Crochet Tutorial: Pirate Bear Treasure Ship – Free Crochet Pattern.

This detailed free crochet pattern guides you through making a playful pirate bear treasure ship scene inspired by the image: a large brown-and-cream pirate ship with blue trim, rolled sails, tall masts, a crow’s nest, rope ladders, tiny pirate bears, cannon, anchor, treasure chest island, fish, waves, and a bright ocean display mat. The project is built as separate crochet pieces, then assembled into one sturdy decorative scene.

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

Pattern Overview

This project is an advanced amigurumi-style display piece worked in many separate components. The finished look depends on firm stuffing, tight stitches, careful shaping, and neat sewing. Most parts are worked in continuous rounds with US crochet terms.

The ship is designed with a rounded brown hull, a cream upper deck edge, blue side panels, cream railings, upright masts, rolled cream sails, tan rigging ropes, a central rope ladder net, and several small bears placed around the deck. The base is a flat blue rectangle representing water.

Finished Size

• Ocean base: about 18 in wide x 13 in deep.
• Ship hull: about 13 in long x 5.5 in wide x 5 in tall.
• Main mast: about 13 in tall from deck.
• Mini pirate bears: about 3 in tall each.
• Treasure island: about 5 in wide with a 3 in treasure chest.

Materials

• Worsted weight cotton yarn in dark brown, medium brown, tan, cream, royal blue, light blue, black, red, gray, gold, yellow, white, pink, orange, and small amounts of green.
• 3.0 mm crochet hook for amigurumi pieces.
• 3.5 mm crochet hook for the ocean mat.
• Fiberfill stuffing.
• Cardboard, plastic canvas, or craft foam for firm hull, deck, base, mast, and chest support.
• Yarn needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Small black safety eyes or embroidered eyes.
• Embroidery thread in black, white, and beige.
• Wooden dowels or firm pipe cleaners for masts, bowsprit, and sail support.
• Optional: fabric glue for internal support only.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• inc = 2 sc in one stitch
• dec = single crochet 2 stitches together
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• MR = magic ring
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches
• FO = fasten off
• R = round or row

Gauge

For amigurumi pieces, 6 sc x 6 rounds should measure about 1 in. The exact gauge is less important than making tight, firm stitches so stuffing does not show. If your stitches are loose, use a smaller hook.

Important Construction Notes

Work most small pieces in continuous rounds. Do not join rounds unless the instructions say to join. Use a stitch marker at the beginning of every round. Stuff the bears, hull cushions, cannon, and chest firmly but do not overstuff flat panels.

The ship is large, so internal support is important. Cut plastic canvas or cardboard to fit inside the hull bottom, deck, cabin walls, and mast bases. This keeps the scene upright and helps it match the tall, structured appearance in the image.

Ocean Display Mat

The base is a bright blue rectangle with a darker blue border. It should look like calm stitched water with small waves, fish, shells, and scattered sea details around the ship.

Main Water Rectangle

1. With royal blue and 3.5 mm hook, ch 67.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. 66 sc.
3. Rows 2-46: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. 66 sc.
4. Row 47: Ch 1, sc across. Do not turn.
5. Border R1: Work 1 sc evenly around the whole rectangle, placing 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st.
6. Border R2: With darker blue, ch 1, sc around, placing 3 sc in each corner. Join and FO.

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Raised Water Texture Lines

• Make 12 short light blue wave lines.
• For each line: ch 14, sc in 2nd ch, hdc in next, sc in next, sl st in next, repeat across in a soft wave rhythm. FO.
• Sew these randomly around the ship area, leaving open space for the treasure island.

Small Fish

Make fish in orange, gray, light blue, and pink. Use different colors to match the scattered sea creatures in the image.

1. MR, 6 sc. Pull tight.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3: Sc around. 12 sc.
4. R4: Dec around. 6 sc.
5. Flatten the body. Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch, sc, hdc, sl st into body for tail side one.
6. Ch 4 again, sl st in 2nd ch, sc, hdc, sl st into same body stitch for tail side two.
7. FO and embroider one tiny black eye.

Main Pirate Ship Hull

The hull is dark brown on the bottom, with a royal blue stripe and cream upper rail. It curves upward at the bow and stern. The shape is made from an oval base, two long side walls, two end panels, and a flat deck insert.

Hull Bottom Oval

1. With dark brown, ch 31.
2. R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 28, 3 sc in last ch. Work on opposite side of chain: sc in next 28, 2 sc in last ch. 62 sc.
3. R2: Inc, sc 28, inc in next 3 sts, sc 28, inc in next 2 sts. 68 sc.
4. R3: Sc 1, inc, sc 28, repeat sc 1, inc three times, sc 28, repeat sc 1, inc twice. 74 sc.
5. R4: Sc 2, inc, sc 28, repeat sc 2, inc three times, sc 28, repeat sc 2, inc twice. 80 sc.
6. R5: BLO sc around. 80 sc.
7. R6-R9: Sc around. 80 sc.
8. Insert a matching oval support piece before continuing.

