If you want to purchase an ad-free printable PDF version of this simple crochet bat pattern, you can find it HERE on etsy.
I made my first crochet bat pattern back in high school. At the time, I was still new to crochet techniques, so I couldn’t quite create the look I wanted using only yarn.
I ended up making a pattern (that I still love today) incorporating felt and embroidery floss! It’s adorable – but a little complicated for a beginner, as well as time-consuming. (Check it out here.)
So I decided to come up with a crochet version of that bat. And it turned out so cute!! I actually like this pattern more than the original now!
This little bat is now so fast to make that you could easily end up with a whole pile of them. I’m hoping to make them into a garland or hang some from our ceiling!
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about the backstory by now, so on to the main pattern – enjoy!
NOTE: If you are wanting to sell finished products from this free simple crochet bat pattern you’re welcome to, just make sure you link back to my pattern here and credit me with the design. Thank you!
Abbreviations
- Sc – single crochet
- Ch – chain
- Inc – increase
- Dec – decrease
- FO – Finish off
- Rnd – round
- sts – stitches
Materials
- Size F 3.75mm crochet hook
- One skein of black worsted weight yarn (For example Red Heart Super Saver, Loops & Threads Impeccable, etc.)
- 1 pair of 12mm safety eyes
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Stuffing (I use polyester fiberfill)
Head
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 3: *sc, inc* 6 times (18)
Rnd 4: *sc 2, inc* 6 times (24)
Rnds 5 – 9: sc 24 each rnd
If you are using safety eyes, place them in between rows 7 and 8, with 5 stitches in between them (photos A, B). Snap on the back of the eyes, then begin stuffing the head.
Rnd 10: *sc 2, dec* 6 times (18)
Rnd 11: *sc, dec* 6 times (12)
Begin stuffing the head (photo C).
Rnd 12: *dec* 6 times (6)
You should now have 6 sts left. Cut the yarn leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Use a yarn/embroidery needle to thread the tail through the remaining loops (photo D). Pull tight to close the hole, similar to closing a drawstring bag (photo E). Then weave the tail in back through the head. Your bat’s head is now done! (photo F)
Body
Rnd 1: sc 7 in a MR (7)
Rnd 2: *inc* 7 times (14)
Rnd 3: sc 2, inc 2, sc 5, inc 2, sc 3 (18)
Rnd 4 – 5: sc 18 each rnd
Rnd 6: sc 2, dec 2, sc 5, dec 2, sc 3 (14)
Rnd 7 – 8: sc 14 each rnd
Rnd 9: sc, dec 2, sc 3, dec 2, sc 2 (10)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff (photo I).
Left Wing (looking at the front of the bat)
Rnd 1: sc 6 in a MR (6)
Rnd 2: *sc, inc* 3 times (9)
Rnd 3: *sc 2, inc* 3 times (12)
Rnd 4: *sc 2, inc* 4 times (16)
Rnd 5: *sc 3, inc* 4 times (20)
Rnd 6: sc 9, inc 2, sc 9 (22)
Rnd 7: sc 10, inc 2, sc 10 (24)
Up until this point, your wing should’ve been looking like a little mountain (photo J). To finish up the wing, you’ll need to flatten the wing with your fingers and crochet across the bottom.
Start by flattening the wing so that your crochet hook and live yarn are on the far right side of the wing (photo K). If you see the tail left over from your MR sticking out from your flattened wing (photo L), cut it short so that it no longer sticks out (photo M).
You’ll now work one row across the bottom of your flattened wing. But each time you work a stitch for this row you’ll work it into two stitches on the bottom of the wing: the next stitch on the front of the wing (photo N), and the next stitch on the back of the wing (photo O). This closes the bottom of the wing and adds a nice texture to it. You should have 12 pairs across the bottom of your wing.
Start by working a sc into this first pair of stitches picked up on your hook, then sl st 2 in the next two pairs. You can see what the result should look like in photos P, Q.
Continuing to work across the bottom crocheting through pairs: hdc (photos R, S), sl st 2 (photo T), hdc, sl st 4.
There should only be 1 pair left at the end of this wing. Work one sc into the pair (photo U). Then ch 1.
Turn and begin working up the right inside of the wing (photo V). Make one sc on the same spot you previously made one (photo W), then dc into the side of the wing one row up (photo X). You should now have a flat row of 2.
Turn, ch 1 (photo Y).
Sc 2 (photo Z).
