There is something wonderfully cheerful about a crochet lobster. It is bright red, it is a little bit silly, and it sits on a shelf looking pleased with itself in a way no other sea creature quite manages. I have always thought lobsters were underrated in amigurumi — everyone makes an octopus or a whale, but a lobster brings the claws, the antennae, the segmented tail and a whole seaside-holiday personality in one small package. That is why I went hunting for the best crochet lobster ideas I could honestly find, and this collection is the result.
So here are twenty of my favourite lobster makes, every one of them genuinely free: no-sew jelly-bean lobsters, a rare blue lobster, teeny-tiny scrap lobsters, a lobster hat, a graph pillow, a vintage potholder, a sweet little appliqué, and — because the lobster family is small and I would rather be honest than inventive — one freshwater crayfish cousin and one video tutorial, both clearly labelled as such. I have noted the yarn, the hook and the finished size for each one as we go. Pick your favourite, grab some red yarn, and let's get cracking — pun very much intended.
1. The No-Sew Jelly Bean Lobster
We are starting with the friendliest lobster on this list, and the one I would hand to a nervous beginner first. Sara at Darling Maple Designs built this little guy as a jelly-bean body — one soft, rounded shape with the claws, tail and antennae worked in as you go, so there is no sewing pile waiting at the end. The full pattern is free on her blog, worked with a 5.0 mm hook, and the finished lobster measures about three and a half inches, which makes it a perfect shelf-sitter or bag charm. She also sells a premium PDF if you prefer an ad-free copy, but the complete text is right there on the page. In classic cherry red with a cream belly, he looks like he swam straight out of a seaside gift shop.
Pattern: No-Sew Jelly Bean Lobster by Darling Maple Designs — Get the free pattern
2. Lucy, the Cuddly Aquarium Classic
Lucy the Lobster comes from Drunken Aunt Wendy's Cuddly Aquarium series, and she has the warm, old-fashioned charm of a pattern that was written to be loved rather than to look impressive. The full text is free on the designer's blog, worked in Vanna's Choice yarn with a D hook, and the construction is classic amigurumi: a segmented body, two proud claws, long antennae and a friendly stitched face. I love her as a first sea-creature project because every part is straightforward on its own, and the assembly is clearly explained. Make her in traditional red, or try a coral or orange for a lobster with a suntan. She looks wonderful perched on a bathroom shelf or tucked into a beach-themed nursery display.
Pattern: Lucy the Lobster by Drunken Aunt Wendy — Get the free pattern
3. Lana, the Lobster in a Vest
Lana is the lobster with a wardrobe, and that alone earns her a place near the top of this list. She is a sample from Alleshen Hamilton's book Quirky Amigurumi, shared in full on RedTedArt, and she comes complete with a tiny crocheted vest — which is exactly the kind of detail that turns a toy into a character. The pattern is worked in soft chenille yarn and finishes at about eight and a half inches, so she is a proper cuddle size rather than a keychain afterthought. Her claws are satisfyingly chunky, her tail segments are neat, and the vest means you get a two-part project in one pattern. Credit here goes to the designer, Alleshen Hamilton, not to the site hosting the sample.
Pattern: Lana the Lobster by Alleshen Hamilton — Get the free pattern
4. The Rare Blue Lobster
Real blue lobsters are famously rare — about one in two million — so a blue crochet lobster feels like a small piece of luck on your shelf. Spin a Yarn Crochet's Blue Lobster is worked in squishy Bernat Blanket yarn with a 6 mm hook and 14 mm safety eyes, finishing at around eight inches of gloriously soft sea creature. The full pattern is free on the designer's blog, though she also sells the PDF on Ravelry if you want a printable copy. The chunky yarn means it works up fast, and the blue reads beautifully against white or sandy-coloured displays. If you have ever wanted a lobster that starts conversations, this is the one.
