Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern: Free, 27 Rounds Plus a Scarf
This crochet snowy owl pattern makes a round white amigurumi owl with folded wings, black feather marks, two little claw feet and a striped scarf, all in single crochet on a 1.5 mm hook. The head and body are one piece, so the only sewing is the wings, the feet and a few embroidered details.
This crochet snowy owl pattern gives you every round with its stitch count, 17 photo steps from a video tutorial, the three usual mistakes, baby-safe eyes and five more free snowy owls.
One correction before you start: the video lists no finished size and no yarn amount, and we don’t guess. We give the one figure we could check, the total stitch count, and sizes from designers who publish theirs.
- What you need
- Why the hook is so small
- Stitches and abbreviations
- Round-by-round chart
- Step by step
- Where it goes wrong
- How much yarn
- Are the eyes safe
- Five more free snowy owl patterns
- FAQ
- Where to go next
- Sources
What You Need for This Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern
The crochet snowy owl pattern needs one main colour, three small accent colours and one very small hook.
| Item | What to use |
|---|---|
| Yarn | Milk cotton in white (body and wings), black (feet, beak, feather marks) and two scarf colours. The video uses maroon and yellow; any two colours work. |
| Hook | 1.5 mm |
| Eyes | Two 7 mm black eyes (embroider them instead for a baby, see the safety section) |
| Stuffing | Polyester fibrefill |
| Tools | Stitch marker, yarn needle, fabric glue |
| Body | One piece, 27 rounds, widest round 42 stitches |
| Wings | Make 2, 11 rounds each, not stuffed |
| Scarf | 50 short rows, 4 loops wide |
Why the hook is so small
Amigurumi uses a hook smaller than the yarn label asks for, so the fabric is tight and no stuffing shows through. The 1.5 mm hook in this crochet snowy owl pattern is at the very small end.
Other snowy owls do the same. The three stuffed owls we checked in worsted yarn use 3.5 to 4.25 mm, while the Craft Yarn Council lists 5.5 to 6.5 mm for that weight. That is 1.25 mm or more below the label, on purpose. The 5 mm puppet sits closer because a puppet needs drape, not firm stuffing.
Stitches and Abbreviations in the Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern
Almost the whole crochet snowy owl pattern is single crochet worked in a continuous spiral, so there is no joining at the end of each round. Move your stitch marker up every round. Crochet stitches have two naming conventions, and we give both names.
| Abbreviation | Name used here | Other naming convention |
|---|---|---|
| MR | Magic ring | Magic ring |
| sc | Single crochet | Double crochet |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch | 2 dc in one stitch |
| dec | Sc 2 together | Dc 2 together |
| FLO / BLO | Front / back loop only | Front / back loop only |
| ch, sl st | Chain, slip stitch | Chain, slip stitch |
Stitch multiple: in this crochet snowy owl pattern the body works on a multiple of 6, so every shaping round is a repeat worked 6 times. The wings work on a multiple of 3, which keeps them narrow and pointed.
Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern: Round-by-Round Chart
Here is the body of the crochet snowy owl pattern as shown on screen. The last column is your count at the end of each round.
| Round | Instruction | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 sc in a magic ring | 6 |
| 2 | Inc in every st | 12 |
| 3 | (sc, inc) x 6 | 18 |
| 4 | (sc, inc, sc) x 6 | 24 |
| 5 | (3 sc, inc) x 6 | 30 |
| 6 | (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) x 6 | 36 |
| 7 to 11 | Sc in every st | 36 |
| 12 | (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) x 6 | 30 |
| 13 | FLO: (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) x 6 | 36 |
| 14 | (5 sc, inc) x 6 | 42 |
| 15 to 21 | Sc in every st | 42 |
| 22 | (5 sc, dec) x 6 | 36 |
| 23 | (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) x 6 | 30 |
| 24 | BLO: (3 sc, dec) x 6 | 24 |
| 25 | (sc, dec, sc) x 6 | 18 |
| 26 | (sc, dec) x 6 | 12 |
| 27 | Dec x 6 | 6 |
Wings (make 2): 6, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 21, 18, 12, 9 stitches over 11 rounds, then fold flat and close with 4 sc.
