A green pickle, a pair of condiment bottles, a round fish and a little wrapped candy: these handmade pet toys give familiar shapes a yarn makeover. The first four entries offer three crochet patterns and one knitting pattern, each with its own free PDF.
There are also three bonus downloads for a cat-and-dog display set, a decorative duck and a pet hammock. They have different uses, so they are labeled separately below. Start with the toy shape you like, then check its materials, size and construction against the pet you have in mind.
Keep play supervised, inspect seams and attachments, and put a toy away if yarn, filling or small pieces start coming loose. Handmade yarn toys are not chew-proof. If your pet habitually tears up or swallows fabric, choose a different type of toy.
Choose a project at a glance
| Project | Technique | Size | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickle Crochet Cat Toy | Crochet · Easy | Approximately 7 inches long | Pet toy |
| Ketchup and Mustard Crochet Pet Toys | Crochet · Easy | Approximately 7 inches long | Pet toy set |
| Puffy Stuffy Crochet Fish | Crochet · Intermediate | Approximately 3 inches across the body, excluding fins | Pet toy |
| Knit Catnip Candy Toy | Knitting · Beginner | Approximately 2 inches wide and 5 inches long | Pet toy · knitted |
| Bonus: Tuna and Bones Display Stuffies | Crochet · Easy | Approximately 13 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter | Bonus · pet-themed display craft |
| Bonus: Decorative Crochet Duck | Crochet · No level stated | No finished dimensions provided | Bonus · decorative craft |
| Bonus: Sweet Dreams Pet Hammock | Crochet · Easy | Approximately 20 × 25 inches before assembly, excluding straps | Bonus · pet accessory prototype |
1. Pickle Crochet Cat Toy
The green pickle has a long, rounded body with little bumps worked into the crochet. In the photo, a black-and-white cat holds it close with one paw; the separate product view shows the texture more clearly. It is a playful choice if you like food-shaped pet toys and want a design with no separate eyes or facial pieces to sew on.
Technique and level: Crochet · Easy.
Yarn and tools: Bernat Forever Fleece, super bulky; 8 mm hook.
Size: Approximately 7 inches long.
Project type: Pet toy.
How it is made
The body grows in a spiral of single crochet. Popcorn stitches appear at different positions to create the bumps, and decreases close the end after filling. A marker at the beginning of each round matters here: joining each round would change the construction.
Before you begin
The pattern lists about 40 yards of the specified yarn, stuffing and optional catnip. A full ball is a shopping option, not the amount consumed by one pickle. Check the raised stitches and closure regularly during supervised play; the soft yarn and textured surface are not chew-proof.
2. Ketchup and Mustard Crochet Pet Toys
Two little condiment bottles turn the food theme into a matching set. The pointed tops and broad bases make the shapes recognizable without printed labels or added buttons. One photo shows a cat beside the bottles, another shows them on their own, and a third includes a small dog. Those views help you see their scale, but they do not prove the toys suit every pet.
Technique and level: Crochet · Easy.
Yarn and tools: Bernat Maker, bulky; 4.5 mm hook.
Size: Approximately 7 inches long.
Project type: Pet toy set.
How it is made
Each bottle is made as one continuous spiral, starting at the narrow tip. Increases widen the neck into the body; selected back-loop rounds define the changes in shape. The bottom is filled and closed with decreasing rounds. The two colors use the same pattern, so this is one coordinated set.
Before you begin
Allow about 69 yards in each color. The directions require stuffing even though it is missing from the materials box; have it ready before the closing rounds. Optional catnip is listed. For a dog that shreds or eats soft toys, choose a purpose-made alternative rather than relying on the crochet shell.
3. Puffy Stuffy Crochet Fish
These round fish have bright fins, oversized white eyes and a bumpy body. The blue-and-green version has a different mood from the pink-and-orange one, but both follow the same shape. This is the smallest crochet pet toy in the collection by its stated body measurement, with more finishing details than the plain bottles.
