Meet Beachcomber Turtle, a sweet pastel-green amigurumi turtle in a striped sailor top, mint skirt, straw sun hat, rope-style sandals, a shell-shaped backpack, and two tiny beach buckets – one with a starfish, one ready for seashell treasures.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
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 (sc 2 sts together)
- BLO – back loop only
- FLO – front loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- rep – repeat
Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.
Materials
- Yarn – DK / light worsted cotton or cotton blend
- Turtle skin: light pastel green
- Shirt stripes: cream / off-white
- Shirt dark stripe: sea blue / teal
- Skirt: mint green
- Sandals & hat & backpack: light beige / straw color
- Buckets:
- Bucket 1: beige
- Bucket 2: mint green, handle beige
- Starfish: soft orange
- Extra detail (little shell/flower on hat): cream or light beige
- Facial embroidery: dark green or dark brown
- Hook: 2.5–3.0 mm (or size needed for tight fabric)
- Safety eyes: 8 mm black, 1 pair
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill
- Tapestry needle, sewing pins, scissors, stitch markers
Gauge & Finished Size
Gauge is not critical, but stitches should be dense so stuffing does not show.
With DK cotton and a 2.75 mm hook, your turtle will be approximately 20–22 cm (about 8–8.5″) tall including hat.
Construction Overview
Beachcomber Turtle is worked in separate pieces:
- Legs with sandals, joined into the body.
- Body and neck in one piece.
- Head made separately and sewn on.
- Arms, small tail, and shell-backpack are made and attached.
- Clothes (striped top, skirt) are crocheted directly as part of the body shaping to keep silhouette accurate, or created in color sections.
- Sun hat and accessories (two buckets, starfish, shell-backpack straps) are separate pieces.
Stuff firmly as you go to help the turtle stand on its own.
Legs & Sandals (make 2)
Sandals and feet are worked together.
Sole & Straps
With beige (sole/straps):
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5 (sole edge): BLO, sc in each st (24)
Change to green for foot.
Rnd 6: sc in each st (24)
Rnd 7: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
Rnd 8: sc in each st (18)
Rnd 9 (shape toes): 5 sc, (dec, sc) x3, 4 sc (15)
Rnd 10–11: sc in each st (15)
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Lower Leg
Rnd 12: (4 sc, inc) x3 (18)
Rnd 13–16: sc in each st (18)
Fasten off first leg, leaving a short tail to weave in. Do not fasten off second leg; you’ll join the legs there.
Sandals straps:
With beige and a smaller hook (optional), attach yarn to side of sole at rnd 5 near back.
Ch 7–8 (long enough to cross the instep), sl st to opposite side to make the ankle strap.
Fasten off and weave in. You’ll leave the “front” of the sandal open so the green foot shows like in the photo.
Join Legs & Body
With green, from last stitch of second leg:
Rnd 1: ch 4, join with sc to any st of first leg, sc around first leg (18), sc 4 across one side of chain, sc around second leg (18), sc 4 across other side of chain (44 sts total).
Place marker at center back of body.
Rnd 2–4: sc in each st (44)
We’ll now start the clothing color changes.
Body with Striped Shirt & Mint Skirt
Lower Body (skin + skirt top)
Continue in green:
Rnd 5: (9 sc, dec) x4 (40)
Rnd 6: sc in each st (40)
Change to mint green for skirt.
Rnd 7 (skirt base, FLO): sc in each st (40) – this row becomes waistband.
We will come back later to work the skirt down from the front loops.
Change to cream for shirt.
Rnd 8 (BLO, shirt start): sc in each st (40)
Rnd 9: sc in each st (40)
Change to sea blue.
Rnd 10: sc in each st (40)
Change to cream.
Rnd 11–12: sc in each st (40)
Change to sea blue.
Rnd 13: sc in each st (40)
Change to cream.
Rnd 14–15: sc in each st (40)
Chest to Neck
Change to green (neck).
Rnd 16: (8 sc, dec) x4 (36)
Rnd 17: sc in each st (36)
Rnd 18: (4 sc, dec) x6 (30)
Rnd 19: sc in each st (30)
Rnd 20: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
Rnd 21: sc in each st (24)
Rnd 22: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
Stuff body firmly up to this point. Fasten off and leave a long tail if you prefer to sew head to the neck stump.
Head
With green:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x6 (36)
Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) x6 (42)
Rnd 8–13: sc in each st (42)
Place safety eyes between rnds 10–11, spaced about 7–8 sts apart. Embroider two small nostril dots slightly below the center point between the eyes, and a tiny curved smile just underneath using dark green or brown.
Rnd 14: (5 sc, dec) x6 (36)
Rnd 15: (4 sc, dec) x6 (30)
Rnd 16: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
Stuff head firmly, shaping into a smooth ball.
Rnd 17: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
Rnd 18: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Fasten off and close. Sew head securely onto neck so it sits straight over the center of the legs.
