Amanda's Creative Corner Crochet · Kitchen
Free Crochet Patterns Handmade with Love

Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears

Jump to Pattern
Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears
8 to 10 hours 1 made this
Intermediate level

You should know the magic ring, simple decreases and how to sew pieces together.

8 to 10 hours

Most makers finish this donkey over a weekend.

Gentle sad face

Tiny brown eyebrows and a tilted head give him a sweet, sleepy look.

About This Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears Pattern

This little donkey sits with his arms folded in front and his head tipped down. He has long floppy ears with pink insides, a round peach muzzle and a messy tuft of brown yarn on top. He stands about 9 inches (23 cm) tall when seated.

You will use the magic ring, spiral rounds, small flat pieces and plenty of sewing. He suits crocheters who have made a few amigurumi and want a soft toy with lots of character.

Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears step detail

Why You'll Love This Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears Pattern

I love his sad little face. Two small eyebrows are all it takes, and he looks like he needs a hug.

The long ears are simple tubes, so they work up fast. The pink lining makes them look just right.

Sad Sitting Donkey Amigurumi Pattern with Floppy Ears step 1 - construction progress

Switch Things Up

Make him in soft brown for a classic farm look. Try pastel blue and cream for a baby gift. Give him a tiny scarf or a flower tucked behind one ear. You can also skip the tuft and use a few short loops of grey yarn.

Materials Needed

— Main Fabric

01 Worsted weight (weight 4) acrylic or cotton yarn: about 120 g grey
02 Worsted weight yarn: about 30 g peach
03 Worsted weight yarn: about 10 g dusty pink
04 Worsted weight yarn: about 15 g dark brown
05 Polyester fiberfill stuffing
06 One pair of 10 mm black safety eyes
07 Dark brown embroidery floss for the eyebrows

— Tools Required

08 4 mm (G-6) crochet hook
09 Yarn needle
10 Stitch markers
11 Scissors
12 Pins

The Free Pattern

Intermediate 8 to 10 hours

0% complete

— Head :

Use grey yarn. Work in a spiral and mark the start of each round.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times (36)
Round 7: [5 sc, inc] 6 times (42)
Round 8: [6 sc, inc] 6 times (48)
Round 9-18: sc in each st around (48)
Push the safety eyes in between Rounds 14 and 15, about 9 stitches apart. Pin the muzzle in place first to check the spacing, then secure the eye backs.
Round 19: [6 sc, dec] 6 times (42)
Round 20: [5 sc, dec] 6 times (36)
Round 21: [4 sc, dec] 6 times (30)
Round 22: [3 sc, dec] 6 times (24)
Stuff the head firmly. Add more stuffing as the hole gets smaller.
Round 23: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Round 24: [sc, dec] 6 times (12)
Round 25: dec 6 times (6)
Fasten off, thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches, pull tight and weave in the end.

— Muzzle :

Use peach yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6-9: sc in each st around (30)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly so the muzzle stays round.

— Ears (Make 2) :

Use grey yarn. Do not stuff the ears.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5-14: sc in each st around (24)
Round 15: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Round 16: [sc, dec] 6 times (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Flatten the ear so the narrow end sits at the bottom.

— Ear Linings (Make 2) :

Use dusty pink yarn. These are small flat ovals.
Row 1: ch 9, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (8)
Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, 6 sc, inc (10)
Row 3-8: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (10)
Row 9: ch 1, turn, dec, 6 sc, dec (8)
Row 10: ch 1, turn, dec, 4 sc, dec (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

— Body :

Use grey yarn. You start at the bottom.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times (36)
Round 7-14: sc in each st around (36)
Round 15: [4 sc, dec] 6 times (30)
Round 16: [3 sc, dec] 6 times (24)
Round 17-19: sc in each st around (24)
Stuff firmly and keep the bottom flat so he sits well. Fasten off and leave a long tail.

— Belly Patch :

Use peach yarn. This is a small flat oval.
Row 1: ch 7, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (6)
Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, 4 sc, inc (8)
Row 3-6: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8)
Row 7: ch 1, turn, dec, 4 sc, dec (6)
Row 8: ch 1, turn, dec, 2 sc, dec (4)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

— Arms (Make 2) :

Use grey yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3-12: sc in each st around (12)
Stuff lightly. Fasten off and leave a long tail.

— Legs (Make 2) :

Start with peach yarn for the sole.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Change to grey in the last stitch of Round 4.
Round 5: sc in the back loops only around (24)
Round 6-9: sc in each st around (24)
Round 10: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Round 11-12: sc in each st around (18)
Stuff firmly. Fasten off and leave a long tail.

— Tail :

Start with grey yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2-6: sc in each st around (6)
Change to dark brown yarn in the last stitch of Round 6.
Round 7-9: sc in each st around (6)
Stuff very lightly. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

— Hair Tuft :

Cut about 20 strands of dark brown yarn, each 4 inches (10 cm) long. Fold each strand in half and pull the fold through a stitch on top of the head with your hook, then pull the ends through the loop. Add the strands in a small cluster, about 5 stitches wide. Trim the ends unevenly for a messy look.

Assembly Instructions

  1. Pin the head onto the top of the body, tilted slightly forward, and sew all the way around with the long tail.
  2. Sew the muzzle to the lower front of the head over Rounds 14 to 22. Add a little more stuffing before you close the last stitches.
  3. Sew one pink lining onto the inside of each ear, then sew the ears to the sides of the head near Round 9 so they hang down.
  4. Sew the peach belly patch to the front of the body between Rounds 5 and 14.
  5. Sew the arms to the front of the body at Round 15, so they rest against the chest and meet near the muzzle.
  6. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body at Round 4, with the peach soles facing forward. Sew the tail to the back at Round 3.
  7. Add the hair tuft to the top of the head. Embroider two short slanted eyebrows above the eyes with dark brown floss, sloping down toward the nose.
  8. Weave in all ends and trim any loose fibres.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Denise

I am Denise, and I design cuddly crochet toys that are easy to follow and fun to make.

Important Notes

I hope this gentle little donkey brings a smile to someone you love. Take your time with the face, because it is what makes him special.

Crochet Abbreviations

01 sc — single crochet
02 inc — increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
03 dec — decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
04 st — stitch
05 ch — chain

You Ask, We Answer

How big is the finished donkey?

He is about 9 inches (23 cm) tall when sitting, made with worsted weight yarn and a 4 mm hook.

Can I use a different yarn weight?

Yes. Bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook will make him bigger, about 12 inches. Sport weight with a 3 mm hook makes him smaller, about 6 inches.

Is this donkey safe for babies and can I wash him?

Use embroidered eyes for children under 3. Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and air dry. Acrylic yarn dries fast.