FREE Crochet Koala Pattern

This FREE koala crochet pattern is designed using Premier Basix Chenille. The koala is completely crocheted from its head to its back leg which allows for youngsters to twiddle their fingers in its holes. The finished snuggly koala would be perfect for a baby shower gift, a great addition to any koala nursery decor, an unique milestone photo prop, a comfy tummy time mat, a fun blanket/rug toy for toddlers to play with or read a book on, and finally, something soft to snuggle with as your little one falls asleep.

Access the LEFT Handed FREE Crochet Koala Pattern

Fun facts about Koalas

Koalas are fascinating creatures with many interesting facts, so I wanted to take a few moments and share some intriguing tidbits about these unique marsupials:

Not Bears, but Marsupials: Despite being commonly referred to as “koala bears,” koalas are not bears. They are marsupials, belonging to the same family as kangaroos and wombats. Marsupials carry their young in a pouch, where the baby, called a joey, completes its development.
Eucalyptus Diet: Koalas are herbivores and primarily feed on eucalyptus leaves, which make up almost their entire diet. There are over 600 species of eucalyptus trees, but koalas have specific preferences for certain types based on their nutritional content.
Sleepy Creatures: Koalas are known for their sleepiness, spending up to 20 hours a day resting or sleeping. The low energy content of their eucalyptus diet, coupled with their slow metabolism, contributes to their lethargic behavior.
Thumbs and Fingerprints: Koalas have two opposable thumbs on their front paws to help them grip tree branches when climbing. Additionally, similar to humans, koalas have unique fingerprints, making them one of the few animals with this feature.
Scent Marking: Koalas have scent glands on their chests that they use to mark their territory. Males also have a scent gland on their foreheads, which they rub against trees to leave their scent and signal their presence.
Habitat and Distribution: Koalas are native to Australia and are found in the eastern and southeastern regions of the country. They inhabit eucalyptus forests and woodlands, as these trees provide their main source of food and shelter.
Conservation Concerns: Koalas are considered a vulnerable species due to habitat loss, disease, and other factors. Their populations have been declining, making conservation efforts crucial for their survival.
Specialized Digestive System: Eucalyptus leaves are tough and fibrous, making them difficult to digest. Koalas have a specialized digestive system with a long digestive tract and a unique gut microbiome that allows them to break down and extract nutrients from these leaves.
Vocalizations: Koalas communicate through a range of vocalizations, including bellows, growls, and snarls. During mating season, males can emit loud, booming calls to attract females and assert their dominance.
Unique Noises for Joey: Mother koalas produce special vocalizations, known as “bellowing,” to communicate with their joeys while in the pouch. These sounds help the young koalas recognize their mothers and maintain communication before they fully emerge from the pouch.
Pouch Life: After giving birth, the mother koala carries her tiny, undeveloped joey in her pouch for about six months until it becomes more mature. Afterward, the joey will ride on its mother’s back and continue nursing for several more months.

These are just a few of the many intriguing facts about koalas. Their unique characteristics and behaviors make them beloved symbols of Australia’s wildlife and a subject of interest for animal enthusiasts worldwide.

Materials to crochet the Koala Security Blanket

Supplies Used:

Clover Amour 3.5mm hook: https://amzn.to/3Pl8lOO
Clover Amour 5mm hook: https://amzn.to/3Pnuax4
Clover Amour 7mm hook: https://amzn.to/3Pmq0p3
Clover Amour 8mm hook: https://amzn.to/47RMV33

Metal Tapestry size 16 needle: https://amzn.to/45gDxDI
Clover Amour Stitch Marker set: https://amzn.to/47l3PqA

Yarns Used:

Premier Basix Chenille White: https://premier-yarns.pxf.io/1rPqyd
Premier Basix Chenille Black: https:// https://premier-yarns.pxf.io/zNP067
Premier Basix Chenille Blush: https:// https://premier-yarns.pxf.io/EKOx5n
Premier Basix Chenille Pewter: https:// https://premier-yarns.pxf.io/baPqW6

Color A (nose yarn)
#6 Super Bulky • Approx 5 yds used

Color B (body and outer ears yarn)
#6 Super Bulky • Approx 90 yds used

Color C (Inner ear and mouth yarn)
#6 Super Bulky Weight • Approx 5 yds used

Color D (Bow yarn)
#6 Super Bulky • Approx 5 yds used

GAUGE (4″x 4″), 8 mm hook with Basix Chenille
10 sts x 11 rows sc in ea st

FINAL SIZE
10.5″W x 18″L

Notes:
Ch 1 does not count as a stitch throughout pattern.

Abbreviations:
ch chain
sc single crochet
dc double crochet
st stitch
ea each
sp space
sk skip stitch
sl st slip stitch
c magic circle
inc increase
sc-inc 2 single crochet in the same stitch
sp space
blo back loop only

Crochet Koala Bear Pattern

Nose
Using one strand of color A (black) and 5 mm hook:

Rnd 1: Ch 8, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next 4 chs, dc 3 into last ch flipping to bottom of ch, dc in next 4 chs, dc-inc in last ch. (14)
Tie off.