Hull Side Height

1. R10: Sc 18, hdc 4, dc 8, hdc 4, sc 12, hdc 4, dc 8, hdc 4, sc 18. 80 sts.
2. R11: Sc in each stitch around. 80 sts.
3. R12: With medium brown, sc around. 80 sc.
4. R13: With royal blue, sc around. 80 sc.
5. R14: With royal blue, sc around. 80 sc.
6. R15: With medium brown, sc around. 80 sc.
7. R16: With cream, BLO sc around. 80 sc.
8. R17-R18: With cream, sc around. 80 sc.
9. FO, leaving a long tail for shaping.

Pinch the bow and stern slightly upward. Sew through the inside layers with dark brown yarn to create a curved boat shape. The blue stripe should sit across the middle of the side like the image.

Deck Insert

1. With tan, ch 37.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. 36 sc.
3. Rows 2-14: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
4. Border: Sc evenly around, placing 2 sc in each corner. FO.
5. Cut a support rectangle slightly smaller than the deck.
6. Sew the deck inside the hull, about 1 round below the cream edge.

Cream Rail Openings

The railings are made as narrow cream bars sewn around the top edge. This creates the open window-like railing seen along the ship sides.

• Make 16 vertical rail bars: with cream, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch and across. FO.
• Make 2 long side rails: ch 43, sc in 2nd ch and across. FO.
• Make 2 short end rails: ch 17, sc in 2nd ch and across. FO.
• Sew long rails to the top outer edge of the hull.
• Sew vertical bars underneath, spaced evenly, leaving rectangular openings.

Round Portholes

The hull has small gray-rimmed black portholes along the brown lower side.

1. With black, MR, 6 sc. Join and FO.
2. With gray, join yarn to any stitch, inc around. 12 sc.
3. FO, leaving tail for sewing.
4. Make 6 portholes.
5. Sew 3 portholes on each side of the hull below the blue stripe.

Anchor Applique

1. With gray, ch 10.
2. Sc in 2nd ch and next 7, 3 sc in last ch.
3. Work up opposite side with sc in next 8. FO.
4. For crossbar, ch 8, sc in 2nd ch and across. FO.
5. For hooks, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch, hdc, dc, sl st into anchor base. Repeat on opposite side.
6. Sew the crossbar near the top and embroider a small loop.
7. Sew anchor to the right front side of the ship.

Rear Cabin Structure

The cabin sits toward the back-left area of the ship. It has blue walls, cream windows, and a tan roof edge. The image shows it as a raised rectangular cabin with arched cream windows.

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Cabin Box

1. Back wall with royal blue: ch 17.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 16 sc.
3. Rows 2-12: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
4. FO. Make 2 panels.
5. Side wall with royal blue: ch 10.
6. Rows 1-12: Sc 9 across each row. FO. Make 2 panels.
7. Roof platform with tan: ch 18, sc in 2nd ch and across for 8 rows. FO.
8. Whipstitch the four walls into a box and sew the tan roof platform on top.

Arched Cream Windows

• Make 4 window frames.
• Ch 9, sc in 2nd ch and next 5, 3 sc in last ch, work down opposite side with sc 6. FO.
• Sew 2 windows on the visible blue cabin side and 2 on the front/back panels.

Cabin Top Rail

• Make 8 tiny cream bars: ch 5, sc in 2nd ch and across. FO.
• Make a top rail: ch 22, sc across. FO.
• Sew bars around the cabin roof edge, then sew the top rail over them.

Masts, Sails, Crow’s Nest, and Rigging

The ship has two tall mast areas. One lower mast supports a rolled cream sail on the left. The central mast is taller, with a crow’s nest basket near the top and a rolled sail below it. Use dowels inside the crochet tubes so the masts stand straight.

Main Mast Crochet Tube

1. With dark brown, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Sc around. 6 sc.
3. Continue sc around until the tube measures 14 in.
4. Insert a dowel or firm support.
5. FO and close the top.
6. Sew the mast firmly through the deck into the hull support.

Rear Mast Crochet Tube

1. With dark brown, MR, 6 sc.
2. Work sc around until the tube measures 10 in.
3. Insert a dowel.
4. FO and sew upright near the rear cabin.

Rolled Cream Sails

The sails are cylindrical rolled bundles, cream with brown end caps and dark brown straps. They should look like thick rolled fabric tied to a horizontal spar.

1. With cream, ch 22.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 21 sc.
3. Rows 2-16: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
4. Roll the rectangle tightly into a cylinder.
5. Sew the long edge closed.
6. With tan, MR, 6 sc, inc around to 12 sc. FO. Make 2 end caps.
7. Sew one cap to each end of the roll.
8. Make 2 rolled sails for the ship.

