Colour Pop Chameleon Amigurami: Free Pattern

We can now quickly create a chameleon using a yarn of blended colors or, for added detail, crochet in hues. Chameleons are so vibrant and entertaining.

Two iterations of the Colour Pop Chameleon design are presented along the reverse: one crafted from a solitary multicoloured yarn and the other from a combination of two colours.

A blank template for the main body is also provided, should you wish to design your own color pattern, in addition to supplementary charts detailing the colourwork option and instructions in US crochet units. How to assemble the device and create its components is illustrated with step-by-step photographs.

When completed, the chameleon will be approximately 36 cm in length from the tip of its snout to its tip, when constructed using DK weight yarn and a 3.50mm hook.

Material

Single-yarn Chameleon Main Colour (Uses 60g/120m/131yards):
- Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk DK – Fruit Salad (045)
Colourwork Chameleon Main Colour (Uses 43g/112m/123yards):
- Rico Essentials Cotton DK – Lemon (62)
Contrast Colour (Uses 10g/26m/28yards): :
- Rico Essentials Cotton DK – Salmon (23)
- 3.5mm hook
- Wire or craft pipe cleaners
- Pair of 10mm black safety eyes
- Toy Stuffing
- Scissors
- Darning Needle
- Sewing Pins

Crochet Term

Pattern is written in US Crochet Terms

chain stitch (ch)
slip stitch (sl st)
single crochet (sc)
increase (inc)
decrease (dec)
invisible decrease (inv dec)
invisible sc3tog
3 sc in 1 stitch
crab stitch/reverse single crochet

Keep stitches close together amigurumi-style,
the chameleon made with 3.5mm hook will
measure about 36cm along the spine down
to the end of the tail (when uncurled).

Single-yarn Chameleon

Head

Make in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]
Rnd 2: (3sc in next st, 3 sc) 2 times [12]
Rnd 3: (1 sc, 3sc in next st, 4 sc) 2 times [16]
Rnd 4: (2 sc, 3sc in next st, 5 sc) 2 times [20]
Rnd 5: (3 sc, 3sc in next st, 6 sc) 2 times [24]
Rnd 6 -7: sc in all 24 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 8: 8 sc, inc 6 times, 10 sc [30]
Rnd 9: 8 sc, (1 sc, inc in next st) 6 times, 10 sc [36]
Rnd 10 – 14: sc in all 36 st – 5 rounds
Rnd 15: 12 sc, inv dec, 8 sc, inv dec, 12 sc [34]
Rnd 16 – 17: sc in all 34 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 18: 15 sc, inc 6 times, 13 sc [40] – check that
the increases are in the centre of the head,
move the increases forward or back if needed.

Rnd 19 – 20: sc in all 40 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 21: 12 sc,(inv dec, 1 sc) 6 times, 10 sc [34]
Rnd 22: 12 sc, inv dec 6 times, 10 sc [28]

Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing

Head at Rnd 5, the increases sit on the corners.

Head at Rnd 8, the increases are shaping the top of the head.

Head at Rnd 14

The top of the head makes
a crest shape .

The finished jaw.

Jaw

Eyes (make 2)

Make in main colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Make a ring for 8 sts [8]
Rnd 2: (3sc in next st, 3 sc) 2 times [12]
Rnd 3: (1 sc, 3sc in next st, 4 sc) 2 times [16]
Rnd 4 -13: sc in all 16 sts – 10 rounds total
Rnd 14: 3 sc, 3sc in next st, 6, 3sc in next st, 5sc [20]
Rnd 15: 5 sc, 3sc in next st, 8sl st,
3sc in next st, 6sc [24]
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing

Make in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd1: Make a ring for 8 sts, pull ring tight
around a 10mm safety eye [8] (see picture 8)
Rnd 2 – 3: sc in all 8 sts – 2 rounds
Rnd 4: inc in all 8 sts [16]
Rnd 5: sc in all 16 sts
Rnd 6: (1 sc, inc in next st) 8 times [24]
Rnd 7: sc in all 24 sts

Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing. Put the eye through the head and fasten with safety fastener.