Head
Using one strand of color B and 7 mm hook:

Please Note: I use a Stitch Marker so that I know where the row ends and also to mark where the different stitches begin/end.

The entire head is worked in the round.

Rnd 1: Insert hook into the first st created, sc in first 5 sts, sc-inc next 4 sts, sc in last 5 sts. (18)

Rnd 2: Sc in ea st around. (18)

Rnd 3: Sc in first 6 sts, sc-inc in next 6 sts, sc in last 6 sts. (24)

Rnd 4: Sc in first 6 sts, *sc-inc in next st, sc in next st, repeat from* 11 times, sc in last 7 sts. (30)

Rnds 5-10: Sc in ea st around (6 rnds). (30)

Rnd 11: Sc in first 6 sts, sc2tog over next st, sc in next st, repeat from* 11 times, sc in last 7 sts. (24)

Rnd 12: Sc in first 2 sts, sc2tog over next 20 st, sc in last 2 sts. (14)

Tie off and weave in ends, the head should remain open!

ATTACH 12 mm safety eyes on round 2 of Head, 4 stitches apart (the NOSE should be VERTICAL). I also recommend hot gluing the eyes on the inside of the head for extra security.

STUFF head with poly-fil.

Body
Using color B and 8 mm hook:

The Body will connect to the Head and close off the opening in the back of the head, so it is important that you have everything done with the Head, including: safety eyes attached, and stuffing inside of the Head.

Pinching the top and bottom of the back of the head together (with the nose still vertical), continue as follows:

Row 1: Ch 3, insert hook into Head (to crochet the head shut), sc 6 sts across the head, then ch 3. (12)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 10 sts, sc-inc in last ch. (14)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in first st, sc in next 12 sts, sc-inc in last st. (16)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in first st, sc in next 14 sts, sc-inc in last st. (18)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in first st, sc in next 16 sts, sc-inc in last st. (20)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in first st, sc in next 18 sts, sc-inc in last st. (22)

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc-inc in first st, sc in next 20 sts, sc-inc in last st. (24)

*Note: add a stitch marker on both sides of the last increase row, you will NEED

them later for adding the arms*

Rows 8-30: Ch 1, turn, sc in ea st across (23 rows). (24)

Do NOT tie off, continue on next page

Legs
Using color B and 8 mm hook:

Hind Leg #1

Row 31: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6 sts. (6)

Rows 32-40: Ch 1, turn, sc 6 (9 rows). (6)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Hind Leg #2

Insert your hook in the corner (opposite of the other leg), then yarn over and pull the yarn through.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sts. (6)

Rows 2-10: Ch 1, turn, sc 6 (9 rows). (6)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Front Legs #3-4

Insert your hook (where your stitch marker is) in the corner by the head where

you stopped increasing, then yarn over and pull the yarn through, working towards the head.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sts. (6)

Rows 2-10: Ch 1, turn, sc 6 (9 rows). (6)

Tie off weave in all ends.

Edging
Using one strand of color B and 8 mm hook:

Start at one side of the Koala neck where the body attaches to the head and work your way around the body to the other side of the neck.

Rnd 1: Starting at the neck, sc 14 up to the top of the paw, sc-inc in the corner, hdc in the next st, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in the next st, sc-inc in the corner, sc in the next 31 sts, sc5tog in next 5 sts, then sc 7 to the back paw, repeat above instructions in the top of the paw, sc in next 31 sts, repeat above instruction for paw, sc in next 7 sts, sc5tog in next 5 sts, sc in next 31 sts, repeat above instructions for paw, then sc 14 to reach the neck, sl st to neck/head.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Ears

Outer Ears
Using one strand of color B and 8 mm hook, make 2:

Row 1: Make a magic circle, ch 2, dc 8 into ring. (8)

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, *dc-inc in first st, dc in next st, repeat from* to end of row. (12)

Cinch the magic ring shut, then tie off leaving long tail to sew onto head.

Inner Ears
Using one strand of color C and 5 mm hook, make 2:

Row 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, dc 8 into ring. (8)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, *sc-inc in first st, sc in next st, repeat from* to end of row. (12)

Cinch the magic ring shut, then tie off leaving long tail to whip stitch ears together.

Attaching inner ear to outer ear:

Place the Inner Ear inside of the Outer Ear, and whip stitch the two ears together around the edge.

Attaching ears to koala head:

Place the ears on round 7 of koala head, 7 stitches apart across the top of head, and whip stitch the flat side of the ears onto the head. The semi circle should be the visible part.

Beard
Using one strand of color C and 3.5 mm hook:

Row 1: Ch 11, starting in 2nd ch from hook sc2tog, sc2tog in remaining sts. (5)

Tie off weave in ends.

Attaching beard to head:

place the beard at the center bottom of the black part of the nose, and whip stitch around the edge of the beard.

Bow
Using one strand of color D and 7 mm hook:

Row 1: Ch 9, hdc in 2nd ch from hook, and in ea ch across. (8)

Rows 2-3: hdc in ea st across. (8)

Tie off weave in ends.

Creating and sewing on bow to head:

Take a long piece of yarn and wrap around center of bow, and tie a knot. Sew onto head using piece of yarn you cut.