This chunky crochet duck combines a rounded head, a soft half-double-crochet body, and generously shaped wings. Its mustard-yellow beak and feet stand out against the pale yarn, while embroidered black-and-white eyes give the face an expressive finish.
A removable headband adds another color and lets you change the duck’s appearance without altering the main pattern. The photographs show how a blue or warm coral band can give the same design a different personality.
The head and body are worked continuously. The wings and feet are made separately, and the beak is crocheted directly onto the face. Use the written rounds below alongside the video for the surface-stitch placement and embroidery.
Materials and Hook Sizes
The tutorial uses:
- Size 6 super bulky chenille or blanket yarn: white for the head, body, and wings.
- Size 6 yarn: mustard yellow for the beak, feet, and legs.
- Size 4 worsted yarn: light blue for the headband.
- Black and white worsted yarn for the eyes.
- 7 mm hook: head, beak, feet, and legs.
- 8 mm hook: body and wings.
- 4 mm hook: headband.
- Fiberfill stuffing.
- Scissors, a yarn needle, and a stitch marker.
These sizes are the tutorial’s starting point. Different blanket yarns can produce different fabric, so check that the stitches hold the filling without large gaps.
Chenille can make individual stitches difficult to see. Mark the beginning of each round and count before moving on, especially during the shaping rounds.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses US crochet terminology.
- MR: Magic ring.
- sc: Single crochet.
- hdc: Half double crochet.
- inc: Work 2 sc into one stitch.
- dec: Single crochet 2 stitches together.
- hdc-inc: Work 2 hdc into one stitch.
- hdc-dec: Half double crochet 2 stitches together.
- sl st: Slip stitch.
- ch: Chain.
- st/sts: Stitch/stitches.
- R: Round.
Bracketed sequences are repeated the stated number of times. The final number is the completed stitch count.
Part 1: Head
Use white yarn and the 7 mm hook.
Round Instructions Stitches
1 6 sc into a MR 6
2 inc in every st 12
3 [sc, inc] × 6 18
4 sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] × 5, sc 24
5–7 sc in every st for 3 rounds 24
8 5 sc, 2 inc, 6 sc, 2 inc, 9 sc 28
9 [5 sc, dec] × 4 24
10 sc, dec, [2 sc, dec] × 5, sc 18
Stuff the head evenly before the opening becomes smaller. Add small portions around the curves rather than pressing one large bundle into the center.
Round Instructions Stitches
11 [sc, dec] × 6 12
12 dec × 6 6
Do not fasten off. Continue directly into the body.
Part 2: Puffy Body
Switch to the 8 mm hook, keeping the white yarn attached.
Round Instructions Stitches
13 hdc-inc in every st 12
14 [hdc, hdc-inc] × 6 18
15 [2 hdc, hdc-inc] × 6 24
16–17 hdc in every st for 2 rounds 24
18 [3 hdc, hdc-inc] × 6 30
19–20 hdc in every st for 2 rounds 30
21 [3 hdc, hdc-dec] × 6 24
22 [2 hdc, hdc-dec] × 6 18
23 hdc in every st 18
24 [hdc, hdc-dec] × 6 12
25 hdc-dec × 6 6
26 hdc in every st 6
Add filling gradually as you decrease. Support the body’s shape without making it rigid or stretching the stitches apart.
Fasten off. Thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining stitches, draw the opening closed, and secure the end inside.
Part 3: Wings
Make two, using white yarn and the 8 mm hook.
Round Instructions Stitches
1 5 sc into a MR 5
2 hdc-inc in every st 10
3 [hdc, hdc-inc] × 5 15
4–6 hdc in every st for 3 rounds 15
7 [hdc, hdc-dec] × 5 10
8 dec × 5 5
Fasten off with a long sewing tail.
Keep the wings soft rather than heavily stuffed. Position them on opposite sides near Rounds 13–14 of the continuous head-and-body piece.
Check both placements before sewing. Compare their height from the front and back, then attach them with even seam tension.
Part 4: Surface-Crocheted Beak
Use mustard yarn and the 7 mm hook.
Round 1: Establish the Oval
Surface slip stitch an oval directly onto the face between approximately Head Rounds 7–9:
- 6 sl st along the bottom.
- 2 sl st on each side.
- 4 sl st along the top.
This gives 14 surface stitches.
