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Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern

Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern
4.8★Rating
8-10 HoursTime Needed
1.7KMade This
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Advanced Level

Designed for experienced crocheters, these patterns involve intricate designs and complex techniques to challenge and inspire.

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All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive crocheting.

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Whimsical Buddy

Playful characters full of personality, designed to spark imagination and become cherished playtime favorites.

About This Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern

Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view

This project is a dream for anyone who loves nature or a bit of gothic flair. The finished moth looks incredible on a bookshelf or as a conversation-starting desk buddy, and the removable wings make it such an interactive piece to gift.

Why You'll Love This Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern

I honestly couldn't get enough of the 'transformation' aspect of this design! There is something so satisfying about finishing the caterpillar and then watching it evolve as you add the wings and the tiny skull mask. It feels like you're making two toys in one, and the way the slip-stitch belt creates a stretchy, functional 'suit' is just genius.

Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern step 1 Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern step 2 Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern step 3 Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern step 4

Switch Things Up

When I first saw a Death's Head Hawk Moth in a nature documentary, I was completely captivated by the folklore surrounding it. Did you know that because of the skull-like marking on its thorax, people used to think it was a bad omen? In reality, they are just amazing little honey-thieves that can actually 'squeak' to mimic a queen bee!

I wanted this pattern to capture that mix of mystery and natural beauty. The most satisfying part for me was designing the wing suit. I love amigurumi that you can actually interact with, and being able to 'dress up' the caterpillar into its moth form makes the whole crafting process feel like a story unfolding.

If you want to customize yours, try using a variegated yarn for the wings to mimic the dusty, mottled look of real moth scales. Or, if you're feeling bold, go for a completely fantasy color palette—a lunar moth version in mint greens and soft purples would look absolutely stunning with this same construction!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ If you work your slip stitches too tightly on the wing belt, you will find it nearly impossible to insert your hook for the next row; keep your tension loose and relaxed.✗ When carrying the yellow and blue yarn through the body, pulling too tight will cause the fabric to pucker and make the caterpillar look lumpy instead of smooth.✗ It is easy to accidentally mirror the wings incorrectly—always double-check that the 'right side' of your black edging is facing outward on both the left and right pairs.✗ The head needs to be stuffed very firmly, especially at the neck, or the wing suit will cause the body to flop over when you put it on.

Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern

Get ready to create something truly extraordinary with this two-in-one nature project. You will start by crafting a plump, colorful caterpillar and then work on a detailed 'wing suit' that transforms your little crawler into a magnificent Death's Head Hawk Moth. It is a fantastic way to play with construction and color work, resulting in a piece that is as much a scientific specimen as it is a whimsical plush. You will love the clever way the wings attach and the striking skull details that make this moth so iconic.

Advanced 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for Death's Head Hawk Moth Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Approximately 10g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Cream for the skull mask
  • 02
    10g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Sand for the head and mini skull
  • 03
    10g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Beige for the wing base and antennae
  • 04
    10g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Black for the wing edging and stripes
  • 05
    10g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Yellow for the body and small wings
  • 06
    5g of sport weight mercerized cotton in Denim Blue for the back stripe

— Tools Required

  • 01
    2.25 mm or 2.5 mm crochet hook
  • 02
    Two 7 mm black safety eyes
  • 03
    High-quality polyester fiberfill stuffing
  • 04
    Darning needle for assembly and embroidery
  • 05
    Stitch markers and pins
  • 06
    Sharp scissors
  • 07
    Small amount of pink yarn for cheek embroidery

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— 1. Caterpillar Head :

Round 1 :

Using sand yarn, work 7 sc into a magic ring (7)

Round 2 :

Work 1 inc in each stitch around (14)

Round 3 :

Repeat [1 sc, 1 inc] 7 times (21)

Round 4 :

1 sc, 1 inc, then repeat [2 sc, 1 inc] 6 times, ending with 1 sc (28)

Round 5 :

Repeat [3 sc, 1 inc] 7 times (35)

Round 6 :

Work 1 sc in every stitch around (35)

Round 7 :

2 sc, 1 inc, then repeat [4 sc, 1 inc] 6 times, ending with 2 sc (42)

Round 8-13 :

Work 1 sc in every stitch for these 6 rounds (42)

Info :

Insert safety eyes between Rounds 12 and 13, leaving a gap of 8 stitches between them.

