Introduction

Crochet a cheerful Donkey Farmers’ Market Helper—a soft gray donkey in a sunny yellow shirt, green dungaree shorts with carrot buttons, a cream straw hat with a leaf accent, brown loafers, and a cream tote full of tiny veggies. The step-by-step below matches the photographed sample so your finished plush looks the same on camera and in hand.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Materials Needed

• Yarn (DK / Light-3, cotton or cotton-blend recommended):
  1. Gray (main donkey) – ~80 g
  2. Light Gray/Cream (muzzle & inner ear) – ~15 g
  3. Pale Yellow (shirt) – ~25 g
  4. Moss/Leaf Green (dungaree shorts + hat band) – ~35 g
  5. Cream (hat + tote) – ~30 g
  6. Tan/Brown (loafers + nose detail) – ~20 g
  7. Orange & Leaf Green (carrot & carrot leaves) – scraps
  8. Red/Pink & Leaf Green (radish) – scraps
• Hooks: 2.75 mm (C) for amigurumi pieces; 3.0 mm for clothing that needs drape (shirt/hat/tote).
• Notions: 8 mm black safety eyes (x2); 3 small shirt buttons; fiberfill; stitch markers; yarn needle.
• Optional: tiny bit of felt or yarn for wheat/leaf applique on hat.

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge (sc in the round, 2.75 mm): ~24 sts × 26 rnds = 4″ (10 cm).
• Finished size: ~25–26 cm (10″) tall.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

MR = magic ring; ch = chain; sc = single crochet; hdc = half double crochet; dc = double crochet; sl st = slip stitch; inc = increase (2 sc in same st); dec = invisible decrease; BLO/FLO = back/front loop only; st(s) = stitch(es); rnd(s) = round(s); rep = repeat; pm = place marker; FO = fasten off.

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Color Map & Build Order

Donkey: Gray; Muzzle & inner ear Light Gray/Cream; Nose Tan/Brown; Eyes Black.
Clothes: Shirt Yellow; Shorts Green (with carrot appliqués in Orange/Leaf Green); Hat Cream with Green band; Loafers Brown; Tote Cream; Veggies Orange/Red & Green.
Assembly order: Head → Muzzle/Eyes/Nose/Smile → Ears → Body → Arms → Legs/Feet → Tail → Shirt → Shorts/Straps/Carrots → Hat → Loafers → Tote + veggies (hand-held left side).

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Head (Gray; 2.75 mm; continuous rnds)

1. MR 6 sc (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. sc, inc ×6 (18)
4. 2 sc, inc ×6 (24)
5. 3 sc, inc ×6 (30)
6. 4 sc, inc ×6 (36)
7. 5 sc, inc ×6 (42)
8. 6 sc, inc ×6 (48)
   9–14) sc around (48) → height creates the gently “boxy” round shape
9. 7 sc, inc ×6 (54)
   16–18) sc around (54). Place eyes between Rnds 16–17 with 10–11 sts between.
10. 7 sc, dec ×6 (48)
11. 6 sc, dec ×6 (42)
12. 5 sc, dec ×6 (36) — start stuffing firmly, shaping cheeks
13. 4 sc, dec ×6 (30)
14. 3 sc, dec ×6 (24)
15. 2 sc, dec ×6 (18)
16. sc, dec ×6 (12)
17. dec ×6 (6); FO, close.

Muzzle (Light Gray/Cream; worked oval)

1. ch 7; sc in 2nd ch from hook, 4 sc, 3 sc in end; rotate, 4 sc, inc at last (14)
2. inc, 4 sc, inc ×3, 4 sc, inc ×2 (20)
3. 4 sc, inc ×4 (24)
4. sc around (24)
5. BLO sc around (24) to create a soft rim, lightly stuff. FO long tail.
   Stitch a small tan/brown oval nose centered on top third; embroider a tiny smile. Sew muzzle centered so its lower edge sits ~2 rnds above the head’s closing rounds.

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Ears (Make 2; Gray with Light-Gray inner; worked in the round)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. sc, inc ×3 (9)
3. 2 sc, inc ×3 (12)
4. 3 sc, inc ×3 (15)
   5–12) sc around (15)
5. 3 sc, dec ×3 (12)
   14–15) sc around (12)
   Flatten and sl st across opening (6). FO.
   Optional: whipstitch a Light-Gray inner ear piece (worked flat as an oval to ~14 sts).
   Placement: sew high on head, edges slanted outward ~20–25°, rear edge roughly aligns with back of eye.

