AMIGURUMI AXOLOTL
This amigurumi axolotl is almost as magical as its limb-regenerating real-life counterpart. By Erinna Lee
You’ve taken your tot to the petting zoo, but how do you teach them about species further flung? This adorable axolotl is the answer to your zoological concerns. Give to a littl’un to spark their curiosity (be sure to swot up on Wikipedia beforehand). Wait until they find out those ‘pigtails’ are gills!
NOTES
The Axolotl is worked in the amigurumi method, working in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a ss. You may find it helpful to mark the last st of each round, moving the marker up as you work.
HEAD
Using Light Pink, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 6dc into the loop. [6 sts]
Round 2 2dc in each dc around. [12 sts]
Round 3 (Dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [18 sts]
Round 4 (Dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [24 sts]
Round 5 (Dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [30 sts]
Round 6 (Dc in next 4 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [36 sts]
Round 7 (Dc in next 5 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [42 sts]
Round 8 (Dc in next 6 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [48 sts]
Round 9 (Dc in next 7 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [54 sts]
Round 10 (Dc in next 8 dc, 2dc in next dc) 6 times. [60 sts]
Rounds 11-20 Dc in each st around.
Round 21 (Dc in next 8 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [54 sts]
Round 22 (Dc in next 7 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [48 sts]
Round 23 (Dc in next 6 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [42 sts]
Round 24 (Dc in next 5 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [36 sts]
Round 25 (Dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [30 sts]
Round 26 (Dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [24 sts]
Place the safety eyes between Rounds 17 and 18, 9 sts apart.
Use a single strand of black cotton to sew two eyelashes from each eye. You can use the image as a guide.
Round 27 (Dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog) 6 times. [18 sts]
Round 28 (Dc in next dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [12 sts]
Stuff the Head firmly with toy stuffing.
Round 29 (Dc2tog) 6 times, ss into next st to join. [6 sts]
Fasten off, thread the tail through the sts of Round 29, pull tight to close and weave in end. The axolotl is known as the ‘walking fish’, so these feet are a central part of the design! LEFT LEG
Using Light Pink, ch7.
Round 1 (RS) Dc in the second ch from hook, dc in next 4 ch, 3dc in next ch, working into the back of the foundation ch, dc in next 4 ch, 2dc in next ch. [14 sts]
Round 2 (2dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2dc in next 2 sts) twice. [20 sts]
Round 3 Dc in each st around.
Round 4 Dc in next 19 sts, (mark the last st as new end of Round). [19 sts]
Round 5 (Dc2tog, dc in each of next 8 dc) twice. [18 sts]
Round 6 (Dc2tog, dc in each of next 7 dc) twice, dc in next st (marks new end of Round). [17 sts]
Round 7 (Dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog) twice. [14 sts]
Stuff the foot.
Flatten the top of the foot and work the next row through both sides to close.
Row 8 (The side facing you will be the front of the Left Leg), dc in next 6 sts, turn.
Round 9 Ch1, dc into the fl of next 6 sts, ch1, dc in the 6 unused bl loop. [12 sts]
Round 10 2dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts. [13 sts]
Round 11 2dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts. [14 sts]
Round 12 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts, (dc2tog), dc in next 5 sts. [15 sts]
Round 13 Dc in next 2 sts (mark last st), ss into next st to join. Fasten off. [2 sts]
RIGHT LEG
Repeat Rounds 1-12 of the Left Leg. On Row 8 the side facing away from you is the front of the Right Leg.
Round 13 (RS) Dc in next 2 sts, (mark last st). [2 sts]
Do not fasten off the Right Leg.
BODY
Continue from the Right Leg, using Light Pink.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (space between Legs), dc into the next dc after the marked st on Left Leg, dc in next 14 sts on Left Leg, dc into bl of each 3 ch, dc in next 15 sts of Right Leg. [33 sts]
Round 2 Dc into fl of 3 ch, dc in next 33 sts around. [36 sts]
Rounds 3-14 Dc in each st around. [36 sts]
Round 15 (Dc in next 10 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [33 sts]
Round 16 (Dc in next 9 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [30 sts]
Round 17 (Dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [27 sts]
Round 18 (Dc in next 7 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [24 sts]
Round 19 (Dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [21 sts]
Round 20 (Dc in next 5 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [18 sts]
Round 21 Dc in next 4 sts, ss into next st to join. [4 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Stuff the Legs and Body. Sew the Body to the Head using the long tails. The opening of the Body should fall over Rounds 27-29 at the base of the Head. Tilt the Head slightly to one side to give a cute look.
ARMS (MAKE 2)
Using Light Pink, ch6.
