Chunky yarn is a total game-changer for knitting plushies, and here’s why. Chunky yarn is not only super soft and cuddly, but it also knits up incredibly fast. This means you can go from a ball of yarn to a finished plushie in no time at all. Plus, the texture of chunky yarn adds a delightful squishiness that’s perfect for plushies. Whether you’re making a gift for a loved one or just adding to your own collection, chunky knit plushies are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

When it comes to chunky yarn, there are a couple of types that you’ll want to keep an eye out for. First up is blanket yarn, which is incredibly popular for plushie making. Since this kind of yarn is specifically designed for making blankets, then you know it’s going to be extra soft and snuggly! If you want to make the softest plushies around, then opt for a velvet or chenille style blanket yarn. Then your chunky knit plushies will be so satisfying to squish and snuggle.

The other type of chunky yarn you will see a lot of is novelty yarn, which can include anything from faux fur to eyelash yarn and yarns with a bit of sparkle. The extra texture that these yarns impart to chunky knit plushies makes them great for making stuff like the spikes on a hedgehog or the fuzzy down fur of a baby duckling. These yarns can add a fun and unique twist to your plushie projects, making them truly one-of-a-kind.

In addition to saving you time, chunky yarn can also make it easier for beginners to accomplish knitting their own stuffed animals. The thickness of the yarn makes it easier to see and count your stitches. Plus, the quick progress is sure to encourage you to keep working on your project until it’s all done. Most designs only call for the basic stitches (knit and purl) and basic shaping techniques (increasing and decreasing).

Are you ready to see these adorable chunky knit plushies for yourself? With so many fun and free patterns available, your biggest challenge will be deciding which one to start with! Scroll down and prepare to be inspired.

Hedgehog Toy

While the belly, face, and limbs of this little critter are made with DK weight yarn, the majority of the body uses a bulky weight faux fur yarn to replicate the texture of hedgehog spikes (just a lot softer and more snuggly). This design strikes a nice balance between realisticness and sheer adorableness. It would make a great baby shower gift.

Designer: Mou Mou Friends
Yarn: Rico Design Ricorumi DK (DK Weight #3)
Go Handmade Teddy (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Misty Bear

There’s something extra special about teddy bears in the world of plushies, and that’s especially true for hand knit stuffed animals. This soft and snuggly friend gets extra character and cuteness from a colorful self-striping yarn. Of course, you could make it in a solid colored yarn instead if you prefer. I really like the size and proportions of this design.

Designer: Michele Wilcox for Premier Yarns
Yarn: Premier Yarns Canyon Colors (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Fuzzy Chick

Using eyelash yarn to make a soft and fuzzy baby chick just makes sense. This adorable design is especially great for Easter, but can really be enjoyed any time of year. Novelty yarn can make it harder to see your stitches but it also has the added benefit of disguising any little mistakes you might make along the way.

Designer: Premier Yarns Design Team
Yarn: Premier Yarns Eyelash (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Carrot Top Gnome

Do you want to incorporate some chunky knit plushies into your home decor? This funny carrot top gnome would look right at home on a tiered tray display, on the mantel, or as the centerpiece of your table. You can make him in celebration of the Easter season or any time you’re in the mood for some crunchy carrots.

Designer: Billy and Baa
Yarn: Ewe Ewe Yarns Baa Baa Bulky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Hedgehogs

This is the first one of our chunky knit plushies that uses stitchwork other than the basic knit and purl stitches. The pattern uses the trinity stitch to make the spikes on the hedgehog’s back. This hedgehog’s body shape is simplified so there is less work for you in terms of increasing or decreasing. His small size makes him great for last-minute gift-giving.

Designer: Gift Horse Kits and Patterns
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Mega Wool Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Cloud with Raindrops

Chunky yarn and fluffy clouds go hand in hand with this enchanting weather-related design. You can create this work of yarn art as a cuddly companion or an adorable wall hanging decoration. He would look right at home in a baby nursery. Raindrops in all different colors present an excellent opportunity to use up some yarn scraps.

Designer: Sincerely Louise
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Mega Merino Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Poppy the Chicken

It seems like it is becoming more and more common to raise chickens in backyard homesteads. Now you can celebrate these funny birds with an easy and fun knitting pattern for a chicken. These chickens are super snuggly and they also make for good shelf sitters. Add some weights in the bottom and you’ve got yourself an adorable door stop.

Designer: Mama in a Stitch
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Solids (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Dwarf Lop Eared Bunny Rabbit

Don’t buy your kids bunnies for Easter. They are a big responsibility! Knit them one instead and you will never have to deal with cleaning a rabbit’s cage (trust me, you don’t want to go there). This design is very realistic, especially with the use of a fuzzy novelty yarn. You can whip up some carrots to go with it or you can grab some from the fridge so your kids can pretend to feed their new bunny pet.

Designer: Carol Connelly
Yarn: King Cole Truffle (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Floral Panda

I’m obsessed with this silly knit panda design. I love the unexpected color palette and the floral patterned yarn is just the cutest thing. Of course, my favorite aspect of this design has to be the fact that the panda is sticking his tongue out! The generous size of this plush panda makes it extra perfect for snuggling and cuddling.

Designer: Premier Yarns Design Team
Yarn: Premier Yarns Parfait Chunky and
Premier Yarns Bloom Chenille (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Pumpkin Bear

You can find a reason to celebrate chunky knit plushies any time of the year. When the weather starts getting colder and you find yourself looking forward to fall, why not whip up this adorable pumpkin bear. The witch hat is optional, and it’s not attached to the bear itself so it can easily be removed.

