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How To Make The Chubby Cheek Hamster Amigurumi Pattern

An Introduction from Patricia to Your Chubby Cheek Hamster

Hello, my dearest crocheters! It's Patricia Poltera here, and I'm just so delighted to share this Chubby Cheek Hamster pattern with you all, completely free! There’s something truly magical about bringing these little characters to life with just a hook and some yarn, isn't there? This little hamster, with its irresistibly plump cheeks and sweet expression, is sure to steal your heart. It’s perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to your home, gifting to a special someone, or simply enjoying the pure joy of creating something wonderful with your own hands. It's your wonderful enthusiasm, your shared creations, and the ways you choose to support my work here at Patricia Poltera's Amigurumi Pattern Parlour that keep my crochet hooks merrily clicking away, allowing me to continue sharing these free patterns. So, from the bottom of my yarn-filled heart, thank you!

Materials You'll Need for The Chubby Cheek Hamster

Gathering your materials is half the fun, my dear! For this little hamster, we'll want yarns that create a lovely, tight fabric, perfect for amigurumi.

Yarn

  • Main Color (MC): Approximately 50-60 yards of light brown or tan worsted weight yarn (e.g., acrylic or cotton blend). This will be for the body, head, and paws.
  • Contrast Color (CC1): Approximately 10-15 yards of white worsted weight yarn. For the hamster's adorable chubby cheeks.
  • Contrast Color (CC2): Small amount of light pink worsted weight yarn. For the inner ears.
  • Embroidery Floss/Thin Yarn: Small amount of black for the nose and mouth.

Hooks & Notions

  • The Absolute Essentials:

    • Crochet Hook: A 3.5mm (E/4) crochet hook. This size creates a nice tight fabric with worsted weight yarn, ensuring your stuffing won't peek through.
    • Safety Eyes: Two 8mm black safety eyes. These give our hamster its endearing, lifelike gaze.
    • Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill. You'll want plenty to make your hamster wonderfully plump!
    • Yarn Needle: A blunt-tipped needle for weaving in ends and assembly.
    • Stitch Marker: Indispensable for keeping track of your rounds, especially in continuous spirals!
    • Scissors: For snipping yarn, of course!

  • My 'Game Changer' Recommendations (Optional, but oh-so-helpful!):

    • Pins: Straight pins with colorful heads are a lifesaver for positioning pieces before you sew them on, ensuring perfect symmetry.
    • Row Counter: A small clicker counter can be wonderfully helpful for longer patterns, letting you focus on your stitches rather than counting rows.
    • Fabric Glue/Fray Check: A tiny dab can secure safety eye backings extra firmly, though it's not strictly necessary if they're properly installed.

Skills Required & Techniques Demystified for The Chubby Cheek Hamster

Don't worry if some of these terms are new, my dear! Amigurumi is all about building on a few basic stitches. For our little hamster, you'll want to be familiar with:

  • Magic Ring (MR): This is how we start most amigurumi pieces, creating a tight, closed center. It's truly magical!
  • Single Crochet (sc): Your go-to stitch for amigurumi, creating a dense, firm fabric.
  • Increase (inc): Working two single crochet stitches into one stitch from the previous round. This makes your piece grow.
  • Invisible Decrease (dec): A neat way to reduce stitches without leaving a noticeable bump. It’s a game-changer for smooth shaping! (Insert your hook into the front loop only of the first stitch, then into the front loop only of the second stitch, yarn over, pull through both front loops, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook).
  • Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds or finish off pieces neatly.
  • Fasten Off (FO): Cutting your yarn and pulling the tail through the last loop to secure your work.
  • Working in Continuous Rounds: This means you don't join with a slip stitch at the end of each round; you just keep crocheting in a spiral. This is how we get those wonderfully seamless amigurumi shapes! Always use a stitch marker to know where your round begins.

A Note on Photos & Your Unique Chubby Cheek Hamster

Just a little note, my dear! While my patterns are meticulously written, the joy of handmade means each Chubby Cheek Hamster will have its own unique charm. Don't fret if yours looks a little different from the photos. That's the beauty of crochet – it’s a reflection of your hands and your artistry! Embrace the uniqueness!

