Meet your new favorite quick plush project: the Easy No-Sew Crochet Monkey Pattern! This cheeky little monkey is designed with a chubby body, oversized head, squishy cheeks, big ears, chunky feet, a curly tail, and a playful expression inspired by the monkey in the photo.
Monkey amigurumi fits perfectly into the cute plush trend that continues to pop up across Pinterest and TikTok. The combination of a silly face, soft chenille texture, and chunky proportions makes this project especially eye-catching.
The best part? There are no separate limbs to sew onto the body. The feet, hands, arms, and ears are crocheted directly into the main piece using bobbles and shell stitches. That means less assembly and more crocheting.
This is also an excellent stash-buster. Use leftover brown, cream, pink, and yellow yarn to create monkeys in different color combinations. For craft fairs, these expressive little animals make wonderful impulse-buy plushies because they are cute, tactile, giftable, and easy to display.
If you love beginner-friendly amigurumi that look complicated but crochet surprisingly quickly, this monkey belongs on your hook.
Skill Level & Prerequisites
Skill Level: Easy / Beginner-Friendly
You should be comfortable with:
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Making a Magic Ring.
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Crocheting single crochet.
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Working increases and decreases.
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Crocheting in continuous rounds.
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Changing yarn colors.
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Making basic bobble stitches.
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Working simple shell stitches.
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Following stitch counts.
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Adding safety eyes.
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Working basic surface slip stitches.
You do not need advanced amigurumi construction skills.
The most important rule is to count your stitches at the end of every round. The stitch counts below are designed to keep the monkey's body symmetrical and properly shaped.
Materials & Tools Needed
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Super bulky velvet or chenille yarn
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Ginger or medium brown: approximately 120-150 yards.
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Cream: approximately 40-50 yards.
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Black: small amount for facial details.
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Coral or pink: small amount for the tongue.
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Yellow: approximately 20-30 yards for the optional banana.
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5.0 mm or 4.5 mm crochet hook.
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10 mm or 12 mm safety eye for the open eye.
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Polyester fiberfill stuffing.
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Stitch marker.
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Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn tails.
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Small scissors.
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Optional locking stitch marker.
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Optional craft-fair tag or ribbon.
Suggested Yarn Colors
For a monkey similar to the pictured design, use:
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Ginger-brown for the body.
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Warm cream for the face and hands.
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Dark brown or black for facial details.
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Coral pink for the tongue.
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Bright yellow for the banana.
Abbreviations Used
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | Magic Ring |
| sc | Single Crochet |
| inc | Increase - 2 sc in the same stitch |
| dec | Decrease - single crochet 2 stitches together |
| ch | Chain |
| sl st | Slip Stitch |
| st | Stitch |
| sts | Stitches |
| dc | Double Crochet |
| Rnd | Round |
Special Stitch: 5-dc Bobble
A 5-dc bobble is worked into one stitch and counts as 1 stitch.
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Yarn over and insert hook into the stitch.
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Pull up a loop.
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Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
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Repeat this four more times in the same stitch without completing the final loops.
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You will have several loops on your hook.
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Yarn over and pull through all remaining loops.
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Continue to the next stitch.
The bobble creates the chunky raised sections used for the monkey's feet and arms.
Special Stitch: Ear Shell
Work 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc into the same stitch.
The entire shell counts as 1 stitch for the round.
Finished Size
Using super bulky chenille yarn and a 5.0 mm hook, the finished monkey should measure approximately:
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8-10 inches tall
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About 6-7 inches wide
Your finished size will vary depending on yarn thickness, hook size, and crochet tension.
Pattern Notes
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Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated.
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Do not join rounds with a sl st.
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Use a stitch marker to identify the first stitch.
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Keep your stitches fairly tight so stuffing does not show.
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When changing colors, make the color change on the final yarn over of the previous stitch.
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Every bobble counts as 1 stitch.
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Every ear shell counts as 1 stitch.
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The feet, hands, arms, and ears are integrated directly into the body.
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No separate limbs need to be sewn on.
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The tapestry needle is used only for weaving in ends and optional facial finishing.
Step-by-Step Crochet Pattern Instructions
Body and Head
Begin with ginger-brown yarn.
Rnd 1: 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] around. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] around. (36 sts)
Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] around. (42 sts)
Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] around. (48 sts)
Integrated Feet
For the next round, use ginger-brown and cream.
Each foot uses three brown bobbles followed by three cream bobbles.