Body (Gray; cylinder)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. sc, inc ×6 (18)
4. 2 sc, inc ×6 (24)
5. 3 sc, inc ×6 (30)
6. 4 sc, inc ×6 (36)
   7–11) sc around (36)
7. 11 sc, inc ×3 (39) — tiny belly
   13–14) sc around (39)
8. 11 sc, dec ×3 (36)
9. 4 sc, dec ×6 (30)
10. 3 sc, dec ×6 (24)
    Stuff firmly.
11. 2 sc, dec ×6 (18)
12. sc, dec ×6 (12); FO. Leave tail to stitch body closed to hip ring when legs are joined.

Arms (Make 2; Gray; lightly stuffed)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. 3 sc, inc ×3 (15)
4. sc around (15)
5. 3 sc, dec ×3 (12)
   6–15) sc around (12) (~7.5–8 cm length).
   Flatten opening and sc across to close (6). FO. Sew later between Body Rnds 8–9 from the top.

Legs (Make 2; Gray)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. sc, inc ×6 (18)
4. 2 sc, inc ×6 (24)
   5–6) sc around (24)
5. 2 sc, dec ×6 (18)
   8–12) sc around (18). Stuff. FO first leg. Work second leg and do not FO.

Join Hips

With second leg yarn still on hook: ch 3; sc into any st of first leg to begin joining.

1. sc 18 around first leg, sc 3 across ch-bridge, sc 18 around second leg, sc 3 across underside of bridge (42)
2. sc around (42)
3. 5 sc, dec ×6 (36)
4. 4 sc, dec ×6 (30)
5. sc around (30); FO.
   Whipstitch body base neatly to this hip ring so legs face forward and sit evenly.

Tail (Gray)

1. MR 5 (5)
   2–5) sc around (5)
   Lightly stuff; sew centered low back.

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Clothing & Accessories

Short-Sleeve Henley Shirt (Pale Yellow; 3.0 mm)

Worked bottom-up, flat panels for clean armholes; then seamed.
Back Panel

1. Ch 26; sc in 2nd ch and across (25).
   2–12) ch 1, turn, sc across (25).
2. ch 1, sc2tog, sc 21, sc2tog (23)
3. ch 1, sc2tog, sc 19, sc2tog (21) — FO.

Front Panel (same Rows 1–12 as back)
13) ch 1, sc2tog, sc 21, sc2tog (23)
14) ch 1, sc 8, ch 1, sk 1 (henley slit), sc 12, sc2tog at ends so you end on (21). FO.

Shoulder/Side Seams: Mattress-stitch shoulders and sides, leaving armholes 10 rows tall.

Sleeves (worked in the round on armholes)
Join Yellow at underarm.

1. sc 20 evenly around, join (20)
   2–6) sc around (20)
2. FLO sc around (20) to form a small turning ridge. FO.

Neckline
Join Yellow at back neck; sc evenly around (approx 38). Work 2 rnds sc; FO.
Sew three tiny buttons vertically on the front placket.

Dungaree Shorts with Bib, Straps & Carrot Buttons (Green; 3.0 mm)

Waistband (rib):

1. ch 7; BLO sc back and forth for 56 rows; join ends to form a band (56 ribs).
2. Pick up 56 sc along one long edge (56).
   3–4) sc around (56).
3. 6 sc, dec ×7 (49)
   6–7) sc around (49)
4. 5 sc, dec ×7 (42)
5. sc around (42).

Split for legs:
10) sc 21, ch 2, sk remaining 21; join to first 21 and work Leg 1 in the round for 6 rnds of sc; FO.
Return to the 21 skipped sts for Leg 2: attach yarn, sc 21, pick up 2 sc across ch-bridge; work 6 rnds; FO.

Bib & Pocket Flap:
Attach yarn to center front at waistband top.

1. ch 1, work 16 sc across (centered) (16); turn.
   2–7) ch 1, sc 16; turn each row (keep edges straight). FO.
   Pocket flap: join at row 3 of bib, ch 1, sc 10; next row sc 10; FO; fold down slightly and tack.

Straps (2 pcs):
Ch 28; hdc in 2nd ch and across (27). FO. Sew strap ends to top bib corners, cross over the back, and attach to waistband.
Carrot buttons (2):

• Carrot: with Orange, ch 4; sc in 2nd ch, hdc in next, dc in last; FO.
• Leaves: attach Leaf Green at top, ch 3, sl st to base, ch 2, sl st; FO.
  Stitch one carrot at each strap front end as faux buttons.

Sun Hat with Band & Leaf (Cream + Green; 3.0 mm)

Crown (Cream):

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. sc, inc ×6 (18)
4. 2 sc, inc ×6 (24)
5. 3 sc, inc ×6 (30)
6. 4 sc, inc ×6 (36)
   7–9) sc around (36)

Band (Green):
10) join Green, BLO sc around (36)
11) sc around (36); change back to Cream.

