Intro

Meet the Desert Postie Donkey: a sandy-beige amigurumi donkey in a short-sleeve linen shirt with a “POSTIE” name badge, olive cuffed chinos, and cream lace-up sneakers. Accessories include a canvas bucket hat with brown band, a crossbody mail satchel stocked with postcards & a foldable map, binoculars, and a metal water bottle.

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

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Materials

• Worsted (Category 4) cotton or cotton-blend yarn
  1. MC (Donkey): sandy beige, 140 g
  2. Contrast for inner ear/muzzle): warm cream, small amount
  3. Shirt: light khaki, 45 g
  4. Pants: olive/sea-green, 45 g
  5. Shoes: cream, 40 g
  6. Hat: wheat (straw look) 30 g + Band: cocoa 10 g
  7. Satchel: camel/brown, 30 g
  8. Binoculars: charcoal + strap in dark gray, small amounts
  9. Water bottle: silver gray + cork/strap in tan, small amounts
  10. Map & postcards: sand base, mint/green/teal for lines, scraps
  11. Badge letters: cocoa or black, scrap
• Hooks: 3.0 mm (amigurumi), 3.25–3.5 mm (clothes & props)
• Safety eyes 9 mm
• Polyester stuffing
• Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors
• Optional: small magnets or snaps for satchel flap; tiny button
• Cardboard/plastic circle for bottle base (≈26–28 mm), optional
• Strong sewing thread for anchoring hand-held props if the toy is for display

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Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR – magic ring
• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• inc – increase (2 sc in same st)
• dec – invisible decrease (front loops)
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• BLO / FLO – back/front loop only
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• rnd – round
• rep – repeat
• fo – fasten off

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Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge (3.0 mm, sc in spiral): ~6 sts × 7 rows = 1″ × 1″ (2.5 × 2.5 cm) with firm fabric.
• Finished height: ~10.5–11″ (27–28 cm) standing, hat on.

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Construction Overview

Doll is made in separate components—head (with muzzle), ears, body, arms, legs with sneakers, tail—then sewn. Clothes are removable: short-sleeve shirt, rolled chinos, bucket hat. Props are crocheted and lightly stuffed: satchel with flap & pocket, postcards & foldable map, binoculars, water bottle. Pose to match the photo: satchel strap over the shoulder, map in left hand, bottle in right; binoculars hang from the neck.

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Donkey – Base Doll (MC unless noted)

Head

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc around (12)
3. (sc, inc)×6 (18)
4. (2 sc, inc)×6 (24)
5. (3 sc, inc)×6 (30)
6. (4 sc, inc)×6 (36)
   7–10. sc around (36)
7. (5 sc, inc)×6 (42)
   12–13. sc around (42)
8. (5 sc, dec)×6 (36)
9. (4 sc, dec)×6 (30) — insert 9 mm eyes between rnds 11–12, 8–9 sts apart.
10. (3 sc, dec)×6 (24) — start stuffing; shape soft cheek planes.
11. (2 sc, dec)×6 (18)
12. (sc, dec)×6 (12)
13. dec around (6). Fo, close.

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Muzzle (cream)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc around (12)
3. (sc, inc)×6 (18)
4. (2 sc, inc)×6 (24)
   5–6. sc around (24). Fo leaving a long tail.
   Stuff lightly; sew centered low on the face, bottom edge about rnd 16 of head. With dark brown, embroider two nostrils and a tiny smile from center down.

Ears (make 2)

Outer (MC):

1. MR 6 (6)
2. (sc, inc)×3 (9)
3. (2 sc, inc)×3 (12)
4. (3 sc, inc)×3 (15)
   5–9. sc around (15)
5. (3 sc, dec)×3 (12)
   11–13. sc around (12) — fo.

Inner (cream): make up to rnd 10 of outer (12); fo.
Place inner on outer WS-to-WS and whip stitch along sides, leaving the base open. Pinch base into a shallow V and stitch to hold the tall, forward-tilted ear shape.