Rnd 9: 3 ginger-brown 5-dc bobbles, 15 ginger-brown sc, 3 ginger-brown 5-dc bobbles, 15 ginger-brown sc. (42 sts)
Rnd 10: 48 sc around. (48 sts)
Rnd 11: 48 sc around. (48 sts)
Rnd 12: 48 sc around. (48 sts)
Rnd 13: 48 sc around. (48 sts)
Rnd 14: 48 sc around. (48 sts)
The bobbles from Round 9 create the raised lower-leg and foot area while remaining permanently integrated into the body.
Chubby Torso
Rnd 15: [7 sc, inc] around. (54 sts)
Integrated Arms and Hands
The arms are created directly into the body with paired bobbles.
Rnd 16: 8 ginger-brown sc, 1 ginger-brown 5-dc bobble, 1 cream 5-dc bobble, 17 sc, 1 ginger-brown 5-dc bobble, 1 cream 5-dc bobble, 25 sc. (54 sts)
The brown bobble forms the arm and the cream bobble forms the hand.
Rnd 17: 54 sc around. (54 sts)
Rnd 18: 54 sc around. (54 sts)
Rnd 19: [8 sc, inc] around. (60 sts)
Integrated Curly Tail
The tail is crocheted directly into the body rather than sewn on later.
Rnd 20: 18 sc, ch 22, sl st into each of the next 3 body stitches, 39 sc. (60 sts)
The long chain creates the beginning of the tail and the slip stitches anchor it directly to the body. Gently twist the chain as you work so it naturally curves.
Rnd 21: 60 sc around, working normally over the body stitches and around the base of the tail attachment. (60 sts)
Rnd 22: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Rnd 23: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Rnd 24: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Integrated Monkey Ears
Use ginger-brown for the outer ear and cream for the inner ear.
Rnd 25: 14 sc, 1 cream ear shell, 29 sc, 1 cream ear shell, 15 sc. (60 sts)
The two shell stitches create the rounded ears directly from the head.
Rnd 26: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Rnd 27: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Rnd 28: 60 sc around. (60 sts)
Begin the Cream Face
From this point forward, the cream stitches create the monkey's built-in face and muzzle area.
Keep the cream section centered toward the front of the monkey. Keep the round marker at the back of the head.
Rnd 29: 14 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 34 ginger-brown sc. (60 sts)
Rnd 30: 13 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 29 ginger-brown sc. (54 sts)
Rnd 31: 13 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 29 ginger-brown sc. (54 sts)
Rnd 32: 12 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 24 ginger-brown sc. (48 sts)
Rnd 33: 12 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 24 ginger-brown sc. (48 sts)
Rnd 34: 11 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 19 ginger-brown sc. (42 sts)
Rnd 35: 11 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 19 ginger-brown sc. (42 sts)
Rnd 36: 9 ginger-brown sc, 12 cream sc, 15 ginger-brown sc. (36 sts)
Rnd 37: 8 ginger-brown sc, 10 cream sc, 12 ginger-brown sc. (30 sts)
Rnd 38: 7 ginger-brown sc, 10 cream sc, 7 ginger-brown sc. (24 sts)
Rnd 39: 5 ginger-brown sc, 8 cream sc, 5 ginger-brown sc. (18 sts)
Rnd 40: 2 ginger-brown sc, 8 cream sc, 2 ginger-brown sc. (12 sts)
Rnd 41: 6 ginger-brown sc. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for closing.
Stuff the body and head firmly before completely closing the final opening.
Use the tapestry needle to weave the yarn tail through the remaining 6 stitches. Pull gently to close the opening, then weave the end securely into the stuffing.
Safety Eye
For the expressive one-eyed look shown in the photo:
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Insert one 10 mm or 12 mm safety eye through the cream face.
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Position it between Rounds 34 and 35.
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Place it slightly to one side of the face.
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Secure the washer firmly inside the head.
If making the toy for a young child, replace the safety eye with a securely embroidered eye.
Face Details
The cream colorwork creates the base of the monkey's muzzle. A few surface-crocheted details give it the playful expression.
Raised Eyebrow
Using dark brown yarn:
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Insert the hook into the cream area above the safety eye.
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Make a curved series of surface sl sts.
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Keep the eyebrow slightly arched.
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Finish by pulling the yarn through the final loop and hiding the tail inside the head.
Winking Eye
For the closed eye:
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Use dark brown or black yarn.
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Surface crochet a short curved line across the cream face.
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Start with a short line.
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Curve it gently upward toward the outer corner.
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Keep the wink smaller than the open eye.
This creates the playful expression without sewing a separate eye piece.
Nose
Use dark brown yarn.
Surface crochet two tiny horizontal sl st marks close together in the center of the cream muzzle.
