Colourful crustaceans make me think of the seaside. Craft your own adorable sea creature with this free crochet crab pattern. This plush little critter is sure to scuttle its way into your heart with its charming good looks and surprisingly simple construction.
This no-sew amigurumi pattern uses basic stitches and clear instructions, making it an ideal project for confident beginners and more experienced crocheters. Plus, the more comfortable you get with the pattern, the faster you’ll bring these cute crabs to life! Making this the perfect pattern for crafting for craft sales and school fairs!
Keep reading to learn how to customize your crocheted crabs, plus learn some interesting facts about crabs!
This Crochet Crab Pattern also includes a Full Video Tutorial!
Make a Whole School of Ocean Friends!
Want to get your claws on the whole series of Jelly Bean Ocean Animals?!
Find the whole Jelly Bean 7 Sea Creature Crochet Pattern Bundle in one place! With the Jelly Bean Sea Creature Crochet Pattern Bundle you can create all 7 patterns in the series – sea turtle, octopus, seahorse, squid, angelfish, goldfish, and crab!
This crochet pattern collection includes…
- A convenient printable PDF format
- Complete written instructions
- Full video tutorial links
- Additional photos to help you along the way.
Crochet Crab Pattern Customization
Just like real crabs come in all shapes and sizes, this crochet crab pattern can be customized in lots of ways!
- Play with vibrant colours to mimic real crab species or create a rainbow colony of crustaceans!
- Craft claws in different sizes to replicate the variety found in real crabs.
- Customize the eyes by changing their size, shape, embroidering or adding eyelashes for unique personality ideas.
- Explore different yarn types like chenille, boucle, or fuzzy yarn for a unique texture and appearance.
- Adjust the crochet hook and yarn weight to create crabs of different sizes, from tiny keychains to large plush toys.
- Use washable cotton yarn to make a fun and unique crab-tastic bath toy!
- Crochet the whole bundle of Ocean Creatures in the set, to craft a whole underwater scene.
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Sara
If you love this no sew crochet crab pattern? You’ll simply adore the rest of the ‘Jelly Bean’ Sea Creature crochet patterns – which are all no-sew, free amigurumi patterns too! Many of them being beginner friendly!
Goldfish
Angelfish
Seahorse
Octopus
Sea Turtle
Squid
Crab
Interested in more cute crochet patterns? Check these out!
The Premium PDF version of this pattern in now available and includes a convenient printable format, plus lots additional photos.
What you will need to make your No-Sew Jelly Bean Crochet Crab Pattern
[A detailed, step-by-step pattern with clearly written instructions and easy to follow video tutorial]
Materials:
Hook size 5.0 mm (H)
Yarn – Hobbii Honey Bunny
| Yarn – Light Super Bulky (6)- Hobbii Honey Bunny or Premier Parfait Chunky | ||
| Main Colour: Shown in Tomato | 15 yards | |
| Optional Accent Colours: White medium worsted weight | small amount | |
- Polyester filling – small amount
- 2 – 10mm black safety eyes (not suitable for children under 3): See video for embroidering eyes as an alternative.
- Stitch Markers or Safety pins to help with sewing placement
- Yarn needle to weave in the ends
Gauge: 4 Rounds of Gauge Pattern = 2.0 inch diameter
Gauge Pattern: Create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: 2sc in each st (12)
Round 3: *sc, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)
All of these Materials can be found in my Amazon Storefront shops
Abbreviations:
| BLO | back loop only |
| Bobble St | Bobble Stitch |
| ch | chain |
| dc | double crochet |
| FLO | front loop only |
| sc | single crochet |
| scdec | single crochet decrease |
| sk | skip |
| ss | slip stitch |
| st(s) | stich(es) |
| *to* | repeat the sequence between the ** the number of times indicated |
| YO | Yarn Over |
Special Stitches & Techniques:
Bobble Stitch – *YO, insert hook into indicated st, YO, pull up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook* 5 times, YO, pull through all 6 loops on hook.
Magic ring
Eye Highlights
Embroidery
Notes:
- #sc, eg. (2sc, 3sc, etc) shows the number of scs to be completed in the indicated st
- Sts listed between brackets are all worked in the same st, eg. (hdc, dc)
- I highly recommend using a stitch marker to help keep track of the rounds for the body/head
Recommended Sequence: It is highly recommended to complete the Jelly Bean Crab in the order written.
