The mallard ducks with the bright green heads and dapper white collar are the drakes, the males of the species. These guys served as inspiration for this amigurumi pattern.

I released this pattern previously during a time that I was experiencing quite a bit of stress due to work, extracurricular activities, and general family stuff, coinciding all at once. This isn’t a unique problem and it happens to the best of us. I was also in a bit of a crocheting rut and wasn’t feeling particularly inspired by anything. I biked to a nearby river and just sat and looked at the wildlife for a couple hours.

I’ve always been amused by ducks and their cute little movements through the water and on land. It was so calming watching the parents swim with their little ducklings behind them struggling to keep up. It was just the therapy that I needed to clear my mind and motivate me to pick up the crochet hook again.

I often get messages and pictures from people saying that this pattern is one of their first crochet projects. It genuinely makes me so happy when I hear that this little duck got so many people into crocheting amigurumi. It’s beginner friendly in that there few pieces (relative to a few of my more involved patterns) to crochet and then sew together. There is a section on the body that requires a colour change, and extra help can be found HERE.

There is a video tutorial to walk you through each step available on YouTube as well.

MATERIALS

Yarns – green (G), light brown (B), dark brown (D), white (W), yellow (Y)
black embroidery thread
polyester fibrefill
two 8.0 mm safety eyes
size 8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook

ABBREVIATIONS

ch = chain
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
inc = single crochet 2 into the same stitch
dec = decrease over next two stitches (single crochet 2 stitches together or use invisible decrease)
[…] = instructions in brackets are performed in the same stitch

HEAD

R1 With G, sc 6 in magic ring (6)
R2 inc in each st around (12)
R3 (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
R4 (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
R5-7 sc in each st around (24)
R8 (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
R9-10 sc in each st around (30)
R11 (sc 3, dec) six times (24)
R12 (sc 2, dec) six times (18)
R13 (sc 1, dec) six times (12)

We will place the eyes onto the head before closing it. Insert the safety eyes 8 rows from the top and 6 stitches apart.

R14 dec six times (6)

Finish with a sl st. Cut a short tail for sewing. Stuff the head and then sew the opening closed.

BEAK

R1 With Y, sc 6 in magic ring (6)
R2 (inc, inc, sc 1) two times (10)
R3 sc in each st around (10)
R4 sc 1, inc, sc 2, hdc 2, sc 2, inc, sc 1 (12)

Finish with a sl st. Leave long tail for sewing. Use black thread to embroider two nostrils at the top of the beak. Sew to the head between the eyes.

BODY

R1 With B, sc 6 in magic ring (6)
R2 inc in each st around (12)
R3 (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
R4 (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
R5 inc, sc 9, with D, sc 4, with B, sc 9, inc (26)
R6 inc, sc 9, with D, sc 6, with B, sc 9, inc (28)
R7 dec, dec, sc 7, with D, sc 6, with B, sc 7, dec, dec (24)
R8 dec, dec, sc 6, with D, sc 4, with B, sc 6, dec, dec (20)
R9 dec, dec, sc 4, with D, sc 4, with B, sc 4, dec, dec (16)
R10 With W, (sc 2, dec) four times (12)
R11 sc in each st around (12)

Finish with a sl st. Cut a long tail for sewing.

WING (Make 2)

NOTE: Anything in […] is crocheted into the same stitch.

R1 With B, sc 6 in magic ring (6)
R2 inc, inc, [sc 1, hdc 1], [hdc 1, sc 1], inc, inc (12)

Finish with a sl st. Leave long tail for sewing.

FOOT (Make 2)

With Y, chain 3.
Skip first ch, sc 2, ch 1 and turn.
Skip first ch, sc 1, inc, ch 1 and turn.
Skip first ch, [hdc 1, sl st 1], [hdc 1, sl st 1], [hdc 1, sl st 1].

Fasten off. Cut a long tail for sewing.

ASSEMBLY

Sew the head to the body.
Sew the wings to the body.
Sew the feet to the body.