Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up between Halloween and Christmas, and a handmade crochet turkey or two on the table makes the whole day feel warmer. I have gathered twenty of my favourite turkey projects here — plump amigurumi birds for the centre of the table, quick coasters for the drinks, wreaths for the front door, and a few very silly hats for the family photos. Every project in this list is a real, free written pattern from a designer I trust, and each one is linked so you can start stitching today.
Most of these turkeys work up from small amounts of worsted weight yarn in browns, rust, gold and red, so they are perfect for using up the autumn colours already sitting in your stash. Some take a single evening, like the coasters and the appliqué, while the bigger pieces, like the door hanger and the wreaths, make a lovely slow weekend project. Pick the one that suits your table, your door or your gift list, and do not be surprised if you end up making a whole flock.
1. Tutt the Turkey Amigurumi
If you only make one turkey this year, let it be Tutt. Joanne Loh's amigurumi turkey has a proper huggable size, a big round head, and the most wonderful worried expression, made with simple embroidered eyebrows above his safety eyes. His showpiece tail is built from two layered fan pieces with shell edging in white, yellow and brown, and his wings finish with a row of bobble stitches that looks like little feathers. The pattern is worked with a 3 mm hook and walks you through every part, from the three-toed feet to the tuft of yellow yarn hair on top of his head. Set him in the middle of the table and try to keep everyone from squeezing him before dinner.
Pattern: Turkey Amigurumi by Joanne Loh (Craft Passion) — Get the free pattern
2. Timmy the Turkey
Timmy is a cuddle-sized turkey designed by Bethany of Bela Crochets, and he is made for the shelf, the sofa, or the arms of the smallest guest at dinner. He is worked in worsted weight yarn with a 3.75 mm hook, with a striped fan tail finished in shell stitches, a wiggly red snood, and neat little wings and feet. The pattern on the page is the classic base turkey, and it is completely free to follow there. If you fall for him, a paid premium version adds a tiny pilgrim hat and headdress disguise, plus his friend Tammy, because November is a risky month to look this much like a turkey. At intermediate level he is a lovely weekend make.
Pattern: Timmy the Turkey by Bethany (Bela Crochets) — Get the free pattern
3. One-Piece Amigurumi Turkey
This cheerful amigurumi turkey is worked in a clever way: the head and body are crocheted as one continuous spiral piece, so there is far less sewing at the end. Five separate feathers in bright colours are worked in the back loops of a tail disc and fanned across his back, and the eyes are crocheted too, which makes him a safe softie for little hands. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and a 3.75 mm hook, and the little three-toed orange feet are a sweet finishing touch. He sits up nicely on a shelf or as part of a fall display next to a few pumpkins. He is a great first amigurumi turkey if sewing pieces together is not your favourite part.
Pattern: Amigurumi Turkey by Krazy Kabbage — Get the free pattern
4. Mr. Gobble with Granny Square Wings
Kara's Mr. Gobble has the cleverest wings in this whole list: they are five small granny squares in autumn colours, sewn together and wrapped around his plump body like a fan of feathers. The turkey himself is a simple stuffed body with a crocheted face, French knot pupils and a curly red snood, and he finishes about 5 inches tall and 7 inches from wingtip to wingtip. It is a wonderful pattern for granny square lovers, and a good way to use up small balls of brown, gold, rust and cream. He was designed for the Thanksgiving table, and he still looks perfect sitting beside the serving dishes. He is one of the oldest patterns in this roundup, and still one of the sweetest.
Pattern: Thanksgiving Turkey by Kara (Petals to Picots) — Get the free pattern
5. Tiny Little Turkey
Small, quick and full of character, this tiny turkey sits just 4½ inches tall and is a lovely project for an evening or two. The head and body are made in one piece, then layered feathers in your choice of colours are sewn on in two rows, so you can go classic autumn or as bright as you like. You only need medium weight yarn scraps in brown and yellow plus your feather colours, and a G hook. The wings, legs and double wattle are all simple shapes, which makes this a friendly pattern for newer amigurumi makers. A row of these along the mantel, or one at each place setting, would make guests smile before the food even arrives.
Pattern: Tiny Little Turkey by All Crochet Ideas — Get the free pattern
6. Tiny Roasted Turkey
This tiny bird skips the feathers and goes straight for the joke: it is a miniature roasted turkey, drumsticks and all, just 2 inches long. Nicki designed it in sport weight yarn with a 3 mm hook, and it uses less than 100 yards, so it is a true scrap buster you can finish while the real turkey is in the oven. Add a keyring and it becomes a bag charm, or make several to scatter through a garland or a fall wreath. The full written pattern is free on the page; there is also an optional ad-free PDF to buy on Ravelry and Etsy if you prefer printing. It is the smallest project in this list and possibly the funniest.
