Welcome to my crochet donkey pattern. This was another request but I’ll use it when I make a farmyard blanket. The finished donkey applique will look like this.
There’s also a video tutorial for this pattern available on my YouTube channel at crochet donkey tutorial.
To view this pattern for free, continue to scroll down this page. If you would like to download the ad-free version, it’s available on my Ravelry store for $1 at crochet donkey pattern or on my LoveCrafts store at crochet donkey pattern.
This pattern will be using UK terminology. If you would like to view the US version go to crochet donkey pattern (US Version).
Crochet Donkey Pattern
Abbreviations
- st – stitch
- sts – stitches
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- dc – double crochet
- htr – half treble crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- dtr – double treble crochet
Materials Used
- Grey, black and white crochet cotton or wool, I used 4 ply crochet cotton.
- A crochet hook, I used a 1.5mm hook.
- Scissors.
- Darning needle to weave in ends.
- Sewing needle and thread to stitch the donkey together.
Size
Large donkey (Using 8 ply wool)
18cm x 11.5cm or 7” x 4.5”
Medium donkey (Using 4 ply crochet cotton)
11cm x 7cm or 4.5” x 2.75”
Small donkey (Using 2 ply crochet cotton)
9.5cm x 6cm or 4” x 2.5”
Head
Using grey make a magic loop.
Row 1: 1 ch, work 3 htr, 3 tr, 6 htr, 3 tr and 3 htr in circle. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 htr in same st as ch, 1 htr in next st, 2 htr in following st, 2 tr in each of next 3 sts, 2 htr in following st, 1 htr in each of next 4 sts, 2 htr in following st, 2 tr in each of next 3 sts, 2 htr in following st, 1 htr in each st to end. Join with a sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 3: 1 ch, 1 dc in same st as ch, 1 dc in each of next 4 sts, 2 htr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Join with a sl st in top of 1st st. Fasten off.
Muzzle
Using white cotton make a magic loop.
2 ch, work 15 tr in circle, pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1st st. Fasten off.
1st Inner Ear
Join white cotton to last htr.
8 ch.
Work 1 sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in each st to last st, sl st in last st, sl st in head. Fasten off.
1st Outer Ear
Join grey cotton 2 sts before inner ear.
Work 1 tr in 1st st, 2 tr in next st, 1 tr in following st, 1 htr in each of next 3 sts, 1 dc in each st to tip of ear, into tip work 1 sl st, 1 ch and 1 sl st, sl st into each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Sl st into head and fasten off.
2nd Inner Ear
Join white cotton to 1st htr of previous row.
8 ch.
Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in each of following 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, miss last st and sl st in head. Fasten off.
2nd Outer Ear
Join grey cotton to st before inner ear.
Work 1 dc in each of 1st 5 sts, 1 sl st in each st to tip, 1 sl st, 1 ch and 1 sl st in tip, 1 sl st in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in following st, 1 htr in each st to end. Sl st into head and fasten off.
Front Mane
Using black work 9 ch.
Miss 1st ch and work 1 sl st in each of next 2 sts, (3 ch, miss 1 ch and work 1 sl st in next 2 ch, 1 sl st in next of original ch) 3 times, sl st in each ch to end, sl st in back loop of 1st 2 ch, (3 ch, miss 1 ch and work 1 sl st in next 2 ch, 1 sl st in back loop of next of original ch) 3 times, 2 ch. Fasten off.
Body
Using grey work 18 ch.
Row 1: Miss 1 ch and work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (17 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 6: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 13 sts, sl st in next st. Turn. (14 sts)
Row 7: Work a joined dc over 1st 2 dcs, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (12 sts)
Row 8: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (12 sts)
Row 9: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (12 sts)
Back Leg
Row 10: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, a joined dc over following 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 11: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 12: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, a joined dc over next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 13: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 14: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 15: 1 ch, work 3 dc in 1st st, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in following st, 1 dtr in last st. Fasten off. (6 sts)
Front Leg
Join cotton to 3rd last st on body as shown.
Row 1: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each of next 3 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 6: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in following st, 1 dtr in last st. Fasten off. (5 sts)
Markings Around Body
Join white cotton at bottom of neck.
Work 1 sl st in each st to top of front leg. Fasten off.
Join white cotton to top of leg where shown.
Work 1 sl st in each st to next leg. Fasten off.
Join white cotton to top of back leg where shown.
Work 1 sl st in each st to where tail will start. Fasten off.
Tail and Back
Join grey cotton in the st after white marking on back of body.
7 ch.
Miss 1 ch and work 1 sl st in each ch to end, work 1 sl st in each st to back, 2 dc in 1st st on back, 1 htr in next st, 2 htr in following st, 1 htr in next st, 1 dc in each st to last 4 sts on back, 1 htr in each of next 3 sts, 2 htr in last st. Fasten off.
Tail End
Join black cotton to end of tail.
Row 1: 3 ch, work 2 tr in same place as ch. Turn.
Row 2: 3 ch, work 1 tr in each st and 1 tr in top of ch. Turn.
Row 3: 3 ch, work a tr cluster over all sts. Fasten off.
Mane
Join black cotton halfway along back.
Work 1 dc in next st, 2 ch, work 1 sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, (3 ch, miss 1 ch and work 1 sl st in each remaining ch, 1 dc in next st along back) repeat to 2nd last st. 2 ch, fasten off.
Front Hoof
Join black cotton to 1st st as shown.
4 ch, 1 dtr in each of 1st 2 sts, 1 tr in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 dc in last st. Fasten off.
Back Hoof
Join black cotton to 2nd st as shown.
4 ch, 1 dtr in each of 1st 2 sts, 1 tr in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 dc in last st. Fasten off.
Front Far leg
Using grey work 3 ch.
Row 1: Miss 1st ch and work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn.
Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn.
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn.
Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn.
Row 5: 3 ch, work 1 tr in 1st st, 1 dc in last st. Turn.
Row 6: 1 ch, work 2 dc in each st. Fasten off.
Hoof
Join black cotton to wrong side of last row of front far leg.
4 ch, work 1 dtr in each st. Fasten off.
Far Back Leg
Using grey work 4 ch.
Row 1: Miss 1 ch and work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 6: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 htr in next st, 1 tr in following st, 1 dtr in last st. Fasten off.
Far Back Hoof
Join black cotton to 1st st.
4 ch, 1 dtr in each of 1st 2 sts, 1 tr in next st, 1 htr in following st, 1 dc in last st. Fasten off.
To Make Up
Weave in ends. Embroider the markings on the muzzle.
Sew the muzzle to the head.
Embroider on the eyes.
Attach the front mane to the head.
Stitch the head to the neck.
Sew the far front leg to the donkey where shown.
Attach the far back leg where shown.
And there’s the finished crochet donkey. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colours.
If you’ve enjoyed the crochet donkey pattern, you may also like my crochet horse pattern, crochet cow pattern, crochet llama pattern or crochet barn pattern.
