embroider a little scarf around the neck using a contrasting colour makes it look like a proper winter penguin.
Add a bow on top using a small ribbon or leftover yarn for a feminine, gift-ready look.
Make the whole set in different colours and display them together they look amazing as a little penguin family.
Attach a lobster clasp through the top and turn it into a bag charm or keychain.
Try safety eyes in different sizes or colours bigger eyes give a more cartoon look, smaller ones feel more classic and realistic.
Use variegated or gradient yarn for the body and let the colour do all the work — no extra embellishments needed.

Finishing Tips

Stuff the body firmly but not too tight overstuffing stretches the stitches and you will start seeing gaps in the yarn.
Add the safety eyes before closing the head completely once the opening is too small, attaching them cleanly becomes a real struggle.
When sewing the legs on, pin them in place first and check the balance before committing. A slightly off placement makes the whole penguin lean to one side.
Leave a long tail when fastening off each piece it makes sewing parts together much easier and you will not run out of yarn mid-stitch.
Use a yarn needle instead of a regular sewing needle for joining pieces. It handles yarn much better and gives you cleaner seams.
When embroidering the mouth, less is more. A few small stitches in a slight curve look natural too many and it starts looking forced.
Weave in all ends properly and give each one a gentle tug before trimming. Loose ends have a way of working themselves out over time if not secured well.
Once fully assembled, give the penguin a gentle reshape with your hands smooth out any lumps and adjust the stuffing from the outside by pressing softly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not using a stitch marker is the most common beginner mistake. Rounds can get confusing fast and before you know it you have lost count completely.
Starting with the wrong hook size throws off the entire tension. Always check that your hook matches your yarn weight before casting on.
Skipping the magic ring and using a simple loop instead leaves a visible hole at the top of the head. Take the extra minute to learn the MR it is worth it.
Closing the body too early before stuffing is a frustrating mistake. Once it is closed, reopening the seam without damaging the stitches is genuinely difficult.
Attaching the legs unevenly makes the penguin look lopsided. Always count the stitches carefully and pin both legs before sewing either one down permanently.
Pulling the decrease stitches too tight distorts the shape around the neck area. Work decreases with a relaxed hand — they will still close up neatly.
Cutting yarn too short when fastening off leaves you with barely enough to weave in. Always leave at least 10 to 15 cm before cutting.
Rushing the eye placement without stepping back to check both sides is a mistake almost everyone makes once. Attach one eye, hold the penguin at arm’s length, then attach the second.

Conclusion

This little penguin is one of those projects that stays with you. Firstly, it does not take long, and secondly, it does not require expensive materials, which makes it very accessible. As a result, the outcome is something genuinely charming. Moreover, you can make one for yourself, make one as a gift, or even make five in different colours. Ultimately, however you use this pattern, the process itself is half the fun.