Red Blood Cell Crochet Pattern, page 1 of 4

Red Blood Cell Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

by Jana Whitley

Finished size: about 5 inches wide (13 cm)

Gauge and tension: 10 single crochet stitches x 10 rows = about 2 inches (5 cm) square with E (3.5
mm) hook and worsted weight yarn. However, gauge is not important for this pattern. Depending on
your tension and yarn choice, finished size may vary. Ideally, you will want snug, dense stitches that
will not show the stuffing. If your stitches are too loose, try a smaller hook.

Materials:
• E (3.5 mm) crochet hook
• Red worsted-weight 100% acrylic yarn (I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid in Scarlet)
• (2) 9mm black plastic eyes with safety backing (Darice shank back eyes available at joann.com
or amazon.com).
SAFETY NOTE: If RBC is for a child under 3 years, do not use plastic eyes as they are
a choking hazard. Instead, use black embroidery floss for eyes.
 Red Blood Cell Crochet Pattern, page 2 of 4

• Stuffing: one cotton calf-length athletic tube sock (see Fig. 1)

• About 12 inches (30 cm) black embroidery floss and embroidery needle for
mouth
• Scissors and yarn needle for finishing

Stitches Used/Abbreviations
• Round or Row number (R1, R2, etc.)
• Stitch (st) or stitches (sts)
• Chain (ch)
• Slip Stitch (sl st) Figure 1: To make
ring-shaped stuffing,
• Skip (sk) use a tube sock.

• Single Crochet (sc)

• Single Crochet Decrease (dec)
I recommend using the "Invisible Decrease for Amigurumi" method. Free video tutorials
available on www.youtube.com.
• Repeat the steps within the asterisks (*...* rep)
• Fasten Off (FO)
• Front Loops Only (FLO)
• Magic Adjustable Loop (ML)
I recommend beginning the doll parts with the Magic Adjustable Loop (also called
Magic Circle) rather than the standard "ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook," because
you can lasso your first round of stitches together in a tight circle and avoid the "donut
hole" that usually occurs. For video tutorials, search "Magic Loop Crochet" on
youtube.com.
Notes
• RBC is made by stitching continuous spiral rounds. Mark the end
of the pattern round with a short piece of contrasting yarn or safety
pin in the last stitch of the round (see Fig. 2). When you complete a
round, count the stitches to make sure it matches the pattern, then
move the round marker up to the loop/stitch on your hook.
• When you are counting stitches in a round, do not include the
loop on your hook. The last stitch of the current round should end
just to the RIGHT of the last stitch of the previous round.
• Always insert your crochet hook under both loops (front and back)
Figure 2: An example of spiral
of the previous round, except when instructed otherwise, such as rounds, starting with 6 sc in a
making decreases with the Invisible Decrease stitch method. Magic Loop, with 6 regularly
spaced increases in each round. I
• For helpful tutorials on basic amigurumi methods such as fastening used a small scrap of blue yarn to
off, Magic Loop or Invisible Decrease, see June Gilbank's excellent mark end of previous round.
tutorials on planetjune.com.
 Red Blood Cell Crochet Pattern, page 3 of 4

RBC
E (3.5 mm) hook
Note: I staggered the repeats of increases and decreases so that the Sc2s and
decs are not stacked on each other, thus smoothing out the hexagon shape that
often forms with regular spiral increases.
R1: With red yarn, ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook, or 6 sc in ML.
R2: Sc2 in each sc around. (12 sts)
R3: *Sc2 in next sc, sc in next sc*, rep 6 times. (18 sts)
R4: *Sc in next 2 sc, sc2 in next sc*, rep 6 times. (24 sts)
R5: Sc in next sc, *sc2 in next sc, sc in next 3 sc*, rep 5 times, sc2 in next sc,
sc in last 2 sc. (30 sts) Figure 3: Make mouth with
R6: *Sc2 in next sc, sc in next 4 sc*, rep 6 times. (36 sts) Fly Stitch.
R7: Sc in next sc, *sc2 in next sc, sc in next 5 sc*, rep 5 times, sc2 in next
sc, sc in next 4 sc. (42 sts)
R8: *Sc2 in next sc, sc in next 6 sc*, rep 6 times. (48 sts)
R9: Sc in next 2 sc, *sc2 in next sc, sc in next 7 sc*, rep 5 times, sc2 in next
sc, sc in next 5 sc. (54 sts)
Stuffing: With scissors and calf tube sock, cut off toe of sock (see Fig. 4).
Roll the remaining sock into a donut/ring shape; it should be about 1.5
inches thick and about the same width as the RBC (see Fig. 5). If crochet is
too big, rip back a row until it fits. If crochet is too small, make next row
with 60 sts by *sc2 in next sc, sc in next 8sc* rep 6 times.
R10-11: Sc in each sc around. (54 sts)
R12: Sc in next 3 sc, *dec, sc in next 7 sc,*, rep 5 times, dec, sc in next 4 sc.
(48 sts) Figure 4: Cut toe off tube sock,
then roll up like a donut.
R13: *Sc in next 6 sc, dec*, rep 6 times.(42 sts)
R14: Sc in next 3 sc, *dec, sc in next 5 sc*, rep 5 times, dec, sc in next 2 sc.
(36 sts)
Make face: Insert black plastic eye posts in face about 4 or 5 sts apart.
Embroider mouth between eyes with black yarn or embroidery floss with
Fly Stitch (see Fig. 3), making sure bottom of mouth points toward R14 (R1
should be the top of cell). When you are happy with the spacing of eyes and
mouth, attach safety backings onto eyes. Don't push the backings all the way
onto the posts, or the eyes will protrude. The first or second "click" on the
post will do.
Stuff the rolled sock into the crocheted RBC. Notice that the posts of the
eyes bulge out from the sock; to prevent bulging, mark eye position with a
pencil through the crochet stitching onto the sock, close to the eye posts.
Pull the sock out. With scissors, make two cuts about 1/2 inch deep into the
rolled-up sock for the eye posts (see Fig. 6). Re-insert the sock, with the Figure 5: Check the fit of the tube
sock against the crochet at Row 9.
holes positioned behind the eye posts so that the eyes no longer stick out
from the stuffing.
R15: *Sc in next 4 sc, dec*, rep 6 times.(30 sts)
R16: Sc in next sc, *sc in next 3 sc, dec*, rep 5 times, sc in next 2 sc, dec. (24 sts)
R17: *Sc in next 2 sc, dec*, rep 6 times. (18 sts)
R18: *Sc in next sc, dec*, rep 6 times. (12 sts)
 Red Blood Cell Crochet Pattern, page 4 of 4

R19: Dec 6. (6 sts) FO, leaving long tail for sewing center. In FLO of last 6 sc, whipstitch through each
sc and cinch closed (see Fig. 7). To create concave center of RBC (see Fig. 8), with long tail end and
yarn needle, sew top layer to bottom layer of RBC in a circle with small stitches, about an inch inside
the rolled-up sock stuffing. Secure and hide end in RBC.
Congratulations! Your RBC is finished!
If you have any questions, email me at janawhitley@yahoo.com or send a message at janageek.etsy.com.

Figure 6: Mark position of eye

posts and cut holes into several
sock layers.

Figure 7: Whipstitch the last 6 sc

to close hole.

Figure 8: Showing concave center, made by

sewing the center top to center bottom.