Pattern: Blue Lobster by Spin a Yarn Crochet — Get the free pattern
5. A Proper Baby Lobster, Seven to Nine Inches
Puqqu's Lobster Baby is the Goldilocks lobster of this collection: not a keychain, not a giant, just a satisfying seven to nine inches of well-shaped amigurumi. The full pattern is free on the designer's page, worked in velvet or worsted yarn with a 3.5 mm hook and 10 mm safety eyes, and it is rated intermediate, so it is a lovely next step once you have made a simpler toy. There is even an option for pipe-cleaner antennae, which gives the finished lobster a bit of poseable personality. The body shaping is neat and the claws are properly lobster-like, with a little cream detailing. In red velvet yarn he is irresistibly squishable.
Pattern: Lobster Baby by Puqqu — Get the free pattern
6. A Lobster Small Enough for Your Keys
If the baby lobster above is the shelf lobster, this one is the take-everywhere lobster. Puqqu's Lobster Keychain is the same designer's miniature version, finishing at just four to five inches, worked in sport-weight cotton with a fine 2.25 mm hook and tiny 6 mm eyes. The claw tips are worked in cream, which is a small detail that makes a big difference at this scale, and the whole thing is still rated intermediate because small amigurumi needs a steady hand. Clip it to a beach bag, a set of keys or a zipper pull, and you have a lobster that travels. It also makes a brilliant stash-buster, since a keychain lobster barely sips yarn at all.
Pattern: Lobster Keychain by Puqqu — Get the free pattern
7. Lulu, the Segmented Showpiece
Lulu Lobster by Heather C Gibbs is the most anatomically satisfying lobster on this list, and I mean that as high praise. The pattern is a free PDF download, written in UK terms with a 3.25 mm hook, and it builds the lobster piece by piece: a head, three body sections, a tail, a large pincer and a small pincer, antennae and legs, all joining into a finished lobster about twenty-one centimetres long. That segmented construction is what makes Lulu look so convincingly lobsterish — you can see the joints, the way a real lobster bends. It originally appeared in Let's Get Crafting magazine, and the designer's credit is right there on the PDF. If you love a project with satisfying assembly, Lulu is your lobster.
Pattern: Lulu Lobster by Heather C Gibbs — Get the free pattern
8. Esther, the Super-Bulky Statement Lobster
Esther the Lobster is the big, bold, look-at-me lobster of the collection, and she comes from Elisa's Crochet via Lion Brand. The pattern is listed at $0.00 on the Lion Brand site, so it is a free download with a free Lion Brand account, and it is rated Easy, which makes it a wonderful weekend project. Worked in super bulky weight yarn, she finishes at about twelve and a half inches long — a proper statement piece for a sofa or a child's bedroom shelf. The gauge is a relaxed thirteen single crochets and thirteen rounds to four inches, so the stitches stay soft and squishy rather than stiff. In a bright red super bulky, Esther is the lobster you spot from across the room.
Pattern: Esther the Lobster by Elisa’s Crochet — Get the free pattern
9. Teeny Tiny Lobsters From Scrap Yarn
At the opposite end of the scale, Maggie Menzel's Teeny Tiny Lobsters are proof that the best lobsters sometimes come in the smallest packages. The pattern is a free PDF, hosted by the International Owl Center, worked with a 3.75 mm F hook and scrap worsted-weight yarn — which makes it the perfect use for those little red balls that are too small for anything else. The body is worked in a spiral, the flat claws are crocheted straight onto the body, and the antennae are twisted yarn with embroidered eyes to finish. Make a whole shoal of them in an evening, one for every pocket and pencil case in the house. They are also the sweetest little party favours for a seaside-themed celebration.
Pattern: Teeny Tiny Lobsters by Maggie Menzel — Get the free pattern
10. The Classic Worsted Lobster With Two-Part Claws
This one is the dependable, no-nonsense lobster: a full written pattern in worsted-weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, finishing at seven to eight inches. The body is worked in twenty-seven rounds, the claws are made in two parts for a properly pincer-like shape, and there are eight legs, eye stalks and a clear assembly guide to bring it all together. It is the kind of pattern that suits a confident beginner who has made one or two amigurumi before and wants a project with a bit more structure. One honest note: the page itself carries no personal designer name, so I am crediting the site, CrochetSpark, as the source, exactly as the pattern appears there. In a solid red worsted it is a handsome, classic-looking lobster.