Technique and level: Crochet · Intermediate.
Yarn and tools: Lily Sugar’n Cream; 3.75 mm hook.
Size: Approximately 3 inches across the body, excluding fins.
Project type: Pet toy.
How it is made
The body uses joined rounds with single-crochet picots, then separate fins and eyes are attached. The tail is worked through the folded closing edge. The PDF is marked intermediate, and its small dimensions do not remove the need to count stitches and sew the attachments carefully.
Before you begin
The download offers light stuffing or an optional ball-and-bell insert. Use the light-stuffing option if you want to avoid a hard insert. Check every fin and eye attachment, and choose a toy your pet cannot swallow. A cat beside the fish in a photo is not a safety test of the finished make.
4. Knit Catnip Candy Toy
The cream candy shape has a smooth center and gathered ribbed ends. It brings a quieter color and a different technique to the collection. This is a knitting pattern, so put down the crochet hook for this entry: you will use knit, purl, ribbing and a sewn seam.
Technique and level: Knitting · Beginner.
Yarn and tools: Lily Sugar’n Cream; 4.5 mm knitting needles.
Size: Approximately 2 inches wide and 5 inches long.
Project type: Pet toy · knitted.
How it is made
A flat rectangle begins with ribbing, moves into stocking stitch and finishes with another ribbed section. Folding and seaming turns it into a tube. The gathered ends create the wrapped-candy silhouette after stuffing, with catnip optional.
Before you begin
The PDF estimates about 19½ yards for one toy and says a ball can make six. The yarn closures need particular attention: secure their ends into the work and keep loose tails out of reach. Inspect the seam and gathered areas before each supervised play session.
Three bonus projects for pet-loving makers
The next downloads are display crafts and a resting accessory. They expand the making list without adding to the four pet-toy pattern count.
5. Bonus: Tuna and Bones Display Stuffies
A cat and a floppy-eared dog sit side by side, with cream paws and snouts. The PDF includes bright pink-and-mint and neutral gray-and-tan color versions, along with genuine assembly photos. It is a pet-inspired amigurumi project for a shelf or a craft gift, rather than a toy to give your cat or dog.
Technique and level: Crochet · Easy.
Yarn and tools: Red Heart Super Saver; 5 mm hook.
Size: Approximately 13 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter.
Project type: Bonus · pet-themed display craft.
How it is made
The head and body are made in one piece. Ears, arms, feet and a tail are worked separately and sewn on, then a little collar finishes the character. Both animals and both color versions are part of the same download. Follow the body shaping before attaching the appendages so the pieces sit at the intended positions.
Before you begin
The photographed stuffies use plastic eyes and noses, buttoned collars and optional tags. Keep the finished display out of pets’ reach. Check the dog-ear row range and arm color change in the guide before assembling.
6. Bonus: Decorative Crochet Duck
The pale yellow duck has a flat side profile, an embroidered eye and a ribbon at its neck. Two shaped panels and light filling give it a softly padded outline. It is a small decorative make to consider alongside the pet-themed crafts, but the ribboned version should stay on display out of pets’ reach.
Technique and level: Crochet · No level stated.
Yarn and tools: Lily Sugar’n Cream; 5 mm hook.
Size: No finished dimensions provided.
Project type: Bonus · decorative craft.
How it is made
The design starts with two matching single-crochet pieces, shaping the tail and head from the main body. The panels are joined around the outline before the eye and ribbon are added. If you enjoy making a recognizable silhouette from rows instead of working a round body, the construction may interest you.
Before you begin
The PDF gives a gauge but no finished measurements or skill rating. Some head-shaping directions need clarification, so compare both panels carefully and review the companion before making a final version. This is a decorative bonus, not an advertised chew or chase toy.
7. Bonus: Sweet Dreams Pet Hammock
Teal stripes and a yellow border make this hanging rectangle easy to pick out beneath the chair. A second photo shows the fabric laid out with its long straps, which is helpful for understanding the assembly. It is a resting accessory rather than a pet toy, and its placement depends on more than the crochet alone.