NOTE: if your eye stalks are quite short you can fasten it to the eye piece only and sew it to the head around the eye and the outer edge instead.

Get the safety eyes ready!

Make a magic ring for 8 sts, but don’t tighten just yet.

Put the eye into the centre, then tighten the ring.

Work the eye around the
safety eye .

The black eye sits deep inside
the shape.

Next fold down the wide
section – this is the finished eye.

Both eyes are done but dont
secure them yet.

Put the safety eye through
the head, and then secure with
fastener.

We will sew it in place when
assembling the chameleon.

Legs (make 4)

Make in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Make a ring for 6 sts [6]
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each stitch [12]
Rnd 3 – 4: sc in all 12 sts – 2 rounds

Next round divides the leg into upper
lower sections. First we make the upper section.

Rnd 5a: skip the first 6 sts, 6 sc [6]
Rnd 6a: inc in next st, 5 sc [7]
Rnd 7a -9a: sc in all 7 sts – 3 rounds
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.

Next return to the skipped stitches from Rnd 5,
re-attach yarn, work over the skipped stitches.

Rnd 5b: 6 sc [6]
Rnd 6b – 10b: sc in all 6 sts – 5 rounds
Rnd 11b: inc in each stitch [12]

Next round splits the lower section of the leg
onto the pincer grip toes.

Rnd 12: skip the first 6 sts, 6 sc [6]
Rnd 13 – 14: sc in all 6 sts – 2 rounds
Rnd 15: inv dec two times, skip the rest [4]

Fasten off, leave a small tail to sew up
the end later on.

Repeat Rnd 12-15 around the skipped stitches
from Rnd 12 to make the 2nd toe.

Rnd 5a – splits the knee into two sections.

The upper leg is done.

Next work the lower leg and split again to make
the toes.

Leg is done!
We will sew up the tips when assembling the
chameleon.

All four legs are finished!

Single Yarn Body

Make in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Start 5 sc in a magic ring [5]
Rnd 2 -3: sc in all 5 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 4: inc in next st, 4 sc [6]
Rnd 5 – 6: sc in all 6 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 7: inc in next st, 5 sc[7]
Rnd 8: sc in all 7 st
Rnd 9: inc in next st, 6 sc [8]
Rnd 10 – 12: sc in all 8 st – 3 rounds
Rnd 13: inc in next st, 7 sc [9]
Rnd 14 – 16: sc in all 9 st – 3 rounds
Rnd 17: inc in next st, 8 sc[10]
Rnd 18 – 19: sc in all 10 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 20: inc in next st, 9 sc [11]
Rnd 21 -22: sc in all 11 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 23: inc in next st, 10 sc [12]
Rnd 24 -25: sc in all 12 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 26: inc in next st, 11 sc [13]
Rnd 27: sc in all 13 st
Rnd 28: inc in next st, 12 sc [14]
Rnd 29: sc in all 14 st
Rnd 30: inc in next st, 13 sc [15]
Rnd 31: sc in all 15 st
Rnd 32: inc in next st, 14 sc [16]
Rnd 33: sc in all 16 st
Rnd 34: inc in next st, 15 sc [17]
Rnd 35: sc in all 17 st
Rnd 36: 8 sc, 3sc in next st, 8 sc [19]
Rnd 37: 9 sc, 3sc in next st, 9 sc [21]
Rnd 38: sc in all 21 st
Rnd 39: 10 sc, 3sc in next st, 10 sc [23]
Rnd 40: sc in all 23 st
Rnd 41: 11 sc, 3sc in next st, 11 sc [25]
Rnd 42: 12 sc, 3sc in next st, 12 sc [27]
Rnd 43: 13 sc, 3sc in next st, 13 sc [29]
Rnd 44: 14 sc, 3sc in next st, 14 sc [31]
Rnd 45: 15 sc, 3sc in next st, 15 sc [33]
Rnd 46: 16 sc, 3sc in next st, 16 sc [35]
Rnd 47: 17 sc, 3sc in next st, 17 sc [37]
Rnd 48: 18 sc, 3sc in next st, 18 sc [39]
Rnd 49: 19 sc, 3sc in next st, 19 sc [41]
Rnd 50: 20 sc, 3sc in next st, 20 sc [43]
Rnd 51: 21 sc, 3sc in next st, 21 sc [45]
Rnd 52: 22 sc, 3sc in next st, 22 sc [47]
Rnd 53: 23 sc, 3sc in next st, 23 sc [49]
Rnd 54: 24 sc, 3sc in next st, 22 sc, inv dec [50]
Rnd 55: inv dec, 23 sc, 3sc in next st, 22 sc,
inv dec [50]
Rnd 56: inv dec, 46 sc, inv dec [48]
Rnd 57: inv dec, 18 sc, inv sc3tog 3 times, 17 sc,
inv dec [40]
Rnd 58: 38 sc, inv dec [39]
Rnd 59: inv dec, 33 sc, inv dec 2 times [36]

