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Amigurumi Pattern:
Cuddle-Sized Nutcracker
By: Storyland Amis
Meet the Cuddle-Sized Nutcracker! He is very brave and always ready to lend a hand. In fact,
you’ve never met such a brave and helpful nutcracker! He has a slight phobia of mice, but is able
to overcome those fears when he is needed.
© Holly Faith Salzman
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The pattern and images contained in this document are the sole property of Storyland Amis. This written
pattern is for personal use only. Please do not share, sell, or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole.
You MAY sell the finished product, but please credit Storyland Amis as the designer. If you sell your
finished items online I would appreciate it if you’d link back to my shop! You may not mass-produce items
made from this pattern. Thank you for your understanding and respect.
Finished size approximately: 8 in. (20.5 cm.)
Materials: Abbreviation key (US terms):
• Worsted weight yarn (4 ply) in sc - single crochet
beige, red, white, black, yellow, &
st/sts - stitch(es)
blue. (U.K. equivalent is Aran &
AUS/NZ is 10 ply.) Sl st – slip stitch
• F (3.75 mm) crochet hook Dc - double crochet
• 15mm black safety eyes
• Fiberfill (or your stuffing of choice) Hdc – half double crochet
• Yarn needle dec - decrease (sc the next 2 stitches
• Scissors together)
• Stitch marker
inc - increase (2 single crochet in the
next stitch)
R1 - round 1
Color change help:
Rep – repeat
Insert hook into last st of round or
BLO – Back Loops Only
section, yarn over & pull hook through
st. Take your new color of yarn, yarn ** - repeat this group of instructions
over & pull hook through remaining 2 amount of times indicated
loops on hook. Now you’re ready to start
Note: All rounds are worked
the new round or section.
continuously (that is, vs. joined rounds.)
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any problems you may have! I’m always happy to help!
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Head (Using beige yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (you can use the magic circle if you prefer as it won’t make a
difference in the end.)
R2: *Inc* rep 6 times (12 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, inc* rep 6 times (18 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, inc* rep 6 times (24 sts)
R5: *Sc 3, inc* rep 6 times (30 sts)
R6: *Sc 4, inc* rep 6 times (36 sts)
R7: *Sc 5, inc* rep 6 times (42 sts)
R8: *Sc 6, inc* rep 6 times (48 sts)
R9: *Sc 7, inc* rep 6 times (54 sts)
R10: *Sc 8, inc* rep 6 times (60 sts)
R11: *Sc 9, inc* rep 6 times (66 sts)
R12: *Sc 10, inc* rep 6 times (72 sts)
R13-25: Sc in all 72 sts (13 rounds total—72 sts)
R26: *Sc 10, dec* rep 6 times (66 sts)
R27: *Sc 9, dec* rep 6 times (60 sts)
R28: *Sc 8, dec* rep 6 times (54 sts)
R29: *Sc 7, dec* rep 6 times (48 sts)
Pic. #1
R30: *Sc 6, dec* rep 6 times (42 sts)
Insert the eyes between R24 & 25, 14 sts apart. (Hint: insert the 1st eye. Count 14 sts from the
hole where you inserted the 1st eye and insert the 2nd eye.) (See pic. #1).
R31: *Sc 5, dec* rep 6 times (36 sts)
R32: *Sc 4, dec* rep 6 times (30 sts)
Stop and start to stuff the head, continuing as you work.
© Holly Faith Salzman
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R33: *Sc 3, dec* rep 6 times (24 sts)
R34: *Sc 2, dec* rep 6 times (18 sts)
R35: *Sc 1, dec* rep 6 times (12 sts)
R36: *Dec* rep 6 times (6 sts)
Finish off. Finish stuffing head firmly, and use the tail to sew up hole, then weave in your end.
Mustache (Make 2 using black yarn)
R1: Ch 8, make 2 dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, dc 1, hdc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Sew to R25 of the head evenly centered between eyes. You
might want to pin them in place using straight pins to ensure they are sewn on straight. Weave
in all ends. (See pic. #2.)
