Welcome to my crochet meerkat. This is another request that I received. This is what the finished meerkat applique will look like.
There’s also a video tutorial for this pattern available on my YouTube channel at crochet meerkat 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 meerkat pattern or on my LoveCrafts store at crochet meerkat pattern.
This pattern will be using UK terminology. If you would like to view the US version go to crochet meerkat pattern (US version).
Crochet Meerkat 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
- Crochet cotton or wool, I used Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat 2 ply crochet cotton colours (404) English Tea, (179) Topaz, and (162) Black Coffee.
- A crochet hook, I used a 1mm hook.
- Scissors.
- Darning needle to weave in ends.
- Sewing thread and needle to stitch the meerkat together.
- A small clear seed bead for each eye if desired.
Size
Large meerkat (Using 8 ply crochet cotton & a 3mm hook)
15cm x 25.5cm or 6” x 10”
Medium meerkat (Using 4 ply crochet cotton & a 1.5mm hook)
9cm x 16.5cm or 3.5” x 6.5”
Small meerkat (Using 2 ply crochet cotton & a 1mm hook)
7.5cm x 13cm or 3” x 5”
Head
Using (404) English Tea work 4 ch.
Row 1: Work 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 3: 2 ch, work 2 htr in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 htr in last st. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 4: 2 ch, work 1 htr in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 1 htr in last st. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 5: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 6: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (13 sts)
Row 7: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (13 sts)
Row 8: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 9: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 10: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. (7 sts) Don’t turn or fasten off.
Neatening Row
Work 1 sl st in each st around head to start of row 10, 1 sl st in each of 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, 2 htr in following st, 1 dc in next st, 1 sl st in each remaining st. Fasten off.
Head Marking
Using (179) Topaz work 4 ch.
Row 1: Work 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 3: Sl st into each of 1st 3 sts, 1 ch, work 1 dc in same st as ch and next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work a joined dc over the 3 sts. Don’t fasten off.
Neatening Row
Work 1 sl st in each st around. Fasten off.
Eyes (Make 2)
Using (162) Black Coffee make a magic loop.
Row 1: 1 ch, work 2 dc in circle. Pull circle tight. Turn.
Row 2: 1 ch, work a joined dc over both sts. Fasten off.
Nose
Using (162) Black Coffee make a magic loop.
Row 1: 1 ch, work 2 dc in circle. Pull circle tight. Turn.
Row 2: 1 ch, work a joined dc over both sts. Fasten off.
Ears (Make 2)
Using (179) Topaz make a magic loop.
2 ch, work 1 tr, 4 dtr, 1 tr and 1 htr in circle. Pull circle tight. Fasten off.
Body
Using (404) English Tea work 7 ch.
Row 1: Miss 1st ch and work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 4: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. 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 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 7: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 8: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 9: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 10: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 11: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 12: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 13: 2 ch, work 1 htr in each of 1st 3 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 14: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 15: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 16: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 17: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 18: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 19: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 20: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 21: 2 ch, work 1 htr in each of 1st 3 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 22: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 23: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 24: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 25: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 26: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 27: 2 ch, work 1 htr in each of 1st 3 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 28: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 29: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 30: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 31: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 32: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)
1st Leg
Row 33: 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 34: 1 ch, work 2 dc in 1st st, a joined dc over last 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 35: 1 ch, work a joined dc over 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in last st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 36: 1 ch, work 1 dc in 1st st, a joined dc over both sts. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 37: 1 ch, work 1 dc in each st. Fasten off.
2nd Leg
Join (404) English Tea to 3rd last st at bottom of body.
Row 1: 1 ch, work a joined dc over same st as ch and next st, 1 dc in last st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, work a joined dc over the 2 sts. Turn. (1 st)
Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 dc in st. Turn. (1 st)
Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 dc in st. Turn. (1 st)
Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 dc in st. Don’t fasten off.
Neatening Row
Work 1 or 2 dc in each st around the meerkat’s body and legs. Sl st into top of 1st st. Fasten off.
Meerkat’s Right Side
Join (179) Topaz 3 sts down from neck.
Work 1 dc in each of next 9 sts, 1 htr in following st, 15 ch, miss 2 ch, work 1 tr in each of next 3 ch, (a joined tr over following 2 sts) 2 times, 1 tr in each of next 2 sts, a joined tr over following 2 sts, 1 htr in each of last 2 sts. Sl st in body at bottom of the htr. Fasten off.
Meerkat’s Right Leg
Join (179) Topaz 5 sts up from the bottom of leg stump.
Work 1 sl st in each of next 4 sts, 11 ch, 3 tr in 3rd ch from hook, 2 tr in next st, 1 tr in each of following 2 sts, 1 dtr in each remaining ch, sl st into other side of leg stump, 1 dc in same st as sl st, sl st in next st. Fasten off.
Meerkat’s Left Leg and Side
Join (179) Topaz to inside end st of leg stump.
12 ch, work 3 tr in 3rd ch from hook, 3 ch, sl st in same st as trs. sl st in next st, 3 ch, 1 tr in each remaining ch, 1 tr in each of next 4 sts along the side, 2 dtr in next st, 1 dtr in each of following 4 sts, 1 tr in each st to the point on side of body, 1 htr in point, 1 tr in next st, 1 dtr in each st to 4 sts down from neck, 1 tr in next st, sl st in following st. Fasten off.
Arm
Using (179) Topaz make a magic loop.
Row 1: 3 ch, work 2 tr in circle, pull circle tight and turn.
Row 2: 3 ch, work 1 tr in each st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 3: 3 ch, work 1 tr in each st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 4: 3 ch, work 1 tr in each st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 5: 3 ch, work 1 tr in each st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 6: 3 ch, work a joined tr over the 2 sts and 1 tr in last st. Turn. (2 sts)
Row 7: 2 ch, work 1 htr in 1st st, 1 tr in last st. Turn.
Row 8: 3 ch, work 1 tr in 1st st, 1 htr in last st. Turn.
Row 9: 3 ch, work a 4 tr cluster over the 2 sts. Fasten off.
Tail
Using (179) Topaz work 25 ch.
Work 1 htr in 3rd ch from hook, 1 tr in each of next 4 sts, a joined tr over following 2 sts, 1 tr in next st, a joined tr over following 2 sts, 1 tr in each st to end. Fasten off.
To Make Up
Weave in ends. Stitch the head marking to the top of the head.
Sew the beads to the eyes.
Attach the eyes to the head.
Stitch the nose to the head.
Embroider on a mouth.
Sew the ears to the head.
Embroider markings on hands and feet.
Stitch the head to the body.
Sew the right arm down.
Attach the left arm.
Stitch the tail in behind the Meerkat’s body.
And there’s the finished meerkat applique. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colours.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed the pattern.