Brim:
12) (inc, sc 5) ×6 (42)
13) (inc, sc 6) ×6 (48)
14) (inc, sc 7) ×6 (54)
15) sl st around for a tidy edge; FO.
Leaf/Wheat applique: with Brown/Green, embroider a tiny leaf sprig on the band left side.

Loafers (Make 2; Brown; 2.75 mm)

Sole:

1. ch 8; sc in 2nd ch, 5 sc, 3 sc in last; rotate, 5 sc, inc (16)
2. inc, 5 sc, inc ×3, 5 sc, inc ×2 (22) — FO.

Upper:
Join Brown through both loops around the sole.

1. sc 22 (22)
2. sc 22
3. sc 6, dec ×5, sc 6 (17)
4. sc 5, dec ×3, sc 6 (14)
5. FLO sc 14 to form saddle ridge.
6. sl st around opening for a clean collar; FO.
   Sew shoes to feet with toes pointing forward.

Market Tote (Cream; 3.0 mm) — left hand holds the bag

Body (worked in the round):

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc ×6 (12)
3. sc, inc ×6 (18)
4. 2 sc, inc ×6 (24)
5. 3 sc, inc ×6 (30)
6. sc in BLO around (30) to turn base
   7–12) sc around (30)
7. sc 4, dec ×5 (25)
8. sc around (25)
   Handles: ch 18, skip 5 sts, sc around remaining to opposite side, ch 18, skip 5, complete rnd; next rnd sc into each ch and st to reinforce. FO.
   Stitch tote to left hand so it’s naturally held.

Veggies for Bag (1 carrot + 1 radish)

• Carrot: MR 4 with Orange; sc 3 rnds, then (sc, inc) ×2, stuff lightly; add Leaf Green ch-picot leaves; FO.
• Radish: MR 6 with Red, sc 2 rnds, change to Cream for a 1-rnd “tip”; add two Leaf Green chains for leaves. Pop both into the tote.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

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Assembly

1. Head ↔ Body: ladder stitch head onto body, keeping a slight forward tilt.
2. Arms: sew between body Rnds 8–9 from top; make sure the left hand angles slightly forward to grip the tote handle.
3. Legs/Hips: verify parallel stance; stitch body base to hip ring firmly.
4. Tail: attach centered low back.
5. Dress: put on shirt first; then slide up dungaree shorts, cross and tack straps at back; sew carrot “buttons.”
6. Loafers: attach securely to feet.
7. Hat: fit low on forehead; tack at two points so it stays put; angle slightly to the right so the leaf applique shows on the left band.
8. Tote: sew handle into the left hand grasp; add veggies.

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Finishing Touches / QC

• Face: confirm eyes sit between Head Rnds 16–17, 10–11 sts apart; muzzle centered and gently stuffed; nose satin-stitched cleanly; add a tiny smile.
• Ears: symmetrical angle; tips flare outward.
• Clothes: shirt sleeves end mid-upper-arm; dungaree shorts hem hits mid-thigh; bib centered; pocket flap straight; straps cross neatly on back.
• Footwear: loafer ridgeline crisp; shoes matched in length and toe shape.
• Hat: brim even; green band continuous; leaf detail securely tacked.
• Pose match: donkey stands on a wooden surface; tote hangs from left hand without twisting.

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Pattern Notes

• Use a tight sc fabric to prevent stuffing from showing. Keep a marker at the first st of each rnd.
• Stuff gradually; shape the head by pressing cheeks slightly while closing.
• Invisible decreases maintain smoothness on head and limbs.
• For clean color transitions on clothing, carry yarn on the WS or cut and weave ends.
• If your gauge runs looser and height exceeds 26 cm, reduce 1–2 plain rounds in the head or body to retain proportions.

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Quick Stitch Checklist (for print)

• Head: to 54 sts; 3 plain rnds at 54; eyes at Rnds 16–17, gap 10–11 sts; close to 6.
• Muzzle: oval to 24 sts; BLO rim on Rnd 5; sew centered.
• Ears: long tubes, close flat; sew high/outward.
• Body: max 39 sts, taper to 12; join to hips.
• Arms: 15 → 12; close flat; attach at Rnds 8–9.
• Legs/Hips: each 24 → 18; join with ch-3 bridge to 42; finish seat.
• Clothes: yellow shirt (flat panels + round sleeves); green shorts with bib/straps + carrot buttons; cream sun hat with green band; brown loafers; cream tote with carrot + radish.

Enjoy your new market-ready donkey!