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The Chubby Cheek Hamster Amigurumi Pattern

Oh, I just know you’re going to love stitching up this darling Chubby Cheek Hamster amigurumi! If you enjoy this free pattern, do pop over to Patricia Poltera’s Amigurumi Pattern Parlour for more exclusive PDF patterns, special tutorials, and perhaps a little something extra to support my yarn habit! Every visit helps keep these free patterns coming. Now, let’s get to crocheting!

Notes before you begin:

  • Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated.
  • Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
  • All stitches are US crochet terms.

Head & Body (Main Color - MC: Light Brown/Tan)

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR), 6 sc in MR. (6) 

Round 2: Sc inc in each stitch around. (12) 

Round 3: (Sc 1, sc inc) x 6. (18) 

Round 4: (Sc 2, sc inc) x 6. (24) 

Round 5: (Sc 3, sc inc) x 6. (30) 

Round 6: (Sc 4, sc inc) x 6. (36) 

Round 7: (Sc 5, sc inc) x 6. (42) 

Round 8: (Sc 6, sc inc) x 6. (48) 

Round 9: (Sc 7, sc inc) x 6. (54) 

Rounds 10-20: Sc in each stitch around. (54) (11 rounds)

Insert 8mm safety eyes between Rounds 14 and 15, about 7-8 stitches apart.

Round 21: (Sc 7, sc dec) x 6. (48) 

Round 22: (Sc 6, sc dec) x 6. (42) 

Round 23: (Sc 5, sc dec) x 6. (36) 

Round 24: (Sc 4, sc dec) x 6. (30) 

Round 25: (Sc 3, sc dec) x 6. (24) Begin to stuff the head and body firmly, shaping as you go. 

Round 26: (Sc 2, sc dec) x 6. (18) 

Round 27: (Sc 1, sc dec) x 6. (12) Add more stuffing, ensuring the hamster is plump and firm. 

Round 28: Sc dec x 6. (6) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing. Use a yarn needle to weave the tail through the front loop of each remaining stitch and pull tight to close the opening. Weave in the end.

Cheeks (Make 2 - White yarn)

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR), 6 sc in MR. (6) 

Round 2: Sc inc in each stitch around. (12) 

Round 3: (Sc 1, sc inc) x 6. (18) 

Round 4: Sc in each stitch around. (18) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ears (Make 2 - Outer part MC: Light Brown/Tan, Inner part CC2: Light Pink)

Outer Ear (MC): 

Row 1: Ch 2, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (2) 

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc inc in each stitch. (4) 

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, (sc 1, sc inc) x 2. (6) 

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, (sc 2, sc inc) x 2. (8) Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Inner Ear (CC2): Row 1: Ch 2, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (2) 

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc inc in each stitch. (4) 

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, (sc 1, sc inc) x 2. (6) Fasten off, weave in ends.

Assembly of Ears: Place the smaller pink inner ear piece onto the larger brown outer ear piece. Stitch them together neatly around the curved edges with a small running stitch or whip stitch.

Front Paws (Make 2 - MC: Light Brown/Tan)

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR), 6 sc in MR. (6) 

Round 2: Sc in each stitch around. (6) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff.

Back Paws (Make 2 - MC: Light Brown/Tan)

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR), 6 sc in MR. (6) 

Round 2: (Sc 1, sc inc) x 3. (9) 

Round 3: Sc in each stitch around. (9) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff.

Tail (MC: Light Brown/Tan)

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR), 4 sc in MR. (4) Round 2: Sc in each stitch around. (4) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff.

Assembly Instructions for Your Chubby Cheek Hamster

Now for the magical part, bringing all your pieces together! Take your time, my dear, and pin everything in place before you commit with your needle. It makes all the difference!

