Crochet Labrador: How To Make Your Own Toy Dog
Would you like your very own handmade replica of your Labrador? A cute copy of your adorable pup, to proudly display in your home? The pattern below is for the yellow Lab puppy shown in the picture here, but you can adapt it to match your dog perfectly.
*I have included links to products that you can use to crochet your own Labrador.If you decide to purchase using the links provided, you’ll be supporting The Labrador Site by allowing us to earn a small commission on that sale at no extra cost to you.
The black and chocolate dogs are slight variants on this pattern to give different looks to the puppy. If you want to make your own handmade crochet Labrador puppy toy you can find out how to do so with the easy instructions below.
Crochet Labrador Puppy Pattern
Each crochet Labrador you make will have it’s own unique style, which will vary depending on the color and type of yarn you use.
Looking for a darker shade of chocolate or yellow, or even to reflect your Lab’s larger ears or adorably big puppy feet, then just adjust the pattern. You can ask for help in the comments section below if you get stuck. But the really fun part is making the toy yourself. So why not give it a go? Even if you are brand new to crochet, there are instructions to help you get started.
Techniques and Instructions
If you are new to crochet, then check out this article to get to grips with the basic techniques before you begin your Crochet Labrador. For help with reading patterns, you might find this crochet abbreviations information useful as well.
Your crochet Lab will be worked in a circular pattern, building from a magic circle. You’ll also find the following stitches and instructions in this pattern:
- sc – single crochet
- 2sc – make two single crochets into one stitch
- sc2tog – join two stitches together with one single crochet
You’ll be crocheting your Labrador puppy in sections, then hand sewing them together.
Equipment
To make your own crochet Lab puppy you will need the following equipment.
Main Body Yarn
Your choice of main yarn will depend upon which color crochet Lab you want to create.
Choose only one of the following:
- 100g yellow aran yarn(paid link)*
- 100g light brown yarn(paid link)*
- 100g dark brown yarn(paid link)*
- 100g black aran yarn(paid link)*
Other Yarn
- 25g purple yarn(paid link)* for the collar
- 25g of black yarn(paid link)* for the nose and mouth
Other Supplies
- safety eyes(paid link)*
- Size E / 3.5mm crochet hook(paid link)*
- stitch marker(paid link)*
- sharp scissors(paid link)*
- yarn needle(paid link)*
- toy stuffing(paid link)*
If you are new to crochet, you might want to buy a complete starter kit* (paid link)to get you going.
You can also buy crochet equipment from hobby stores. To follow this pattern it doesn’t matter which color yarn you choose, as long as the yarn weight is the same.
Most equipment can be found online through their websites or through Amazon. There are also a wealth of independent craft shops to be stumbled upon locally, where the prices are often a little higher, but you can find some fantastic quality unique yarns.
Crochet Labrador Puppy Pattern
The total number of stitches in each row will be shown in brackets at the end of the instructions. I recommend using a stitch marker to help you keep count of your stitches as you go. If you don’t have any stitch markers then you can use a small piece of yarn to mark your place instead.
Please note: my crochet patterns are always written using US terminology. If you are already keen on crochet but use the UK terminology, just have a quick check with this crochet terminology conversion chart before you begin.
The Head
Row 1
Make a magic circle of 6 stitches (6)
Row 2
Make 2 single crochets (2sc) into each stitch (12)
Row 3
Put 1 single crochet (1sc) into the first stitch, and 2 single crochets (2sc) into the next. (1sc, 2sc) Repeat six times (18)
Row 4
Put 1sc into the first two stitches, 2 sc into the next. (1sc x 2, 2sc) Repeat six times (24)
Row 5 to 9
Make 1sc in each stitch (24)
Row 10
(1sc x 3, 2sc) Repeat six times (30)
Row 11
(1sc x 4, 2sc) Repeat six times (36)
Row 12
(1sc x 5, 2sc) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (41)
Row 13
(1sc x 6, 2sc) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (46)
Row 14
(1sc x 7, 2sc) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (51)
Row 15 to 17
Make 1sc in each stitch (51)
Row 18
Put 1sc into the first seven stitches, then sc the next two stitches together. (1sc x 7, sc2tog) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (46)
Row 19
(1sc x 6, sc2tog) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (41)
Row 20
(1sc x 5, sc2tog) Repeat fives times. Then make 1sc in each stitch for the final 6 stitches (36)
Row 21
Make 1sc in each stitch (36)
Row 22
(1sc x 4, sc2tog) Repeat six times (30)
Row 23
(1sc x 3, sc2tog) Repeat six times (24)
Take two safety eyes and attach them just beyond the crochet Labrador puppy’s muzzle.
Row 24
(1sc x 2, sc2tog) Repeat six times (18)
Fill the head with toy stuffing. Do not overstuff, make sure you can gently squeeze the head and that stuffing is not separating or poking through the stitches.
Row 25
(1sc, sc2tog) Repeat six times (12)
Row 26
sc2tog six times, then thread your yarn needle and sew the head closed. Leave a long string of yarn for attaching the head to the body later.
Crochet Labrador Nose
To make your crochet Labrador a nose you will need to make a small separate circle using your black yarn.
Row 1
Make a magic circle of three stitches (3)
Row 2
Put 2sc into each stitch (6)
Row 3
Put 1sc into the first stitch, then 2sc into the next. Repeat for the round (9)
Using your yarn needle, sew your small black circle onto the end of your muzzle. Place it slightly higher than the centre starting point and between the position of the eyes. You can also sew on any mouth features you want below the nose, using your threaded yarn needle.
Crochet Labrador Ears
You will need to make two crochet Lab ears for your toy. Using the same colour as their body, and working from a magic circle again in a circular pattern.