Round 14 :

2 sc, 1 dec, then repeat [4 sc, 1 dec] 6 times, ending with 2 sc (35)

Round 15 :

Repeat [1 dec, 3 sc] 7 times (28)

Round 16 :

1 sc, 1 dec, then repeat [2 sc, 1 dec] 6 times, ending with 1 sc (21)

Round 17 :

Repeat [1 dec, 1 sc] 7 times (14)

Info :

Slst into the next stitch, fasten off invisibly, and stuff the head firmly.

— 2. Caterpillar Body - Upper :

Info :

Locate the center stitch between the eyes on the open neck. Count 8 stitches away to find the center back of the neck.

Round 18 :

Join black yarn with a standing slst at the center back, then slst 13 around the opening (14)

Round 19 :

Repeat [1 sc-blo, 1 inc-blo] 7 times (21)

Round 20 :

Switch to yellow and cut the black. Work [2 sc, 1 inc] 3 times, 1 sc. Switch to blue (do not cut yellow, carry it). 1 sc, 1 inc. Switch back to yellow. [2 sc, 1 inc] 3 times (28)

Round 21-22 :

With yellow, sc 13. Switch to blue, sc 3. Switch to yellow, sc 12 (28)

Round 23 :

Switch to black and sc in every stitch around (28)

Round 24 :

Switch to yellow (cut black). sc 13. Switch to blue, sc 3. Switch to yellow, sc 12 (28)

Round 25 :

With yellow: 1 dec, 2 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc, 1 dec. Switch to blue: 3 sc. Switch back to yellow: repeat [1 dec, 2 sc] 3 times (21)

Round 26 :

With yellow: repeat [1 sc, 1 dec] 3 times. Switch to blue: 1 sc, 1 dec. Switch to yellow: repeat [1 sc, 1 dec] 3 times (14)

Round 27 :

Switch to black (cut blue and yellow) and slst in every stitch around (14)

Round 28 :

Repeat [1 sc-flo, 1 inc-flo] 7 times (21)

Info :

Fasten off the black yarn invisibly and stuff the upper body section.

— 3. Caterpillar Body - Middle :

Round 29 :

Join yellow with a standing sc into the last closing stitch. 1 sc, 1 inc, then [2 sc, 1 inc] 2 times. Switch to blue, sc 3. Switch to yellow, [1 inc, 2 sc] 3 times (27)

Round 30 :

Yellow sc 12, blue sc 3, yellow sc 12 (27)

Round 31 :

Switch to black and sc in every stitch around (27)

Round 32 :

Switch to yellow (cut black). sc 12, blue sc 3, yellow sc 12 (27)

Round 33 :

Yellow: [2 sc, 1 dec] 3 times. Blue: 3 sc. Yellow: [1 dec, 2 sc] 3 times (21)

Round 34 :

Switch to black and repeat [1 dec, 1 sc] 7 times (14)

Round 35 :

Work 1 slst in every stitch around (14)

Info :

Stuff the middle section of the body.

— 4. Caterpillar Body - Lower :

Round 36 :

Yellow (cut black): [1 sc-flo, 1 inc-flo] 3 times. Blue: 3 sc-flo. Yellow: [1 inc-flo, 1 sc-flo] 2 times, 1 inc-flo (20)

Round 37 :

Yellow sc 9, blue sc 3, yellow sc 8 (20)

Round 38 :

Yellow: [1 sc, 1 dec] 3 times. Blue: 3 sc. Yellow: [1 dec, 1 sc] 2 times, 1 dec (14)

Round 39 :

Yellow: [1 dec] 3 times. Blue: 1 sc3tog. Yellow: [1 dec] 2 times, 1 sc (7)

Info :

Stuff the bottom section, cut the yarn, and use a needle to close the remaining 7 stitches through the front loops.

