Crochet Tutorial: Tiger Garden Helper Doll – Free Crochet Pattern.

This cheerful tiger garden helper doll is dressed in a pale yellow shirt, brown-and-green overalls, leafy pockets, tiny mushrooms, garden sandals, and a colorful flower crown. The set also includes a round straw hat, a small shoulder bag, a blue watering can, and a potted flower so the finished project looks just like a sweet handmade garden scene.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size

Using the yarn and hook suggested below, the tiger doll measures about 9.5 inches tall from feet to top of head, not including the flower crown. The straw hat measures about 4 inches wide. The bag, watering can, and flower pot are small decorative accessories sized to sit beside the doll.

Skill Level

This pattern is best for confident beginners who know how to crochet in the round, increase, decrease, change colors, and sew pieces together. Every part is written with stitch counts so you can follow the shaping carefully.

Materials

• Yarn weight: Sport or fine DK cotton yarn works best for a firm amigurumi look.
• Main tiger orange: about 45 g.
• Cream: about 35 g for muzzle, cheeks, hands, toes, and inner ears.
• Soft pink: about 8 g for nose and flower details.
• Black: small amount for stripes, mouth, shoe details, and ear edging.
• Pale yellow: about 18 g for shirt.
• Olive green: about 28 g for straps, legs, pockets, and shoe tops.
• Brown: about 35 g for overalls, soles, and bag.
• Light green: about 15 g for cuffs, leaves, and pocket details.
• Tan straw color: about 25 g for the garden hat.
• Sky blue: about 10 g for watering can.
• Terracotta orange: about 10 g for flower pot.
• Flower colors: white, yellow, lavender, rose pink, and dusty purple scraps.
• Hook: 2.25 mm for the doll and accessories.
• Optional smaller hook: 2.00 mm for flowers and tiny leaves.
• Safety eyes: two 10 mm white dome eyes with black pupils, or crochet white eye disks with black centers.
• Stuffing: polyester fiberfill.
• Other supplies: stitch markers, yarn needle, pins, scissors, black embroidery floss, white whisker thread or thin nylon, two tiny wooden buttons, and fabric glue if desired.

Abbreviations in US Terms

• MR: magic ring.
• ch: chain.
• sl st: slip stitch.
• sc: single crochet.
• hdc: half double crochet.
• dc: double crochet.
• inc: 2 sc in the same stitch.
• dec: invisible single crochet decrease.
• BLO: back loop only.
• FLO: front loop only.
• st or sts: stitch or stitches.
• R: round or row.
• FO: fasten off.

Gauge and Tension

For amigurumi, exact gauge is less important than firmness. Crochet tightly enough that stuffing does not show through. With a 2.25 mm hook and sport cotton, 6 sc and 6 rounds should measure about 1 inch.

If your stitches are loose, use a smaller hook. If your fabric becomes too stiff to shape, use a slightly larger hook but keep the pieces proportional. The head should remain large and rounded compared with the compact body.

Construction Notes

• The doll is worked mostly in continuous spiral rounds. Do not join rounds unless the pattern says to join.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
• Stuff the head and body firmly, but keep the arms and ears lightly stuffed.
• The tiger’s head is intentionally oversized and oval, with a wide cream muzzle and pink raised nose.
• The overalls are worked directly into the body color changes, then straps, pockets, cuffs, and buttons are added separately.
• Black tiger stripes are embroidered at the end so you can match the image placement accurately.

Color Placement Guide

The finished doll should show an orange forehead and upper face, cream cheeks and lower muzzle, a large pink oval nose, black embroidered stripes, and a flower crown across the top right side of the head. The outfit should look like a garden-helper uniform with brown bib overalls and green accents.

The legs are green with light green cuffs. The shirt sleeves are pale yellow at the shoulders, orange in the middle, and cream at the hands. The tiny shoes are pale green with brown soles, cream toes, and embroidered beetle-like garden details on top.