Body

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc around (12)
3. (sc, inc)×6 (18)
4. (2 sc, inc)×6 (24)
5. (3 sc, inc)×6 (30)
6. (4 sc, inc)×6 (36)
   7–10. sc around (36)
7. (4 sc, dec)×6 (30)
8. sc around (30)
9. (3 sc, dec)×6 (24)
10. (2 sc, dec)×6 (18) — neck. Stuff firmly to a gentle pear. Fo, leave tail for joining head.

Arms (make 2)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. (sc, inc)×3 (9)
   3–6. sc around (9)
3. (2 sc, inc)×3 (12)
   8–10. sc around (12)
4. (2 sc, dec)×3 (9)
   12–16. sc around (9) — stuff palm lightly only. Flatten last rnd; sc through both layers 4–5 sts to close. Fo long tails.

Legs & Sneakers

Shoe Sole (cream)

1. ch 6; sc in 2nd ch, sc 3, 3 sc in last; rotate, sc 3, inc at end (12)
2. inc, sc 3, inc×3, sc 3, inc×2 (18)
3. BLO sc around (18)
4. sc around (18)
5. sc 5, (dec, sc)×3, sc 2 (15)
6. sc 4, dec×3, sc 5 (12) — toe cap
7. sc around (12)
8. Lace ridge: surface sl st a short curved line across the toe; embroider two tiny lace bars with chains. Fo cream.

Leg (MC)
9. Join MC at heel; sc around (12)
10–16. sc around (12)
17. (3 sc, inc)×3 (15)
18–20. sc around (15) — stuff foot firm, leg medium. Fo long tails.

Sock edge: optional—surface sl st with khaki around rnd 10.

Tail (MC)

1. MR 5 sc (5)
   2–5. sc around (5); fo with tail for sewing. Add a tiny tuft using a few short strands of MC or cream.

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Assembly (Base)

• Sew ears to head crown, slightly forward and wide set.
• Attach head to body neck; position looking slightly forward.
• Sew arms at shoulder line; angle left to hold the map, right ready to carry bottle.
• Sew legs underneath so sneakers point straight ahead.
• Attach tail low back.

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Clothing

Short-Sleeve Shirt (light khaki; 3.25–3.5 mm)

Boxy fit with collar and turned cuffs.

Back

1. ch 34; Row 1: sc in 2nd ch and across (33).
   2–20. sc every row (33). Fo.

Left Front

1. ch 19; Row 1: sc 18.
   2–20. sc rows (18). Fo.

Right Front
Mirror left front.

Shoulders & Collar

• Seam fronts to back at shoulders (4 sts each).
• Collar band: Attach yarn at neckline; sc evenly across (≈40).
• Row 2: sc across; Row 3: FLO hdc across for a neat stand. Fo.
• Fold sleeve ends once to create rolled cuff later.

Sleeves (short) – worked onto armhole
Join yarn at armhole; sc around evenly (≈28).
Rounds 1–4: sc around.
Round 5: sl st around loosely to mimic a stitched cuff. Fo.

Front plackets

• Work 2 rows of sc along each front edge (adds width and the “button stand”).
• With cocoa or dark thread, sew three tiny fake buttons on the right; leave open front as in the photo.

Pocket & Badge

• Pocket: ch 8; sc 7 for 5 rows; sl st around; sew to left chest.
• Badge: ch 10; sc 9 for 2 rows; embroider POSTIE in block letters; sew to right chest.

Olive Cuffed Chinos (olive; 3.25 mm)

1. ch 60; join (60).
2. Rnd 1: sc around (60).
3. Rnd 2: (BLO sc 6, dec)×7 (53).
4. Rnd 3: sc around (53).
5. Split legs: sc 26, ch 2, sk 1, join to start for first leg (27).
   Leg 1: Rnds 6–10 sc around (27); Rnd 11 (3 sc, dec)×5 + sc 2 (22); Rnd 12 BLO sc (22); Rnds 13–14 sc around; Rnd 15 sl st around for rolled cuff; fo.
   Leg 2: Work remaining 27 sts as for Leg 1.

Slide pants on; the cuff height should match the photo (one visible roll).

