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Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern

Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern
4.9★ Rating
8-10 Hours Time Needed
3.7K Made This
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Beginner Friendly Level

Perfect for those just starting their sewing journey, with clear instructions and simple techniques

⏱️

All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive knitting.

🧸

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern

This delightful crab memory game pattern brings together education and entertainment in one charming package. The set includes a large mother crab that doubles as a functional storage pouch, along with ten baby crabs in five different colors for matching games. Using simple amigurumi techniques with basic stitches, you'll create an interactive toy that helps children develop memory and cognitive skills while having fun.

Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The pattern features detailed step-by-step instructions with helpful photos and crochet charts throughout. Each baby crab has a colorful belly for easy matching, and the mother crab includes a clever button closure design to keep all the pieces together.

Why You'll Love This Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it's not just a toy, it's a complete learning experience wrapped in cuteness! The functional design means the mother crab becomes a storage solution, teaching kids responsibility while they play. I find it so rewarding to create something that combines education with handmade charm, and watching children light up as they match the colorful baby crabs brings such joy. The beginner-friendly instructions mean anyone can create this special gift, and the finished result looks far more complex than it actually is to make.

Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I absolutely love how versatile this crab memory game pattern can be once you understand the basic structure! While the original design calls for vibrant red crabs with colorful bellies, I've experimented with creating ocean-themed variations using blues, purples, and teals for a completely different aesthetic.

One of my favorite modifications is adding tiny embroidered details like spots or stripes on each baby crab's back instead of just colored bellies, making the matching game more challenging for older children. I've also tried making mini versions using finer yarn and smaller hooks for adorable keychain-sized crabs that work beautifully as gift tags or bag charms.

For a more educational twist, I sometimes embroider numbers or letters on the baby crabs' bellies instead of using solid colors, transforming it into a learning tool for counting or alphabet recognition. The mother crab's storage pouch design is genius and can be adapted for other amigurumi sets too.

I've discovered that working with variegated yarn creates stunning ombre effects on the mother crab's body, while the baby crabs look adorable in metallic or sparkly yarns for special occasion gifts. The leg construction technique translates beautifully to other sea creatures like octopi or spiders if you want to expand your skills.

Consider adding small jingle bells inside a few baby crabs before closing them up for sensory play benefits with younger children. The pattern's beginner-friendly structure means I can customize confidently while maintaining the recognizable crab shape everyone loves.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Forgetting to attach safety eyes before closing up the body pieces, which makes it impossible to secure them properly without reopening seams ✗ Not maintaining consistent tension when working the double crochet rounds for the mother crab's body, resulting in an uneven circular shape ✗ Skipping the stuffing step before joining top and bottom parts together, leaving the crabs flat and shapeless instead of plump ✗ Miscounting stitches during increase and decrease rounds, especially on the legs, which throws off the entire piece proportions

Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern

Create an enchanting educational toy with this adorable crab memory game pattern featuring one large mother crab and ten colorful baby crabs. Perfect for teaching memory skills and color matching to little ones, this playful set combines fun and learning in every stitch. The mother crab serves as a cozy storage pouch with a button closure, keeping all the baby crabs safely tucked inside when playtime is over.

Beginner Friendly 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for Crab Memory Game Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    5 ply 100% cotton yarn in pink color, approximately 10g
  • 02
    4 ply 100% cotton yarn in dark red or maroon color, approximately 250g
  • 03
    4 ply 100% cotton yarn in 5 different colors, approximately 2 yards each for baby crab bellies
  • 04
    4 ply 100% cotton yarn in black and white colors, approximately 5g each

— Tools Required

  • 01
    3.00 mm crochet hook
  • 02
    3.5 mm crochet hook
  • 03
    Scissors
  • 04
    Stitch marker
  • 05
    Tapestry needle
  • 06
    Black safety eyes 15mm (1 pair for mother crab)
  • 07
    Black safety eyes 4mm (10 pairs for baby crabs)
  • 08
    Fiber filling/stuffing
  • 09
    1 cm button

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Baby Crabs Bottom Part :

Info :

Make 10 in 5 different colors (2 crabs from each color), starting with any random color, make 6 foundation chains, work from the 2nd chain, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

1 sc inc, 3 sc, 1 sc inc, now work into the other side of the chains, 1 sc inc, 3 sc, 1 sc inc (14)

Round 2 :

2 sc inc, 3 sc, 4 sc inc, 3 sc, 2 sc inc (22)

Info :

Change the color into Dark Red

Round 3 :

22 sc (22)

Round 4 :

(1 sc, 1 sc inc) x 11 (33)

Round 5 :

33 sc (33), fasten off

— Baby Crabs Top Part :

Info :

Make 10 in Dark red, make 6 foundation chains, work from the 2nd chain, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

1 sc inc, 3 sc, 1 sc inc, now work into the other side of the chains, 1 sc inc, 3 sc, 1 sc inc (14)

Round 2 :

