Crochet Axolotl - Handmade Cotton Plush With Frilled Gills

This crochet axolotl is about 24 cm long, with six frilled gills, a wide stitched smile and a flat tail that lets it lie steady on a surface. It has become one of the most asked for animals in the shop, ordered by adults for a desk as often as it is ordered for a child.

How the gills and face are made

1. Body first. The body and tail are worked in one piece, so there is no seam where the tail joins and nothing to pull loose.
2. Gills next. Six frills are crocheted separately and stitched to the head in two rows of three, angled slightly back.
3. Face last. The smile is embroidered in a contrasting cotton, and the eyes go in before the head is closed and stuffed.

Living with a Crochet Axolotl

The flat underside is the part people notice. Because the body is shaped wider than it is tall, the piece stays where it is put, on a monitor stand, a windowsill or the end of a bed, instead of rolling onto its side the way a round plush does.

Cotton gives a crochet axolotl a matt surface and a little weight, so it feels settled in the hand rather than airy. It is also easy to clean: a cool hand wash, a press in a towel and a reshape while damp and the gills sit as they did when the piece left the studio.

Crochet Axolotl specification

Made to order and shipped worldwide

Each one is crocheted after you order, which takes 5 to 10 working days, and it is then posted from Hanoi with tracking.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap. Press the water out with a towel rather than wringing the piece, reshape it with your fingers while it is still damp, then let it air dry away from direct sunlight. Cotton keeps its shape well once it has dried. There is more detail in our amigurumi care guide.

Questions people ask

Is the crochet axolotl suitable for a baby?

Ask for the embroidered face when you order. That version has no safety eyes and no hard parts at all.

Which colour should I choose?

Pale pink is the most ordered. White reads calmer on a desk, and soft blue suits a nursery shelf better.

Can the gills be a different colour from the body?

Yes, and many buyers do that. Tell us both shades and we will match them when we wind the yarn.

What is amigurumi exactly?

It is the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed animals. There is a short explanation in our guide.

If you are weighing up safety eyes against embroidery for a crochet axolotl, our note on amigurumi safety eyes sets out the difference plainly, and more animals of this size are listed in stuffed crochet.