This is a crochet pattern review of the Guinea Pig crochet pattern by Lauren Espy of a Menagerie of Stitches. You can find all the details about where to find this pattern and how it works up in the review below.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!
As a contributor for the EyeLoveKnots blog, sometimes I get super cool opportunities! Recently, Alexandra (the amazing crochet designer and blogger behind EyeLoveKnots, Cre8tion Crochet, and OnRockwoodLane) reached out to me about receiving an early release copy of Lauren Espy’s newest book, Animal Amigurumi Adventures Vol. 2: 15 (More!) Crochet Patterns to Create Adorable Amigurumi Critters from Blue Star Press. Of course, I said yes in a heartbeat!
I have been a big fan of Lauren Espy’s patterns for as long as I can remember, and I have been gathering quite a collection of her books, including Whimsical Stitches, Crochet Cafe, and First Words with Cute Crochet Friends. I even wrote up a review about how cute the First Words book was – you can read all about it on the EyeLoveKnots blog!
The day I received my copy of Animal Amigurumi Adventures Vol. 2, I grabbed my hook and started making! It was so difficult to choose what to make first, but under the advisement of my husband and two kiddos, I started making some guinea pigs!
Why Should You Crochet a Guinea Pig?
Well, that’s easy – they are adorable!
It is estimated that over 1.5 million families in the United States own guinea pigs, most of which have more than one guinea pig. With this insane popularity, it is likely that making some guinea pig amigurumi toys for your next market will definitely grab some attention!
This guinea pig pattern is also a great stash buster that you can use to prep for markets. There are tons of color variations of guinea pigs, so if you have some neutral color yarn on hand, these would be a great project to work up! I made three different guinea pigs using just what I had in my stash 🙂
What Do You Need to Make a Guinea Pig?
– Yarn: If you want to make your guinea pig like the original pattern, you will need two different colors of yarn – one for the main color and one for the markings. The pattern also includes directions on how to make your guinea pig all one color. If you wanted to, you could make as many color changes as you desire. Just make sure that all the colors of yarn are the same weight.
– Black Crochet Thread: You will need to sew on the facial features – specifically the nose and mouth. You will need some black crochet thread or embroidery floss for this. I used Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Thread Classic 10 in black.
– Crochet Hook: Choose a crochet hook that it is an appropriate size for the weight of yarn that you are using. Since this is an amigurumi project, you will want to make sure that your hook size is slightly smaller than what is recommended for your yarn so that your stitches are tight together and do not let the stuffing poke through.
– Stuffing: You will need some polyester fiberfill to stuff the guinea pig. This is my favorite type.
– Yarn Needle: There is some sewing involved in this pattern. You will need to sew on the ears, legs, and facial features. I recommend using a steel yarn needle as those are the easiest to push through polyfil stuffing,
– Scissors: Any pair of scissors would work for this project, but I absolutely love using these!
– Eyes: You can use safety eyes or felt eyes for this project. I usually prefer felt eyes for the safety of children and pets. I have recently discovered pre-cut felt circles on Amazon for super cheap. I would highly recommend using these for your own sanity!
– Guinea Pig Crochet Pattern: This pattern is one of 15 patterns including in Lauren Espy’s newest book, Animal Amigurumi Adventures Vol. 2. It will be available for purchase on August 1st, but you can pre-order it on Amazon now!
My First Guinea Pig
For my first time working up this pattern, I chose to use up some yarn that I had bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby. This yarn was medium weight, and had a really furry look to it without the normal weight of fur. I thought that it would look great on a guinea pig.
I realized quickly that my main color of yarn was going to run out before I finished my guinea pig, so I decided to give this one a belly stripe and some markings using another shade of the same type of yarn. I think it turned out super cute!
Materials I Used
– Yarn: I used Yarn Bee Romantique in the colors Clay and Warm Blush. This yarn is no longer available, but you can find some similar types of yarn that have a furry look to them.
– Crochet Hook: I used an G6/4 mm Clover Amour crochet hook.
– Eyes: I used 15 mm black felt eyes.
