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Looking for the perfect handmade gift this Valentine’s Day? This adorable Valentine’s turtle amigurumi is a heartwarming crochet project that combines cuteness with creativity. With its soft pink shell, white trim, and sweet heart decoration, this charming plushie is perfect for gifting to loved ones or adding to your amigurumi collection.
This beginner-friendly pattern uses basic crochet stitches and requires minimal materials, making it an ideal weekend project. The finished turtle measures approximately 4-5 inches depending on your yarn choice and tension, creating a perfectly huggable companion.
Designer: miralibay_crochet
Materials You’ll Need
Before starting your Valentine’s turtle, gather the following supplies:
- Yarn: White and pink in two shades (light pink and dark pink)
- Crochet hook: 4.5mm (or size appropriate for your yarn)
- Safety eyes: 10mm-14mm diameter
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle: For sewing pieces together
Abbreviations Guide
Understanding these common crochet abbreviations will help you follow the pattern smoothly:
- Mr: Magic ring
- SC: Single crochet
- Inc: Increase
- Dec: Decrease
- Inc hdc: Increase with half double crochet
- ch: Chain
- dc: Double crochet (3 loops)
- trc: Triple crochet (4 loops)
- dtr: Double triple crochet (5 loops on the hook)
- Flo: Front loops only
- Blo: Back loops only
- Fo: Finish off
- slst: Slip stitch
Pattern Instructions
Fins
Small Fins (Make 2)
- R.1 7sc in mr (7)
- R.2 7inc (14)
- R.3 (sc, inc) x7 (21)
- R.4 Fold the piece and crochet through both loops: 11inc (11) – fo, leave a tail for sewing
Big Fins (Make 2)
- R.1 7sc in mr (7)
- R.2 7inc (14)
- R.3 (sc, inc) x7 (21)
- R.4 (2sc, inc) x7 (28)
- R.5 Fold the piece and crochet through both loops: 14inc (14) – fo, leave a tail for sewing
Body
Shell
- R.1 6sc in mr (6)
- R.2 6inc (12)
- R.3 (sc, inc) x6 (18)
- R.4 (2sc, inc) x6 (24)
- R.5 (3sc, inc) x6 (30)
- R.6 (4sc, inc) x6 (36)
- R.7 (5sc, inc) x6 (42)
- R.8 (6sc, inc) x6, slst (48)
Change to white yarn and add a stitch marker in the 1st back loop to easily find it later:
- R.9 ch 2 flo all: inc hdc, (2sc, 2inc hdc) x11, 2sc, hdc, slst, fo
- Alternative R.9 ch 2 flo all: (inc hdc, 2sc) all the way around, fo (credit to @aomigurumi)
Body
Use light pink yarn. Take your shell and flip it upside down – you’ll be working on the back loops that are left:
- R.10 blo all: 48sc (48)
- R.11 (4sc, dec) x8 (40)
- R.12 (3sc, dec) x8 (32)
- R.13 (2sc, dec) x8 (24)
- R.14 12dec (12) – stuff
- R.15 6dec (6) – sew it close
Head
- R.1 6sc in mr (6)
- R.2 6inc (12)
- R.3 (sc, inc) x6 (18)
- R.4 (2sc, inc) x6 (24)
- R.5 (3sc, inc) x6 (30)
- R.6-8 30sc for 3 rows (30)
Place safety eyes on the sides between row 3 & 4 or 4 & 5, or sew them on later:
- R.9 (3sc, dec) x6 (24)
- R.10 (2sc, dec) x6 (18)
- R.11 (sc, dec) x6 (12)
- R.12 (dec) x6 (6) – fo, leave a tail for sewing
Heart
- R.1 Work in magic ring: sc, hdc, dc, tr, dtr, ch 3, slst, ch 4, dtr, tr, dc, hdc, sc – fo, leave a tail for sewing
Assembly Instructions
Follow these steps to bring your Valentine’s turtle to life:
- Attach the head: Sew the head onto the body where the beginnings of white and light pink rows meet
- Attach big fins: Sew big fins to the body 3sc from the head through 4sc
- Attach small fins: Sew small fins to the body 9sc from big fins through 5sc
- Add the heart: Sew the heart decoration onto the shell
Tips for Success
When working on this pattern, keep these helpful hints in mind:
- Use a stitch marker to track your starting point, especially when working in continuous rounds
- Stuff the body and head firmly but not too tight to maintain a soft, cuddly texture
- Position the safety eyes before stuffing to ensure proper placement
- Weave in yarn tails securely to prevent unraveling over time
Frequently Asked Questions
Using a 4.5mm hook with medium weight yarn, your turtle will measure approximately 4-5 inches in length. The final size may vary depending on your yarn weight, hook size, and personal tension.
Yes, you can adapt this pattern to any yarn weight. Simply adjust your hook size accordingly – use a smaller hook for finer yarn or a larger hook for bulky yarn. This will change the final size of your turtle.
The regular R.9 creates a more textured, ruffled edge on the shell, while the alternative version creates a simpler, more uniform border. Both options are beautiful – choose based on your preferred aesthetic.
Yes, this is a beginner-friendly pattern that uses basic stitches like single crochet, increases, and decreases. If you’re new to amigurumi, take your time with the assembly steps and don’t hesitate to watch tutorial videos for techniques like the magic ring.
Create Your Own Valentine’s Treasure
This Valentine’s turtle crochet pattern is a delightful project that combines simple techniques with adorable results. Whether you’re making it as a gift for someone special or adding to your own collection, this sweet amigurumi is sure to bring smiles. The combination of soft pink tones and the charming heart detail makes it a perfect expression of love and creativity.
Remember it later!
Planning to try this soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