Pattern: Lobster Amigurumi by CrochetSpark — Get the free pattern
11. A Velvet Lovey Lobster
Crochetedbyel's Lovey Lobster on Ribblr is the softest lobster on this list, and the one I would reach for if I were making a comfort toy. It is worked in velvet yarn, which gives the finished lobster a plush, almost velveteen feel that regular acrylic cannot quite match, and the pattern has already gathered twenty-five makes on Ribblr from crocheters who clearly loved it. The pattern itself is free on Ribblr, where a free account unlocks the interactive pattern view. As a lovey-style lobster it is floppy and huggable rather than stiff and display-only, which makes it a lovely gift for a little one who loves the sea. Choose a deep red velvet and it looks good enough to eat — though please do not.
Pattern: Lovey Lobster by crochetedbyel — Get the free pattern
12. A Lobster With Real Soda Tabs
Here is the lobster with the best party trick: FuzzyCrafterPlushies' Soda Tab Lobster on Ribblr actually incorporates three real soda tabs into its construction. The pattern is free on Ribblr with a free account, and it is rated advanced, pairing a fine 1.5 mm hook with the tabs for a quirky, mixed-media little lobster that genuinely stands out. I love this one as a conversation piece and as a clever bit of recycling — those tabs would otherwise go straight in the bin. The finished lobster is small and sturdy, with the tabs adding a flash of silver against the red yarn. If you enjoy amigurumi with a twist, this is the most inventive lobster on the list.
Pattern: Soda Tab Lobster by FuzzyCrafterPlushies — Get the free pattern
13. The Low-Sew Lobster With a Beginner Path
ThatOneDragonCrocheter's Lobster on Ribblr is the one I would recommend to someone who loves amigurumi but hates sewing pieces together at the end. It is a low-sew design, free on Ribblr with a free account, rated intermediate, and it is built around an eighteen-row core with a beginner path included, so you can choose the simpler route through the trickier sections. That dual-path approach is genuinely thoughtful: you get the same lobster either way, just with more or less hand-holding along the way. The finished lobster is a neat, classic red amigurumi with good claw definition. If sewing is the part that usually puts you off, this lobster removes the excuse entirely.
Pattern: Lobster by ThatOneDragonCrocheter — Get the free pattern
14. Mini Scrap Lobsters for Leftover Red
StringyDingDing's Mini Scrap Lobsters are the answer to the eternal question of what to do with the last twenty grams of red yarn. The pattern is free on the designer's blog, worked with a 4 mm hook, and each finished lobster measures just three inches — small enough to make in an evening, big enough to still look properly lobster-like with claws, tail and antennae. She also sells a PDF version if you prefer a printable copy, but the complete text is on the blog. I like making these in batches: a little lobster family in red, coral and orange, lined up along a windowsill like they are queuing for the beach. They are also ideal as keychain or bag-charm lobsters once you add a loop.
Pattern: Mini Scrap Lobsters by StringyDingDing — Get the free pattern
15. A Lobster Appliqué for Blankets and Bags
Not every lobster needs to stand on a shelf — sometimes it wants to live on a blanket, a bag or a cushion instead. Repeat Crafter Me's Lobster Appliqué is a flat, cheerful lobster worked in Red Heart Super Saver Cherry Red with an H hook, and the full written pattern is free on her blog with a video to follow along. Appliqués are wonderfully versatile: stitch one onto a beach bag, a child's cardigan, a cushion cover or a seaside bunting garland, and suddenly the whole project has a theme. The lobster shape is simple and bold, so it reads clearly even at a small size. Make a few in different reds and you have a whole lobster family ready to decorate whatever needs cheering up.
