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Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern

Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern
4.0★ Rating
2-4 Hours Time Needed
2.9K Made This
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Beginner Friendly Level

Perfect for those just starting their crochet journey, with clear instructions and simple techniques

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Bite-Sized Project

Finishes in 2-4 hours—perfect for an afternoon of creative relaxation.

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Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern teaches you how to crochet Cleo the Clam: a small amigurumi with a top and bottom shell and a tiny clam inside. The design uses simple single crochet rounds and basic increases and decreases to shape the shells and body. You will also learn a neat way to join inner and outer shell pieces and add a sweet embroidered smile.

Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Perfect for beginners looking for a quick, rewarding project with charming results. The finished shell measures about 3 inches wide and the clam inside about 1.25 inches tall.

Why You'll Love This Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines very simple crochet techniques into a delightful little character that feels magical to make. The shell construction is clever and gives a professional-looking finished piece without complicated steps. I enjoy how quick it is to complete, yet the result looks intricate and gift-ready. Making Cleo always brings a smile — both while crocheting and when the finished clam pops out of its shell!

Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with different yarn weights and colors for Cleo — try pastel shades for a soft, nursery-friendly look or bright colors for a playful vibe.

You can make the clam larger or smaller by choosing a bulkier or thinner yarn and adjusting your hook size accordingly; bulky yarn will create a chunkier, squishier clam.

I sometimes switch the shell color to a gradient yarn to give the shell a shimmering, ocean-like effect that looks gorgeous when finished.

For a more realistic shell, try using a textured or boucle yarn for the outer shell and a smooth yarn for the inner shell to create contrast.

If you want a poseable clam, insert a short piece of wire in the seam between the shells to allow slight opening and closing movements.

I often add tiny felt cheeks or blush the finished clam with a little fabric-safe paint to give it extra personality.

Make a whole clutch of clams in different sizes and attach keychain hardware to the shells to create adorable bag charms or zipper pulls.

Try embroidered eyelids, eyelashes, or tiny eyebrows to change Cleo's expression from shy to cheeky or sleepy.

Swap the standard safety eyes for tiny buttons or French knot eyes for a handcrafted, vintage-inspired look.

Mix and match the inner and outer shell colors to create seasonal versions — coral and aqua for summer, warm tones for autumn, or sparkle yarn for holiday-themed clams.

I also enjoy creating tiny accessories like a miniature top hat or bow using leftover yarn to make each Cleo uniquely charming.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the note about continuous rounds can lead to accidental joins; work in continuous rounds and use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round to avoid joining by mistake. ✗ Fastening off the outer shell too early can make joining the inner shell awkward; wait to fasten off until you have made the inner shell pieces and are ready to join them as instructed. ✗ Inserting safety eyes before stuffing properly can distort placement; begin stuffing slightly, insert the eyes between the specified rounds with correct spacing, then finish stuffing to hold the eyes in place. ✗ Not leaving a sewing tail on the top shell will make final attachment harder; leave the yarn tail as directed so you can sew the two shell halves together neatly and hide the seam. ✗ Overstuffing the clam body makes it difficult to close the opening evenly; stuff until the body holds its shape but remains squishy, then use the yarn tail to draw the opening closed securely.

Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern

Create a tiny, lovable clam named Cleo with this friendly crochet pattern. You will make a soft shell and a cute little clam body with simple stitches and easy assembly. Perfect as a sweet gift or a charming desk companion, the pattern includes full round-by-round instructions and helpful finishing tips. Follow along to crochet your own pocket-sized ocean friend!