  1. Cheeks: Carefully position the white cheek pieces on the lower part of the face, symmetrical to each other, just below and slightly to the sides of the safety eyes. The tops of the cheeks should align roughly with the bottom of the safety eyes. Pin them securely. Using the long tail and your yarn needle, stitch them firmly to the head with small, neat stitches.
  2. Facial Features: With black embroidery floss or thin black yarn, embroider a small triangular nose directly above the center point where the two cheeks meet. Then, create a gentle, upward-curving mouth line just below the nose. Take an extra moment to add a small single vertical stitch from the center of the nose down to the mouth line for a classic hamster look.
  3. Ears: Pin the assembled ears to the top of the head, between Rounds 18 and 19 of the head, about 6-7 stitches apart. Ensure they are symmetrical and upright. Securely stitch them in place, going through both layers of the ear for stability.
  4. Front Paws: Pin the front paws to the front of the body, just below the neck area (where the head and body naturally blend), approximately at Round 23 of the main body, centered on the front. Stitch them firmly.
  5. Back Paws: Pin the back paws to the underside of the body, towards the back, where the hamster will naturally sit. These will provide stability for sitting. Stitch them securely.
  6. Tail: Attach the tiny tail to the very center back of the body, near the bottom, right over the closed hole. Stitch it on firmly.
  7. Final Touches: Weave in any remaining loose ends. Give your Chubby Cheek Hamster a gentle squeeze to redistribute the stuffing, ensuring it’s perfectly plump and cuddly!

Tips & Tricks for Your Chubby Cheek Hamster

I always love sharing little nuggets of wisdom that make your crochet journey smoother and more enjoyable!

Troubleshooting Common Crochet Challenges

  • Gaps in Your Amigurumi? This usually means your tension might be a little loose or your hook size is too large for your yarn. Try using a smaller hook or tightening your stitches a bit. Remember, tight stitches are happy stitches in amigurumi!
  • Stitches Not Lining Up? Always count your stitches at the end of each round! A stitch marker is your best friend for knowing where your rounds truly begin and end in continuous spirals. Don't be afraid to pull back a few rounds if you realize you've made a mistake – it's all part of the learning process!

Customization Corner

  • Color Play: While our little hamster is beautifully natural, imagine it in bright blues, soft greens, or even a rainbow ombre! Experiment with different yarn colors for a truly unique friend.
  • Accessories: A tiny crocheted scarf, a little felt flower, or even a tiny backpack could add even more personality! Let your imagination be your guide.

Gifting Your Handmade Masterpiece

  • Personal Touch: When gifting your Chubby Cheek Hamster, consider adding a small, handwritten tag with the pattern name and perhaps a little message about the care instructions (gentle hand wash, air dry).
  • Thoughtful Presentation: A simple ribbon around its neck or nestled in a small gift box can elevate your handmade gift. It shows how much love and care went into its creation!

Frequently Asked Pattern & Finishing Questions for The Chubby Cheek Hamster

My dear, I've gathered some common questions that often pop up when crafting sweet amigurumi friends like our hamster!

  • Q: My hamster isn't perfectly round; it has flat spots. What can I do?

    • A: This is usually a stuffing issue! After you've finished crocheting, gently massage and squeeze your hamster, pushing stuffing into any flatter areas. You can use the blunt end of your crochet hook or a chopstick to help push the fiberfill into those stubborn spots, ensuring a lovely, even sphere.

  • Q: Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

    • A: You certainly can, but it will affect the finished size of your hamster! If you use a thicker yarn (like a bulky weight), your hamster will be larger. If you use a thinner yarn (like a sport weight), it will be smaller. Always adjust your hook size to match the yarn weight, aiming for a tight fabric that doesn't show the stuffing.

  • Q: What if I don't have safety eyes? Can I embroider the eyes instead?

    • A: Absolutely! Embroidered eyes are a wonderful, child-safe alternative. You can use black embroidery floss to stitch two small French knots or satin stitch small circles for the eyes. This gives your hamster a softer, more traditional amigurumi look.

A Final Word & Caring for Your Adorable Chubby Cheek Hamster

Oh, my heart truly sings seeing these little characters come to life through your hands! Your Chubby Cheek Hamster is a testament to your patience, creativity, and love for fiber arts. Each stitch you made contributes to its unique charm and character. Remember, your continued engagement and support—whether it's sharing your finished creations, commenting on my posts, or exploring patterns in Patricia Poltera's Amigurumi Pattern Parlour—make it possible for me to keep these detailed, free patterns available for our wonderful community. Happy stitching, my dear, and enjoy every moment with your new little companion!

To care for your adorable handmade friend, I recommend a gentle hand wash with mild soap and cool water. Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring!), reshape, and let it air dry completely. This will keep your hamster looking its best for years to come.

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