Watch the demonstration before beginning: the oval’s position determines where the finished beak projects from the face.
Rounds 2–3
Work 14 sc around for two rounds.
Do not stuff the beak. Fasten off, flatten the opening, and whip stitch the opposing front loops together to close it.
Check that the seam holds the beak’s flattened shape without pulling the face inward.
Part 5: Feet and Legs
Make two, using mustard yarn and the 7 mm hook.
Foot
Round Instructions Stitches
1 4 sc into a MR 4
2 [sc, inc] × 2 6
3 [2 sc, inc] × 2 8
4 [3 sc, inc] × 2 10
5 [4 sc, inc] × 2 12
6 sc in every st 12
Round 7: Flatten the opening and work 6 sl st through both layers to close the foot.
Fasten off.
Leg
Round 1: Surface slip stitch 5 stitches across the foot’s Round 1–3 area, following the placement shown in the video.
Rounds 2–3: Work 5 hdc per round.
Do not stuff the leg. Fasten off with a sewing tail.
Attach the two legs near Rounds 20–21 of the continuous head-and-body piece. Check that the feet face the same general direction before securing the seams.
Part 6: Removable Headband
Use light-blue worsted yarn and the 4 mm hook.
Row Instructions Stitches
1 ch 3; starting in the second ch from the hook, work 2 sc; ch 2, turn 2
2 inc twice; ch 1, turn 4
3 inc, 2 sc, inc; ch 1, turn 6
4–42 6 sc; ch 1, turn after each row 6
43 dec, 2 sc, dec; ch 1, turn 4
44 dec twice 2
Fasten off and secure the ends.
Before tapering, test the band around your duck’s head. Add or remove straight six-stitch rows if needed to leave enough length for tying.
Tie it comfortably in place without compressing the stuffed head or covering the eyes.
Embroider the Eyes
Use black yarn to create a thick vertical oval for each eye. The tutorial places the eyes beginning near Head Round 5, spanning approximately two rounds.
Add white yarn along the lower or outer edge to create contrast. Follow the close-up demonstration for the placement and shape.
Mark both eyes before stitching permanently. Compare their spacing with the beak and check whether the headband leaves enough room above them.
Use gentle tension. Tight embroidery can dent the chenille fabric, while loose loops may sit above the surface and catch during handling.
Check the Finished Duck
Arrange the wings, feet, and headband, then inspect the front and side views.
The wings should sit at similar heights, the beak should be centered, and the feet should hang without twisting at their attachments. The duck does not need to stand independently for the design to work.
If filling shows through the body, check whether too much has been added. For a future version, adjust the yarn-and-hook combination rather than trying to tighten individual stitches after finishing.
If the two wings look different, compare their round counts before attempting to stretch one into shape.
Watch the Complete Tutorial
The video is especially useful for the surface-crocheted beak, leg placement, and eye embroidery.
Useful chapter points:
- 0:23: Head.
- 4:31: Half-double-crochet body.
- 8:26: Wings.
- 10:32: Surface-crocheted beak.
- 11:18: Feet and legs.
- 13:43: Headband.
- 15:23: Eye embroidery.
Change the Look with Another Headband
A second headband is an easy way to personalize the duck while keeping the main pattern unchanged.
Try dusty rose, sage green, or a warm coral. Use a similar yarn thickness and test the length again, since tension can vary between yarns.
For a coordinated pair, keep the body and beak colors consistent and choose different bands. Finish one duck first so you can compare the second with its proportions and attachment points.
Care for the Finished Piece
Follow the yarn and filling care instructions. Remove the headband before cleaning when practical, and let every part dry completely before reassembling.
Gently reshape the head, body, and wings after washing. Lift the duck by its body rather than pulling on the wings, feet, or headband.
Helpful Tips
- Chenille stitches can be difficult to see, so move your stitch marker at the end of every round.
- Use the smaller 7 mm hook for the head to create a slightly firmer fabric.
- The 8 mm hook gives the HDC body its softer, puffier appearance.
- Add stuffing in small pieces rather than one large bundle.
- Do not overstuff the beak, wings, or legs.
- Pin every separate piece in position before sewing.
- If the embroidered eyes look uneven, remove the yarn and reposition them before weaving in the ends.
Watch every stitch up close
Pair these written notes with the complete video tutorial.
Made with yarn, shared with love. 🧶💗