Captain Null's Ten Favorite Crochet Patterns

Hello! I am Captain Null and I have been a fiber artist for roughly two and a half years. I am immensely proud of the progress I have made these past few years - from mastering various stitches, to struggling my way through new techniques - but the one thing I have yet to undertake is creating very own crochet pattern. This means that I have spent countless hours scouring every corner of the internet for crochet patterns that appeal to me. I have found patterns I adore and patterns I despise, patterns far too difficult for my skill level and patterns I flew through with ease. There are truly endless crochet patterns one can find out in the world. Among all the crochet patterns I have experimented with during my fiber arts journey, there are a few that stand out among the rest. Either patterns I have come back to time and time again, or patterns I loved for one reason or another even if I have only used it once or twice. What better way to start my blog than with a post celebrating my favorite patterns of all time? - Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by, nor affiliated with, any of the creators of the patterns below. All pictures are my own of the finished products I've made using these patterns. -

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No-Sew Plush Narwhal Created by LittleWorldofWhimsy

Little World of Whimsy holds a very special place in my heart. It was her absolute beginner no-sew whale pattern I used to teach myself how to crochet. This pattern of a narwhal is similar, with a slightly different technique for the tail, and of course, the narwhal horn. This pattern is simple and I believe most beginner crochet artists would be able to create their very own narwhal with relative ease. If you choose to attach the horn with sewing, I find it is a great pattern to practice sewing with. How to Obtain: It is available on their website if you make an account, or it is free on their YouTube channel.

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Frog in a Hat Created by Hi Sheep

One of my favorite animals in all the world are frogs. Something about these hoppy little critters has always been endearing. Therefore, I have searched for countless frog-related patterns in a desperate attempt to fill my home with as many of the sweet little amphibians as possible. Of all the frog patterns I have tried to make, I have found the most success with this frog in a hat. No, my recreation does not have a hat like the original pattern, but I decided to give it a heart to hold, instead! I think it shows how easily you can customize this pattern to suit your aesthetic vision. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their website.

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Stardew Valley Junimo Created by StitchByFay

I think it is safe to say that almost anyone who plays video games has heard of Stardew Valley. I personally adore the farming simulator and I have always thought the little apple critters called Junimo are adorable. Therefore, after recently finding myself obsessed with building the perfect farm, I decided to search for a Junimo crotchet pattern. StitchByFay's pattern was the one I ultimately settled on when I searched for Junimo. It is a very simple, easy pattern that only needs a small bit of sewing (if you can call it that) to create that signature apple indent. There is one major difference between my recreation and the original pattern: StitchByFay used pipe cleaners for the limbs while I decided to make them out of crochet as well. There are pros and cons to both options! How to Obtain: It is free to view on their website.

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Easter Bunny Peep Created by Rose and Lily Amigurumi

I haven't enjoyed the super-sweet taste of the Peeps candy line since I was a child, but I have always found the aesthetic and design of Peeps to be top tier. Do I have a giant yellow bunny Peep sitting next to my desk? No, of course not. This Easter bunny peep pattern captures the aesthetic of the marshmallow sweets perfectly. The ears are joined with crotchet and the only sewing to worry about is the little hole between said ears. For how closely this pattern resembles the candy, it's amazing how simple it is to crochet. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their website!

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Baby Mushroom Created by Xuxu Crochet

Like the above peep pattern, this baby mushroom pattern is nostalgic for me: it is among the first patterns I found and began to utilize near the start of my fiber arts journey. I adore mushrooms about as much as I do frogs, so this pattern stood out to me immediately. The pattern even comes with a frog-themed hat! This pattern is incredibly versatile as it is simple. Xuxu offers four different options for the adorable mushroom cap, but I have found there are no limits to design options if you have the imagination for it. One of my personal favorite designs for the cap is to make it floral-themed. I also find this pattern to be very beginner-friendly, and it introduces some new techniques that beginners may not have come across yet. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their YouTube channel!

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Little Squid Created by Rebecca Thrasher

I own a crochet pattern book featuring mythological creatures, one of which is a variation of the sea monster kraken. When I discovered this sweet little squid pattern, at the time, I found the kraken to be out of my skill range. This pattern I found on Ravelry was a good balance of similar aesthetics and easier for beginners. The pattern requires a small amount of sewing and the fins on either side of the head can be a little difficult to get right, but with enough patience, you can get looking even. The tentacles are worked right into the main body and I find that makes this pattern more durable when compared to other dangly-legged creatures in which their tentacles are sewn or simply tied onto the body. How to Obtain: It is free to download on Ravelry.

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Popping Mushroom

Created by Loops and Knots Crochet

I find the idea of crochet sensory or fidget toys to be fascinating. Crochet is such a tactile hobby already with the variety of yarn types there are, so to turn the final product into something you can fidget with makes sense. I personally think this "popping" mushroom pattern is one of the best fidget toy crochet plushies you can make. The pattern is very beginner-friendly and the only thing someone might find difficult is the color change from cap to stem. That's easily remedied by simply making one in a solid color if you aren't confident yet in color changing. These techniques can easily be utilized for other critters, too, if mushrooms aren't your thing. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their YouTube channel or Instagram.

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Chubby Cat Created by A Little Love Everyday

Like many people in the world, I love cats. I even own an adorable calico I named Calypso during my mythology-obsessed days. Yet I have struggled with many crochet patterns of the small, furry critters. I couldn't even begin to tell you why I struggle so much, but cats just haven't been something I could crochet. This pattern, however, hit the mark for me. It's cute and fat (and fat cats are only cute when in a plushie form), and this pattern is a pleasant challenge when you take into account the sewing and embroidery needed to finish it. I personally sewed down the tail, but you can position it however you like. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their website.

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Cinnamoroll Created by CutiePie Crochet

We're coming to the end of my top ten list and these last two are the most challenging patterns I have chosen. Much of my fiber arts journey has been filled with no or low-sew patterns, or projects that use only a small amount of yarn. This pattern blew that trend out of the water. It required one and a half skeins of fresh yarn to complete. This plushie is massive! Yet its construction is, overall, rather simple so long as you have the knowledge to sew it all together at the end. How to Obtain: It is free to view on their website!

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Sleeping Plesiosaur Dragon Created by SleekGrace

While I was not satisfied with the final result of this pattern, it had everything to do with my own level of skill and my tendency to be a harsh critique of my own work. The pattern itself is wonderful and worth every cent I spent on it: that's right, this is the one pattern you need to purchase on the list. The pattern is very clear and easy to read. SleekGrace also provides an in-depth picture tutorial on how to join rounds and a page completely dedicated to the sewing components needed for the final result. The major difference between their own pattern and my finished creation is that I went with florals and beading, whereas the original was intended to be starry: hence the "sleeping" in the name of the pattern. Requirements: it is a paid pattern available on their Etsy page.

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I do hope my list of crochet patterns has helped you find a new project to undertake in the coming days. One thing I always try to remember while I have built my storefront and social media presence is the people who have inadvertently helped me to take those first steps into the world of crochet. The least I can do is give the proper credit to the origins of the patterns I use and highlight the talents of all the textile artists I can. Leave a comment about your own favorite crochet patterns! Happy crafting!