To welcome the New Year 2018, I’ve made this amigurumi dog for my son Eion. It’s extra special because Hubby got to participate with adding some details and design. So friends, meet “Koko” our New Year pug dog! Don’t be fooled by his wrinkly muzzled face because it can be a gentle and happy companion. He loves playing with this bone plush toy, too! My three year old was so happy to see this new addition to his toy collection he actually reserved a seat for it next to his other amigurumi toys.

I chose to make an amigurumi version of this breed because I found its personality so charming. According to studies it is also well-loved by children so I’m hoping I’ll get the same positive reaction from my little boy when he sees a real pug. We decided to go with the name “Koko” because it sounded cute and the word was Eion’s way of asking for milk when he was two years old after watching a Koko Krunch cereal advertisement wherein the mom character shouted for “gatas” (Tagalog word for milk).

You can find the pattern below and some photos to guide you. The project also gives a nice overview of amigurumi basics – single crochet, increasing and decreasing which makes it very suitable for beginners. Though I’ve gone to fawn (light yellowish tan) which is the most common coloring for this breed, it can be made in different colors of your choice – from pale to bright shades.

MATERIALS:
• Hook: 3.5mm crochet hook / US E-4 / UK 9
• Yarn: Any worsted or light weight cotton yarn (I used approximately 75 meters of Gantsilyo Guru Milk Cotton Light yarn in tan for the main color, some Gantsilyo Guru’s Milk Cotton Light yarn in black for the eyes, muzzle, ears and paw prints, some Gantsilyo Guru’s Milk Cotton Light in sunshine, pastel blue and snow for the bone and party hat).
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker (optional)
• 15mm safety eyes
• 12mm plastic nose
• Fiber fill/toy stuffing

ABBREVIATION/STITCHES:
• Magic ring
• sc – single crochet (US) / dc – double crochet (UK)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – slip stitch
• inc – increase = two single crochet stitches in the same stitch
• dec – decrease = crochet two stitches together using the invisible decrease method
• [sc, inc] n times – repeat the pattern between parentheses n times.
• (N sts) – number of stitches in a round after finishing round.

If you need guide with the stitches, you can always check my post about Basic Crochet Techniques HERE.

NOTES:
– Finished puppy is about 7.5 inches tall. Any variations to hook size and yarn weight will result in a different sized puppy.
– This project was made by crocheting in continuous spirals unless otherwise stated.
– Use stitch marker and continue to move to every beginning of a round.

 

PATTERN:

EYE SPOTS (make 2):
Using yarn color black, begin with a magic ring. Do not tighten the ring much and leave a space suitable to insert the safety eyes later.
Round 1: sc 10
Round 2: inc 10 times (20 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long a tail for sewing. Attach a safety eye into the center of an eye spot.

MUZZLE:
Using yarn color black, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 5. Turn.
Round 2: ch 1, sc in all 5 sts. Turn. (5 sts)
Round 3: ch 1, inc 5 times. Turn. (10 sts)
Round 4: ch 1, sc in all 10 sts. Turn. (10 sts)
Round 5: ch 1, [sc, inc] 5 times. Do not turn, sc 9 across along the sides of Round 1-4 (23 sts)
Round 6: inc, sc 12, inc 2 times, sc 8, inc (28 sts)
Round 7: sc in the next 16 sts. Allow the stitches to fold going to the front of the muzzle. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

HEAD:
Using yarn color Tan, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc 2, inc] 6 times (24 sts)
Round 5: [sc 3, inc] 6 times (30 sts)
Round 6: [sc 4, inc] 6 times (36 sts)
Round 7: [sc 5, inc] 6 times (42 sts)
Round 8-17: sc around
Round 18: [sc 5, dec] 6 times (36 sts)
Round 19: [sc 4, dec] 6 times (30 sts)

At this point, you may attach the plastic nose onto the center of muzzle between Round 4 and Round 5, then onto the head between Round 13 and Round 14 and secure with the cap. Sew the edge of the muzzle starting from the base going up using running stitch method.

Attach the eye spot as well by inserting the tip of the safety eyes onto the head between Round 9 and Round 10. When you are sure that both eye spot are in the right position secure the safety eyes then sew the eye spot edges using running stitch method. Start stuffing the head with fiber fill.

Round 20: [sc 3, invdec] 6 times (24 sts)
Round 21: [sc 2, invdec] 6 times (18 sts)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Finish stuffing the head.

EARS (make 2):
Begin with a magic ring using yarn color black.
Round 1: sc 3
Round 2: inc 3 times (6 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 3 times (9 sts)
Round 4: sc around
Round 5: [sc 2, inc] 3 times (12 sts)
Round 6: sc around
Round 7: [sc 3, inc] 3 times (15 sts)
Round 8: sc around
Round 9: [sc 4, inc] 3 times (18 sts)
Switch to the same yarn color as the body.
Round 10-11: sc around (18)
Do not stuff and do not fasten off after the last round. Push the top flat then insert your hook through both layers, skipping the last stitch. Crochet over the opening with 9 single crochet stitches. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Pin each ear on the side of the head at the level of Round 4 and sew them. Sew the tips of the ears with a couple of stitches as well. Fasten off.