— 5. Skull Mask :

Round 1 :

Using cream yarn, work 7 sc into a magic ring (7)

Round 2 :

Work 1 inc in each stitch around (14)

Round 3 :

Repeat [1 sc, 1 inc] 7 times (21)

Round 4 :

1 sc, 1 inc, then repeat [2 sc, 1 inc] 6 times, ending with 1 sc (28)

Round 5 :

Repeat [3 sc, 1 inc] 7 times (35)

Round 6 :

Work 1 sc in every stitch around (35)

Round 7 :

2 sc, 1 inc, then repeat [4 sc, 1 inc] 6 times, ending with 2 sc (42)

Round 8 :

Repeat [13 sc, 1 inc] 3 times (45)

Round 9-13 :

Work 1 sc in every stitch for these 5 rounds (45)

Round 14 :

15 sc, 6 slst, 3 sc, 6 slst, 15 sc (45)

Round 15 :

15 sc, ch 7, sk 6, 1 dc, in next st: [1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc], 1 dc, ch 7, sk 6, 15 sc (51)

Round 16 :

14 sc, sk 1, 8 sc into the ch-7 space, sk 2, 3 sc into the ch-2 space, sk 2, 8 sc into the next ch-7 space, sk 1, 14 sc (47)

Round 17 :

14 sc, sk 1, 7 slst, in next st: [1 slst, ch 1, 1 sc], 1 sc, in next st: [1 sc, ch 1, 1 slst], 7 slst, sk 1, 14 sc (47)

Info :

Slst into the next stitch and fasten off invisibly.

— 6. Antennae (Make 2) :

Row 1 :

Using beige, ch 4. Starting in the 2nd back bump from the hook: 2 sc, 1 slst. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

— 7. Large Wings - Piece 1 (Make 2) :

Row 1 :

Using beige, ch 15. In 5th ch from hook: 2 dc. Then 1 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc, 3 slst, turn (13)

Row 2 :

ch 1, 3 slst, 3 sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc, 2 dc in next st, [1 dc, 1 tr] in the top of the turning chain, turn (15)

Row 3 :

ch 4, 1 dc in base of chain, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc, 2 slst, turn, leaving remaining stitches unworked (14)

Row 4 :

ch 1, 3 slst, 3 sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc, 2 dc in next st, [1 dc, 1 tr] in last stitch, turn (15)

Row 5 :

ch 3, 1 dc in base of chain, 2 dc in next st, 3 dc, 4 hdc, 6 sc. Continue along the edge of Row 2: 1 hdc, 2 sc, 1 slst (21)

Edging :

Join black yarn with a standing sc at the start of the first row. Work 2 sc in that space, then work 3 sc into the end of each of the next 4 rows. Fasten off.

— 8. Large Wings - Piece 2 (Make 2) :

Info :

Follow the same instructions as Piece 1 for Rows 1 through 5.

Edging :

Turn the piece so the back is facing you. Join black with a standing sc at the end of the first row. Work 2 sc in that space, then 3 sc into the end of each of the next 4 rows. Fasten off.

— 9. Large Wing Assembly :

Left Wing :

Layer Piece 1 over Piece 2. Join beige with a standing sc in the first loop of the foundation chain. sc 10 along the bottom. Rotate 90 degrees: sc 1, 2 sc in next, sc 12, [2 sc, ch 1] in next. Rotate 90: 1 hdc in same space as black, 19 sc, [1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc] in last. Rotate 90: 1 sc in row end, 1 sc in starting stitch. Fasten off invisibly.

Right Wing :

Layer Piece 2 over Piece 1. Join beige with a standing sc in the right corner. 19 sc along the top, 1 hdc in same space as black, ch 1. Rotate 90: 2 sc in next, sc 12, 2 sc in next, 1 sc. Rotate 90: 10 sc along foundation chain, [1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc] in last. Rotate 90: 1 sc in row end, 1 sc in starting stitch. Fasten off invisibly.

— 10. Small Wings - Piece 3 (Make 4) :

Row 1 :

Using yellow, ch 10. In 4th ch from hook: 2 hdc, 3 sc, 2 slst, turn (8)

Row 2 :

ch 1, 2 slst, 2 sc, 3 hdc, [1 hdc, 1 dc] in top of turning chain, turn (9)

Row 3 :

ch 3, 1 hdc in base of chain, 1 hdc, 2 sc, 2 slst, turn, leaving remaining stitches unworked (7)

Row 4 :

ch 1, 2 slst, 2 sc, 2 hdc, [1 hdc, 1 dc] in last stitch (8)

Info :

Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat to make 4 identical pieces.