Canvas Bucket Hat (wheat + cocoa band; 3.0 mm)

1. MR 6 (6)
2. inc around (12)
3. (sc, inc)×6 (18)
4. (2 sc, inc)×6 (24)
5. (3 sc, inc)×6 (30)
6. sc around (30)
7. BLO sc around (30) — sidewall
8. (4 sc, inc)×6 (36)
9. FLO (5 sc, inc)×6 (42) — brim begins
10. (6 sc, inc)×6 (48)
11. sc around (48); fo.
    Band: with cocoa, surface sl st around rnd 7; tie a small short tail at the back.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

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Footwear Details (Laces)

With cream, embroider two short horizontal bars on each shoe for eyelets; thread a short chain across in an “X” and tack ends.

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Accessories

Crossbody Mail Satchel (camel brown; 3.25–3.5 mm)

Body

1. ch 20; Row 1: sc 19.
   2–16. sc rows (19).
   Fold to form a pocket (leave top 1/3 as flap). Seam sides.

Flap

• Row edge: sc across flap; Row 2: sc across with a gentle dec at both corners.
• Add a tiny strap tab: ch 8; sl st back; sew to front pocket as a closure loop. Sew a small button/snaps to flap.

Front Patch Pocket: ch 10; sc 9 for 5 rows; sew to lower flap area.
Strap: ch 70–74; sl st back; attach to side seams. Wear cross-body.

Postcards & Foldable Map (sand base)

Postcards (make 2–3)

• ch 8; sc 7 for 5 rows; sl st border in cream. With mint & teal, embroider stamp square and a wavy “postmark.”

Map

• ch 18; sc 17 for 8 rows; with green tones surface-stitch roads and a blue river. Fold into thirds. Tuck one postcard and the map into satchel + one folded map for the left hand.

Binoculars with Neck Strap (charcoal/dark gray)

Tubes (make 2)

1. MR 6; Rnds 1–3 sc (6). Fo and leave tails.
   Bridge: ch 5; sc back (4). Sew tube tops to each end of bridge piece.
   Eyecups: attach charcoal to each tube rim; work 1 rnd FLO of hdc.
   Strap: ch 60; sl st back; sew to outer sides of tubes so binoculars hang mid-chest.

Water Bottle (silver gray + tan strap)

1. With silver gray, MR 6 (6)
2. inc (12)
3. (sc, inc)×6 (18)
   4–7. sc around (18)
4. (2 sc, dec)×4, sc 2 (14)
   9–10. sc around (14)
5. Join deep gray; sc around (14) for cap; fo.
   Strap loop: with tan, ch 14; sl st back; sew to neck of bottle. Make a rope carrier: ch 36, sl st back, thread through loop to mimic the hanging rope seen on the table prop.

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Dressing & Final Assembly

1. Put on chinos first.
2. Slide the shirt on; fold sleeve edges slightly to resemble a hem. Position chest pocket left and POSTIE badge right.
3. Place hat low on the forehead; brim slightly down.
4. Dress sneakers by tacking laces.
5. Cross satchel over the shoulder; fill with postcards and one map peeking from the side pocket.
6. Hang binoculars around the neck—bridge centered.
7. Place water bottle in right hand (or stand beside the figure) and a folded map in the left hand. Stitch props lightly to hands for stability if the doll will be handled.

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Finishing & Customization

• Ear pose: After sewing, add one tiny tack near the inner edge to tilt ears forward like the photo.
• Shirt texture: For a linen look, alternate sc, ch 1, sk 1 on a few rows of the shirt panels (keep edges in sc so seams are clean).
• Sneaker detail: Surface stitch a thin line around toe for a cap seam; add a tiny rectangle at tongue top for a label.
• Satchel aging: Dry-brush with a slightly darker brown yarn using surface sl sts to suggest wear on corners.
• Safety: Omit long straps/snap closures for children under 3, or stitch everything firmly.

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Pattern Recap

• Doll: Sandy-beige donkey with cream muzzle and inner ears, tall forward-tilted ears, 9 mm eyes, friendly embroidered nostrils/smile, short tufted tail.
• Outfit: Light-khaki short-sleeve shirt with chest pocket and POSTIE badge, olive cuffed chinos, cream lace-up sneakers, wheat bucket hat with cocoa band.
• Mail Gear: Camel crossbody satchel with flap and pocket, postcards, foldable map, charcoal binoculars on strap, silver water bottle with rope carrier.