The hat gives this duck its character: tilt the brim slightly, and the expression changes without moving a single facial stitch. A pale yellow body, orange beak, and small feet keep the rest of the design simple.
This little duck with floppy hat amigurumi pattern starts at the top of the head and continues through the body in one piece. The wings, feet, beak, and hat are made separately. Embroidered eyes and an optional sewn bow complete the face and outfit.
Make the duck before finishing the hat. Comparing the crown with the stuffed head is more useful than relying on stitch counts alone, especially when the beige yarn differs slightly in thickness from the yellow.
Yarn, Tools, and Construction
You will need:
- DK or light worsted-weight cotton yarn in pale yellow.
- Yellow-orange yarn for the beak and feet.
- Beige yarn for the hat and optional bow.
- Black embroidery yarn or thread for the eyes.
- A 2.5–3 mm crochet hook suited to your yarn.
- Polyester fiberfill.
- Yarn needle.
- Stitch marker.
- Scissors.
Use similar yarn thicknesses throughout. Choose a hook that produces close stitches without making the fabric excessively stiff.
Skill level: Confident beginner to intermediate. The stitches are basic, but shaping, stuffing, and positioning the small parts require care.
Finished size: Depends on yarn, hook, and tension. Measure the completed duck, including the hat, rather than relying on a fixed height.
This version uses embroidered eyes and a bow sewn to the front. If making an item for a child, assess the complete construction and intended age rather than assuming that a particular eye style makes the whole item suitable.
US Crochet Terms
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| inc | 2 sc in the same stitch |
| dec | single crochet decrease |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| BLO | back loop only |
| st / sts | stitch / stitches |
For an invisible decrease, insert the hook under the front loops of the next two stitches, draw yarn through those loops, then complete the single crochet.
The Craft Yarn Council’s crochet abbreviation guide provides a reference for standard stitch names.
Work in continuous rounds unless instructed otherwise. Do not join or turn at the end of each round. Move the marker to the first stitch of every new round.
Little Duck with Floppy Hat Amigurumi Pattern: Head and Body
With pale yellow yarn:
| Round | Instructions | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 sc in MR | 6 |
| 2 | Inc in each st | 12 |
| 3 | (Sc, inc) 6 times | 18 |
| 4 | (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 6 times | 24 |
| 5 | (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) 6 times | 30 |
| 6 | (Sc in next 4 sts, inc) 6 times | 36 |
| 7 | (Sc in next 5 sts, inc) 6 times | 42 |
| 8–14 | Sc in each st | 42 |
Mark the Face
Choose the front of the head.
Mark two eye positions between Rounds 11 and 12, leaving approximately seven stitches between them. Check the spacing visually before embroidering.
Using black yarn or thread, make a few small straight stitches for each eye. Keep the embroidery against the surface without pulling the fabric inward.
Secure the ends inside the head while the opening is still accessible.
Shape the Neck
| Round | Instructions | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | (Sc in next 5 sts, dec) 6 times | 36 |
| 16 | (Sc in next 4 sts, dec) 6 times | 30 |
| 17 | (Sc in next 3 sts, dec) 6 times | 24 |
| 18 | (Sc in next 2 sts, dec) 6 times | 18 |
Add stuffing gradually. Shape the head into a rounded form without stretching the stitches apart.
Continue into the Body
| Round | Instructions | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 6 times | 24 |
| 20 | (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) 6 times | 30 |
| 21–26 | Sc in each st | 30 |
| 27 | (Sc in next 3 sts, dec) 6 times | 24 |
| 28 | (Sc in next 2 sts, dec) 6 times | 18 |
| 29 | (Sc, dec) 6 times | 12 |
Fill the body and neck before completing the final round. Add small amounts of fiberfill rather than pushing one large piece through the opening.
Round 30: Dec 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off with a tail. Thread it through the front loops of the remaining six stitches, pull the opening closed, and secure the end inside the body.
Make the Beak
The beak begins as an oval around a short foundation chain.
With yellow-orange yarn, ch 5.
Round 1
Starting in the second ch from the hook:
- Sc in each of the next 3 ch.
- Work 3 sc in the final ch.
- Rotate to the unused side of the foundation chain.
- Sc in each of the next 2 ch.
- Work 2 sc in the same chain that holds the first sc of the round.
(10 sc)
Mark the first stitch and continue without joining.
Round 2
Sc in each stitch around. (10 sc)
Fasten off with a long sewing tail.
Flatten the opening into a short horizontal line. Leave the beak unstuffed for a flatter appearance.
Sew the two sides of the opening together with five small stitches, matching the five stitches on one side to the five on the other. Keep the remaining tail for attaching the beak.
Two Wings
With pale yellow:
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Round 2: Sc in each st. (6)
- Round 3: (Sc, inc) 3 times. (9)
- Rounds 4–5: Sc in each st. (9 per round)
- Round 6: Sc in next 7 sts, dec. (8)
Do not stuff.
Flatten the opening so four stitches face four stitches. Work 4 sc through both layers, passing the hook through one stitch from each side for every closing sc.
Fasten off with a sewing tail.
Make a second wing.