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Head

Use orange yarn. Work in continuous rounds. The head is a large rounded oval, slightly wider at the cheek line and softly narrowed at the neck.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5: sc 3, inc around. 30 sts.
6. R6: sc 4, inc around. 36 sts.
7. R7: sc 5, inc around. 42 sts.
8. R8: sc 6, inc around. 48 sts.
9. R9: sc 7, inc around. 54 sts.
10. R10: sc 8, inc around. 60 sts.
11. R11-R17: sc around for 7 rounds. 60 sts.
12. R18: sc 18, inc, sc 22, inc, sc 18. 62 sts.
13. R19-R21: sc around for 3 rounds. 62 sts.
14. R22: sc 18, dec, sc 22, dec, sc 18. 60 sts.
15. R23: sc 8, dec around. 54 sts.
16. R24: sc 7, dec around. 48 sts.
17. R25: sc 6, dec around. 42 sts.
18. R26: sc 5, dec around. 36 sts.
19. R27: sc 4, dec around. 30 sts.
20. R28: sc 3, dec around. 24 sts.

Pause here to insert or sew the eyes. Place the eyes between R13 and R14, about 7 stitches apart. The eyes should sit high and close together, giving the tiger the surprised garden-helper expression shown in the image.

1. R29: sc 2, dec around. 18 sts.
2. R30: sc 1, dec around. 12 sts.

Stuff the head firmly, keeping the face rounded and the lower cheeks full. Do not close completely until the muzzle is pinned later. FO with a long tail and close the final opening after shaping.

Cream Face Patch and Cheeks

The cream muzzle area is wide, soft, and heart-like, covering the lower half of the face. Make one large oval patch first, then add cheek fullness with two small pads.

Large Cream Muzzle Patch

Use cream yarn. Work in oval rounds around a chain.

1. Ch 9.
2. R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 6, 3 sc in last ch, working on other side of chain sc 6, inc in last ch. 18 sts.
3. R2: inc, sc 6, inc 3 times, sc 6, inc 2 times. 24 sts.
4. R3: sc 1, inc, sc 6, sc 1, inc repeated 3 times, sc 6, sc 1, inc repeated 2 times. 30 sts.
5. R4: sc 2, inc, sc 6, sc 2, inc repeated 3 times, sc 6, sc 2, inc repeated 2 times. 36 sts.
6. R5: sc 3, inc, sc 6, sc 3, inc repeated 3 times, sc 6, sc 3, inc repeated 2 times. 42 sts.
7. R6: sc around. 42 sts.

FO with a long tail. Pin this patch from R14 to R25 of the head. The top edge should curve beneath the eyes, and the bottom edge should sit near the neck opening. Sew only after adding the nose position.

Two Cream Cheek Pads

Make 2. Use cream yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5-R6: sc around. 24 sts.

FO with long tails. Lightly stuff each cheek. Place them under the large muzzle patch, one on each side of the nose area, so the lower face looks rounded and plush. Sew through both layers to secure the cheeks smoothly.

Pink Nose

Use soft pink yarn. The nose is a raised oval, larger than a typical amigurumi nose, and sits centered over the cream muzzle.

1. Ch 7.
2. R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, 3 sc in last ch, working on other side sc 4, inc in last ch. 14 sts.
3. R2: inc, sc 4, inc 3 times, sc 4, inc 2 times. 20 sts.
4. R3: sc 1, inc, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 3 times, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 2 times. 26 sts.
5. R4-R5: sc around. 26 sts.
6. R6: sc 1, dec, sc 4, sc 1, dec repeated 3 times, sc 4, sc 1, dec repeated 2 times. 20 sts.

FO with a long tail. Stuff lightly so the nose becomes domed, not flat. Sew it horizontally on the upper center of the cream patch, directly below the eyes. Outline the bottom edge with black embroidery if desired.

Mouth, Whiskers, and Face Lines

• With black embroidery floss, stitch one straight vertical line from the bottom center of the nose to the lower middle of the muzzle.
• From the bottom of that line, embroider a soft curved smile to the left and another to the right.
• Add three long white whiskers on each side, starting from the cream cheek area and extending outward.
• Keep the whiskers slightly angled, with the top whisker pointing upward, the middle whisker straight, and the lower whisker downward.

Ears

Make 2 outer ears in black and orange, then add cream inner ears. The ears sit high on the head, partly under the flower crown.

Outer Ear

Start with orange yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5: sc around. 24 sts.
6. Change to black.
7. R6: sc around. 24 sts.

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FO with a long tail. Fold the ear slightly at the base to make a rounded cup shape. Do not overstuff. A tiny bit of stuffing can be placed inside the lower curve only.

Inner Ear

Make 2 using cream yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.