Beginner Friendly 2-4 Hours

Materials Needed for Cleo the Clam Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Medium/worsted weight yarn: tan (outer shell)
  • 02
    Medium/worsted weight yarn: cream (inner shell)
  • 03
    Light/light worsted weight yarn: peach (clam) - recommended for a smaller clam
  • 04
    One pair of 12 mm safety eyes
  • 05
    Polyester fiber fill stuffing
  • 06
    One strand of black embroidery floss for the mouth and eyebrows

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size: 3.75mm
  • 02
    Yarn needle for sewing and weaving ends
  • 03
    One pair of 12 mm safety eyes
  • 04
    Polyester fiber fill stuffing
  • 05
    Black embroidery floss
  • 06
    Scissors

Progress Tracker

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— Notes & Materials :

Infos :

Materials: Crochet hook size: 3.75mm. Medium/worsted weight yarn: tan (outer shell) and cream (inner shell). Light/light worsted: peach (clam). Yarn needle. One pair of 12 mm safety eyes. Polyester fiber fill stuffing. One strand of black embroidery floss for the mouth and eyebrows.

Info :

*Since the clam is so small, I like to use a lighter weight yarn to crochet him. But I also include instructions if you want to use medium/worsted weight for the clam and shell.

Info :

Final measurement for the finished shell will be 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide and the little clam inside will be 1.25 inches (3.25 cm) tall.

Info :

Note #1: This pattern is crocheted in continuous rounds (you will not join each round).

Info :

Note #2: In my patterns, I begin each circle with "ch 2, 6 sc in first ch." Another way of beginning is to start with a magic circle. If you are more familiar with this method, just do 6 sc into your magic circle.

Info :

*Single crochet decrease stitch explanation: Insert the hook into the next stitch and yarn over. Pull a loop through so that there are now 2 loops on the hook. Insert the hook into the next stitch and yarn over. Pull a loop through so that there are now 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over again and pull the loop of yarn through all 3 loops on the hook.

— Outer Shell :

Round 1 :

Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch. (6 sts)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3 :

(Sc 1, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 4 :

(Sc 2, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (24 sts)

Round 5 :

(Sc 3, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (30 sts)

Round 6 :

(Sc 4, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (36 sts)

Round 7 :

(Sc 17, 2 sc in next st), 2 times. (38 sts)

Round 8 :

Sc 38. (38 sts)

Info :

Wait to fasten off until you have made the inner shell pieces. (Also – wait to crochet the 2nd outer shell until you have made both inner shells.)

— Inner Shell (make 2) :

Round 1 :

Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch. (6 sts)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3 :

(Sc 1, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 4 :

(Sc 2, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (24 sts)

Round 5 :

(Sc 3, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (30 sts)

Round 6 :

(Sc 4, 2 sc in next st), 6 times. (36 sts)

Round 7 :

(Sc 17, 2 sc in next st), 2 times. (38 sts)

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for weaving in. You will now be crocheting the shell pieces together.

Info :

Insert your crochet hook back into the outer shell right where you left off at the end of R8. Then insert your hook through a stitch of the outer shell and a stitch of the inner shell. Single crochet all the way around the 2 shell pieces to join them. Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing.

Info :

Weave in the white yarn tail ends. Your shell will now look as pictured to the right.

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Now crochet the 2nd outer shell, wait to fasten off as before, and repeat the above steps to crochet the outer and inner shell pieces together (the only difference between the top and bottom shells is that you do not need to leave a yarn tail for sewing on the bottom shell, just for weaving in).

Info :

Using the 1 yarn tail you have saved, sew the 2 shell pieces together – when sewing them together, match up the 2 spots on the top and bottom shell where you fastened off so that seam will be hidden when you stitch them together.

Info :

With your yarn needle, make approximately 6-7 whip stitches to sew the top and bottom shell together, as pictured to the right.

— The Clam (Option 1 - light/light worsted yarn) :

Round 1 :

Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch. (6 sts)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3 :

(Sc 3, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (15 sts)

Round 4 :

(Sc 4, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (18 sts)

Round 5 :

(Sc 5, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (21 sts)

Round 6-7 :

Sc 21. (2 total rounds)

Round 8 :

(Sc 6, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (24 sts)

Round 9 :

Sc 24. (24 sts)

Round 10 :

(Sc 2, dec 1), 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 11 :

(Sc 1, dec 1), 6 times. (12 sts)

Info :

Begin stuffing the clam. Then insert the safety eyes between R8-9, with 3 sts in between. Firmly press the backs onto the eyes. Cut a strand of black embroidery floss, thread it onto your yarn needle, and insert it through the opening at the bottom of the clam. Sew a horizontal stitch on the middle st between the eyes, and then bring your yarn needle up one round lower, grab the previous stitch and insert your needle back into the exact same spot, to create a "V" smile. Tie the 2 ends of the embroidery floss in a knot on the inside so the smile cannot be pulled out.