2 sc inc, 3 sc, 4 sc inc, 3 sc, 2 sc inc (22)

Round 3 :

22 sc (22)

Round 4 :

(1 sc, 1 sc inc) x 11 (33)

Round 5 to 7 :

33 sc (33), fasten off

Infos :

Attach safety eyes (4mm) between round 4 and 5, 3 stitches in between. Embroider the mouth with black color on round 6

Info :

Join top and bottom parts together by inserting the hook into the stitch in the last round from top part to bottom part and attach the dark red yarn with a slip stitch, work into both parts together, 1 slip stitch to every stitch, fill inside before completing the round

— Baby Crabs Small Legs :

Info :

Make 60 in Dark red, work into a magic ring, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

5 sc into the magic ring (05)

Round 2 to 5 :

5 sc (05), fasten off, leave the tail

— Baby Crabs Large Front Legs :

Info :

Make 20 in Dark red, work into a magic ring, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

6 sc into the magic ring (06)

Round 2 :

2 sc inc, 4 sc (08)

Round 3 :

8 sc (08)

Round 4 :

4 sc inc, 4 sc (12)

Round 5 to 7 :

12 sc (12)

Round 8 :

2 sc, 2 inv sc dec, 6 sc (10)

Round 9 :

2 sc, 1 inv sc dec, 6 sc (09)

Round 10 :

1 inv sc dec, 1 sc, 1 inv sc dec, 4 sc (07)

Round 11 to 14 :

7 sc (07), fasten off, leave the tail

Info :

Embroider V shape in the inner side of the leg, then join all legs into the bottom part of the body

— Mother Crab Bottom :

Info :

Starting with 5 ply pink color yarn, make a magic ring, chain 3, use 3mm hook

Round 1 :

12 dc into the magic ring (Total 12 sts), close the magic ring, slip stitch to the top of the 1st dc

Round 2 :

ch 3, 1 dc inc to every st, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 24 sts)

Round 3 :

ch 3, *1 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 36 sts)

Round 4 :

ch 3, *2 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 48 sts)

Round 5 :

ch 3, *3 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 60 sts)

Round 6 :

ch 3, *4 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 72 sts)

Round 7 :

ch 3, *5 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 84 sts)

Info :

Change the yarn into 4 ply Dark red

Round 8 :

ch 3, *6 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 96 sts)

Round 9 :

ch 3, *7 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 108 sts), fasten off

— Mother Crab Top :

Info :

Starting with 4 ply Dark Red color yarn, make a magic ring, chain 3, use 3mm hook

Round 1 :

12 dc into the magic ring (Total 12 sts), close the magic ring, slip stitch to the top of the 1st dc

Round 2 :

ch 3, 1 dc inc to every st, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 24 sts)

Round 3 :

ch 3, *1 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 36 sts)

Round 4 :

ch 3, *2 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 48 sts)

Round 5 :

ch 3, *3 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 60 sts)

Round 6 :

ch 3, *4 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 72 sts)

Round 7 :

ch 3, *5 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 84 sts)

Round 8 :

ch 3, *6 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 96 sts)

Round 9 :

ch 3, *7 dc, 1 dc inc**, rep from * to ** for another 11 times, sl st to the top of the 1st dc (Total 108 sts), fasten off

Info :

Join top and bottom parts together by inserting the hook into the stitch in the last round from top part to bottom part and attach the dark red yarn with a slip stitch, chain 1, work into both parts together, 1 sc to every st for next 81 st, now work into the top part only, 13 sl st, ch 8, 14 sl st, fasten off, attach the button into the bottom part

— Mother Crab Small Legs :

Info :

Make 6 in Dark red, work into a magic ring, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

6 sc into the magic ring (06)

Round 2 :

6 sc (06)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (09)

Round 4 :

9 sc (09)

Round 5 :

(2 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (12)

Round 6 and 7 :

12 sc (12)

Round 8 :

(2 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (09)

Round 9 and 10 :

9 sc (09)

Round 11 :

(2 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (12)

Round 12 :

(3 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (15)

Round 13 :

(4 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (18)

Round 14 to 16 :

18 sc (18)

Round 17 :

(4 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (15)

Round 18 :

(3 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (12)

Round 19 :

(2 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (09)

Round 20 and 21 :

09 sc (09)

Info :

Repeat again from round 11 to 21, fasten off, leave the tail

— Mother Crab Large Front Legs :

Info :

Make 2 in Dark red, work into a magic ring, use 3.5mm hook

Part A :

Round 1 :

6 sc into the magic ring (06)

Round 2 :

6 sc (06)

Round 3 :

3 sc inc, 3 sc (09)

Round 4 :

9 sc (09)

Round 5 :

3 sc, 3 sc inc, 3 sc (12)

Round 6 :

12 sc (12)

Round 7 :

4 sc, 4 sc inc, 4 sc (16)

Round 8 :

16 sc (16), fasten off

Part B :

Round 1 :

6 sc into the magic ring (06)