Keep them small. The nose should look like two soft oval nostrils rather than a large embroidered shape.
Smiling Mouth
Surface crochet a small curved mouth underneath the nose.
Create two short curves that meet in the center.
For the open-mouth expression, work the curves slightly farther apart.
Tongue
Using coral-pink yarn:
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Insert the hook at the center of the mouth.
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Ch 5.
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Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and across. (4 sts)
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Sl st back into the mouth area.
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Gently pull the tongue forward.
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Hide the yarn tail inside the head.
The little tongue should sit between the two sides of the smile.
Optional Crochet Banana
The banana is a separate accessory, so it does not require sewing or assembly.
Use bright yellow yarn.
Rnd 1: 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: inc around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: 12 sc around. (12 sts)
Rnd 4: [sc, inc] around. (18 sts)
Rnd 5: 18 sc around. (18 sts)
Rnd 6: 18 sc around. (18 sts)
Rnd 7: [sc, dec] around. (12 sts)
Rnd 8: 12 sc around. (12 sts)
Lightly stuff the banana.
Rnd 9: [dec] around. (6 sts)
Fasten off and close the final opening.
Simple Banana Peel
At the top of the banana, use yellow yarn to create three loose peel strips:
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Sl st into the top.
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Ch 8.
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Sc back down the chain.
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Sl st into the banana top.
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Repeat two more times.
Curl the three strips outward.
Because the peel is crocheted directly from the banana, no sewing is required.
How to Make the Monkey Extra Squishy
The stuffing makes a huge difference in the final appearance.
For a soft, plush result:
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Add small amounts of stuffing gradually.
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Fill the lower body firmly.
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Add extra stuffing around the cheeks.
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Keep the muzzle smooth.
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Avoid overstuffing the head.
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Check the shape after every few rounds.
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Make sure the safety-eye washer is completely secured inside.
For the oversized chubby look in the photo, the head should be slightly fuller than the torso.
Finishing Touches
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Check that all yarn tails are securely woven inside.
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Gently massage the stuffing into the body to smooth bumps.
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Curl the tail into a loose spiral.
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Bend the ears slightly forward.
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Shape the bobble feet so they face outward.
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Pull the cream hand bobbles forward to emphasize the playful pose.
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Add a tiny amount of blush-colored yarn or fabric-safe blush to the cheeks if desired.
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Keep facial details symmetrical unless you want an intentionally silly expression.
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For craft fairs, make several monkeys with different facial expressions.
Safety Note
Safety eyes are not recommended for children under 3 years old because they can present a choking hazard. For baby-safe versions, embroider the eyes securely instead.
Why This No-Sew Monkey Is Great for Craft Fairs
This design is particularly useful when you want to make multiple plushies.
Traditional amigurumi often requires crocheting several limbs, stuffing them, and sewing every piece onto the body. That assembly time adds up quickly.
This design eliminates most of that work.
The:
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Feet are integrated.
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Hands are integrated.
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Arms are integrated.
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Ears are integrated.
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Tail is crocheted directly into the body.
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Face is created with colorwork and surface crochet.
That makes it a practical project for market preparation.
You can also create a whole monkey collection:
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Classic brown monkey.
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Chocolate brown monkey.
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Gray monkey.
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Cream monkey.
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Pink-cheeked baby monkey.
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Halloween monkey.
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Christmas monkey.
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Banana-loving monkey.
Quick Troubleshooting Tips
My stitches look loose.
Go down to a 4.5 mm hook or tighten your tension slightly.
I can see stuffing.
Your stitches are probably too loose. Use a smaller hook or add less stuffing.
My monkey is leaning.
Check your stitch count. Missing one stitch can gradually shift the body shape.
My ears are uneven.
Make sure each ear shell is worked into the intended stitch and that your starting marker remains at the back.
My tail does not curl.
Wrap it gently around your finger while it is still warm from handling. Chenille yarn usually holds a soft curve naturally.
My face looks crooked.
Check that the cream face panel is centered opposite the round marker. The marker should remain at the back of the monkey.
Final Thoughts
This Easy No-Sew Crochet Monkey Pattern is designed for exactly the kind of crochet project that is fun to make and easy to reproduce.
The chunky yarn creates a soft, squishy texture. The integrated bobble feet and arms add personality without complicated assembly. The cream face gives you plenty of room to experiment with different expressions.
Most importantly, you can finish the main monkey without sewing individual body parts together.
Make one for yourself, crochet several for a craft fair, or change the colors and expressions to build an entire mischievous monkey family.
A small crocheted banana makes the perfect finishing touch-and gives this cheeky little monkey even more personality.
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