BODY:
Using yarn color tan, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc 2, inc] 6 times (24 sts)
Round 5: [sc 3, inc] 6 times (30 sts)
Round 6: [sc 4, inc] 6 times (36 sts)
Round 7: [sc 5, inc] 6 times (42 sts)
Round 8-11: sc around
Round 12: [sc 5, dec] 6 times (36 sts)
Round 13: sc around
Round 14: [sc 4, dec] 6 times (30 sts)
Round 15-16: sc around
Round 17: [sc 3, dec] 6 times (24 sts)

Start stuffing the body firmly with fiber fill.

Round 18-19: sc around
Round 20: [sc 2, dec] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 21: sc around

Fasten off and hide the yarn tail. Sew the head to the body adding a bit more fiberfill before closing the seam.

HIND LEGS (make 2):
Using the same yarn color as the body, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc 2, inc] 6 times (24 sts)
Round 5: [sc 3, inc] 6 times (30 sts)
Round 6-7: sc around
Round 8: [sc 2, dec] 4 times, sc 14 (26 sts)
Round 9: [sc 2, dec] 4 times, sc 10 (22 sts)
Round 10: [sc 2, dec] 4 times, sc 6 (18 sts)
Round 11: [sc 2, dec] 3 times, sc 6 (15 sts)
Round 12- 21: sc around
Stuff half of the hind leg with fiber fill. After the last round do not fasten off, push the top flat then insert your hook through both layers, skipping the last stitch. Crochet over the opening with 7 single crochet stitches. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

BIG PAW PRINT (make 2):
Using yarn color black, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 3 times (9 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew at the level of Round 2 of each hind leg. Fasten off.

SMALL PAW PRINT (make 8):
Still using yarn color black, sc 5 in a magic ring. Fasten off and leave a short tail for sewing. Sew four pieces in between Round 4 and Round 5 of each hind leg.

Once done sewing all paw prints, pin each hind leg on the lower side of the body at the level of Round 6 to Round 11 and sew them on. To make sure the hind legs will not move, sew the inner thigh to the body with a couple of stitches as well. Fasten off.

FRONT LEGS (make 2):
Begin with a magic circle using yarn color tan.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc 2, inc] 6 times (24 sts)
Round 5-7: sc around
Round 8: [sc 2, dec] 3 times, sc 12 (21 sts)
Round 9: [sc 2, dec] 3 times, sc 9 (18 sts)
Round 10: [sc 2, dec] 3 times, sc 6 (15 sts)
Round 11: [sc 2, dec] 3 times, sc 3 (12 sts)
Round 12-21: sc around
Stuff half of the front leg with fiber fill. After the last round do not fasten off, push the top flat then insert your hook through both layers, skipping the last stitch. Crochet over the opening with 5 single crochet stitches. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

BIG PAW PRINT (make 2):
Using yarn color black, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew at the level of Round 2 of each front leg. Fasten off.

SMALL PAW PRINT (make 8):
Still using yarn color black, sc 4 in a magic ring. Fasten off and leave a short tail for sewing. Sew four pieces in between Round 3 and Round 4 of each front leg.

Once done sewing all paw prints, pin each front leg on the upper side of the body at the level of Round 14 to Round 19. Sew them on and fasten off.

TAIL:
Begin with a magic ring using yarn color tan.
Round 1: sc 3
Round 2: inc 3 times (6 sts)
Round 3: [sc, inc] 3 times (9 sts)
Round 4-15: sc around
Round 16: [sc 2, inc] 3 times (12 sts)
Round 17-18: sc around
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff a bit then sew onto the lower back of the body between Round 4 to Round 6. Bend the tail then sew the tip onto the body with a couple of stitches. Fasten off.

BONE:
Note: This is done by sewing two parts together.

First Part:
Make two pieces using the steps below but do not cut the yarn after finishing the second piece. Begin with a magic ring using your white yarn.
Round 1: sc 5
Round 2: inc 5 times (10 sts)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: Once done with the second piece, join the first piece. With your crochet hook in the last stitch of the second piece, join the first piece by doing one sc in the first stitch of last round of the first piece then sc in each of the next 9 stitches, sc in each of the 10 stitches of second piece. (20 sts)
Round 5: [sc 2, dec] 5 times (15 sts)
Round 6: [sc, dec] 5 times (10 sts)
Round 7-9: sc around
Fasten off and cut yarn.

Repeat from Round 1-9 to make the Second Part. Once done, join the first part and sew them together.

PARTY HAT:
Using yarn color pastel blue, begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6, sl st in the first sc made
Round 2: [sc, inc] 3 times (9 sts)
Round 3: [sc 2, inc] 3 times (12 sts)
Round 4: [sc 3, inc] 3 times (15 sts)
Round 5: [sc 4, inc] 3 times (18 sts)
Round 6: [sc 5, inc] 3 times (21 sts)
Round 7: sc around
Round 8: [sc 6, inc] 3 times (24 sts)
Round 9: sc around
Switch to yarn color sunshine/yellow
Round 10: [sc 7, inc] 3 times (27 sts)
Round 11: sc around
Round 12: [sc 8, inc] 3 times (30 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long yarn tail for sewing.

DECORATING THE HAT:
Make a pompom with a pompom maker or a cardboard cut out as shown on photo below.

Slip stitch around the surface of Round 9 and Round 12 using the yarn color of your choice. You may also decorate it using felt cloth or buttons and you can begin enjoying your very own plush pug!

I hope you had a great time making this as much as I did. Happy New Year of the Earth Dog 2018! Don’t forget to follow me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more amigurumi updates!