Finished Size
My first guinea pig was 3.5 inches wide, 8.5 inches long, and 5 inches tall.
My Second Guinea Pig
I have been making a lot of amigurumi using velvet or chenille yarn lately, so I wanted to test out this pattern to see how it would look. I used the alternative pattern that shows how to make the guinea pig in all one color, and I think it turned out super cute and cuddly. My daughter loves this guinea pig the most because of how soft and squishy it is!
Materials I Used
Yarn: I used Bernat Velvet in the color Mushroom.
– Crochet Hook: I used an G6/4 mm We Crochet Dots hook.
– Eyes: I used 15 mm black felt eyes.
Finished Size
My second guinea pig was 3.5 inches wide, 8.5 inches long, and 5 inches tall.
My Third Guinea Pig
While I was a little intimidated by all the color changes, I wanted to make sure to test out the full guinea pig pattern with all the color changes included. I am so glad that I took the time to make this one, because it is definitely my favorite! If you search for a picture of a guinea pig, I think this one is the most life-like in color. The extra time for the color changes was definitely worth it!
Materials I Used
Yarn: I used Yarn Bee Nature’s Nook in the colors Russet and Natural. This yarn is no longer available, but you can find some similar types of yarn that have a natural look to them.
– Crochet Hook: I used an G6/4 mm We Crochet Dots hook.
– Eyes: I used 15 mm black felt eyes.
Finished Size
My third guinea pig was 3 inches wide, 7 inches long, and 4.5 inches tall.
Making the Guinea Pig
The guinea pig pattern is rated in the book as an intermediate pattern, and I would definitely have to agree! While there are no crazy stitches involved, the color changes and features make it a little trickier than a beginner would be comfortable with. If you are a newer crocheter and are not comfortable with color changes, you could work up the solid colored guinea pig instead, which is still super adorable!
Color Changes
If you do decide to work through the color changes, I do have to say that the designer makes them super easy to follow! Every single row shows exactly when to change colors, and there are tons of specific pictures to help you along the way. At the beginning of the book, there are tutorials for how to complete all the necessary stitches, as well as how to make color changes. She also provides tips specifically within this pattern to explain what to do with your yarn between color changes.
When working on the face of the guinea pig, I chose to carry my unused yarn in the back for my color changes. I did not crochet over it, but just carefully held tension when picking it back up to use again. This is a skill that I have practiced a lot, so it may not work for you. I would not recommend crocheting over the other color of yarn, as you will be able to see the colors poke through.
For the body of the guinea pig, I cut my yarn at each color change and knotted the two colors together. This was much easier than carrying the yarn for the larger spot. This method would also work on the face if you aren’t comfortable carrying the yarn in the back.
Attaching the Features
Once the main body of the guinea pig is finished, you are mostly done! The front and back legs and ears work up really quickly. In the pattern, there are specific directions and pictures on how and where to attach all these pieces, as well as how to make the face. I was really impressed by how easy it was to follow the super clear directions for placement.
If you are intimidated by the idea of sewing on features, don’t be! Of all the amigurumi patterns I have made, these directions have been the clearest on how to attach features. The designer recommends using pins to put the features in place while sewing, and I agree that it makes it way easier!
Overall, I would highly recommend this pattern! I was able to work up each guinea pig in just a few hours, and I am really excited about how well they will do at my upcoming markets! My niece has already requested some for herself, so I am sure they are going to be a hit!
More Fun Animal Amigurumi Patterns
Looking for some other fun crochet animal patterns? Be sure to check out some of my other amigurumi pattern reviews here and on the EyeLoveKnots blog!
Sloth, Panda, and Koala Amigurumi
I hope you enjoyed this pattern review of the adorable Guinea Pig pattern by Lauren Espy! If you decide to make some, please be sure to tag me on social media or comment below so I can check out your work!
Be sure to stay tuned for more pattern reviews and an upcoming book review here and on the EyeLoveKnots blog!
Happy Crafting!
~ Candace
1 thought on “Guinea Pig – Crochet Pattern Review”
Comments are closed.