Brown Spars

• For each spar, crochet a dark brown tube: MR 6 sc, work sc around until tube measures 8 in.
• Insert a dowel or pipe cleaner.
• Sew one cream roll to each spar.
• Attach one spar horizontally to the rear mast and one to the main mast.

Crow’s Nest Basket

1. With tan, MR, 8 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 16 sc.
3. R3: Sc 1, inc around. 24 sc.
4. R4: BLO sc around. 24 sc.
5. R5-R8: Sc around. 24 sc.
6. R9: Ch 2, skip 2, sc in next 2, repeat around to create open railing holes.
7. R10: Sc around, placing 2 sc into each ch-2 space. 24 sc.
8. FO and weave in ends.
9. Sew the basket around the main mast about 3 in below the top.

Black Pirate Flags

1. With black, ch 9.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 8 sc.
3. Rows 2-7: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
4. FO and weave in ends.
5. With white yarn, embroider a small skull circle, two eye dots, and crossed bones.
6. Make 2 flags.
7. Sew one flag near the top of the main mast and one to the rear mast.

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Rigging Ropes

• For side ropes, ch 55 with tan. Make 4 long ropes.
• Sew 2 ropes from the top of the main mast down to the bow corners.
• Sew 2 ropes from the main mast down to the stern corners.
• For shorter diagonal ropes, ch 35 and sew between the masts and railings.
• Keep all ropes slightly taut so they resemble the image.

Center Rope Ladder Net

The front center net hangs from the main sail area down to the deck. It has vertical ropes and horizontal crossbars, forming an open grid.

1. Make 6 vertical strands: with tan, ch 38. FO.
2. Lay them parallel on a flat surface, spaced about 0.5 in apart.
3. Make 8 horizontal strands: ch 18. FO.
4. Use tan yarn to knot or stitch each horizontal strand across the vertical strands.
5. Add small brown knots: MR 5 sc, FO. Make 6 and sew along the bottom.
6. Sew the top of the net to the rolled sail spar and the bottom to the deck front.

Bow Details

The bow points forward with a long dark brown bowsprit, a gray cannon on the deck, cream railings, and a tiny yellow hanging ornament near the side.

Bowsprit

1. With dark brown, MR, 6 sc.
2. Work sc around until the tube measures 7 in.
3. Insert a dowel or firm pipe cleaner.
4. FO and close.
5. Sew to the front bow, angling slightly upward.

Deck Cannon

1. With gray, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3-R9: Sc around. 12 sc.
4. R10: Dec around. 6 sc.
5. Stuff lightly and close.
6. For cannon mouth, with dark gray, MR 6 sc, join and FO. Sew to front.
7. For base, with dark brown, ch 8, sc in 2nd ch and across for 4 rows. FO.
8. Sew cannon to base and attach to front deck.

Walkway Plank

The plank leans from the ship down to the ocean mat. It is tan, rectangular, and ribbed with rows of crochet stitches.

1. With tan, ch 10.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 9 sc.
3. Rows 2-34: Ch 1, BLO sc across. Turn.
4. Border: Sc evenly around the plank. FO.
5. Cut a support strip slightly smaller than the plank.
6. Sew or insert support behind the crochet piece.
7. Attach the top of the plank to the ship’s side and let it slope down onto the mat.

Mini Pirate Bear Body Pattern

The image includes several small bears in different pirate outfits: red bandanas, black pirate hats, blue shirts, striped shirts, dark pants, and one lookout bear in the crow’s nest. Use the same bear base, then change clothing colors.

Bear Head

1. With medium brown, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3: Sc 1, inc around. 18 sc.
4. R4: Sc 2, inc around. 24 sc.
5. R5-R8: Sc around. 24 sc.
6. R9: Sc 2, dec around. 18 sc.
7. Insert safety eyes between R6 and R7, 5 sts apart.
8. R10: Sc 1, dec around. 12 sc.
9. Stuff firmly.
10. R11: Dec around. 6 sc.
11. FO and close.

Bear Muzzle

1. With beige, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3: Sc around. 12 sc.
4. FO, leaving tail.
5. Sew to the lower front of the head.
6. Embroider a dark brown nose and short mouth line.

Bear Ears

1. With medium brown, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Sc 1, inc around. 9 sc.
3. FO, leaving tail.
4. Make 2 ears.
5. Flatten slightly and sew to the top sides of the head.

Small Bear Body

1. Start with shirt color. MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3: Sc 1, inc around. 18 sc.
4. R4-R6: Sc around. 18 sc.
5. Change to pants color.
6. R7-R9: Sc around. 18 sc.
7. R10: Sc 1, dec around. 12 sc.
8. Stuff firmly.
9. R11: Dec around. 6 sc.
10. FO and close.