FO and sew one cream circle inside each ear, leaving the black outer rim visible. Sew ears to the head between R7 and R14, about 18 stitches apart, with a slight forward tilt.

Body with Shirt and Overalls

The body is pear-shaped and smaller than the head. Color changes create the shirt at the top, brown overalls at the middle, and green trouser legs at the bottom.

Start with light green for the lower leg connector area.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5: sc 3, inc around. 30 sts.
6. R6: sc 4, inc around. 36 sts.
7. Change to olive green.
8. R7-R9: sc around for 3 rounds. 36 sts.
9. Change to brown.
10. R10: BLO sc around. 36 sts.
11. R11: sc 5, inc around. 42 sts.
12. R12-R17: sc around for 6 rounds. 42 sts.
13. R18: sc 5, dec around. 36 sts.
14. R19-R20: sc around. 36 sts.
15. Change to pale yellow.
16. R21: BLO sc around. 36 sts.
17. R22: sc 4, dec around. 30 sts.
18. R23-R24: sc around. 30 sts.
19. R25: sc 3, dec around. 24 sts.
20. R26: sc around. 24 sts.
21. R27: sc 2, dec around. 18 sts.

Stuff the body firmly, shaping the belly round and the shoulder area narrower. FO with a long tail for sewing to the head. The pale yellow section should be visible as the shirt above the overalls.

Overall Bib

Use olive green yarn. The bib sits on the front upper body over the brown overalls and reaches just below the shirt line.

1. Ch 13.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 12 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc 10, inc. 14 sts.
4. Row 3-6: ch 1, turn, sc across. 14 sts.
5. Row 7: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 10, dec. 12 sts.
6. Border: ch 1, sc evenly around the entire bib, placing 2 sc in each corner.

FO with a long tail. Sew the bib to the front of the body, centered between R17 and R24. Keep the bottom edge flat and the top edge slightly curved under the shirt.

Overall Straps

Make 2 using olive green yarn. The straps run from the bib top over the shoulders and attach to the back.

1. Ch 18.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 17 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc across. 17 sts.

FO with tails. Sew one end of each strap to the top corners of the bib. Cross them slightly or keep them straight over the shoulders, then sew the back ends to the brown overall section. Add one small wooden button at each front strap base.

Front Patch Pocket

Use tan yarn for the pocket base, then embroider green leaf details.

1. Ch 9.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 8 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc 6, inc. 10 sts.
4. Row 3-5: ch 1, turn, sc across. 10 sts.
5. Row 6: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 6, dec. 8 sts.
6. Border: sc evenly around, placing 2 sc in lower corners.

Sew the pocket centered on the bib. With light green yarn, embroider one stem and two small leaves across the pocket front. This detail matches the garden-helper theme and makes the bib look finished.

Side Pockets

Make 2 using light green yarn. These pockets sit on the brown overall front, one on each hip, and hold tiny mushrooms.

1. Ch 8.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 7 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc 5, inc. 9 sts.
4. Row 3-6: ch 1, turn, sc across. 9 sts.
5. Row 7: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 5, dec. 7 sts.
6. Border: sc evenly around the sides and bottom only. Leave the top open.

Sew the sides and bottom of each pocket to the overalls between R12 and R18. Leave the top edge open enough to tuck in tiny mushrooms or flowers.

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Tiny Pocket Mushrooms

Make 2 red mushrooms and 1 yellow mushroom. Use white for stems.

Mushroom Stem

Make 3 using white yarn.

1. R1: 5 sc in MR. 5 sts.
2. R2-R4: sc around. 5 sts.

FO. Stuff is not needed. Flatten slightly.

Mushroom Cap

Make 2 red and 1 yellow.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc around. 12 sts.
4. R4: BLO dec around. 6 sts.

Insert the stem into the cap and sew around the base. Add small white embroidery dots to the red caps. Sew or tuck the mushrooms into the side pockets.

Legs

Make 2. Each leg has orange tiger ankle, green trouser leg, and light green cuff. Work from the foot upward if you prefer, but this version begins at the lower leg for clean color bands.

Use orange yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4-R5: sc around. 18 sts.
5. Change to light green.
6. R6: BLO sc around. 18 sts.
7. R7: sc around. 18 sts.
8. Change to olive green.
9. R8-R15: sc around for 8 rounds. 18 sts.
10. Change to light green.
11. R16-R17: sc around for 2 rounds. 18 sts.