Pattern: Lobster Appliqué by Repeat Crafter Me — Get the free pattern
16. The Pinch Me Lobster Hat
Ashley Parker at The Loopy Lamb proves that lobsters are not just for shelves with her Pinch Me Lobster Hat — a wearable lobster, complete with ear flaps. The full pattern is free on her blog, graded in sizes from baby right up to adult, so the whole family can match if you are feeling brave, and she also sells an Etsy PDF if you prefer a printable version. The hat itself is a cosy ear-flap design, and the lobster details — claws, antennae and that unmistakable red — turn an ordinary winter hat into something that makes people smile on the street. It is a brilliant novelty gift, especially for a seafood lover or a New England beach trip. The image plan shows the hat on its own, so you can see every lobster detail clearly.
Pattern: Pinch Me Lobster Hat by Ashley Parker at The Loopy Lamb — Get the free pattern
17. A Lobster Graph Pillow for the Sofa
Strommer Crafts' Lobster Pillow takes the lobster off the shelf and onto the sofa, and it does it with a graph rather than amigurumi shaping. The pattern is free on the designer's site, worked with a 3.75 mm hook in light blue and white, following a chart of seventy-five stitches by sixty-five rows for the front panel, with a plain back panel, and the whole thing is stuffed into a proper pillow. Graph work like this is deeply satisfying: you watch the lobster appear row by row, like a picture developing. In seaside colours it is a lovely summer-house cushion, and in red and white it pops against a navy sofa. One honest note: this is a chart-based make, so you will be following a graph rather than written rounds.
Pattern: Lobster Pillow by Strommer Crafts — Get the free pattern
18. A Vintage Lobster Potholder
This one is a little piece of crochet history: the Lobster Potholder, number S-84, from Free Vintage Crochet. The full vintage text is free on the site, worked with a fine steel hook, number seven, and finished with a felt lining and a bone ring for hanging — details that tell you this pattern comes from an era when potholders were made to last. The lobster itself is shaped with a proper body, claws and feelers, so it is decorative as well as useful, and it looks wonderful hanging in a coastal kitchen. Vintage patterns sometimes assume you know your way around a hook, so this one suits a confident crocheter who enjoys a bit of detective work. In red and white cotton it is pure seaside nostalgia.
Pattern: Lobster Potholder #S-84 by Free Vintage Crochet — Get the free pattern
19. A Crayfish Cousin, Honestly Labelled
Now, full honesty: this one is not a lobster, but a crayfish — the lobster's smaller freshwater cousin — and I am including it because the lobster pattern pool is genuinely small and a crayfish brings the same claws, tail and charm in miniature. The pattern from AmiguWorld is free in full on the site, worked with a 3.0 mm hook and 8 mm safety eyes, and it makes a sweet little creature that sits happily beside any lobster on this list. Crayfish and lobsters share the same family silhouette, so on a display shelf nobody will ever know the difference — but you will, and so will I, which is why it is labelled here. Think of it as the lobster's country cousin, come to visit from the river.
Pattern: Crayfish by AmiguWorld — Get the free pattern
20. Learn It Stitch by Stitch on Video
We are finishing with the one video tutorial on this list, and it is here for a good reason: some crocheters learn better by watching than by reading, and Rhonda Butler's full lobster tutorial is exactly that kind of teaching. This is a video tutorial, not a written pattern — you follow along as she builds the lobster stitch by stitch, which makes it a wonderful choice if amigurumi shaping has ever confused you on paper. Her tutorial is titled "Are You My Lobster," and the finished lobster is a classic cheerful red toy with all the trimmings. Watch it once through with a cup of tea, then crochet along on the second viewing with your red yarn ready. It is the friendliest possible way to end a lobster collection.
Pattern: Are You My Lobster by Rhonda Butler — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty lobsters, my friend — no-sew jelly beans and super-bulky statements, blue rarities and teeny-tiny scraps, a hat, a pillow, a potholder, an appliqué, a crayfish cousin and a video to learn from. The lobster pool is a small one, so every pattern here earned its place honestly, and the two labelled exceptions are there in the open rather than dressed up as something they are not. If you are new to amigurumi, start with the no-sew jelly bean or the video tutorial; if you are ready for a showpiece, Lulu's segmented body or Esther's super-bulky softness are calling your name.
Now tell me — are you team tiny lobster or team giant statement lobster, and which of these twenty is going on your hook first? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your red, clawed, antennaed makes!