Start your Jelly Bean Crab Crochet Pattern:
Head/Body:
The head and body are worked in one piece from front to back in continuous rounds.
Using Main Colour, create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 8sc in the ring (8)
Round 2: *2sc* 8 times (16)
Round 3: sc, bobble st, sc in the next 3 sts (mark the 2nd st), bobble st, sc, 2sc, sc in the next 7 sts, 2sc (18)
Round 4: sc in each st (18)
Round 5: BLO (entire round), sc in each st (18)
Note: FLO refers to the next st only in Round 6, all instructions within brackets ( ) are to be worked in the same front loop.
Round 6:
| Place the animal down on a hard surface with the opening facing away from you. Use the marked st as a guide (centre), find and mark the centre 5 sts. Count 1 stitch to the right of the marked sts (left if left handed) this will be the first stitch of Round 6, (if this is not the next unworked st then crochet over to this st, these extra sts will not count as the beginning of this round). In FLO of indicated st (ss, ch7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc, sc, ch4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc, sc, back to main ch, sc in next 3 chs, ss), sc in the next 5 sts, FLO (ss, ch7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc, sc, ch4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc, sc, back to main ch, sc in next 3 chs, ss), *FLO (ss, ch6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 4 chs, ss)* 3 times, sc in the next 5 sts, *FLO (ss, ch6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 4 chs, ss)* 3 times (10 + 8 BLO sts) | |
 | |
| Note: BLO mentioned in Round 7 are the BLO from Round 5 (left open from crocheting FLO in Round 6) Round 7: sc in BLO, sc in the next 2 sts, scdec, sc in the next st, sc in the next 4 BLO, sc in the next 2 sts, scdec, sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 BLO (16) Adding Eyes: If using safety eyes, place in the bobble sts of Round 3 of the head Stuff the head/body | |
 |
Round 8: *scdec* 8 times (8)
End off leaving a 6 inch tail, cinch the last 8 sts together and weave in the end.
Adding Ridge: The ridge is worked in the open front loops of Round 4.
Find the FLO of Round 4, attach yarn in any stitch, 2sc in each st around (36),
End off, weave in ends.
Sewing Placement –
| Eye Details: Follow video for optional eye detail. Video |  |
Congratulations!
You have now completed your ‘Jelly Bean’ Free No-Sew Crochet Amigurumi Crab Pattern!
10 Fascinating Crab Facts
Just like this crochet crab pattern is versatile, real crabs are adaptable creatures, found in oceans, freshwater, and even on land!
- Over 7000 different species of crabs have been documented so far around the world, showcasing incredible diversity in size, shape, and colour.
- While most people associate crabs with the ocean, some species, like the coconut crab, are entirely terrestrial.
- Crabs have an incredible ability to regrow lost limbs, making them resilient survivors. This feature is exploited to sustainably acquire the delicacy of snow crab legs.
- Soft shell crabs are caught shortly after molting when their shells are soft and tender. They are often fried or sautéed. primarily in dishes from coastal areas.
- Some crabs, like the yeti crab, thrive in the extreme conditions of the deep ocean, near hydrothermal vents.
- Crabs come in all sizes, from the pea crab, smaller than a dime, to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span reaching up to 12 feet!
- Hermit crabs are actually more closely related to lobsters than to regular crabs!
- While crabs can walk forward, their distinctive sideways movement is more efficient for their body structure.
- A traditional crab boil is a social event, often including not just crabs, but also a variety of other seafood, such as shrimp, clams, and corn on the cob.
- Fiddler crabs are very easy to spot thanks to their single enlarged claw, which they often use to attract mates.
Now you’ve read through the blog post, you can enjoy crocheting your own adorable crab with this free, no-sew pattern! Customize your crab with a variety of colours, sizes, and details to create a unique amigurumi. You’ve learned fascinating facts about real crabs which you can pass on to the little ones in your life, or they might come in handy on quiz night! Perfect for gifts, home decor, or simply a fun hobby, this crochet crab pattern is certainly fun!
Let your imagination run wild and create a whole underwater world with the Jelly Bean Sea Creature collection.