Pattern: Tiny Roasted Turkey Amigurumi by Nicki (Nicki’s Homemade Crafts) — Get the free pattern
7. Turkey Rattle for Baby
For the littlest Thanksgiving guest, Jan Bay's turkey rattle is a thoughtful handmade gift. A plump turkey with eight colourful tail feathers sits on a smooth wooden ring, and an enclosed rattle insert hides inside the stuffed head for a gentle sound. The eyes are embroidered rather than plastic, which is the safer choice for a baby toy, and the finished rattle stands about 6½ to 7 inches tall. It is worked in worsted weight cotton with a small hook for a firm fabric, and Jan includes sensible notes about checking seams and using it for supervised play. It is a sweet make for a baby born in the fall.
Pattern: Turkey Rattle by Jan Bay (Unique Baby Gear Ideas) — Get the free pattern
8. Turkey Door Hanger with Pumpkin
This is the showstopper of the list: a turkey in a pilgrim hat, holding a pumpkin, perched on a real wooden branch with dangling oak leaf ornaments and wooden beads. The finished hanger measures roughly 40–45 cm wide and 55–65 cm tall, so it makes a real statement on a front door or entryway wall. Every element is crocheted separately, from the fan of autumn feathers to the little berries, and then assembled onto the branch. It is rated intermediate to advanced, and it is honestly a project of many happy hours, not one evening. Start it early in November and it will greet your guests long before you do.
Pattern: Turkey Door Hanger by Crochet Passion — Get the free pattern
9. Turkey Wreath
Sarah Zimmerman's turkey wreath is a November classic: a 10-inch wreath form wrapped in a crocheted strip, with a stuffed turkey head, big fanned feathers and little orange feet arranged around it. Pipe cleaners hidden behind the feathers keep them standing tall, and a few strands of yarn on top of the head make his funny hair. The pattern gives you every piece separately, so you can also lift the head and feathers off the wreath and make a freestanding turkey for the table instead. It uses worsted weight yarn and a G hook, and the colours are easy to swap to match your door. Gobble gobble, indeed.
Pattern: Turkey Wreath by Sarah Zimmerman (Repeat Crafter Me) — Get the free pattern
10. Turkey Wreath on a Hoop
Agnes takes a completely different route to a turkey wreath: one giant, colourful disc crocheted onto a 14-inch metal hoop becomes the tail, finished with a shell edging that reads as feathers. The flat head and body pieces are sewn on top, with button eyes and a beak that flows straight into the red wattle. She designed it around a multicolour granny square yarn in warm wheat tones, with a cinnamon brown for the body, so most of the colour work happens by itself. Worked with a 5.5 mm hook, it grows quickly for such a big piece of door décor. Hang it on the front door and the whole street knows Thanksgiving is coming.
Pattern: Turkey Wreath by Agnes (Agnes Creates) — Get the free pattern
11. Tasty Turkey Basket
Tamara Kelly's Tasty Turkey Basket is the big, sturdy one: bulky yarn held doubled makes a basket about 10 inches long, with a flat turkey head at one end and five cheerful tail feathers at the other. Fill it with dinner rolls, wrapped treats, pinecones, or little notes of things your family is thankful for. The parts are made separately and sewn on, and the pattern is free on the Moogly page, with an optional ad-free PDF if you like to print. Because the yarn is held doubled, it works up fast and holds its shape well on a busy table. This is the centrepiece that also does a job.
Pattern: Tasty Turkey Basket by Tamara Kelly (Moogly) — Get the free pattern
12. Turkey Treat Basket
Melissa's turkey basket is the smaller, sweeter cousin: about 6.5 inches wide and 5 inches tall, worked from the bottom up in single crochet. A round turkey face is sewn to the front, and five feathers in red, orange and yellow stand up inside the back rim. It is just the right size for sweets on the table, a few crayons and colouring pages for the children's end, or a little gift of baked goods for a neighbour. The pattern is rated advanced beginner and uses worsted weight yarn. Make one for the table and a second for the hallway, because they are hard to stop at one.
Pattern: Turkey Basket by Melissa (Lovable Loops) — Get the free pattern
13. Turkey Coasters and Ornaments
Joanne Loh's turkey coasters are made like little sandwiches: a colourful front and a plain back, joined together with the outlining worked through both layers, which gives the tail its beautiful stitched detail. Felt circles and a tiny felt beak and snood are sewn on for the face, so there is a little bit of hand sewing along with the crochet. Add the optional hanging loop and the same piece becomes an ornament for a fall garland or a Thanksgiving tree. They use small amounts of yarn in five or six fall colours and a 3 mm hook. A set of four or six, tied with ribbon, makes a hostess gift people actually keep.