Cut yarn and pull through to FO, leaving a tail for sewing later. And your left wing is done! (photo .A)
Right Wing (looking at the front of the bat)
Rnd 1: sc 6 in a MR (6)
Rnd 2: *sc, inc* 3 times (9)
Rnd 3: *sc 2, inc* 3 times (12)
Rnd 4: *sc 2, inc* 4 times (16)
Rnd 5: *sc 3, inc* 4 times (20)
Rnd 6: inc, sc 18, inc (22)
Rnd 7: inc, sc 20, inc (24)
Your wing should look something like photo .B. Flatten it like you did the left wing so that your crochet hook is on the right (photo .C).
Cut the string from your MR at the beginning. Begin crocheting across the bottom like the left wing, working in pairs of front and back sts (photos .D, .E show what picking up your first pair looks like).
Start with a sc in the first pair (photo .F). Then sl st 4 in the next 4 pairs (photos .G, .H).
Continuing crocheting in pairs, hdc (photo .I), sl st 2, hdc (photo .J), sl st 2 (photo .K). You should have one pair left (photo .L).
Make one hdc in that last pair (photos .M, .N), then sl st in the same hole (photos .O, .P).
Cut the end and pull the tail through to FO. Weave in the end (photos .Q, .R). Your wing should now look like photo .S.
Attach a new live piece of yarn to the opposite bottom left edge of the wing between rows 6 and 7 (photo .T shows the spot).
Make a slip knot using the live yarn. Pull it through the spot previously mentioned (photos .U, .V). Then ch 2 (photo .W).
Make one dc in same space you just anchored your yarn to (photo .X). Sl st to the sc you first made when working across the bottom of the wing (photos .Y, .Z) then turn (photo *A).
You should now have a flat row of 2 to work across. Ch 1 and sc 2 down the row (photo *B). FO and cut the yarn leaving a tail (photo *C).
Locate the tail left over from where you joined the live yarn earlier (the one I’m pointing to in photo *C). Weave that tail into your wing. Your finished wing should look like photo *E from the back.
You’ll now sew the wings together so that they form one flat wing piece that is easier to sew onto the bats later (photo *F shows how to initially line up the wings). To sew them together, use EACH yarn tail left to loop 6-8 times back and forth the flat edges of each inner wing portion to make it really secure (photos *G, *H, *I).
End with the yarn tails both exiting the wing piece on the back side (photos *J, *K). You’ll use both tails to sew the wing piece on at the end.
Feet (make 2)
Rnd 1: sc 5 in a MR
Rnd 2: sc 5
FO, leaving a tail for sewing on (photo *L).
Use a pair of scissors or stuffing stick to push the leftover tail from your MR into the inside of each foot (photo *M). This works better as stuffing than anything else that I’ve found. Your feet should look like (photos *N, *O).
Ear (make 2)
Rnd 1: sc 4 in a MR
Rnd 2: *inc, sc* 2 times (6)
Rnd 3: sc 6
Rnd 4: *inc, sc 2* 2 times (8)
Rnd 5: sc 8
Assembly
Center the top of the body on the underside of the head so that the wider part of the body is seen from the front (photos *P, *Q). Using the tail left at the top of your body, sew around the top of the body, attaching it to the head (photo *R). Weave in the ends. Your bat should currently look like photo *S.
Sew the feet onto the front of the body near the base, from approximately rounds 3-5. Line each foot up below a safety eye to get an idea of how far towards the edge to place them (see photos *T, *U, *V, *W to help with the placement).
Your bat should now look like photos *X, *Y.
Sew the wings on the back of the bat. Place the wings so that the middle connecting part of the wings covers roughly rnds 4-6 on the back of the bat, making sure that it’s centered so the wings are symmetrical (photos *Z, a). Then use the two tails you left earlier to stitch the wings to the back.
I found it worked best to use the higher up tail to stitch down the top center of the wings (the white lines in photo b indicate where sts were made with the top string). Then use the lower tail stitch down the bottom (see the yellow lines in photo b).
Make about 5-6 sts with each tail (see photos d, e for more process photos). Then weave in both tails. Your bat should now look like photos f, g.
Your bat’s ears should currently look like cones. Use your fingers to flatten them, then cut the tails leftover from their MR so they are no longer visible. (photo h) Then begin sewing on the right ear using the tail you left on it earlier. Place the ear so that its inside corner is between rnds 1 and 2 but pushed closer to the back of the head than the front (photos i, j). The base of the bat’s ear should cover about 3 rnds. Then stitch the base of the ear down to the bat’s head (photo k).
Repeat this process to sew down the left ear, this time with the right corner being placed between rnds 1 and 2 (photos l, m). Weave in your ends (photo n). Your bat should look something like photo o.
And your little bat is complete!
If you made a little guy from this crochet bat pattern, feel free to post a picture on social media with #lifewithbubbins or tag me on instagram @lifewithbubbins so I can see your lovely creations!
And if you liked this crochet bat pattern, check out some related free patterns of mine below.
Thanks for following along!