Round 12 :

Dec 6 times. (6 sts)

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing. Jump to "Finish stuffing..." below to finish making your clam.

— The Clam (Option 2 - medium/medium worsted yarn) :

Round 1 :

Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch. (6 sts)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3 :

(Sc 3, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (15 sts)

Round 4 :

(Sc 4, 2 sc in next st), 3 times. (18 sts)

Round 5-7 :

Sc 18. (3 total rounds)

Round 8 :

(Sc 1, dec 1), 6 times. (12 sts)

Info :

Here, insert the eyes between R7-8, with 3 sts in between. Then refer to the above instructions for stuffing and sewing on the smile and eyebrows.

Round 9 :

Dec 6 times. (6 sts)

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing.

Info :

Finish stuffing the body as needed – you want the body to hold its shape but still be squishy.

Info :

Use the yarn tail and your yarn needle to weave through the 6 sts around the opening and pull tight to close. Secure with a knot and weave in your end.

Info :

Place the clam inside his shell, and you are finished!

Assembly Instructions

  • Insert the inner shells into their corresponding outer shells and single crochet through both pieces to join them, then fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.
  • Weave in the yarn tails from the inner shells and use the reserved yarn tail to sew the top and bottom shell together, matching the fastened-off spots so the seam is hidden.
  • Sew approximately 6-7 whip stitches around the shell seam with a yarn needle to secure the top and bottom shells together and hide the seam.
  • Insert the clam into the shell after finishing stuffing; attach 12 mm safety eyes between the specified rounds (R8-9 for Option 1 or R7-8 for Option 2) with 3 stitches between the eyes.
  • Embroider the smile using a strand of black embroidery floss: sew a horizontal stitch between the eyes, bring the needle up one round lower, grab the previous stitch and insert back into the same spot to create a V, then knot the floss ends inside the body.

Important Notes

  • 💡Work in continuous rounds; do not join each round so the shaping stays smooth and seamless.
  • 💡Begin each circle with "ch 2, 6 sc in first ch" or use a magic ring if you prefer that method for starting rounds.
  • 💡Insert safety eyes between the specified rounds with 3 stitches in between to ensure even placement and correct facial proportions.
  • 💡Fasten off the shells as instructed: leave a sewing tail for the top shell but only leave a tail for weaving on the bottom shell.
  • 💡Stuff the clam so it holds its shape but remains squishy; overstuffing will distort the body and make closing the opening difficult.

Cleo the Clam is a tiny, heartwarming amigurumi that pops out of its shell to say hello. Perfect for gifting or collecting, this little project brings instant charm to your day. Make a whole family of clams in different colors and spread the seaside smiles! 🧶🐚

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished shell measures approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide and the clam inside measures approximately 1.25 inches (3.25 cm) tall when using the recommended yarn and hook size.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes. The pattern includes two clam options for light/light worsted yarn or medium worsted yarn; changing yarn weight will affect the final size, so adjust your hook accordingly.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is beginner friendly and uses basic stitches like single crochet, increases, and decreases, but familiarity with crocheting in rounds and simple decreases is helpful.

Where should I place the safety eyes and how far apart?

For the light yarn clam (Option 1) insert the eyes between R8-9 with 3 stitches in between; for medium yarn clam (Option 2) insert the eyes between R7-8 with 3 stitches in between.

How do I finish the embroidered smile so it is secure?

Use a strand of black embroidery floss, sew the smile as instructed, then tie the two ends of the floss in a knot on the inside of the clam's body so the smile cannot be pulled out.