Make a sweet and snuggly crochet lovey free pattern that’s perfect for babies and thoughtful handmade gifts. It turned out even cuter than I imagined.
This beginner crochet lovey free pattern is simple to follow and works up quickly. You can create an adorable animal lovey crochet pattern or a soft lovey blanket crochet pattern that little ones will love and cherish.
Options for adding safety eyes and a nose or embroidering them instead are included, so you can choose what you are most comfortable with. Make this for your next baby shower.
Crochet Lovey Free Pattern
Materials
1. Bernat Baby Blanket yarn in colors White and Baby Blue was used for the sample lovies. It is a size 6 super chunky chenille yarn.
2. Small amounts of Bernat Blanket yarn in black color for the eyes and nose, if you choose to embroider them.
3. Small amounts of worsted-weight black yarn for the toes.
4. A pair of 10mm safety eyes and 24mm safety nose if you choose not to embroider the features.
5. A small piece of cross-stitch fabric to secure the safety eyes and nose for added security.
6. K (6.5mm) and N/P (10mm) crochet hooks
7. Tapestry needle to weave in the ends and sew the parts together
8. Locking stitch markers
9. Fiber fill for stuffing
Finished Size
The rectangular body is 11 inches long and 10 inches wide.
Yardage
120 yards
Stitch Abbreviations
The pattern is written in US terms.
st: stitch
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
YO: yarn over
dec: invisible decrease for Amigurumi (explained below)
Stitch Explanations
inc (increase): work 2 sc into the same stitch.
dec (invisible decrease): Insert hook into the front loop of the first st, insert hook into the front loop of the second st, YO, and pull through first 2 loops on your hook, YO, and pull through remaining 2 loops on your hook. This leaves no holes.
sc2tog: This is a regular decrease used in the pattern for parts that do not require any filling. To work a sc2tog, pull up a loop in the next 2 sts, YO, and pull through all the 3 loops on your hook.
Invisible join: After your last stitch, do not fasten off, just cut your yarn and pull the tail out through the stitch. Thread the tail through a yarn needle, sk the next st, and pass the needle under the next st, now insert it under the back loop of the same st from which the tail is emerging, and pull until it is the size of the rest of the stitches. You can now weave in the rest of the tail behind your work.
SHD (single half double decrease): Insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop, YO, and pull up a loop in the next st, YO, and pull through all the 4 loops on your hook to complete your SHD. It is like single crochet and a half double crochet stitch joined together. This stitch is used for the rectangular blanket or body.
Dog Lovey Free Pattern
Pattern Notes
1. Overview: Make the body as a rectangle and set it aside. Next, make the head and sew the facial features onto it. If you opt for safety eyes and a nose, we will add them before stuffing the head. Make four feet and attach one to each of the four corners of the rectangle. Pin the ears to the head, and attach the head to the top center of the rectangle. Then sew the ears to the head.
2. To attach the safety eyes or nose, you will first insert the screw and check if you like the positioning. Then place a rectangular piece of cross-stitch fabric (1-1/2″ X 1″) on the screw back before adding the backing for the safety eyes or nose. The fabric will add an extra layer of security to the eyes and keep them from pulling out through the stitches. For younger children, embroider eyes with black yarn to avoid a choking hazard.
3. Every time you work into the marked stitch, move the marker up into the first stitch you worked into the marked stitch. This will help you keep track of the rounds. Move it even if your first stitch is a decrease or sc2tog.
4. You do not turn at the end of the rounds.
5. To sew two parts together seamlessly, insert your needle under the post of a stitch on the first piece, then under the post of the corresponding stitch on the second piece. Continue working back and forth in this way to join them neatly. See pic 1 below.
You can also whip stitch the pieces together, but this method creates a cleaner, more polished finish.
1. Attaching parts seamlessly
Head
2. Head of crochet dog lovey
Round 1: With the smaller K (6.5mm) hook, 7 sc in a magic ring. (7 sc)
Round 2: inc in next st, mark the first st you made to indicate the first st of the round, inc in next 6 sts to end of the round. (14 sc)
Turn your piece inside out now to bring the right side outside.
Rounds 3 & 4: 1 sc in next st and each st across to end. (14 sc)
Round 5: 1 sc in next 3 sts, inc in next 4 sts, inc in next st, place a different-colored stitch marker around the post of the first stitch of this increase to mark the center top of the head. Then, inc in each of the next 3 sts, and 1 sc in each of the last 3 sts. (22 sc)
Round 6: inc in marked st, 1 sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st, (sc, inc) X 8, 1 sc in last 2 sts. (32 sc)
Round 7: (6 sc, dec) X 4. (28 sc)
Round 8: 1 sc in the next st, and each st across to the end. (28 sc)
The stitch marker placed in Round 5 indicates the top center of the head. Use it as a guide to add your eyes and nose.
If you are using safety eyes and nose, attach the nose between the first and second rounds and the eyes right behind the muzzle 1-1/2 inches apart. Then start stuffing 3/4th of the head. If you choose to embroider them, do so after the head is fully stuffed and closed. The steps are given below.
Round 9: (5 sc, dec) X 4. (24 sc)
Round 10: (1 sc, dec) X 8. (16 sc)
Round 11: (dec) X 8. (8 sc)
Cut the yarn and pull the tail out. Use the tail and a tapestry needle to whipstitch through the front loops of all 8 sts. Add more stuffing as needed, then pull to close the hole. Leave a 3/4- yard tail, knot, and bring it to the opposite end of the sphere and cut the excess yarn.
