this is an intermediate difficulty crochet amigurumi pattern for an axolotl!

the pattern itself took me about a day to make and there are a couple of intermediate techniques used throughout the pattern although that doesn't make it overly difficult to make! (the axolotl on the right is the finished product, the one on the left was a first attempt before writing the pattern)

Supplies

the supplies you will need for this pattern are black, pink, and red worsted weight yarn. you will also need a 4.5mm crochet hook and stuffing. other supplies that are helpful but not necessary are stitch markers and a yarn needle.

the stitches you need to know for this pattern are, single crochet (sc), single crochet increase (sc2inc), invisible decrease (InvDec), slip stitch (slst), chain stitch (ch).

Step 1: The Head

Head:

Ch2, Sc6 in 2nd st from hook and start working in the round.

Rnd 1: ScInc in each st around (12)

Rnd 2: Sc1, ScInc in next st. repeat around (18)

Rnd 3: Sc2, ScInc in next st. repeat around (24)

Rnd 4: Sc3, ScInc in next st. repeat around (30)

Rnd 5-10: Sc1 in each st around (30)

Rnd 11: Sc3, InvDec in next st. repeat around (24)

Rnd 12: Sc2, InvDec in next st. repeat around (18)

Rnd 13: Sc1, InvDec in next st. repeat around (12)

Rnd 14: InvDec around (6)

FO and stuff.

Step 2: Body

Body:

Ch2, Sc6 in 2nd st from hook and start working in the round.

Rnd 1: ScInc in each st around (12)

Rnd 2: Sc1, ScInc in next st. repeat around (18)

Rnd 3: Sc2, ScInc in next st. repeat around (24)

Rnd 4-7: Sc1 in each st (24)

Rnd 8: Sc2, InvDec in next st (18)

Rnd 9: Sc1 in each st (18)

Rnd 10: Sc1, InvDec (120

FO and leave tail for sewing.

Step 3: Arms/legs

Arms/Legs:

Ch2, Sc6 in 2nd st from hook and start working in the round.

Rnd 1-3: Sc1 in each stitch (6)

FO and leave tail for sewing

Step 4: Tail

Tail:

ch2 in 2nd chain from hook sc4 start working in the round

rnd 1: Sc1 in each st (4)

rnd 2: Sc1, ScInc in next st. repeat around (6)

rnd 3-5: Sc1 in each st repeat around (6)

rnd 6: Sc2, ScInc in next st. repeat around (8)

rnd 7-9: Sc1 in each st around (8)

rnd 10: Sc3, ScInc in next st. repeat around (10)

FO and leave tail for sewing.

The outer tail fringe. start by attaching red to one side of the tail as shown in the pictures, then chain 3 and slst into the next "stitch". repeat around the tail until it looks like the picture.

Step 5: Assembly

Assembly:

First you are going to want to sew the legs/arms to the body as shown in the pictures. next you can sew the eyes and smile onto the head before attaching it to the body. attach tail as shown in the pictures.

next you will be making the gills on the head. you could do this either before or after attaching the head to the body (I don't think it matters but I just did it after sewing everything together) start along the side of the head with pink yarn, (use the pictures for reference) and make a Ch5 and then Sc in 2nd Ch from hook and down the rest. repeat to more times for three total gills. make sure you line it up and repeat on the other side of the head. after you finish both sides you will need to make the red gill fringes, attach red along the bottom gill on the right side of the head and the top gill for the left side. with the red Ch3 and Slst in next St and repeat around each gill (use pictures for reference) repeat on the other side gills and fasten off and tuck in all lose ends.

Step 6: Finished Product!

the finished product should resemble the photo above! good luck if you try to make this pattern! Lemme know how it turns out for you if you do try it!