Worked on the glider, counted out loud —
A plush zebra amigurumi with black and white stripes, built round by round. Suited to confident beginners with a few hours to spare.
This one's for a quiet stretch of time when you want to make something that'll end up loved rather than looked at. A zebra amigurumi has that slightly goofy charm that works for a nursery shelf, a baby shower gift, or just because you've always wanted to crochet a striped animal and finally have the yarn for it.
Once you've made this zebra in black and white, there's plenty of room to play. Swap the stripe placement by starting the legs with white instead of black for a reverse-color effect, or try a gray and white combination if you want something closer to a donkey than a zebra. The 16mm safety eyes called for in the materials give a classic amigurumi expression, but going slightly smaller keeps the face gentler, which suits a nursery gift. Since the rear legs, front legs, ears, and head are all made separately before joining, you can mix and match: felt ears instead of crocheted ones, or a slightly longer mane added along the head's color-change round for extra texture. If you want a smaller toy, working the same stitch pattern in a lighter worsted-weight yarn with a 4.0mm hook will shrink the finished piece while keeping every round count the same. And if you're making more than one, varying where the black-to-white transition falls on each leg gives every zebra in the herd its own slightly different stripe pattern, just like the real thing.
The rounds, in full
Progress tracker
0 of 0 rounds
Tap a round as you finish it. This device remembers where you stopped.
Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.
Plush Yarn (Chenille)
Worsted Weight Yarn (for mane and tail)
Crochet Hook
Safety Eyes
Polyfill Stuffing
Tapestry Needle
Thin Plastic or Cardboard Circles
We’ll begin with black yarn for the hooves.
Your rear legs are looking wonderfully sturdy already!
Start with black yarn for the hooves.
These front legs are just as neat and ready!
We’ll use black yarn for the ears.
Two sweet little ears, ready to listen!
Let’s start with black yarn for the muzzle.
Now is a good time to place your safety eyes! Insert them between Rnd 11 and 12, roughly centered over the increases you just made. They should be about 6-7 stitches apart. Secure the backs firmly.
Change to white yarn.
Your zebra’s head is looking so expressive!
Let’s begin the body with black yarn.
Your zebra’s body is plump and ready for assembly!
Now for the magical part, where all our pieces come together to form our charming zebra!
Attach the Head: Using the long yarn tail from the body, carefully center the head on top of the body. Stitch it securely all the way around, making sure it sits straight and firm. Take your time to make small, neat stitches that disappear into the plush yarn.
Attach the Ears: Position the ears on top of the head, slightly to the sides and a few rounds back from the color change where the black meets white. Use the tails from the ears to sew them firmly in place.
Attach the Rear Legs: Pin the two rear legs to the bottom/sides of the body, making sure they are evenly spaced and your zebra will stand nicely. Use the long tails to sew them on securely.
Attach the Front Legs: Pin the two front legs to the lower front of the body, again ensuring they are evenly spaced. Stitch them firmly in place.
Embroider Facial Details: With black worsted weight yarn and your tapestry needle, embroider two small lines for the nostrils on the black muzzle. You can also add some small eyebrow arches above the eyes for a touch of expression.
Create the Mane: Cut several 30cm (approx. 12-inch) strips of both white and black worsted weight yarn. Decide on the pattern for your mane – you could alternate colors or create sections. Using your hook, insert it into a stitch along the top of the head, from the forehead back towards the neck. Loop 2-3 strips of yarn through the stitch, pull through a loop, and then pull the yarn ends through that loop to create a small knot. Repeat this process, placing these yarn tufts close together, creating a beautiful, full mane down the back of the head and neck. Trim the mane to your desired length and style.
Create the Tail: Cut several 30cm (approx. 12-inch) strips of both white and black worsted weight yarn (the more strips, the thicker your tail will be). Find a central stitch at the very back of your zebra’s body. Using your hook, thread all the yarn strips through this stitch. Now, braid these strips together firmly to create a lovely striped tail. You can secure the end of the braid with a small knot or a tiny piece of yarn.
Use whichever hook size, 4.0mm or 5.0mm, gives you the tightest fabric your plush yarn allows, since a loose gauge is the main way stuffing shows through on amigurumi this size.
Stuff as you go rather than leaving it all for the end, packing a generous amount firmly enough that the piece holds its shape once the head and legs are attached to the body.
When changing colors, make the last yarn over of the previous stitch with the new color so the transition between black and white stays smooth and clean.
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
Original pattern: https://amigurumiarts.com/crochet-zebra-amigurumi-pattern/
the ones that come up on the glider
Yes, any similar plush yarn in white and black will work, as the pattern is written around stitch and round counts rather than a specific brand. Just check your chosen yarn gives you a tight fabric with the 4.0mm or 5.0mm hook so stuffing doesn't show through.
Between the rear legs, front legs, ears, head, body, and assembly, plan on roughly 4 to 6 hours total, though that depends on your stitching speed and how many sittings you break it into. The head alone runs 26 rounds, so it's worth setting aside a solid chunk of time for that piece.
The materials call for 16mm diameter safety eyes, which give the zebra a clear, friendly expression. If you'd prefer a softer look for a very young child, a slightly smaller size would still work with the same head shaping.
No, most of this pattern works in continuous spirals, so a stitch marker placed in the first stitch of each round and moved up as you go is essential for keeping track of where you are. Without it, it's easy to lose your place, especially during the longer 26-round head.
Use the long yarn tail left from the body to center the head carefully before you start stitching, checking it from a few angles as you go. Take your time with small, neat stitches around the whole join so the head sits firm and doesn't lean to one side once stuffed.
Sunday evening, from the glider —
A pattern and a note from the glider, most weeks.
That was the last round. Would you like the letter when the next one goes up?