How to Crochet a Snowy Owl, Step by Step
Each step of the crochet snowy owl pattern has a photo from the video to check your work against.
Step 1: Start the head with a magic ring
With white yarn, make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it. Pull the ring tight and mark the first stitch.
Step 2: Grow a flat disc, rounds 2 to 4
Increase in every stitch for 12, then work (sc, inc) around for 18. Round 4 is (sc, inc, sc) around for 24. Splitting the plain stitches around the increase stops corners forming.
Step 3: Finish the top of the head, rounds 5 and 6
Work (3 sc, inc) around for 30, then (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) around for 36. The circle should still lie flat. If it cups, your tension is just tighter; keep it even.
Step 4: Work the head dome, rounds 7 to 11
Now sc in every stitch for 5 rounds, keeping 36 stitches. With no increases, the edge turns down into the head dome.
Step 5: Shape the neck, rounds 12 and 13
Round 12 is (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) around for 30, which pulls in the neck. Round 13 goes back up to 36 with (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) around, worked in the front loops only. The unused back loops leave a thin line where the head meets the body.
Step 6: Widen the body, rounds 14 to 21
Work (5 sc, inc) around for 42 stitches. Then sc in every stitch for 7 rounds, rounds 15 to 21, keeping 42. This is the round tummy.
Step 7: Start the base, rounds 22 to 24
Decrease with (5 sc, dec) for 36, then (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) for 30. Round 24 is (3 sc, dec) around for 24, worked in the back loops only. That round makes a crisp edge, so the owl sits flat instead of rolling.
Step 8: Stuff the body
Work (sc, dec, sc) around for 18. Stuff the body now, while the opening is still wide enough for your fingers. Fill the head first, then the tummy, firm but not gaping.
Step 9: Close the body, rounds 26 and 27
Work (sc, dec) around for 12, top up the stuffing, then decrease 6 times for 6. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, sew through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull them shut. Hide the tail inside the body.
Step 10: Crochet the wings
Make 2. Start with 6 sc in a ring and one plain round of 6, then add 3 stitches every round until round 7 reaches 21. Work round 8 plain at 21 stitches. Don’t stuff the wings.
Step 11: Decrease and fold the wing closed
Decrease to 18, then 12, then 9 over rounds 9 to 11. Flatten the wing, then work 4 sc across the opening through both layers to close it. Leave a long tail for sewing.
Step 12: Check that both wings match
Lay the wings side by side. If one is longer, count its rounds before you sew.
Step 13: Embroider the feather marks
With black yarn and a yarn needle, stitch small V shapes in rows across the outer side of each wing. Keep them small and a little uneven, like real speckles.
Step 14: Crochet the striped scarf
Chain 4. Skip the first chain and draw up a loop in each chain until you have 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through one loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops until one is left. That is row 1, and every row repeats it. The video doesn’t name the stitch, but this forward-and-back pass is the Tunisian method.
Work 4 rows in the first colour, 2 in the second, 2 in the first and 2 in the second. Repeat that 10-row block 4 more times for 50 rows, then weave in the ends.
Step 15: Make the two claw feet
In black, chain 5, skip 1 chain and sc in the next 2. Then (ch 2, skip 1, sc, sl st, sc) twice to form the toes. The on-screen note for this part is cut short and gives no count, so use the photo as your guide: each foot should end up as three small toes.
Step 16: Assemble the owl
Sew a wing to each side of the body with white yarn, marked side out. Wrap the scarf around the neck, the narrowest point, with one end hanging down the front. Place the eyes between rounds 8 and 9, 8 stitches apart. Embroider a short black beak between them, then sew the feet under the body and add a dot of glue to hold them flat.
Step 17: Add the yellow eye rings
With yellow yarn, stitch a ring around each eye. This detail makes the face read as a snowy owl. Hide every tail and your owl is done.
Where the Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern Usually Goes Wrong
Three mistakes cause most problems with a crochet snowy owl pattern, and all three show early.