Round 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, 3dc into last ch, turn to work down the opposite side of the foundation ch, dc in next 3 ch, 2dc in last ch. [12 sts]
Round 2 Dc in each st around.
Round 3 Dc in next 11 sts, (mark last st as new end of Round). [11 sts]
Round 4 (Dc2tog, dc in next 4 sts) twice. [10 sts]
Round 5 (Dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts) twice. [8 sts]
Round 6 (Dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts) twice. [6 sts]
Round 7 (Dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) twice. [8 sts]
Rounds 8-13 Dc in each st around.
Round 14 Dc in next 6 sts, (mark last st as new end of Round). [6 sts]
Stuff the Arm and flatten the top. Work the next row through both sides to close.
Row 15 Dc in 4 sts across. [4 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Sew the Arms to the Body between Rounds 19-20, 7 stitches apart at the front.
TAIL
Using Light Pink, make a magic loop.
Round 1 Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 sts]
Round 2 (Dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) twice. [8 sts]
Round 3 Dc in each st around. Round 4 (Dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) twice. [10 sts]
Round 5 Dc in each st around.
Round 6 (Dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st) twice. [12 sts]
Round 7 Dc in each st around.
Round 8 Dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts. [14 sts]
Round 9 Dc in each st around.
Round 10 Dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts. [16 sts]
Round 11 Dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 7 sts. [18 sts]
Round 12 Dc in next 8 sts, 2dc next 2 sts, dc in next 8 sts. [20 sts]
Round 13 Dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, (mark the 12th and 13th st of Round 13), dc in next 8 sts. [22 sts]
Round 14 (Dc2tog), dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 9 sts. [23 sts]
Round 15 Dc in each st around.
Round 16 (Dc2tog), dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, ss into next st to close.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff firmly.
TAIL FIN
Using Light Pink, ch32.
Row 1 Htr in third ch from hook, (htr in next ch, 2htr in next ch, htr in next ch) 9 times, htr in next ch, 2htr in last ch, turn. [40 sts]
Row 2 Ch2 (does not count as st), (htr in next st, 2htr in next st) 20 times. Fasten off. [60 sts] Sew the Tail Fin around the Tail. Start by attaching the Tail Fin to the bottom side of the Tail, and finish by sewing the end of the Tail Fin to the top side of the Tail.
Sew the Tail to the Body. The marked sts from Round 13 of the Tail indicates the top centre of the Tail. The opening of the Tail should be sewn over Rounds 4-11 of the Body.
GILL (MAKE 6)
Using Antique Pink, make a magic loop.
Round 1 Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 sts]
Rounds 2-10 Dc in each st around.
Round 11 Dc in each st around, ss into next st to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Lightly stuff each Gill.
GILL EDGING (MAKE 6)
Using Antique Pink, ch22.
Round 1 Ss into second ch from hook, (ss into next st, picot, ss into next st) 10 times. [10 picot]
Fasten off.
HEART
Using Antique Pink, make a magic loop.
Round 1 Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 sts]
Round 2 Ch2, (3dtr, 4tr, dtr, 4tr, 3dtr, ch2, ss) into the loop. [16 sts]
Fasten off, and use the tail to sew the Heart onto the Body between Rounds 10 and 17. The tail fin is a separate piece, sewn around the tail to give a winding, water-rippled effect This sea-blue bow is a nod to the axolotl's natural aquatic habitat. (Plus it's super-cute) BOW
Using Larimar, ch21.
Row 1 (RS) Dc into second ch from hook, dc into each ch across, turn. [20 sts]
Rows 2-10 Ch1, dc into each st across, turn. Work around Rows 1-10 for the next round.
Round 11 Ch1, dc into each st across, *2dc into first row end, dc into next 8 row ends, 2dc into last row end**, dc into the back of each foundation ch across; repeat from * to **, ss to first dc to join. Fasten off. [64 sts] Squeeze the centre of the Bow together and secure with a few sts of Larimar.
MIDDLE OF BOW
Using Larimar, ch10.
Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, dc in each ch across, turn. [9 sts]
Rows 2-3 Ch1, dc into each st across.
Fasten off.
Wrap the Middle of the Bow around the centre of the Bow, then sew the ends together to make a loop.
TO FINISH
Sew each Gill Edging around the Gill with the start and end of each Edging attached between Rounds 10 and 11. Sew each Gill onto the Head; you can use the image as a guide. The top 2 Gills should fall over Rounds 9 and 10 of the Head, the middle Gills should fall over Rounds 13 and 14 of the Head, the bottom Gills should fall over Rounds 17 and 18 of the Head. Sew the Bow to the Head in front of the top right Gill. Weave in any remaining ends.