Row 1
Make a magic circle of 3 stitches (3)
Row 2
Make 2 single crochets (2sc) into each stitch (6)
Row 3
Put 1sc into the first stitch, and 2sc into the next. (1sc, 2sc) Repeat three times (9)
Row 4
Put 1sc in each stitch (9)
Row 5
(1sc x 2, 2sc) Repeat three times (12)
Row 6
Put 1sc in each stitch (12)
Row 7
(1sc x 3, 2sc) Repeat three times (15)
Row 8
Put 1sc in each stitch (15)
Row 9
(1sc x 4, 2sc) Repeat three times (18)
Row 10 to 17
1sc in each stitch (18)
When finished do not stuff, simply sew the bottom of the ear closed in a line.
Crochet Labrador Body
To make the crochet Lab’s body, follow the same circular pattern as the head. Using your 3.5mm crochet hook and yellow yarn.
Row 1
Make a magic circle of 8 stitches (8)
Row 2
Make 2 single crochets (2sc) into each stitch (16)
Row 3
Put 1 single crochet (1sc) into the first stitch, and 2 single crochets (2sc) into the next. (1sc, 2sc) Repeat eight times (24)
Row 4
Put 1sc into the first two stitches, 2 sc into the next. (1sc x 2, 2sc) Repeat eight times (32)
Row 5
(1sc x 3, 2sc) Repeat eight times (40)
Row 6 to 17
Make 1sc in each stitch (40)
Row 18
Now begin to decrease the circles. (1sc x 3, sc2tog) Repeat eight times (32)
Row 19 to 26
Make 1sc in each stitch (32)
Row 27
(1sc x 2, sc2tog) Repeat eight times (24)
Fill the body with toy stuffing
Row 28
(1sc, sc2tog) Repeat eight times (16)
Row 29
sc2tog eight times, then thread your yarn needle and sew the head closed. Leave a long string of yarn for attaching the body to the head later.
Crochet Labrador Legs
To make your Labrador feet and legs, following the instructions below four times. For this pattern the front and back legs are identical, but they are closed and attached differently.
Row 1
Make a magic circle of 6 stitches (6)
Row 2
Make 2 single crochets (2sc) into each stitch (12)
Row 3
1sc into the first stitch, and sc into the next. (1sc, 2sc) Repeat six times (18)
Row 4
(1sc x 2, 2sc) Repeat six times (24)
Row 5 to 6
Make 1sc in each stitch (24)
Row 7
Make 1sc in the first 12 stitches (sc x 12), then (1sc x 2, sc2tog) three times (21)
Row 8
(1sc x 12), then (1sc, sc2tog) three times (18)
Row 9
(1sc x 12), then sc2tog three times (15)
Row 10 to 23
Make 1sc in each stitch (15)
To close – for the front legs sew closed in the direction of heel to toe. For the back legs, sew closed at a right angle to the front legs, from side to side. Leave a long strand of yarn from each finished leg for sewing together later.
Crochet Labrador Tail
Row 1
Make a magic circle of 3 stitches (3)
Row 2
Make 2 single crochets (2sc) into each stitch (6)
Row 3
Put 1sc into the first stitch, and 2sc into the next. (1sc, 2sc) Repeat three times (9)
Row 4
(1sc x 2, 2sc) Repeat three times (12)
Row 5
(1sc x 3, 2sc) Repeat three times (15)
Row 6 to 19
Make 1sc into each stitch (15)
Fill with toy safe stuffing.
(paid link)Row 20
Make 1sc in the first seven stitches, then 2sc in each of the last 8 (23)
Sewing Your Crochet Labrador Together
To sew your crochet Labrador together use the yarn threads you left when you closed each section. Make sure to use fine stitches, weaving through each corresponding crochet stitch to firmly attach the segments together. Position the front legs at either side of the chest, and the back legs under the bottom. This will give your puppy a canine style seated position when you put him down.
Crochet Labrador Puppy Collar
I have given my Labrador puppies collars. To make them you will need to use your purple yarn to begin with.
Make a chain of twenty one stitches. Starting from the third stitch from the hook, make a single crochet into each stitch. At the end of the row tie off.
To make the collar tag, make a magic circle of four stitches, and put two single crochets into each stitch of the circle. Tie off and sew the tag onto the collar using the loose thread of yarn.
You can then sew the first initial of your Lab’s name onto the collar to make it even more your own!
Your Personalised Crochet Labrador Puppy
When you make your own crochet Lab puppy using the instructions above, you will find that he looks like the yellow Lab pup in the pictures. But I am a big fan of taking an existing pattern and giving it a unique twist. The easiest way to adapt the pattern is to add or remove rows.
Think your Labrador has longer legs? No problem, just add a few rows to the length. Want to give him shorter ears? Then just take a row off the length there instead.
You can also use different coloured yarns to reflect his shade, although I highly recommend staying with the same yarn type. Different types or ‘weights’ of yarn give different stitch sizes and finishes to the toy.
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I am having problems with the tail…the pattern does not say how to finish it off….from 14m5 to 22 stitches from row 19 to 20….totally confusing.
Hi Linda, Is the round that is confusing you: Make 1sc in the first seven stitches, then 2sc in each of the last 8 (22) The tail widens at the very end to allow a nicer position when it’s sewing, it gives a final circle that is irregular, bigger at one side due to the additional increases. So the instructions are to take your second to last round, then make one single crochet in the first seven stitches, but finish the round by making two into each stitch as you go on. I hope this makes sense. And I’ve just realised that you might be confused by my terrible addition skills – 7 + (8 x 2) = 23, doesn’t it? I’ll go and update that now. Hope this helps, but let me know if you have any other issues!