Cleo the astronaut monkey

Cleo the Astronaut Monkey Crochet Pattern

What Is Being Made

Cleo the Astronaut Monkey is an amigurumi-style crocheted toy designed by Mongoreto. This finished stuffed toy stands approximately 23 cm (9 inches) tall and features a whimsical monkey character dressed as an astronaut. The design celebrates Cleopatra, the first female monkey astronaut in Argentina, bringing this imaginative character to life through the craft of crochet.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses crochet as the primary construction method, classified as an intermediate difficulty pattern. The toy is constructed using fundamental amigurumi techniques, which involve crocheting three-dimensional stuffed forms in the round. The pattern employs magic ring construction for starting pieces and utilizes both front loop only (FLO) and back loop only (BLO) crochet methods to create texture and definition in different sections of the monkey's body. Various pieces are worked separately and then assembled together to form the complete astronaut monkey character.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates the following crochet stitches and techniques:

• Chain (Ch): Foundation stitch used to begin sections
• Single Crochet (Sc): Primary stitch for building the body and creating dense fabric
• Magic Ring (Mr): Starting technique for working in the round without a visible hole
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and create seamless connections
• Decrease (Dec): Reduces stitch count to shape and taper pieces
• Increase (Inc): Adds stitches to expand sections of the toy
• Bobble Stitch (3-dc-bobble): A textured stitch created with three double crochet stitches, used for decorative details

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for worsted weight cotton yarn in medium (8/6) gauge. The color palette includes Dark Brown, Light Brown, White, Gray, and small amounts of Orange/Pink and Black for fine details. A 3.0 mm crochet hook (US size C/2, UK size 12) is required for working with this yarn weight. Additional materials include fiberfill stuffing for filling the completed toy, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and assembling pieces, and a pair of 8mm black safety eyes for the monkey's face. The pattern uses color abbreviations {LB} for light brown and {DB} for dark brown to streamline instructions throughout the design.