Pic. #2
Cheeks (Make 2 using pink yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Sew to the
head over R26-28 approx. (See pic. #3 & front pics.)
Pic. #3
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Hair (Using white yarn)
Starting on R15 of the head about 1 st over from the cheek, take a 6 inch strand of yarn and
attach it to the head. Do this by folding the strand of yarn in half and inserting your hook into a
stitch. Now grab the center of the folded yarn and pull it through about halfway. Then grab the
two tails at the back and bring them through the loop. Pull tight. (See pic. #4)
Pic. #4
I attached a new strand every other stitch. (See pic. #5.) Go all the way around the back of R15 of
the head, stopping about 1 st away from the other cheek.
Pic. #5
Once you reach the end of the first row of hair, skip a round and attach yarn to every other stitch
Pic. #6
© Holly Faith Salzman
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of that round like we did for the first one. ( See the last pic in pic. #5.) You will do this until you
have 6 rows of hair. (See pic. #6.) Your last row of hair should be on or near R25 of the head.
Once you have attached all the hair trim it to about 2 in. (5 cm.). Now take a fine tooth comb and
going section by section (I did no more than 6 strands at a time), brush out the hair until it is nice
and fluffy. The more you brush the fluffier it will be. (See pic. #7.) Once you have all the hair
combed out, trim it again to your desired length. (See pic. #8.)
Pic. #7
Pic. #8
Hat (Starting in black yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
R2: *Inc* rep 6 times (12 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, inc* rep 6 times (18 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, inc* rep 6 times (24 sts)
R5: *Sc 3, inc* rep 6 times (30 sts)
© Holly Faith Salzman
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R6: *Sc 4, inc* rep 6 times (36 sts)
R7: *Sc 5, inc* rep 6 times (42 sts)
R8: *Sc 6, inc* rep 6 times (48 sts)
R9: *Sc 7, inc* rep 6 times (54 sts)
R10: *Sc 8, inc* rep 6 times (60 sts)
R11: *Sc 9, inc* rep 6 times (66 sts)
R12: *Sc 10, inc* rep 6 times (72 sts) Pic. #10
R13: *Sc 11, inc* rep 6 times (78 sts)
R14: In the BLO sc 10, dec* rep 6 times (72 sts) this is
the only round we will crochet in the back loops until
R23
R15-22: Sc in all 72 sts (8 rounds total—72 sts)
Switch to yellow yarn
R23a: Very loosely sl st in all 72 sts (72 sts)
R23: In the BLO (back loops only of the slip stitches) sc
in all 72 sts (72 sts) Pic. #11
This is a special way of changing colors so that
there is a neat, clean edge all around. The slip stitch round (R23a) is not adding any height to the
round and is just the foundation for the next round (R23) so we get the clean edge from the
bottom loops of the slip stitches. If you wish to do a traditional color change, then disregard
R23a. (See pic. #9.)
Pic. #9
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Sew to the head. About 3/4th of the way around, stuff hat
lightly. (See pics. #10 & #11.)
Legs (Make 2 starting in black yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
R2: *Inc* rep 6 times (12 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, inc* rep 6 times (18 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, inc* rep 6 times (24 sts)
R5: In the BLO *Sc 2, dec* rep 6 times (18 sts) this is the only round we will crochet in the back
loops until R8
R6-7: Sc in all 18 sts (2 rounds total—18 sts)
Switch to white yarn
R8a: Very loosely sl st in all 18 sts (18 sts)
R8: In the BLO Sc in all 18 sts (18 sts) this is the only round we will crochet in the back loops until
R11
Finish off on the 1st leg. Do NOT finish off or cut the yarn on the 2nd leg.
We will now join the feet together and start making the body. The left foot is the one we finished
off on, the right foot is the one still attached to the yarn that we did not finish off. (From the
nutcracker’s perspective.)