Stuff the leg firmly at the bottom and medium-firm at the top. FO on the first leg. Make the second leg but do not FO if you want to join legs directly. For this doll, sew both legs separately under the body for better control.

Position the legs side by side under the body, slightly forward-facing. Sew them to the lower green body section. Leave a small gap between the legs so the doll can sit naturally on a flat surface.

Feet and Garden Sandals

The feet are cream toes with pale green sandal tops and brown soles. Make 2.

Cream Foot Base

Use cream yarn.

1. Ch 7.
2. R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, 3 sc in last ch, working on other side sc 4, inc in last ch. 14 sts.
3. R2: inc, sc 4, inc 3 times, sc 4, inc 2 times. 20 sts.
4. R3: sc 1, inc, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 3 times, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 2 times. 26 sts.
5. R4: BLO sc around. 26 sts.
6. R5-R6: sc around. 26 sts.
7. R7: sc 6, dec 4 times, sc 12. 22 sts.
8. R8: sc 5, dec 3 times, sc 11. 19 sts.

Stuff the toe firmly. FO, leaving a tail. Sew the back of the foot to the orange ankle. The toe should point forward and look rounded.

Brown Sole

Use brown yarn.

1. Ch 7.
2. R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, 3 sc in last ch, working on other side sc 4, inc in last ch. 14 sts.
3. R2: inc, sc 4, inc 3 times, sc 4, inc 2 times. 20 sts.
4. R3: sc 1, inc, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 3 times, sc 4, sc 1, inc repeated 2 times. 26 sts.

FO and sew one sole under each cream foot. Let the brown edge show like a little garden sandal base.

Green Sandal Top

Make 2 using pale green yarn.

1. Ch 8.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 7 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc 5, inc. 9 sts.
4. Row 3-4: ch 1, turn, sc across. 9 sts.

Sew the sandal top across the upper front of each foot, leaving the cream toe tips visible. Embroider a dark blue bow, a yellow beetle body, and tiny black legs on each sandal to match the playful garden theme.

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Arms and Sleeves

Make 2. Each arm has cream hand, orange tiger forearm with black stripes, and pale yellow short sleeve.

Start with cream yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3-R5: sc around. 12 sts.
4. R6: sc 2, dec around. 9 sts.
5. Change to orange.
6. R7-R13: sc around for 7 rounds. 9 sts.
7. Change to pale yellow.
8. R14: sc around. 9 sts.
9. R15: sc 2, inc around. 12 sts.
10. R16-R18: sc around for 3 rounds. 12 sts.

Stuff the hand and lower arm lightly. Keep the upper sleeve soft so it hangs naturally. Flatten the top opening and sc through both layers with 6 sc, or FO and sew closed.

Sew the arms to the body at the shoulder line, just under the head. The arms should hang down alongside the body. Embroider two or three short black stripes around each orange forearm.

Tail

The tail is optional in the image because the doll faces forward, but adding a small curved tiger tail completes the back.

Use orange yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: sc 1, inc around. 9 sts.
3. R3-R18: sc around for 16 rounds. 9 sts.

Stuff lightly as you work. FO with a long tail. Embroider black bands around the tail every 3 rounds. Sew it to the back of the body at R11-R13, curving gently to one side.

Embroidered Tiger Stripes

The black stripes are essential for matching the image. Use black embroidery floss or thin black yarn. Keep the lines neat and slightly curved rather than perfectly straight.

• Add 3 short vertical stripes at the center top of the forehead, starting around R7 and ending around R11.
• Add 3 angled stripes on each side of the orange face, beginning near the temple and pointing toward the cheeks.
• Add 2 small stripes on each side above the cream muzzle.
• Add 2 to 3 stripes around each orange forearm.
• Add 2 stripes around each orange ankle, above the sandal.
• Use black yarn to outline the lower nose if you want a stronger cartoon look.

Flower Crown Base

The flower crown sits across the top front of the head, slightly toward one side. Use green yarn for the vine base.

1. Ch 32.
2. Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st across. 31 sl sts.

FO with long tails. Pin the vine from one ear across the forehead to the other ear. Sew it in place after arranging the flowers and leaves.