Round 2 :

6 sc (06)

Round 3 :

3 sc inc, 3 sc (09)

Round 4 :

9 sc (09)

Round 5 :

3 sc, 3 sc inc, 3 sc (12)

Round 6 :

12 sc (12)

Round 7 :

4 sc, 4 sc inc, 4 sc (16)

Round 8 and 9 :

16 sc (16)

Round 10 :

6 sc, 4 sc inc, 6 sc (20)

Round 11 :

20 sc (20)

Round 12 :

11 sc, insert the hook into the part A, make 16 sc around part A, again make 9 sc to the part B (36), fasten off

Round 13 :

(4 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 6 (30)

Round 14 :

(3 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 6 (24)

Round 15 :

2 inv sc dec, 16 sc, 2 inv sc dec (20)

Round 16 and 17 :

20 sc (20)

Round 18 :

2 inv sc dec, 12 sc, 2 inv sc dec (16)

Round 19 :

(2 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 4 (12)

Round 20 :

(2 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (09)

Round 21 and 22 :

9 sc (09)

Round 23 :

(2 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (12)

Round 24 :

(3 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (15)

Round 25 :

(4 sc, 1 sc inc) x 3 (18)

Round 26 to 28 :

18 sc (18)

Round 29 :

(4 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (15)

Round 30 :

(3 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (12)

Round 31 :

(2 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 3 (09)

Round 32 and 33 :

09 sc (09)

Info :

Repeat round 23 to 33 one more time, then join all legs into the bottom part of the body

— Mother Crab Eyes :

Info :

Make 2 in 4 ply White yarn, work into a magic ring, use 3.5mm hook

Round 1 :

6 sc into the magic ring (06)

Round 2 :

6 sc inc (12)

Round 3 to 5 :

12 sc (12)

Infos :

Attach safety eyes (15mm) between round 3 and 4

Round 6 :

6 inv sc dec (06), fasten off, close the opening, attach on the top part

Assembly Instructions

  • Attach all six small legs evenly around the bottom part of the mother crab's body using the yarn tails left from each leg.
  • Sew the two large front legs (claws) to the front sides of the mother crab's body, positioning them between the small legs.
  • Secure the two white eyes onto the top part of the mother crab's body, positioning them near the front edge.
  • For each baby crab, attach three small legs on each side of the body using the yarn tails.
  • Position the two large front legs at the front of each baby crab to create the claw appearance.
  • Test the button closure on the mother crab to ensure all ten baby crabs can fit comfortably inside before finalizing assembly.
  • Create matching pairs by organizing baby crabs with identical colored bellies for the memory game function.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers consistently to track your rounds, especially when working the mother crab's large circular body pieces.
  • 💡Maintain even tension throughout all pieces to ensure uniform sizing, particularly important for the ten baby crabs that need to match.
  • 💡Attach safety eyes before closing and stuffing any pieces, as it's nearly impossible to add them securely afterwards.
  • 💡Stuff all crabs firmly but not overly tight to maintain their adorable rounded shapes and ensure durability during play.
  • 💡Position the button securely on the mother crab's bottom part, testing the chain loop closure multiple times before finalizing.
  • 💡Keep colorful belly pieces organized during construction to ensure you create exactly two matching baby crabs in each of the five colors.
  • 💡Embroider faces neatly using consistent stitch sizes for a professional finish, especially important since you're making multiple pieces.

This charming crab memory game pattern was designed to combine education and fun into one irresistible handmade toy! Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, the set features a large mother crab that doubles as a storage pouch, keeping all ten colorful baby crabs safe when playtime ends. Each baby crab has a unique colored belly for easy matching games that develop memory skills and color recognition. With beginner-friendly instructions, helpful charts, and step-by-step photos, you'll create an heirloom-quality educational toy that brings joy for years to come. 🦀 Happy crocheting! 🧶✨

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FAQs

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

The pattern specifies 5 ply for the mother crab's pink bottom and 4 ply for all other pieces. Using different weights will change the final size significantly. If you substitute yarns, adjust your hook size accordingly and expect size variations between pieces.

How do I make sure all ten baby crabs are the same size?

Consistent tension is key! Use the same hook throughout, count your stitches carefully in each round, and maintain even tension. Making all the baby crabs in one sitting rather than spread over days also helps maintain consistency.

Is this toy safe for young children?

The pattern uses safety eyes which are designed to be secure, but always supervise young children during play. For babies or children who put toys in their mouths, consider embroidering eyes instead of using plastic safety eyes for added safety.

How do I keep track of which baby crabs have matching bellies?

The pattern calls for making two crabs from each of five different colors. Keep a simple checklist as you work, and consider organizing finished crabs in matching pairs immediately after completion to avoid confusion.

Can I make the mother crab larger or smaller?

Yes! Simply add or remove increase rounds in the circular body sections. Each additional round with increases will add roughly one inch to the diameter. Just ensure you adjust both the top and bottom pieces equally so they match when joined.