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Tavi the Cozy Forest Tapir – Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

 

Tavi is a chubby little forest tapir with a soft rounded snout, sturdy legs, tiny ears, and a miniature leaf-shaped shoulder bag.

This project is a little more detailed than a basic round amigurumi, but each part is made separately using simple stitches. That makes it easier to shape the character carefully before assembly.

The pattern below uses US crochet terms.

Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
Construction: Head, body, snout, ears, legs, arms, tail and bag are made separately.

Before You Start

For this project, choose a yarn that holds its shape well. Cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend is a good option.

You will need:

  • Terracotta yarn for the head, body and limbs
  • Cream yarn for the snout and belly
  • Sage-green yarn for the little bag
  • Dusty-pink yarn for the inner ears
  • A small amount of mustard yarn
  • Dark brown embroidery thread
  • 3–3.5 mm crochet hook
  • Fiberfill
  • 8–10 mm safety eyes
  • Yarn needle
  • Stitch marker
  • Sewing pins
  • Scissors

Abbreviations

MR = magic ring
sc = single crochet
inc = 2 sc in the same stitch
dec = single crochet decrease
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
FO = fasten off

Numbers in parentheses show the stitch count at the end of the round.

Part One: Build the Body First

Unlike our previous projects, we'll begin with the body, not the head. This gives you a stable reference for sizing the other pieces.

Using terracotta yarn:

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
R8–14: sc around (42)

Now begin narrowing the shoulders.

R15: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
R16: sc around (36)
R17: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
R18: sc around (30)
R19: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)

Begin stuffing from the bottom.

Push small amounts of fiberfill toward the sides before filling the center. This helps keep the body smooth instead of lumpy.

R20–21: sc around (24)

FO and leave a long tail.

Do not close the top completely; the opening will make attaching the head easier.

Part Two: Make Tavi’s Large Head

The head should be wider than the top of the body.

Use terracotta yarn.

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
R8: (6 sc, inc) × 6 (48)
R9–15: sc around (48)

If you're using safety eyes, place them approximately between R11 and R12.

Start by leaving about 8 stitches between the eyes. Don't secure the washers immediately. Look at the face from the front and adjust the spacing if necessary.

Continue:

R16: (6 sc, dec) × 6 (42)
R17: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
R18: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)

Stuff the head evenly.

R19: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)

Stop here. Leave the lower opening available for attachment to the body.

Part Three: The Tapir Snout

The snout is the feature that makes Tavi immediately different from a generic bear or other round amigurumi.

Use cream yarn.

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4–5: sc around (18)
R6: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
R7–8: sc around (24)

FO and leave a long sewing tail.

Add a small amount of stuffing.

Don't overstuff the snout. You want it to project gently from the face while remaining soft.

Using dark brown embroidery thread, add two tiny nostrils near the front.

Pin the snout underneath and slightly between the eyes.

View the head from the side. The snout should extend forward rather than point downward.

Once you're happy with the position, sew around its back edge.

Part Four: Make Two Tiny Ears

Use terracotta yarn.

For each ear:

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc around (12)
R3: sc around (12)

Flatten the circle gently.

FO with a long tail.

Make two smaller dusty-pink semicircle pieces and stitch one onto the front of each ear.

Fold the base of each finished ear slightly before sewing. This creates a natural cupped shape.

Part Five: Arms and Legs

Tavi needs stronger-looking legs than the small birds and fantasy creatures from simpler patterns.

Arms — Make 2

Using terracotta:

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc around (12)
R3–4: sc around (12)
R5: (2 sc, dec) × 3 (9)
R6–11: sc around (9)

Lightly stuff the lower two-thirds.

Leave the top section softer so the arms hang naturally.

FO with a long tail.

Legs — Make 2

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc × 6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
R4–6: sc around (18)
R7: (4 sc, dec) × 3 (15)
R8–13: sc around (15)

Stuff firmly, especially at the feet.

FO with a long tail.

Before attaching them, place both legs beneath the body and stand the unfinished doll on a flat surface.

Adjust their positions until the body can stand without immediately falling forward.

Add the Cream Belly Patch

Instead of crocheting another stuffed part, the belly is a flat panel.

Using cream yarn, ch 8.

Starting in the second chain from the hook, crochet around both sides of the foundation chain to create an oval.

Continue for several rounds, adding increases around the curved ends.

Stop when the oval covers roughly the center two-thirds of the front of the body.

Because yarn thickness and tension vary, it's better to test the panel against your actual body rather than forcing a fixed number of rounds.

Leave a long tail.

Pin the patch flat against the body and sew around its edge.

Make the Little Tail

Using terracotta:

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2–4: sc around (6)

Add a tiny amount of stuffing.

FO with a long tail.

Attach the tail low on the back of the body.

Make the Leaf Bag

This accessory gives Tavi a woodland look without complicating the doll itself.

Use sage-green yarn.

ch 7

Work along the chain:

sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc.

Work around the opposite side of the chain in reverse order.

This creates a small leaf-like oval.

Make two identical pieces.

Place them together and sew around the edge, leaving a small opening at the top.

For the strap, crochet a chain long enough to travel from one shoulder diagonally across the body.

Test it directly on Tavi before fastening off.

Sew both ends securely to the bag.

Add one tiny mustard embroidered leaf or simple decorative stitch to the front.

Bring Tavi Together

Now assemble the doll in an order that makes positioning easier.

First, sew the cream belly panel to the body.

Next, attach the head securely to the open neck. Sew around the connection twice if necessary so the large head doesn't wobble.

Attach the ears only after the head is fixed. This lets you judge their position relative to the entire character.

Pin the legs and perform the balance test described earlier. Sew them securely once Tavi stands correctly.

Attach the arms slightly below the shoulders.

Sew the small tail onto the back.

Finally, place the leaf bag diagonally across the body. Keep the strap loose enough that it doesn't compress the stuffing.

Give Tavi Some Personality

Once assembly is complete, add the final facial details.

A few short dark-brown embroidery stitches above the eyes can create very subtle brows.

Add small peach-colored cheeks beside the snout if you like.

Keep these details minimal. Tavi's large head, short snout and tiny ears already create most of the expression.

Check the doll from the front and both sides. Hide every loose yarn tail inside the nearest crocheted piece.

If one leg looks slightly shorter, check its attachment position before changing the stuffing.

Your Tavi the Cozy Forest Tapir is finished.

The terracotta, cream and sage palette gives the character a warm woodland feel, but you can make another version in dusty plum and oatmeal, muted teal and sand, or soft caramel and moss.

The important part is keeping the same construction and proportions while making the colors your own.