Arms (make 2)
With green:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: (sc, inc) x3 (9)
Rnd 3–5: sc in each st (9)
Change to cream for shirt sleeve.
Rnd 6–9: sc in each st (9)
Lightly stuff only the hand portion.
Rnd 10: (sc, dec) x3 (6)
Flatten opening and sc through both layers across (3 or 4 sts). Fasten off leaving a tail.
Sew arms to sides of body at the top of the striped shirt, slightly forward-facing so they can hold the buckets.
Small Turtle Tail
With green:
Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR (4)
Rnd 2: (sc, inc) x2 (6)
Rnd 3–4: sc in each st (6)
Stuff lightly, close opening, and sew at the lower back just above the legs.
Mint Skirt
Return to mint green and the FLO of body rnd 7.
Rnd 1: Attach yarn in any front loop, ch 1, sc in each FLO around (40).
Rnd 2: (sc, inc) x20 (60)
Rnd 3–6: sc in each st (60)
To match the gentle flare:
Rnd 7: (2 sc, inc) x20 (80)
Rnd 8: sc in each st (80)
Fasten off and weave in ends. The skirt should sit with a soft A-line, finishing just above the turtle’s knees.
Shell Backpack
Shell Body
With beige:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6–7: sc in each st (30)
Rnd 8: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
Rnd 9: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
Stuff shell moderately so it keeps a rounded dome.
Rnd 10: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Fasten off and close.
Using the tail, stitch small spiral lines on the shell surface with surface slip stitch or backstitch to mimic shell ridges.
Backpack Straps
With beige:
Ch 26.
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (25). Fasten off.
Make two straps. Pin one strap from the top of shell to the lower side; position on turtle’s back like backpack straps. Sew securely at shell and body (just above shoulders and near waistband). Repeat for the other side so both straps rest neatly over the shoulders in front.
Straw Sun Hat
With beige (straw color):
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x6 (36)
Rnd 7–8: sc in each st (36) – this is the side of the crown.
Rnd 9 (start brim, FLO): (5 sc, inc) x6 (42)
Rnd10: (6 sc, inc) x6 (48)
Rnd11: (7 sc, inc) x6 (54)
Rnd12: sc in each st (54)
Fasten off, weave in. Lightly steam and shape brim to curve gently downward like in the picture.
Little Shell/Flower on Hat
You can choose a simple shell-like swirl or a tiny flower.
Simple shell rosette – with cream:
Ch 18.
Row 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in each ch across (this will curl).
Roll into a spiral and sew in place on the side of the hat.
Place the hat firmly on the turtle’s head; tack to the back of the head with a couple of stitches if you want it fixed.
Beach Buckets & Starfish
Beige Bucket
With beige:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3 (side wall): BLO, sc in each st (12)
Rnd 4–6: sc in each st (12)
Fasten off and weave in.
Handle:
Attach beige yarn to rim, ch 10–12, sl st to opposite side of rim. Fasten off.
You can add a tiny cream “shell” inside by rolling a small strip of crochet or just stuffing a little cream ball.
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Mint Bucket with Starfish
Bucket – with mint green:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: BLO, sc in each st (12)
Rnd 4–6: sc in each st (12)
Change to beige for rim.
Rnd 7: sc in each st (12)
Fasten off.
Handle – with beige:
Attach at rim, ch 10–12, sl st to opposite side. Fasten off.
Starfish
With soft orange:
Rnd 1: 5 sc in MR (5) – do not close too tight; you want a tiny center.
Now make 5 points:
(ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, sl st in next st of center)
Rep from * to * around creating 5 arms. Fasten off and weave in.
Sew the starfish to the front of the mint bucket so it sits centered as in the photo.
Assembly
- Body & Head:
Sew head securely to neck with strong stitches, making sure the face looks straight forward. - Limbs & Tail:
Attach arms at the sides of the shirt, just under the shoulder line. Sew tail at back. - Backpack:
Sew shell firmly to the turtle’s back, slightly above the waist. Attach both straps so they sit over the shoulders and under the arms. - Skirt & Clothing Checks:
Smooth the skirt so it flares evenly all around. Straighten stripes on the shirt if needed. - Hat & Accessories:
Place hat on the head, slightly tilted. You can fix it with a few stitches through the crown and into the head.
Position one bucket in each hand and stitch handles lightly to the hands so they won’t slip out.
Finishing Details
- With dark yarn, add a tiny line above each eye for soft eyebrows if you like.
- Add a small blush tint on cheeks using pink thread or fabric-safe blush.
- Check all seams, accessories, and safety eyes to make sure everything is secure.
Your Beachcomber Turtle is now ready to wander the shoreline, collect shells in her buckets, and brighten up any cozy corner, from a kid’s room shelf to your beachy summer décor. Happy crocheting! 🧶🐢🏖️