Technique and level: Crochet · Easy.
Yarn and tools: Red Heart Super Saver; 5 mm hook.
Size: Approximately 20 × 25 inches before assembly, excluding straps.
Project type: Bonus · pet accessory prototype.
How it is made
The main panel uses half double crochet with a repeating stripe sequence. Two long straps sit inside folded edges, with four shorter tie straps added at marked positions. The PDF includes an assembly diagram showing the folds and strap layout.
Before you begin
No weight capacity, mounting test or stability rating is supplied. Treat the hammock as a prototype until its fabric, seams, attachments and supporting furniture have been assessed for the intended pet. The photo does not establish a safe load. Keep loose ties out of reach and do not use an unverified installation.
Yarn, filling and finishing choices
The pickle uses super-bulky yarn and an 8 mm hook; the bottles use bulky yarn with a much smaller 4.5 mm hook. The fish and knitted candy use different tools again. Match the gauge and fabric called for in the chosen PDF rather than using one yarn-and-hook combination across the whole collection.
The four toy patterns are filled designs. Follow the filling directions for the selected toy and check that the stitches and closing seam contain it. Optional catnip appears in the pickle, bottle and candy downloads; it is not required to complete their shapes. There is no guarantee every cat will respond to it.
Keep yarn ends secured inside the work. Do not add loose bells, ribbons, buttons or plastic facial decorations to a pet-play version. The fish’s sewn parts need regular inspection, while the candy needs attention around its gathered closures. Keep the ribboned duck and accessorized display stuffies out of the play basket.
Using and caring for handmade pet toys
Choose a size your pet cannot swallow and stay present during play. Check the toy before and after use, especially raised stitches, sewn eyes, fins, seams and gathering ties. Remove it when it starts to unravel or release filling. A tighter stitch does not make yarn indestructible.
If you think a pet has swallowed yarn or part of a toy, contact your vet promptly. Put loose yarn and unfinished pieces away between making sessions. Needles, hooks and stuffing belong in the craft storage rather than beside a toy left with a pet.
Use the care instructions for the yarn and filling you actually used. Do not assume the assembled item is machine washable because its yarn is. Optional catnip and hidden inserts also affect cleaning. Let the toy dry fully, then inspect it again before returning it to supervised play.
Questions about these pet toy patterns
Are all the downloads crochet patterns?
No. The candy toy is knitted with 4.5 mm needles. The other six projects use crochet, but three of those are clearly labeled bonus crafts or an accessory rather than pet-play toys.
Which pattern has the fewest added pieces?
The pickle and bottles are made as single crochet shells with filling. The fish has separate eyes and fins. The display cat-and-dog set has several sewn appendages and decorative accessories, which is one reason it belongs outside the pet-play group.
Are these suitable for dogs that chew strongly?
Yarn toys can tear and release strands or filling. These patterns do not provide a chew-strength rating. For a dog that shreds or eats soft toys, use a purpose-made toy suited to that behavior and size instead.
Can I leave a cat alone with a handmade toy?
Keep these makes for supervised sessions and store them afterward. Loose yarn, attached pieces and filling can become accessible as a toy wears. Replace a damaged toy rather than trying to keep it in use.
Does the hammock have a weight limit?
The download does not give a verified weight capacity or mounting rating. It needs a separate assessment of its seams, straps and supporting furniture before pet use. Its presence in a photo does not establish that an installation is safe.
Where are the free PDFs?
Each numbered entry has a download button. The bottle colors share one guide, the two fish colors share one guide, and the display cat-and-dog versions share one guide. There are seven downloads in total: four pet-toy patterns and three bonus projects.
For a first look, compare the plain bottle shells with the pickle’s raised texture. If you prefer knitting, the candy gives you a small rectangle-and-seam project. Pick one download, read its filling and finishing steps, and decide whether that construction suits your pet before making it for play.
