Koala Granny Square

Hello everyone! Frankly, I think I am obsessed with animal themed granny squares. Every time I browse the Internet and catch a picture of an animal, the first thing that comes to my mind is: can I make a granny square with its cute face on it? A koala’s face is easily recognized by its big oval nose, large ears, and small eyes. The challenge for me this time was to keep the big ears within my granny square base, which I succeeded at after numerous trials. I hope you all like it and get to make it for your next project.

Skill level: Intermediate

Get printable PDF for this pattern:   or  

Check out the entire Animal Granny Square collection: 

Puppy | Frog | Chick | Kitty | Chicken | Mouse | Bunny | Ox | Tiger | Duckling

Materials: 

• Yarn: any cotton yarn in the following colors and quantities: one gray skein, one light green skein, a few yards/meters of off white, black, brown and green. Suggested yarn: DMC Happy Cotton, 0.7 oz (20 g), 47 yards (43 m).
• Crochet hook, size E/4 (3.5 mm).
• Tapestry needle.

Measurements of the square: 6" x 6" (15 cm x 15 cm) approx.

 

Gauge: 22 sts and 12 round = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in double crochet.

 

Yardage: 60- 62 yards (54- 56 m).

Crochet terms (US):

• ch: chain.
• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• sl st: slip stitch.
• sc: single crochet.
• hdc: half double crochet.
• dc: double crochet.
• tr: treble crochet. 

Instructions:

Granny square base:

Note: ch 1 and ch 3 at the beginning of rounds count as sc and dc respectively.

With the gray yarn, make a magic circle, work as follows:

Round 1: ch 1 into the magic circle, sc 7, sl st into the first ch. (8 sts).

Round 2: ch 1 and sc in the first st, sc 2 in each st, sl st into the first ch. (16 sts).

Round 3: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st, *dc 2 in st, dc in st, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (24 sts).

Round 4: repeat row 3. (36 sts).

Round 5: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st twice, *dc 2 in st, dc in st twice, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (48 sts).

Round 6: ch 3 and dc in the first st, dc in st three times, *dc 2 in st, dc in st three times, repeat from * to end, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3. (60 sts). 

 

Cut off gray yarn and weave in loose ends. With light green yarn make a knot and at the eighth st after the end of last round, work as follows:

Round 7: (ch 4, tr, ch 2, tr 2) in the first st, *tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, (tr 2, ch 2, tr 2) in st, repeat from * 3 times, tr in st, dc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, sc in st twice, hdc in st 3 times, dc in st twice, tr in st, sl st into the fourth ch of the first ch4.

Round 8:ch 3 in the first st, dc in st, *(dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.

Rounds 9 and 10: ch 3 in the first st, dc in each st to the first ch 2 space, *(dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to next ch 2 space, repeat from * 3 times, (dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in ch 2 space, dc in each st to last st, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 3.

Cut off light green yarn and weave in loose ends.

Ear (make 2):

With off white yarn, make 5 ch, then work as follows:

Row 1: dc into the fourth ch, (dc, hdc 3, dc) into the fifth ch, now work into the other side of the fourth chain, dc 2 into the fourth ch, turn. (9 sts)

Row 2: ch 2 and dc in first st, dc 2 in next st, (dc, hdc) in st, sc in st, sc 2 in st, sc in st, (hdc, dc) in st, dc 2 in st, (dc, hdc) in st, cut yarn, leaving a 4"(10 cm) long yarn for sewing ear in place.

With gray yarn work the next row starting from the same side of row 2 (see the chart please for more guidance):

Row 3: ch 3 (or make a standing dc into the first st), dc in st, dc 2 in st, dc 3 in st, dc 2 in st, dc in st twice, dc 2 in st twice, dc in st twice, dc 2, dc 3, dc 2, dc in st twice, cut yarn, weave in loose ends.

Nose: 

With black yarn make a magic ring, work as follows:

Round 1: ch 1 and sc 7 into the magic ring, sl st into the first ch.

Round 2: ch 2, dc 3 in first st, hdc 3 in st, (hdc 2, dc) in st, tr in st, (dc, hdc 2) in st, hdc 3 in st, dc 3 in st, sl st into the second ch of the first ch 2, cut yarn leaving a 4" (10 cm) long for sewing in place.

Twig: 

With brown yarn make a (3 sts) I-Cord, 6" (15 cm) long, cut yarn leaving 6" (15 cm) for sewing in place.

Leaf (make 2):

With green yarn ch 10, sl st into the second and third ch, sc in ch twice, hdc in ch three times, sc in ch twice, make a picot (ch 3, sl st into first ch), now turn into the other side of chains, sc in ch twice, hdc in ch three times, sc in ch twice, sl st into next ch, cut yarn leaving 4" (10 cm) for sewing in place.

Sew ears, nose, twig and leaves in place as shown in picture. With black yarn, embroider the eyes.

 

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.