Body (continuing in red yarn)
R9: Join the right foot to left foot with a sc in the 1st st of the left foot, sc 17 on the left foot, now
finish joining the feet together by making a sc in the next st on the right foot, then sc 17 (36 sts)
Pic. #12
© Holly Faith Salzman
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(See pic. #12.)
Switch to red yarn
R10a: Very loosely sl st in all 36 sts (36 sts)
R10: In the BLO sc in all 36 sts (36 sts) this is the only round we will crochet in the back loops
until R13
R11-12: Sc in all 36 sts (2 rounds total—36 sts)
Switch to black yarn
R13a: Very loosely sl st in all 36 sts (36 sts)
R13: In the BLO sc in all 36 sts (36 sts) this is the only
round we will crochet in the back loops until R15
R14: Sc in all 36 sts (36 sts)
Switch to red yarn
R15a: Very loosely sl st in all 36 sts (36 sts)
R15: In the BLO sc in all 36 sts (36 sts) this is the last
round we will crochet in the back loops
R16-18: Sc in all 36 sts (3 rounds total—36 sts)
Switch to blue yarn
R19: Sl st in all 36 sts (36 sts) Pic. #14
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Now take a
length of gold yarn and embroider his belt buckle over
his black belt. I made mine about 4.5 sts wide and 3
sts high. (See pic. #13.) Stuff firmly and sew to the
head. You might want to add a little more stuffing to
his neck just before you finish sewing it closed. (Pic.
#14 & front pics.)
Pic. #13
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Arms (Make 2 starting in tan yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
R2: *Sc 1, inc* rep 3 times (9 sts)
R3: Sc in all 9 sts (9 sts)
Switch to blue yarn
R4a: Very loosely sl st in all 9 sts (9 sts)
R4: In the BLO sc in all 9 sts (9 sts) this is the only round we will crochet in the back loops until R5
Switch to red yarn
R5a: Very loosely sl st in all 9 sts (9 sts)
R5: In the BLO sc in all 9 sts (9 sts) this is the only round we will crochet in the back loops until R8
R6-7: Sc in all 9 sts (2 rounds total—9 sts)
Switch to yellow yarn
R8a: Very loosely sl st in all 9 sts (9 sts)
R8: In the BLO sc in all 9 sts (9 sts)
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly and set aside. Do not sew to the body until the
shoulder pads are sewn on.
Shoulder pads (Make 2 using yellow yarn)
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
R2: Sc 1, inc* rep 3 times (9 sts)
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Whipstich the shoulder pads to the top of the stuffed arms.
They should match up exactly since there are 9 sts on the shoulder pads and 9 sts on the last
round of the arms. (See pic. #15.) Now sew the arms to the sides of the body just under the
head. (See pic. #16.)
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Pic. #15
Pic. #16
Teeth (Using white yarn)
Teeth are worked in rows instead of rounds
R1: Ch 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 3, ch 1, turn (3 sts)
R2-3: Sc in all 3 sts, ch 1, turn (2 rows total—3 sts)
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing. Take a length of light gray yarn and, using the straight
stitch, embroider a line right across the middle of the teeth. (See pic. #17.) Sew to R29 of the
head. Weave in all ends. (See pic. #18.)
© Holly Faith Salzman
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Pic. #17 Pic. #18
Congratulations, now you’re done! I hope you enjoyed making this cutie and I would love to see
pictures of your finished Nutcracker! You can share pictures on:
Instagram: @storyland_amis
Facebook: Storyland Amis
Or email me: hello@storylandamis.com
If you did not buy this pattern from StorylandAmis.com or their affiliated sites (Storyland Amis
Etsy, Ravelry, Craftsy, AmigurumiPatterns.net, or LoveCrochet shops), you are using a stolen
pattern. Please contact me at hello@storylandamis.com if you think you may have bought this
pattern from a questionable source.
© Holly Faith Salzman
