Ochre Ring-Tail Monkey Lovey Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

This Ochre Ring-Tail Monkey Lovey is a sweet, huggable companion for babies and toddlers, and it makes a thoughtful early Christmas gift or baby shower present. The design pairs a flat olive single-crochet blanket with a round amigurumi monkey head, a soft ochre muzzle, and a stuffed tube tail curled into a playful spiral at one corner. Worked in sport weight cotton, it has a smooth, sturdy, washable feel with a warm desert boho look in olive and ochre. If you can single crochet, increase, and decrease, you can make this lovey.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Sport weight cotton (approx. 125 yds/50g). Olive (A): 100 yds; Ochre (B): 80 yds; small amount of brown (C) for facial features; small amount of pink (D) for blush.
• Hook: 3.0 mm (US D/3)
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill for stuffing, embroidery needle for the face
• Finished size: Blanket 8 inches (20 cm) square; head 3 inches (7.5 cm) diameter; tail 6 inches (15 cm) long

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• inc – increase: work 2 sc in the same stitch
• dec – decrease: work 2 sc together into one stitch
• MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• R – row (flat work) or round (worked in the round)

Gauge

24 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. To check, crochet a small swatch in sc and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if needed so the blanket finishes at 8 inches square.

Tips Before You Start

• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round on the head, ears, muzzle, and tail so you never lose your place.
• Work the head and muzzle tightly so the stuffing does not show through; the blanket can be worked at a slightly looser, comfortable tension.
• Stuff the head firmly but in small pieces so it stays round, and stuff the tail only lightly so it can curl easily.
• Place the facial features before sewing the head to the blanket so you can turn the head freely while embroidering.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Blanket (A)

Row 1: Ch 49, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (48 sts).

Rows 2-48: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (48 sts). Do not fasten off.

Edging: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire blanket, working 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Head (A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnds 7-12: Sc in each st around (36 sts).

Rnd 13: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 14: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 15: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts). Stuff head firmly.

Rnd 16: [Sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 17: Dec x6 (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Close the remaining opening with the yarn tail.

Ears (A) – make 2

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: Sc in each st around (12 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Flatten slightly.

Muzzle (B)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Tail (B)

Row 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (6 sts).

Rows 2-30: Sc in each st around (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff tail lightly with fiberfill.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the muzzle to the front of the head, stuffing it lightly as you go. Sew the ears to the sides of the head. With brown yarn (C), embroider the eyes using satin stitch and the smile using back stitch. With pink yarn (D), embroider the blush using satin stitch. Sew the head to the center of the blanket. Curl the tail into a spiral and sew it to one corner of the blanket, using the long tail to secure it firmly. Weave in all ends. Block the blanket lightly by misting it with water and pinning it flat to an 8-inch square to dry.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the olive and ochre for any two colors you love, such as sage and cream, for a different nursery palette.
• Add a small hanging loop to one corner of the blanket so the lovey can be clipped to a stroller or diaper bag.
• For extra softness, use a cotton-blend sport weight yarn, but keep the tight tension on the head and muzzle so the stuffing stays hidden.