Free Crochet Pattern – The Mighty Cthulhu Amigurumi

This pattern is very near and dear to my heart. For a long time, I told myself that this was MY pattern and I didn’t want anyone else to have it, but they are just so dang cute and ferocious that I need to share it. Years ago a friend of mine from university made a special request to have a mini Cthulhu custom-ordered. The first one I ever made was a little wonky, but still cute. I revised the pattern over multiple attempts and finally got it the way I wanted. A mid-size plush with oversized eyes, bigger wings, and curly-crazy tentacles.

My Cthulhu received immediate fame on forums and fandom boards on Reddit and Imgur. (My Jumbo Cthulhu earned me a viral-trending badge on Imgur for receiving over 40k views). I sold a bunch of them for Christmas gifts to locals from the Fraser Valley and out of an amazingly-nerdy shop in Downtown Abbotsford, Nerd Haven Games. After having so much fun keeping this little gem to myself, I’d love to share it with all of you.

Introducing, the most fearsome beast in all the universe, the ever-powerful, and somehow the most adorable, Mighty Cthulhu Plush.

This amigurumi pattern is for intermediate crocheters who are comfortable working in the round, shaping flat pieces, and assembling different pieces.

Supplies:

• Size 8-G/5.00 mm crochet hook
• Approx 100. Yards of medium (4) acrylic yarn
• Poly-fil to stuff your plush
• Two 22 mm safety eyes with backings
  • I buy mine from this supplier and they never disappoint!
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Notes:

• This pattern is worked in multiple pieces and then assembled
• The legs and body start separate, but then are crocheted together to reduce the number of seams
• Maintaining tight tension will improve the longevity of your plush
• Overstuffing your plush is ideal as poly-fil condenses over time (depending on the hours of cuddles your Cthulhu receives). Don’t overstuff to the point where your fabric begins to stretch—just so that your plush is dense
• If choking-hazards are a concern, you can crochet black circles for eyes instead of using plastic safety eyes
  • Magic Circle with 4 sc
  • Sc 2 in each stitch
  • Join with sl st
  • Fasten to head with yarn needle and simple running stitch
• Want some tips and tricks to improve your amigurumi skills? Read my blog post with my top 5 tips for creating the perfect plush!

Pattern

Head:

Round 1: Magic circle with 6 sc, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (6)

Round 2: Insert hook in second stitch from hook and inc in each stitch around, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (12)

Round 3: *Sc 1, inc, repeat around from *, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Round 4: *Sc 2, inc, repeat around from *, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (24)

Round 5: *Sc 3, inc, repeat around from *, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (30)

Round 6: *Sc 4, inc, repeat around from *, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (36)

Round 7: *Sc 5, inc, repeat around from *, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (42)

Round 8-12: Sc around, join with a sl st, ch 1, turn (42)

Tentacles:

Note: There are 3 different types of tentacles. I am going to write out the instructions for the two rounds that include tentacles, but please see the section “Tentacles” to learn how to crochet each type.

Round 12: Sc 18, Tentacle 1, sc 2, Tentacle 2, sc 2, Tentacle 1, sc 2, Tentacle 2, sc 18, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (42)

Round 13: Sc 18, Tentacle 1, sc 2, Tentacle 3, sc 2, Tentacle 1, sc 2, Tentacle 3, sc 17, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (42)

Note: Round 13 should be crocheted with the tentacles hanging UNDERNEATH Round 12’s tentacles

Round 14: *Sc 5, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (36)

Round 15: *Sc 4, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (30)

Round 16: *Sc 3, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (24)

Insert your safety eyes now. I inserted mine in the 10th row over the two outside tentacles.

Round 17: *Sc 2, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Stuff your head as much as possible!

Round 18: *sc 1, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (12)

Round 19: Dec around and fasten off. Weave in your end.

Tentacle Breakdown:

Tentacle 1: Ch 11, insert hook in third chain from hook and hdc 3 in next 2 stitches, hdc 2 in next 3 stitches, hdc to end, join to original ch with a sl st

Tentacle 2: Ch 13, insert hook in third chain from hook and hdc 3 in next 4 stitches, hdc 2 in next 2 stitches, hdc to end, join to original ch with a sl st

Tentacle 3: Ch 15, insert hook in third chain from hook and hdc 3 in next 5 stitches, hdc 2 in next 3 stitches, hdc to end, join to original ch with a sl st

Legs (Make 2) – Continues into Body

Round 1: Magic circle with 6 sc, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (6)

Round 2: Inc in each sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (12)

Round 3: *Sc 1, inc, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Round 4-7: Sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Join legs with 5 sl st

Round 8: From your last sl st, sc in each stitch around the two legs (but NOT the sl st joined section), join with sl st, ch 1, turn (30)

Round 9-13: Sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (30)

Round 14: *Sc 3, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (24)

Round 15: Sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (24)

Round 16: *Sc 2, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Round 17: Sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (18)

Round 18: *Sc 1, dec, repeat around from *, join with sl st, fasten off leaving a 12 inch tail for seaming (12)

Arms (Make 2)

Round 1: Magic circle with 5 sc, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (5)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (10)

Round 3-6: Sc around, join with sl st, ch 1, turn (10)

Round 7: Sc around, join with sl st, fasten off and leave a 12 inch tail for seaming

Wings (Make 2)

Start with a ch of 4

Row 1: Insert hook in second chain and sc 4, then ch 4

Row 2: Insert hook in second chain from hook and sc 6, ch 1, turn

Row 3: Insert hook in second chain from hook and hdc 3, then ch 5

Row 4: Insert hook in second chain from hook and sc 7, ch 1, turn

Row 5: Insert hook in second chain from hook and hdc 4, then ch 6

Row 6: Insert hook in second chain from hook and sc 9, ch 3 (this is the “bump” on the top of the wing)

Sc 7 down the length of your wing. Fasten off and leave a 12 inch tail for seaming

Seaming

Prior to seaming, make sure all pieces are stuffed to your liking (the arms and body).

The first join will be the head to the body. Using the yarn from the body, run a simple slip stitch joining the head to the body. I like to position the head slightly forward, so the back of the head and the back of the body are more in line. This provides more room at the front of the body for the tentacles to hang comfortable without being pushed forward by the body.

Join the arms to the side of the body, near the top of the body where the seam for the head is located.

The wings are the tricky part. I sewed them on flat so they would hang with the individual tips pointing down near the outside edge of the body. To keep your wings upright run a stitch that joins the wing to the underside of the head/top of body wherever is comfortable. This is optional, but I found it helped to keep the wings in a better place so they couldn’t flop all over.

Weave in all of your ends and you are done!

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Ta daa! You have created the most fearsome beast in all the land, the mighty, and somehow adorable, Cthulhu! Now, go and impress your friends with your work of amigurumi art.

As always, I love to see your work! Please tag me in any pictures or posts of your Cthulhu plushies so I can admire your handiwork. Also, please credit this pattern where it is due. I was never going to release this pattern, so now that I have, I want EVERYONE to have it!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about the pattern. Happy crocheting!