Small Crochet Flowers

Make 6 or 7 flowers in yellow, rose pink, white, lavender, and dusty purple. Use a 2.00 mm hook if you want tighter petals.

Five-Petal Flower

1. R1: 5 sc in MR, sl st to first sc.
2. R2: ch 2, 2 dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st.
3. Repeat the petal sequence in each of the remaining 4 sts.
4. Pull the magic ring tight and FO.

For the white flower, sew a small yellow French knot or tiny yellow circle in the center. For yellow flowers, use a darker center if desired. Sew flowers along the vine, with the largest pink flower near the middle top.

Leaves for Crown and Accessories

Make several tiny leaves in light green and olive green. These are used on the flower crown, straw hat, shoulder bag, watering can, and potted plant.

1. Ch 6.
2. Working in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 5 dc in last ch.
3. Working on the other side of the chain: dc, hdc, sc, sl st.

FO and weave in one tail. Use the other tail to sew the leaf in place. Make at least 10 leaves for the full garden look.

Round Straw Hat

The hat is a flat round straw-style garden hat with a raised center, broad brim, pink band, and flowers on one side. Use tan yarn.

Hat Crown

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5: sc 3, inc around. 30 sts.
6. R6: sc 4, inc around. 36 sts.
7. R7: BLO sc around. 36 sts.
8. R8-R11: sc around for 4 rounds. 36 sts.

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Hat Brim

1. R12: FLO sc 2, inc around. 48 sts.
2. R13: sc 3, inc around. 60 sts.
3. R14: sc 4, inc around. 72 sts.
4. R15: sc 5, inc around. 84 sts.
5. R16: sc around. 84 sts.
6. R17: sl st around loosely. 84 sts.

FO and weave in ends. The brim should stay mostly flat. If it curls, lightly steam it with care or block it flat under a towel until dry.

Hat Band and Flowers

Use soft pink yarn.

1. Ch 40.
2. Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and across. 39 sl sts.

Sew the band around the base of the hat crown. Add one white flower, one rose flower, and two green leaves to the brim edge. Place the decorations on one side, just like a sweet garden hat resting beside the tiger.

Shoulder Garden Bag

The bag has a green lower body, tan flap, leaf detail, and long brown strap. It is designed as a tiny crossbody accessory.

Bag Body

Use olive green yarn.

1. Ch 13.
2. R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 10, 3 sc in last ch, working on other side sc 10, inc in last ch. 26 sts.
3. R2: BLO sc around. 26 sts.
4. R3-R9: sc around for 7 rounds. 26 sts.
5. R10: sc 11, dec, sc 11, dec. 24 sts.

FO and flatten the top slightly. Do not stuff. The bag should look soft and usable, not round like a ball.

Tan Flap

Use tan yarn.

1. Ch 13.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 12 sts.
3. Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc across. 12 sts.
4. Row 3: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 8, dec. 10 sts.
5. Row 4: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 6, dec. 8 sts.
6. Row 5: ch 1, turn, dec, sc 4, dec. 6 sts.
7. Border: sc evenly around.

Sew the straight edge of the flap to the back top of the bag. Fold it over the front. Add two small green leaves to the flap and one hanging flower or sprout near the lower side.

Bag Strap

Use brown yarn.

1. Ch 70.
2. Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and across.

Sew one end of the strap to each side of the bag. The strap should be long enough to loop over the tiger’s shoulder or lie beside the doll in the finished display.

Blue Watering Can

The watering can is small, rounded, and light blue with a handle, spout, and green leaf detail.

Can Body

Use sky blue yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
5. R5-R8: sc around for 4 rounds. 24 sts.
6. R9: sc 2, dec around. 18 sts.
7. R10: BLO sc 1, dec around. 12 sts.
8. R11: sc around. 12 sts.

Stuff lightly. FO and close the top. Flatten the base gently so it can sit beside the doll.

Watering Can Spout

Use sky blue yarn.

1. R1: 5 sc in MR. 5 sts.
2. R2-R7: sc around. 5 sts.
3. R8: sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc, sc 1. 7 sts.
4. R9: sc around. 7 sts.

FO with a long tail. Lightly shape the tube and sew it to one side of the can, angled upward. The wider end should point away from the can.

Watering Can Handle

Use sky blue yarn.