Embroidering Facial features on the Head
3. Embroidered nose and eyes
4. Steps for embroidering the nose
Adding the Nose (see pics 3 and 4 above)
Using black Berat Blanket yarn:
1. Start by stitching a straight vertical line down the center of the nose (this acts as your guide).
2. Next, stitch the left and right edges to form a small triangular shape.
3. Fill in the triangle with close, even stitches until the nose looks solid.
4. Add a horizontal stitch across the top edge to create a clean, straight finish.
5. If you notice any small gaps, go back and fill them in with a few extra stitches for a smooth look.
6. Bring the ending tail where you have the beginning tail, knot them, and hide the tails inside the head.
5. Steps for embroidering the eyes
Adding the Eyes (see pic 5 above)
Using black Bernat Blanket yarn:
1. Start by making a short vertical stitch for the center of the eye.
2. Add two more shorter vertical stitches to the left and right, keeping them close together to build the width and give it an oval shape.
Bring the ending tail where you have the beginning tail, knot them, and hide the tails inside the head.
Ears (Make 2)
6. Finished ears
Note: The ears and paws are not stuffed, so it’s okay if your stitches aren’t very tightly woven, as there’s no polyfill to show through.
Round 1: With the smaller K (6.5mm) hook, 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)
Round 2: inc in next st, mark the first st you made to indicate the first st of the round, inc in next 5 sts to end of the round. (12 sc)
Turn your piece inside out now to bring the right side outside.
Rounds 3 & 4: 1 sc in next st and each st across to end. (12 sc)
Round 5: sc2tog, 8 sc, sc2tog. (10 sc)
Round 6: sc2tog, 6 sc, sc2tog. (8 sc)
Row 7: Flatten the top and work 4 sc going through both the layers, turn. (4 sc)
Row 8: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in 1st st, sc2tog, sc. (3 sc)
Rows 9 & 10: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 1 sc in 1st st and next 2 sts, turn. After Row 10, fasten off with a long tail for sewing. (3 sc)
Paws
7. Finished paws
Round 1: Ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, mark this first st, 1 sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch, pivot and work into the free loops of the foundation chain, 1 sc in next loop, 2 sc in next loop, 1 sc in beginning ch right before the marked sc. (9 sc)
Round 2: 1 sc in next marked st and each st across to the end of the round. (9 sc)
Turn your piece inside out now to bring the right side outside.
Round 3: (sc, sc2tog) X 3. (6 sc)
Round 4: Flatten the top, and work 1 sc and 1 dec through both layers, fasten off with a long tail for sewing. (2 sc)
Now using black worsted weight yarn and a tapestry needle, sew a couple of lines onto the paws to create the toes.
Rectangular Body
Gauge
3 SHD alternating with 3 chs= 4″
Look under stitch explanation at the beginning of the pattern to learn how to work a SHD.
8. Finished rectangle for body
Rectangle Pattern
With the bigger N/P (10mm) hook, ch 17.
Row 1: SHD across 3rd and 4th ch from hook, *(ch 1, SHD over next 2 ch), repeat from * across to last ch, ch 1, 1 sc in last ch, turn. See Stitch Explanation above to learn how to work an SHD. (7 SHD)
Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st here and throughout), SHD over first sc and next ch-1 space, *(ch 1, SHD over next SHD, and next ch-1 space), repeat from * across to last SHD, ch 1, sk last SHD, sc on top of skipped ch 2, turn. (7 SHD)
Row 3: Ch 2, SHD over first sc and next ch-1 space, *(ch 1, SHD over next SHD, and next ch-1 space), repeat from * across to last SHD, ch 1, sk last SHD, sc on top of beginning ch 2, turn. (7 SHD)
Keep repeating row 3 until you have completed 13 Rows in total, and proceed to work the border below.
Border
Ch 1 at the corner, evenly distribute sc sts along the left edge of the piece until you reach the next corner, 3 sc in the corner, 1 sc in the each free loop of the foundation ch to the next corner, 3 sc in the corner, distribute sc sts along the right edge of the piece until you reach the next corner, 1 sc in each st across along the top until you have 1 st left, 3 sc in last st, sl st to the first sc of the round. Fasten off and finish with an invisible join (see stitch explanation).
Attaching the Paws to the Body
Attach the paws seamlessly to the 4 corners of the rectangular body using the tapestry needle. Hide the yarn tails inside the paws.
Attaching the Ears to the Head
9. Use stitch markers to hold the ears in place
We will position the ears on the head before attaching the head to the rectangular body—this helps us achieve the best look.
Place the head at the top center of the rectangle. I aligned the 8th round (counting from the front) with the edge of the blanket. Tilt the head slightly so it sits at about a 45-degree angle, rather than lying flat—this gives the dog a more natural, “looking up” position. Do not sew it in place yet.
Next, hold the ears in place and pin them to the head using locking stitch markers. Take a moment to step back and adjust the angle of the head and ear placement until you’re happy with how it looks.
Once you’re satisfied, sew the head to the top center of the rectangle. Stitch along the back of the head, and add a few stitches in the front under the head for extra support. Then, sew the ears in place and hide the tails inside the ears or head.
For the ears, I also stitched about 1 inch down along the sides to secure them, but you can leave them attached only at the top if you prefer a floppier look.
Finishing