— 11. Small Wing Assembly :

Left Wing :

Layer two pieces. Working through both: Join yellow with standing sc, 6 sc along bottom. Switch to black: [1 sc, 4 hdc] in first row end, sk next row, [2 hdc, 2 dc] in third row end, [3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] in last row end. Switch to yellow: 7 sc along top, 1 dc, 1 hdc, [1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc] in last st. Fasten off.

Right Wing :

Layer two pieces. Working through both: Join yellow with standing sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 7 sc along top. Switch to black: [1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc] in first row end, [2 dc, 2 hdc] in second row end, sk next row, [4 hdc, 1 sc] in last row end. Switch to yellow: 7 sc along bottom, ch 1, 1 sc in same spot as start. Fasten off.

— 12. Mini Skull :

Round 1 :

With sand yarn in a magic ring: ch 3, 4 dc, ch 4, 1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc, ch 4, slst into 3rd ch of starting ch

Round 2 :

4 sc, 5 sc into ch-4 space, in ch-1 space: [1 slst, ch 2, 2 hdc, ch 2, 1 slst], 5 sc into next ch-4 space. Fasten off invisibly.

— 13. Wing Belt :

Row 1 :

Using black, ch 12. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: 11 slst-blo, turn (11)

Row 2-35 :

ch 1, 11 slst-blo, turn (11)

Join :

Hold the first and last rows together. ch 1 and slst through the remaining foundation loops and the back loops of the last row to create a ring. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the antennae onto the skull mask between Rounds 8 and 9, keeping a 2-stitch distance between them.
  • Using pink yarn, embroider small horizontal lines for cheeks just below the eye openings on the mask.
  • Place a small wing in front of a large wing, overlapping their inner edges slightly, and sew them together at the base. Repeat for the second pair.
  • Using sand yarn, embroider a highlight spot on each large wing, then add a small black line next to it for contrast.
  • Sew one wing pair to the wing belt right next to the seam, then attach the second pair to the opposite side of the seam.
  • Place the mini skull over the point where the wings meet the belt and sew it securely into place.
  • Slide the finished wing suit onto the caterpillar and pop the skull mask onto its head to complete the transformation.

Important Notes

  • 💡When stuffing the caterpillar, pay extra attention to the neck area; it needs to be quite firm to support the weight of the wings.
  • 💡The wing suit is designed to be removable, so ensure your belt is stretchy enough by keeping your slip stitches loose.
  • 💡To keep the color changes clean on the back stripe, carry the unused yarn color along the inside rather than cutting it every time.
  • 💡If your skull mask feels a bit loose, you can add a few tiny hidden stitches to secure it to the head, though it should stay on its own if stuffed correctly.
  • 💡Use pins to hold the wings in place on the belt before sewing to ensure they are perfectly symmetrical.

I hope you have as much fun making this little moth as I did! There is something so rewarding about seeing all those separate pieces—the wings, the belt, the tiny mask—come together into one cohesive, beautiful creature. It is a fantastic project for using up scraps of yarn while creating something that looks like it belongs in a museum. Don't forget to share your finished moth with your fellow crafters; I can't wait to see the colors you choose! Happy hooking! 🧶 ✨

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FAQs

Can I use safety eyes on the skull mask instead of leaving holes?

The pattern is designed so the caterpillar's eyes peek through the holes in the mask. If you put eyes on the mask itself, it won't have that cool 'double-layered' look, but you can certainly try it for a different effect!

My wing belt is too small to fit around the caterpillar. What happened?

Slip stitch ribbing (slst-blo) can be very tight if your tension isn't relaxed. If it's too small, try adding 2-4 more rows to the belt length or use a slightly larger hook for that specific section.

Do the wings need wire to stay upright?

Because the wings are made of two layers of crochet fabric joined together, they are naturally quite stiff and should hold their shape well without wire.

What is the best way to carry yarn for the blue stripe?

I recommend carrying the yellow yarn behind the blue stitches. When you switch back to yellow, just drop the blue and pick it up again on the next round by pulling it diagonally upward—this keeps the inside tidy.