Designer: Au bout du pré for Hobbii
Yarn: Hobbii Honey Bunny (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ballerina Elephant Knit Rag Doll

Rag doll style designs typically have stuffed heads and limbs but their bodies are left unstuffed. This makes them extra floppy and adorable. It gives these designs a similar effect to a lovey where they are part blanket and part stuffed animal. This ballerina rag doll elephant is extra cute in a pattered yarn. She even has a pretty tutu and matching pink slippers.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Baby Blanket (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Balloon Dog

Do you have fond memories of getting balloon animals at the fair or the circus? You will never have to worry about this knit version popping or flying away in the wind. You can keep him and snuggle him forever! The best part is that this pattern is super easy to make with stockinette stitch in the round and it works up quick in super bulky weight yarn.

Designer: Kun Yin Knits
Yarn: Go Handmade Happy Chunky Double (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Flat Knit Plush Star

If you are not fond of knitting in the round, then you can rest assured that there are chunky knit plushies that are knit flat too. One such pattern is this fun six pointed star. You can embroider a face onto your star to bring her to life or you can use your new star to decorate for a special occasion like Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

Designer: Gina-Michele
Yarn: Loops & Threads Charisma (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Little Bunny Toy

Beginner knitters will love the simplistic shape of this round bunny. As an added bonus, the soft and fuzzy texture of the recommended yarn is great for hiding any little mistakes you might make along the way. If you would prefer to not work with novelty yarn, you can get a similar effect by brushing out regular wool or acrylic yarn with a pet brush.

Designer: Premier Yarns Design Team
Yarn: Premier Yarns Little Bunny (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Bernard Bee

Celebrate your favorite pollinators with this supersize bee plushie. This pattern uses a single skein of of yarn that comes complete with all the colors you’ll need to make the bee – yellow, brown, and blue. I think using brown instead of black for the bee’s stripes really softens the overall look and makes him even more adorable.

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Blanket O’Go (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Sunshine

This smiling ball of pure sunshine is the perfect snuggling companion. It would also make a nice little pillow – maybe for a baby’s nursery. Or maybe I just have babies on the brain because I am thinking about the “you are my sunshine” song. The pattern is knit flat but you’ll likely need circular needles to hold all the stitches. Bobble stitches are used to make the edging.

Designer: Sincerely Louise
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Mega Merino Chunky (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ellery the Elephant

Do you know someone who really loves elephants? I bet that you do because it’s a fairly common favorite animal! Surprise them with this adorable elephant stuffed animal. The original elephant was worked up using two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, but you can easily substitute for a bulky weight yarn instead.

Designer: Frances Gillespie for Knitty
Yarn: Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Juniper Moose

This funny moose has her head stuck in an evergreen wreath. She doesn’t seem to be too bothered by it though! This is such a cute design and the addition of the wreath makes it feel festive too. The pattern uses knit and purl stitches along with loop stitches to make all the fun textured nubs on the wreath.

Designer: Rachel Borello Carroll for Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Biggo (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ozzy the Octopus

Eight arms are better than one when it comes to this adorable octopus toy. Super bulky weight yarn makes this project go by more quickly, so you hopefully won’t get discouraged by having to make the same thing eight times. This octopus is an excellent size for snuggling. His head is over a foot wide and his tentacles are 18 inches long!

Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Baby Blanket (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Plush Ghosts

Chunky knit plushies like these cute ghosts are a great way to celebrate spooky season. If you like things cute and creepy, then why not add a few of these stunning specters to your Halloween decorations? They are so quick to make that you could even make a few to give out as last-minute gifts to your spooky loving friends and family members.

Designer: Gina-Michele
Yarn: Loops & Threads Charisma (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Anky Dino

You might not think that dinosaurs are very snuggly, especially the ones that have spikes or clubbed tails like this one. Luckily, this dinosaur is made from super soft velvet yarn, so he’s the perfect cuddling companion. This design strikes a nice balance between realism and cuteness that’s not too tricky and also not mind-numbingly easy.

Designer: Jacqueline Zema
Yarn: Bernat Velvet (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Giant Smiley Rainbow

After the rain comes the rainbow! This generously sized rainbow friend comes complete with a smiling face. His bright colors are sure to bring a smile to your face too. Finally, you can use up some of those partial skeins of yarn in your stash that you have leftover from other projects. Then you will have more room to buy some more yarn, yay!

Designer: Sincerely Louise
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Big (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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My Precious Puppy

Faux fur yarn really brings this puppy plushie to life. A hand knit dog is the next best thing to a real one, especially if you aren’t sure if your little one is up for the responsibility yet. Novelty yarns can be a little bit more difficult to work with but the payoff of sheer cuteness makes it totally worth it in the end!

Designer: Michele Wilcox for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Red Heart Boutique Fur (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Frank the Snowman

You will never have to worry about this hand knit snowman melting in the sun like a real snowman would. Our snowman friend here is called Frank and he can stick around forever to adorn your front porch or to delight your children and grandchildren. This pattern is a breeze to make using mostly garter stitch along with a bit of stockinette stitch for the hat.

Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Snow (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Arthur the Pencil

A giant hand knit pencil is the best way to celebrate back to school time. You could also make this snuggly stuffed animal to give as a gift to your favorite teacher. This design is mostly stockinette stitch with just a touch of garter stitch texture for the bands on the silver part and a little bit of colorwork to make the jagged edge where the yellow part of the pencil meets the brown part.

Designer: Anna Hrachovec for Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Solids (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Final Thoughts on Chunky Knit Plushies

As you can see, chunky knit plushies are the perfect blend of quick, cozy, and absolutely adorable. With a wide variety of free patterns and the delightful textures of blanket and novelty yarns, the possibilities are endless. So, why not give it a try and see just how fun and satisfying knitting with chunky yarn can be?

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I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3

Happy Knitting!