Rnd 60: inv dec, 16 sc, inv sc3tog, 13 sc,
inv dec [32]
Now is a good time to add wire and toy stuffing
to the tail and the body.
Rnd 61: inv dec, 14 sc, inv dec, 12 sc, inv dec[29]
Rnd 62: inv dec, 12 sc, inv dec, 11 sc, inv dec,[26]
Rnd 63: inv dec 3 times, 7 sc, inv dec, 7 sc,
inv dec 2 times [20]
Rnd 64: inv dec all around [10]
Top up stuffing if needed.
Rnd 65: sc3tog three times, skip last st. [3]
Fasten off, sew up the end. Go to pages 8-9
for the assembly step-by-step.

The long long tail…

Rnd 36 – this is 3sc in 1 st, the stitch we will use shaping the body.

The ncreases sit along the centre of the rounds.

Body at widest point, next let’s use invisible decreases to shape the top.

To make an
inv dec pick up only the front loops of the 2sts

Pull yarn through the 2
front loops once (2 loops on hook)

Pull yarn
through the two loops to complete
the stitch.

inv sc3tog is
worked in the same way – pick up just
the 3 front loops

Pull yarn
through the two
loops to complete
the stitch.

Rnd 57 of the
body – the corner
is done with the
decreases.

Now the body
will get smaller
with lots of
decreases.

See how the
front now creates
a straight corner!
Pause here to stuff.

If you want to
have a pose-able tail put in the wire or pipe cleaner now.

Add stuffing
to the tail and
body, not too
much as they
are quite flat.

Test-curl the
tail if using wire!

The body is
finished, sew up
the end.

1b. Head

Start in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]
Rnd 2: (3sc in next st, 3 sc) 2 times [12]
Rnd 3: (1 sc, 3sc in next st, 4 sc) 2 times [16]
Rnd 4: (2 sc, 3sc in next st, 5 sc) 2 times [20]
Rnd 5: (3 sc, 3sc in next st, 6 sc) 2 times [24]
Rnd 6 -7: sc in all 24 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 8: 8 sc, inc 6 times, 10 sc [30]
Rnd 9: 8 sc, (1 sc, inc) 6 times, 10 sc [36]
Rnd 10 – 14: sc in all 36 st – 5 rounds
Rnd 15: 12 sc, inv dec, 8 sc, inv dec, 12 sc [34]
Rnd 16 – 17: sc in all 34 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 18: 15 sc, change to CC, 6 inc,
change to MC,13 sc [40]
Rnd 19: sc in all 40 st
Rnd 20: 16 sc, change to CC, 12 sc,
change to MC, 12 sc [40]
Rnd 21: 12 sc, (inv dec, 1 sc) 6 times, 10 sc [34]
Rnd 22: 12 sc, 2 inv dec, change to CC
2 inv dec, change to MC, 2 inv dec, 10 sc [28]
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.