1. Ch 18.
2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. 17 sts.

FO with tails. Sew one end near the upper side of the can and the other near the lower side, forming a curved handle. Add one small green leaf to the can front.

Terracotta Flower Pot

The little flower pot sits near the tiger and holds a leafy pink blossom. Use terracotta yarn for the pot.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: BLO sc around. 18 sts.
5. R5: sc around. 18 sts.
6. R6: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.
7. R7-R9: sc around for 3 rounds. 24 sts.
8. R10: FLO sc around. 24 sts.
9. R11: sl st around loosely. 24 sts.

FO. Stuff lightly or place a small brown crochet soil disk inside.

Soil Disk

Use brown yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.
4. R4: sc 2, inc around. 24 sts.

Sew the disk into the top of the pot. Add three or four leaves and one pink flower to the center. Let a few leaves bend outward for the natural potted-plant look shown in the image.

Optional Crochet Eyes

If you do not want to use safety eyes, make two white eye disks and embroider black pupils. This keeps the doll fully soft and suitable for display or gentle play.

White Eye Disk

Make 2 using white yarn.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. 6 sts.
2. R2: inc around. 12 sts.
3. R3: sc 1, inc around. 18 sts.

FO with a long tail. Sew the disks close together between R12 and R16 of the head. Embroider black pupils slightly toward the center for the wide-eyed expression.

Joining the Head and Body

Pin the head to the body before sewing. The large head should sit centered on the narrow shirt collar. Make sure the face points forward and the body bib is aligned directly below the nose.

1. Use the long body tail to sew through the neck opening and lower head stitches.
2. Work around the neck twice for strength.
3. Add extra stuffing into the neck before closing the final gap.
4. Check that the head does not wobble. Add more stitches if needed.

The head should lean very slightly forward, giving the doll a friendly handmade posture. Do not angle the head too far back because the flower crown and eyes need to be visible from the front.

Adding Outfit Details

The outfit is what makes the tiger look like a garden helper. Add the small pieces slowly, checking the image style as you go.

• Sew the bib pocket to the center front of the green bib.
• Sew the side pockets to the brown overalls, one on each side.
• Place the red mushrooms inside the pockets before fully securing them.
• Add two tiny buttons at the strap fronts.
• Embroider light green leaf details on the front pocket.
• Add short black stripes on arms and ankles after the clothing is finished.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Pin every major detail before sewing permanently. Start with the muzzle, nose, eyes, and ears. Then add the body, arms, legs, feet, outfit pockets, straps, and buttons. The facial expression depends on the eye spacing and the height of the pink nose.

After sewing the nose, embroider the black mouth line and curved smile. Add the white whiskers last so they stay clean and straight. Secure each whisker with tiny knots hidden inside the cream cheek stitches.

Sew the flower crown vine across the top of the head. Place the pink and white flowers near the center, yellow flowers toward the sides, and lavender flowers near the ears. Add small leaves between the flowers to fill gaps.

Care Notes

• Spot clean gently with cool water and mild soap.
• Do not soak the doll if wooden buttons, glued eyes, or stiffened accessories are used.
• Reshape the head, hat brim, and flower petals while damp.
• Let all pieces air dry completely before storing.
• Keep away from strong sunlight to protect the orange, green, and pink yarn colors.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The head is large, rounded, and firmly stuffed.
• The cream muzzle is wide and covers the lower face.
• The pink nose is raised and centered below the eyes.
• Black tiger stripes are placed on the forehead, cheeks, arms, ankles, and tail.
• The overalls have a green bib, brown body, green legs, front pocket, side pockets, and tiny buttons.
• The sandals have brown soles, cream toes, green tops, and embroidered garden bugs.
• The flower crown, straw hat, shoulder bag, watering can, and potted plant are complete.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

For long-term display, keep the tiger garden helper in a dry place with good airflow. Use a soft makeup brush to remove dust from the flower crown, hat brim, pockets, and small accessories.

If the doll becomes flattened, gently massage the stuffing back into shape. Avoid pulling the whiskers or flower petals. Store the straw hat flat so the brim keeps its round garden-hat shape.

Wrap the doll in acid-free tissue or clean cotton fabric before seasonal storage. Keep the watering can, bag, and flower pot in a small labeled pouch so the complete set stays together.

Your Tiger Garden Helper Doll is now ready to bring a cheerful handmade garden story to your crochet collection.