Two Feet
With yellow-orange:
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Round 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Round 3: Sc in each st. (12)
Do not stuff.
Flatten the opening with six stitches on each side. Work 6 sc through both layers to close.
Fasten off with a sewing tail. Make the second foot in the same way.
Visual Guide: Flat Beak, Wings and Feet
Check the folded edges and stuffing choices before attaching the small parts to the continuous head and body.
Open this guide at a larger size.
Crochet the Floppy Hat
With beige:
| Round | Instructions | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 sc in MR | 6 |
| 2 | Inc in each st | 12 |
| 3 | (Sc, inc) 6 times | 18 |
| 4 | (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 6 times | 24 |
| 5 | (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) 6 times | 30 |
| 6 | (Sc in next 4 sts, inc) 6 times | 36 |
| 7 | (Sc in next 5 sts, inc) 6 times | 42 |
| 8–10 | Sc in each st | 42 |
Check the Crown
Place the crown on the stuffed head before making the brim.
Although both pieces reach forty-two stitches, their actual measurements can differ with yarn thickness and tension. If the crown is too tight or too loose, remake it with an adjusted hook size before continuing.
Do not stretch the crown forcefully over the head.
Brim
Round 11: Working in BLO, (sc in next 6 sts, inc) 6 times. (48)
Return to working through both loops.
Round 12: (Sc in next 7 sts, inc) 6 times. (54)
Round 13: Sc in each st. (54)
Round 14: (Sc in next 8 sts, inc) 6 times. (60)
Round 15: Sc in each st, keeping a relaxed, even tension. (60)
Sl st in the next stitch to smooth the finish. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
The yarn and tension influence the brim’s drape. Shape it gently with your fingers; avoid pulling the final round into exaggerated waves.
Visual Guide: Hat Crown Fit and Floppy Brim
Test the forty-two-stitch crown on the stuffed head before beginning the back-loop transition and increasing brim.
Open this guide at a larger size.
Put the Duck Together
Position the Beak
Place the closed edge of the beak horizontally across the face, centered below the eyes around Rounds 12–13.
Sew along its closed edge and secure both corners. Keep the rounded front free so it projects slightly.
Check the expression before fastening off. Moving the beak a small distance can change the face noticeably.
Attach the Wings
Position one wing on each side of the upper body, around Rounds 20–22.
Sew the closed four-stitch edge to the body. Let the rounded end point downward.
Compare both sides from the front before securing the tails.
Attach the Feet
Place the duck on a flat surface and position the feet beneath the lower front of the body.
Keep the rounded portions pointing forward. Sew the closed edges to the underside around the lower body rounds, then add small side stitches if the feet rotate.
Check the sitting position before tightening every stitch. The feet help define the pose, but balance also depends on stuffing and head placement.
Add the Hat
Set the hat on the head with the face visible beneath the brim.
Leave it removable for a display piece, or secure the crown with discreet stitches if you prefer a fixed position. Check the fit again after adding any attachment stitches.
Optional Sewn Bow
With beige, ch 20 and fasten off, leaving tails to secure the ends.
Tie the chain into a small bow. Place it on the front of the body just below the neck, then sew through its center knot and into the body.
Secure the bow in position and weave in the ends. It does not need to encircle the neck.
Finishing Notes
Support the neck with filling. An empty space between the head and body can let the head wobble. Add small amounts evenly without making the neck rigid.
Keep the wings and feet flat. Stuffing these pieces changes how they sit against the body.
Compare the feet before sewing. Unequal placement can make the duck lean even when both pieces have identical counts.
Test the hat before finishing the brim. This is the easiest stage to correct a sizing mismatch.
Use embroidery for optional cheek details. A short pink stitch beneath each eye gives a small color accent without applying surface powders.
These finishing checks are worth completing on one full little duck with floppy hat amigurumi pattern before making a matching pair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this pattern suitable for a first amigurumi project?
It is manageable if you already understand increases, decreases, and working in a spiral. The oval beak and placement of the feet need more attention than the main body rounds.
Why does the wing decrease to eight stitches?
Eight stitches can be flattened into four matching pairs. Working through both layers then gives a complete four-stitch closure.
Does the beak need stuffing?
No. This version uses an unstuffed oval folded into a flat beak. Its opening is closed before attachment.
Can I use plush yarn?
Plush yarn changes the scale, visibility of the stitches, and fit of the hat. Treat it as a separate material variation and check the complete construction rather than assuming it will match the cotton version.
How should I clean the duck?
Follow the yarn and filling care instructions. Check the seams before washing, reshape as needed, and allow both the filling and outer fabric to dry thoroughly.
A Small Spring Display
For a floral companion, the tulip flower in pot amigurumi crochet pattern offers a separate shelf decoration. Position the two pieces together after checking their finished sizes.
If you prefer another character project, explore the crochet little alien amigurumi pattern for a different use of rounded shapes and sewn details.
Keep the yarn label and note the hook size once your duck and hat fit together. Those details are useful if you decide to make another in cream, pale peach, or a different hat color.
If you share your duck, include a front and side view—the hat angle and placement of the little feet are part of its personality.
