Crochet Seal Family Stack Pillow Free Pattern

Introduction

This seal family stack pillow is a sweet, squishy project for anyone who loves amigurumi but wants something bigger and softer than a tiny keychain. Three rounded, egg-shaped seals in plush chenille yarn stack into one cuddly pillow about 12 inches tall, alternating cotton candy pink and baby blue. The super bulky yarn works up quickly, so you can finish the whole family in a weekend of cozy crocheting. It looks like a cheerful nursery decoration and feels like a cloud, making it perfect for a child's room, a reading nook, or a handmade baby gift.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Super bulky (weight 6) chenille plush yarn, 100% polyester, approx. 80 yds (73 m) per 100 g skein. Color A: Cotton Candy Pink (approx. 120 yds). Color B: Baby Blue (approx. 120 yds).
• Hook: 6.0 mm (US J/10) crochet hook.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill stuffing, small amount of black yarn for the face embroidery.
• Finished size: Stacked height approx. 12 inches (30 cm). Largest seal approx. 6 inches (15 cm) tall, medium 5 inches (13 cm), small 4 inches (10 cm).

Abbreviations

• MR: magic ring — an adjustable loop you work the first stitches into.
• sc: single crochet.
• inc: increase — work 2 single crochet into the same stitch.
• dec: decrease — single crochet 2 stitches together into 1.
• sc2tog: single crochet 2 together — the same decrease, worked across 2 stitches.
• ch: chain.
• sl st: slip stitch.
• FO: fasten off.
• sts: stitches.

Gauge

12 sc x 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Work a small swatch in the round and measure it flat; if your stitches are larger than this, drop to a 5.5 mm hook so your seals stay plump and firm.

Tips Before You Start

• Chenille yarn sheds and can be tricky to rip out, so count your stitches at the end of every round before moving on.
• Stuff each seal firmly but not rock-hard — overstuffing stretches the chenille and shows the stuffing through the gaps.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round; the spirals are easy to lose track of in plush yarn.
• Embroider the faces before you sew the seals together, while each one is still easy to hold and turn.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Large Seal (Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnds 6-12: sc in each st around (30 sts).

Rnd 13: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 14: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 15: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts). Stuff firmly.

Rnd 16: dec x6 (6 sts). FO, close the opening.

Large Flippers (make 2, Color A)

Row 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (5 sts).

Row 2: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (3 sts). FO, leave a long tail for sewing.

Medium Seal (Color B)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnds 5-10: sc in each st around (24 sts).

Rnd 11: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 12: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts). Stuff firmly.

Rnd 13: dec x6 (6 sts). FO, close the opening.

Medium Flippers (make 2, Color B)

Row 1: Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (4 sts).

Row 2: sc2tog, sc2tog (2 sts). FO, leave a long tail for sewing.

Small Seal (Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnds 4-8: sc in each st around (18 sts).

Rnd 9: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts). Stuff firmly.

Rnd 10: dec x6 (6 sts). FO, close the opening.

Small Flippers (make 2, Color A)

Row 1: Ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (3 sts).

Row 2: sc2tog, sc (2 sts). FO, leave a long tail for sewing.

Faces (all three seals)

Using black yarn, embroider 2 French-knot eyes per seal, spaced 3 stitches apart and 2 rows above the flippers. Embroider the nose as a small horizontal stitch between the eyes, 1 row below them.

Optional Edging (Color B)

Join B with a sl st to any stitch on the bottom edge of the large seal. Sc evenly around the bottom edge, join with a sl st. FO.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the flippers to the sides of each seal: at Round 6 on the large seal, Round 5 on the medium, and Round 4 on the small. Use the yarn tails and a tapestry needle, and check that both flippers sit level before fastening off. Stack the seals with the largest on the bottom, the medium centered on top, and the small on top of that. Sew them together securely through their centers, passing the needle through all layers a few times so the stack holds its shape. Weave in all ends, tucking the tails inside the seals. Gently steam or lightly spritz and reshape each seal with your fingers to plump it, then let it air dry completely before displaying.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the colors so each seal is a different shade, or use a single color for a more modern, monochrome look.
• Add a small crocheted star or heart on top of the small seal for a nursery mobile feel.
• For a firmer, more sculptural stack, place a small circle of cardboard or a thin foam disc between the seals before sewing them together.