The colourwork chameleon is made with the same pattern as single-yarn version, with colour swaps added in to create a striped effect on the body.

Follow the chart on page 6 to get the same stripes as the sample or design your own using the blank chart template on page 7!

Add in the new colour on the last loop of previous stitch.

Swap them over as needed.

Hide the unused yarn behind working one for a more secure finish before cutting it.

Finished head, side view.

Finished head, top view.

3b. Eyes (make 2, see Fig.1)

Start in Main Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd1: Make a ring for 8 sts, pull ring tight
around a 10mm safety eye [8] (see picture 8)
Rnd 2 -3: sc in all 8 sts – 2 rounds
Rnd 4: (1 sc in next st, change to CC,
1sc in same st, change to MC) 8 times [16]
Rnd 5: (1 sc, change to CC, 1sc,
change to MC) 8 times [16]
Rnd 6: (1 sc, change to CC, inc,
change to MC) 8 times [24]
Rnd 7: (1 sc, change to CC, 2 sc,
change to MC) 8 times [24]

Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing. Put the eye
through the head and fasten with safety fastener.

Follow the pattern on page 2 to make the Jaw and pattern on page 3 to make the Legs, using the main colour yarn and 3.5mm hook.

Round 4 of the eye sets up the colour pattern

The finished eye will have 8 colour stripes running from the centre.

Put the eye through the head before securing with a fastener.

5b. Colourwork Body (See Fig.2 & 3)

Start in Contrast Colour, 3.5mm hook.

Rnd 1: Start 5 sc in a magic ring [5]
Rnd 2 – 3: sc in all 5 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 4: MC inc in next st, 4 sc [6]
Rnd 5: sc in all 6 st
Rnd 6: CC sc in all 6 st
Rnd 7: inc in next st, 5 sc [7]
Rnd 8: MC sc in all 7 st
Rnd 9: inc in next st, 6 sc [8]
Rnd 10: sc in all 8 st
Rnd 11 -12: CC sc in all 8 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 13: MC inc in next st, 7 sc [9]
Rnd 14 – 15: sc in all 9 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 16: CC sc in all 9 st
Rnd 17: inc in next st, 8 sc[10]
Rnd 18: MC sc in all 10 st
Rnd 19: sc in all 10 st
Rnd 20: inc in next st, 9 sc [11]
Rnd 21: CC sc in all 11 st
Rnd 22: sc in all 11 st
Rnd 23: MC inc in next st, 10 sc[12]
Rnd 24-25: sc in all 12 st – 2 rounds
Rnd 26: inc in next st, 11 sc [13]
Rnd 27: CC sc in all 13 st
Rnd 28: inc in next st, 12 sc [14]
Rnd 29: MC sc in all 14 st
Rnd 30: inc in next st, 13 sc [15]
Rnd 31: sc in all 15 st
Rnd 32: inc in next st, 14 sc[16]
Rnd 33: sc in all 16 st
Rnd 34: inc in next st, 15 sc [17]
Rnd 35: CC sc in all 17 st
Rnd 36: 8 sc, 3sc in next st,
8 sc[19]
Rnd 37: MC 9 sc, 3sc in next st,
9 sc [21]
Rnd 38: sc in all 21 st
Rnd 39: 10 sc, 3sc in next st,
10 sc [23]
Rnd 40: sc in all 23 st
Rnd 41: 11 sc, 3sc in next st, 2 sc,
CC 1 sc, MC 8 sc [25]
Rnd 42: 8 sc, CC 1 sc, MC 3 sc, 3sc in next st,
7 sc, CC 5 sc [27]
Rnd 43: 5 sc, MC 8 sc, 3sc in next st, 7 sc, CC 6 sc [29]
Rnd 44: 6 sc, MC 8 sc, 3sc in next st, 6 sc,
CC 6 sc, MC 2 sc [31]
Rnd 45: 2 sc, CC 6 sc, MC 7 sc, 3sc in next st,
5 sc, CC 9 sc, MC 1 sc [33]
Rnd 46: 1 sc, CC 9 sc, MC 6 sc, 3sc in next st,
10 sc, CC 6 sc [35]
Rnd 47: 7 sc, MC 10 sc, 3sc in next st,
13 sc, CC 4 sc [37]
Rnd 48: 4 sc, MC 14 sc, 3sc in next st, 5 sc, CC 2 sc,
MC 11 sc [39]

