Free Animal Knitting Patterns

Looking for free animal knitting patterns? Find more than 200 knitted animals at Knitting Bee, from teddy bears, cats, dogs and bunnies to sheep, elephants, monkeys, penguins, mice and more.

Whether you want a cuddly stuffed animal, a small knitted creature or a handmade toy for a child, use the collections below to quickly find your favourite animal—or scroll down to browse all the latest free knitted animal patterns.

Looking for dolls, dinosaurs and other toys too? See all free toy knitting patterns.

Find an Animal to Knit

I want to knit…	Browse free patterns
Teddy bears	Free Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns
Cats & kittens	Free Cat Toy Knitting Patterns
Bunnies & rabbits	Free Bunny & Rabbit Knitting Patterns
Dogs & puppies	Free Dog Toy Knitting Patterns
Sheep & lambs	Free Sheep Knitting Patterns
Elephants	Free Elephant Knitting Patterns
Monkeys	Free Monkey Knitting Patterns
Mice	Free Mice Knitting Patterns
Pandas	Free Panda Knitting Patterns
Penguins	Free Penguin Knitting Patterns
Turtles	Free Turtle Knitting Patterns
Squirrels	Free Squirrel Knitting Patterns
Birds	Free Bird Knitting Patterns
Ducks	Free Duck Knitting Patterns
Owls	Free Owl Knitting Patterns
Frogs	Free Frog Knitting Patterns
Giraffes	Free Giraffe Knitting Patterns

Butterflies	Free Butterfly Knitting Patterns
Bugs & insects	Free Knitted Bug Patterns

Which Animal Should You Knit?

Not sure which pattern collection to start with? Think about who you’re knitting for and the kind of project you want to make.

If you’re looking for…	Start here
A classic cuddly toy	Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns
A cat lover’s gift	Cat Toy Knitting Patterns
A baby or Easter gift	Bunny & Rabbit Knitting Patterns
A dog lover’s gift	Dog Toy Knitting Patterns
A small knitted animal	Mice Knitting Patterns
Farmyard animals	Farm Animal Knitting Patterns
Jungle animals	Jungle Animal Knitting Patterns
Woodland creatures	Woodland Animal Knitting Patterns

Teddy Bears, Cats, Dogs and Bunnies

Some animals have enough patterns on Knitting Bee to explore as collections of their own.

For a traditional handmade toy, start with the free teddy bear knitting patterns.

Cat lovers can choose from tiny kittens, cuddly cats and character toys in the free cat toy knitting patterns, while the free dog toy knitting patterns are a good place to look for knitted puppies and dogs.

For soft bunnies, little rabbits and Easter favourites, explore the free bunny and rabbit knitting patterns.

Farm Animal Knitting Patterns

Want to knit a whole barnyard? The free farm animal knitting patterns are the place to look for familiar farm creatures.

You can also go directly to the free sheep knitting patterns or free duck knitting patterns.

Jungle and Woodland Animals

For something a little wilder, browse the jungle animal knitting patterns, including animals such as monkeys, elephants and giraffes.

Or head into the woods with the woodland animal knitting patterns, where you’ll find smaller forest creatures including squirrels, deer and mice.

Small and Easy Animals to Knit

Small knitted animals can be a good choice when you want a shorter project or have leftover yarn to use. Mice, little birds, tiny rabbits and miniature creatures often require much less yarn than a large stuffed animal.

If you’re a newer knitter, look beyond the animal itself and check how the toy is constructed. An animal made from simple shapes and knitted flat can be easier to tackle than a design with complicated shaping or lots of small pieces.

You can find more suitable first projects in the beginner knitting patterns, or see What Can I Knit With Leftover Yarn? for more small-project ideas.

Can You Knit Animals on Straight Needles?

Yes. Many animal knitting patterns can be worked flat on two straight needles and sewn together afterwards.

If you prefer not to knit in the round, check each pattern for terms such as knitted flat, worked flat, two needles or straight needles. Knitting Bee has animal patterns made this way, including ducks, cats and other small toys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find free animal knitting patterns?

You’ll find more than 200 free animal knitting patterns in this Knitting Bee collection, with separate collections for bears, cats, rabbits, dogs, sheep, elephants, monkeys, mice, penguins and many other animals.

What is the easiest animal to knit?

There isn’t one animal that is always easiest. Look instead at the construction. A simple animal worked flat in basic knit and purl stitches with straightforward shaping can make a good first toy.

Can beginners knit stuffed animals?

Yes. Look for easy animal knitting patterns using techniques you already know, particularly patterns with simple shapes, basic stitches and clear assembly.

Can you knit stuffed animals on straight needles?

Yes. Many knitted animals are worked flat on two straight needles and then seamed and stuffed.

What small animals can I knit with leftover yarn?

Mice, tiny rabbits, small birds, insects and other miniature animals can be useful options for leftover yarn. Check the individual pattern’s yarn requirements to see whether you have enough.

Are there free animal knitting patterns to download?

Yes, some original designers provide their free animal patterns as downloadable files or PDFs, while others publish them directly on a webpage. Check the original pattern source linked from the individual Knitting Bee pattern page for the format available.