Pattern: Turkey Coasters by Joanne Loh (Craft Passion) — Get the free pattern
14. Colourwork Turkey Coaster
Jo's turkey coaster is a flat square worked in single crochet colourwork, following written rows and a chart, so the turkey picture grows stitch by stitch in front of you. Her sample uses a green background, but her testers made sets in all sorts of colours and every one of them works. Each coaster is about 5.5 inches square and uses only small amounts of worsted yarn, and she shows an optional felt backing glued on for a smooth underside. The written pattern is free on the page; a printer-friendly PDF is available to buy if you prefer paper in hand. A full set in mixed colours looks wonderful spread under the Thanksgiving glasses.
Pattern: Turkey Coaster by Jo (Jo to the World Creations) — Get the free pattern
15. Turkey Coaster or Stuffed Turkey Ball
This friendly pattern makes a round turkey coaster with six scalloped feathers worked in a variegated autumn yarn, so the colours blend without any joining or changing. The eyes and beak are tacked right in the centre of the disc, exactly where your mug will sit, which always makes me smile. If coasters are not what you need, the designer shows a second version: make two body discs, sew them together and stuff them for a soft turkey ball that little ones can toss around safely. It uses worsted yarn and an F hook, and the instructions are written in a relaxed, encouraging style. It is perfect for a first Thanksgiving project.
Pattern: Turkey Coaster by Almost Unschoolers — Get the free pattern
16. Turkey Appliqué with Pilgrim Hat
Sometimes you do not need a whole turkey, just a very good flat one. Melissa's appliqué is a generous 10.5 inches wide, with a round body, five tall feathers, little feet, and a pilgrim hat with a yarn-stitched buckle. Sew it onto a table runner, a tote bag, an apron, a cushion cover or a classroom board, and the whole thing instantly says Thanksgiving. It is beginner friendly, worked in worsted yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, and the pieces are mostly simple circles and rows. Because it is flat, it is also a quick win: an evening of crochet and a few minutes of sewing.
Pattern: Turkey Applique by Melissa (Lovable Loops) — Get the free pattern
17. Turkey Granny Square
This 7.25-inch square starts as a circle-to-square granny, then a 3D turkey is built on top of it: a round head, five long feathers, tiny legs and a curly gobbler, all sewn in place. Join a set of squares into a Thanksgiving blanket or cushion, or use a single square as a bag front or wall hanging. It is rated advanced beginner and uses worsted yarn, and it is a fun way to practise sewing small pieces neatly. The pattern is free on the page; Melissa also offers an optional ad-free PDF in her Etsy shop. Mix it with plain autumn squares and the turkey ones will steal the show.
Pattern: Turkey Granny Square by Melissa (Lovable Loops) — Get the free pattern
18. Turkey Hat in Six Sizes
If your family does a Thanksgiving photo, this is the hat. Melissa's turkey hat has big eyes, a beak and gobbler, colourful corkscrew feathers on top, and earflaps with long braided ties, and it comes in six sizes from 0–3 months right up to adult. It is beginner friendly, worked top-down in worsted yarn, and the face pieces are crocheted separately and sewn on. Matching hats for the whole table would make the best holiday card photo you have ever sent. The full written pattern is free on the page, with an optional ad-free PDF in her Etsy shop if you prefer to print it. Warm ears, silly photos, happy memories.
Pattern: Turkey Hat by Melissa (Lovable Loops) — Get the free pattern
19. Cooked Turkey Hat
Heidi Yates turned the joke all the way up with this one: a golden-brown beanie that looks like a roasted turkey, complete with stuffed drumstick legs worn as earflaps, white frilly bone tips, and little wings at the sides. It comes in sizes from toddler to large adult, and it has been a beloved, much-made design for years, for very good reason. Imagine the cook bringing out the real bird while wearing this. The pattern is free on the page; Heidi also sells an ad-free downloadable file in her Ravelry and Etsy shops if you want it saved neatly. This is the hat for fun runs, office parties and the family member who commits to the bit.
Pattern: Cooked Turkey Hat by Heidi Yates (Snappy Tots) — Get the free pattern
20. Turkey Hat, Bonnet or Beanie
Fosbas Designs gives you two hats in one pattern: a sweet bonnet with ties, or a beanie with a ribbed brim, both topped with a fan of shell-stitch feathers in three autumn colours. The body of the hat uses a crossed double crochet stitch, which adds a lovely texture without being difficult. Sizes run from 0–6 months up to teen and adult small, so the whole family can match, and it is rated advanced beginner. The designer made the first one to twin with her baby, which tells you exactly how cute the bonnet version is. The pattern is free on the page, and a PDF with step photos is available to buy on Ravelry and Etsy.
Pattern: Turkey Hat by Fosbas Designs — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
From a two-inch roasted turkey to a door hanger that takes over the whole entryway, there is a bird in this list for every table, door and head in the house. Most of them sip yarn rather than gulp it, so check your stash for browns, rusts and golds before you buy anything new.
Which turkey will you make first — a plump amigurumi centrepiece, a set of coasters for the drinks, or one of the very silly hats? Tell me in the comments below, and if you finish one, I would love to hear which colours you chose for the feathers!