Rnd 49: 11 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 6 sc, 3sc in next st,
6 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 11 sc [41]
Rnd 50: 11 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 7 sc, 3sc in next st,
10 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 8 sc [43]
Rnd 51: 8 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 11 sc, 3sc in next st,
3 sc, CC 1 sc, MC 8 sc, CC 9 sc [45]
Rnd 52: 9 sc, MC 8 sc, CC 1 sc, MC 4 sc,
3sc in next st, 13 sc, CC 9 sc [47]
Rnd 53: 9 sc, MC 14 sc, 3sc in next st, 6 sc,
CC 2 sc, MC 7 sc, CC 6 sc, MC 2 sc [49]
Rnd 54: MC 2sc, CC 6 sc, MC 7 sc, CC 2 sc, MC 7 sc,
3sc in next st, 7 sc, CC 3 sc, MC 9 sc,
CC 3 sc, MC inv dec [50]
Rnd 55: inv dec, CC 3 sc, MC 9 sc, CC 3 sc, MC 8 sc,
3sc in next st, 10 sc, CC 3 sc, MC 9 sc,
CC inv dec [50]
Rnd 56: inv dec, MC 9 sc, CC 3 sc, MC 24 sc,
CC 4 sc, MC 6 sc, inv dec [48]
Rnd 57: inv dec, 5 sc, CC 4 sc, MC 9 sc, inv sc3tog 3 times,
7sc,CC 1sc, MC 1 sc, CC 6 sc, MC 2 sc, inv dec [40]
Rnd 58: 4 sc, CC 5 sc, MC 1 sc, CC 1 sc, MC 21 sc,
CC 6 sc, inv dec [39]
Rnd 59: inv dec, 6 sc, MC 25 sc, CC 2 sc,
MC inv dec 2 times [36]
Rnd 60: inv dec, 1 sc, CC 4 sc, MC 11 sc, inv sc3tog,
11 sc, CC 2 sc, MC inv dec [32]
Rnd 61: inv dec, CC 3 sc, MC 11 sc, inv dec,
12 sc, CC inv dec [29]
Rnd 62: inv dec, MC 12 sc, inv dec, 11 sc, inv dec [26]
Rnd 63: inv dec 3 times, 7 sc, inv dec, 7 sc,
inv dec 2 times [20]
Add wire to tail and stuff the tail and body now.
Rnd 64: inv dec all around [10]
Rnd 65: sc3tog three times, skip last st. [3]
Fasten off, sew up the end. Assembe the chameleon
following pictures on pages 8-9, add a row of
crab stitch along the spine to finish.

A stripy tail is
done!

Hide the yarn behind main thread when it’s not being used.

The first back stripe is finished.

The second stripe almost finished – the yellow dots sit on the spine.

All 3 stripes on the back are done, add in the wire and stuff (see first set of pictures for details).

The other side of the body mirrors the first.

Colour Pattern

The chart for the body showing the colour changes as described in Body Option 2.

SYMBOL KEY

This is what the colour pattern on the first half of the body rounds looks like when stitches are lined up. The pattern is mirrored on the other side of the body, colourwork starting on the last stitches of the previous round to get the stripes matching up neatly along the spine.