- Round 13 worked in both loops. The count is still 36, but the neck line disappears. Check for the thin ridge.
- Stuffing too late. After round 26 the opening is tiny, and a half-stuffed owl sags. Stuff after round 25 and top up after round 26.
- Eyes too far apart. The 8-stitch gap is narrow on purpose; wider eyes flatten the face. Pin them first.
How Much Yarn the Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern Takes
The crochet snowy owl pattern video gives no yardage, and we won’t invent one. Adding up every round shown on screen, the body is 834 stitches and each wing is 151, so the owl itself is 1,136 single crochet. The scarf adds 200 more loops.
For scale, I Heart Gantsilyo’s 7 inch snowy owl in worsted milk cotton uses about 50 m of the main colour. The other snowy owl designers we checked give no yardage, and none list a gauge.
Are the Eyes Safe for a Baby?
Not for a child under 3. The Consumer Product Safety Commission bans small parts in toys meant for children under 3, because they can be swallowed. Plastic eyes can pull out. For a baby, embroider the eyes in black yarn with a yellow ring around them, and sew the feet on instead of gluing them.
Five More Free Snowy Owl Patterns
These five free snowy owls are bigger or use thicker yarn than this crochet snowy owl pattern. Each one is on the designer’s own page or a credited guest post.
| Pattern | Hook | Yarn | Finished size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crochet Snowy Owl, Little Crochet Farm | 8 mm | Chenille, weight not stated | About 11.5 in tall |
| Baby Snow Owl, Mama In A Stitch | 3.75 mm | Worsted plus a fluffy trim yarn | Not stated |
| Crochet Snowy Baby Owl, I Heart Gantsilyo | 3.5 mm | Worsted, about 50 m main colour | About 7 in tall |
| Willow Snow Owl, Divine Debris | 4.25 mm | Worsted | 8.5 to 10 in tall |
| Snowy Owl Hand Puppet, Ekay G Designs | 5 mm | About 135 yd main yarn | Not stated |
Want an owl other than this crochet snowy owl pattern? Our free crochet owl pattern makes a tiny orange owl in 18 photo steps.
Crochet Snowy Owl Pattern FAQ
Is this crochet snowy owl pattern good for beginners?
Yes, if you can already work single crochet in a spiral. The body is plain sc with increases and decreases. The only new skills are front and back loop rounds and the short Tunisian-style scarf.
How big is the finished owl?
The video doesn’t say. It sits in the palm of one hand. Size depends on your yarn and tension, so a thicker yarn with a bigger hook makes a bigger owl on the same rounds.
Can I use a bigger hook?
Yes, if the fabric stays tight enough to hide the stuffing. In worsted yarn, snowy owl designers use 3.5 to 4.25 mm.
Do I have to make the scarf?
No. The owl is complete without it. If you do make one, pick any two colours: red and white for Christmas, or a single soft grey for a plain winter owl.
When should I put the eyes in?
Safety eyes with backs must go in before you close the body, between rounds 8 and 9, 8 stitches apart. The video fixes the eyes at the end, so if yours have backs, move that step to before stuffing.
How many stitches are in the whole owl?
1,136 single crochet in the body and wings, counted from the rounds in the video, plus 200 loops in the scarf.
Where to Go Next
Try the free crochet spider pattern next, another small one-piece amigurumi. The crochet Christmas tree gift bag makes a nice wrap for the owl. For more, browse our baby toys, baby crochet patterns and every free pattern on the site.
Sources
- Little Crochet Farm, Crochet Snowy Owl
- Mama In A Stitch, Baby Snow Owl Crochet Pattern
- I Heart Gantsilyo, Crochet Snowy Baby Owl
- Divine Debris, Willow Snow Owl
- A Crafty Concept, Crochet Snowy Owl Hand Puppet by Ekay G Designs
- Craft Yarn Council, hooks and needles standards
- CPSC, Small Parts for Toys and Children’s Products
Video credit: The steps in this guide are retold in our own words from a snowy owl amigurumi video tutorial by Niehan & Yarn on YouTube, and the step photos are frames from that video. Watch it for the full demonstration and support the creator.