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Bear Arms

1. With medium brown, MR, 5 sc.
2. R2-R5: Sc around. 5 sc.
3. Change to sleeve color for R6-R7 if desired.
4. FO, leaving tail.
5. Make 2 arms per bear.
6. Sew arms to upper body angled slightly outward.

Bear Legs

1. With dark pants color, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2-R5: Sc around. 6 sc.
3. Stuff very lightly.
4. FO, leaving tail.
5. Make 2 legs per bear.
6. Sew to bottom front of body.

Pirate Bear Outfit Variations

Bear 1: Black Hat Captain

• Body: white shirt for R1-R4, red sash for R5, black pants for R6-R11.
• Arms: brown hands, white sleeves.
• Hat: black pirate hat with white skull embroidery.
• Place this bear near the rear cabin like the image.

Bear 2: Red Bandana Deck Bear

• Body: light blue shirt, red pants or sash, black feet.
• Bandana: red cap tied around the head.
• Place near the center front deck or walkway.

Bear 3: Blue Headscarf Bear

• Body: red-and-white striped shirt with blue pants.
• Headscarf: blue half-cap with small side knot.
• Place near the back deck by the mast.

Bear 4: Crow’s Nest Lookout

• Body: pale blue shirt and tan arms.
• Headwear: red bandana.
• Seat the bear inside the crow’s nest basket with arms over the edge.

Bear 5: Front Captain Bear

• Body: black coat, red scarf, dark pants.
• Hat: red pirate cap or black hat.
• Place near the bow beside the cannon.

Pirate Hat

1. With black, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3: Sc 1, inc around. 18 sc.
4. R4: BLO sc around. 18 sc.
5. R5: Sc around. 18 sc.
6. Brim: FLO of R4, work sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, repeat around to create curved points.
7. FO and shape the sides upward.
8. Embroider a tiny white skull and crossbones on the front.

Red or Blue Bandana

1. With red or blue, ch 16.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 15 sc.
3. Row 2: Dec, sc 11, dec. Turn. 13 sc.
4. Row 3: Dec, sc 9, dec. Turn. 11 sc.
5. FO, leaving long ties.
6. Wrap around bear head and stitch in place.
7. For side knot, ch 5, sl st back along chain, sew to one side.

Treasure Island

The treasure island sits on the front right of the ocean mat. It has a tan sandy oval, white foam edging, a brown treasure chest, gold coins, necklaces, gems, and colorful treasure pieces.

Sandy Island Oval

1. With tan, ch 18.
2. R1: Sc in 2nd ch, sc 15, 3 sc in last ch. Work opposite side: sc 15, 2 sc in last ch. 36 sc.
3. R2: Inc, sc 15, inc in next 3, sc 15, inc in next 2. 42 sc.
4. R3: Sc 1, inc, sc 15, repeat sc 1, inc three times, sc 15, repeat sc 1, inc twice. 48 sc.
5. R4: Sc around. 48 sc.
6. FO.
7. With white, surface crochet or sew a wavy border around one side for sea foam.

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Treasure Chest Base

1. With dark brown, ch 14.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and across. Turn. 13 sc.
3. Rows 2-8: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
4. Make 1 bottom panel, 2 side panels, and 2 end panels using the same method.
5. Whipstitch into a small open box.
6. Insert support pieces inside if needed.

Treasure Chest Lid

1. With medium brown, ch 14.
2. Rows 1-8: Sc 13 across each row.
3. Rows 9-12: BLO sc across to create a curved lid texture.
4. FO.
5. Curve the lid over the box and sew along the back edge only, leaving the front slightly open.

Chest Straps and Lock

• Gold straps: ch 10, sc back along chain. Make 2 and sew over the lid.
• Front lock: with gold, MR 5 sc, join and FO. Sew to front center.
• Chest hinges: with dark brown, ch 4, sc back. Make 2 and sew at back.

Coins and Gems

• Coins: with gold, MR 6 sc, join and FO. Make 12.
• Red gem: MR 5 sc, join and FO.
• Turquoise gem: MR 5 sc, join and FO.
• Purple necklace: ch 18, join into loop, sew beside chest.
• White pearl loop: ch 16, join into loop, sew to spill from chest.
• Sew coins and gems inside and around the open treasure chest.

Small Ship Accessories

Side Ladder

1. Make 2 vertical tan chains, each ch 22.
2. Make 6 horizontal rungs, each ch 8.
3. Sew rungs between the vertical chains.
4. Attach ladder from deck rail down the side of the ship near the cabin.

Small Rope Coils

1. With tan, ch 30.
2. Roll the chain into a flat spiral.
3. Sew through the spiral to hold.
4. Make 2 coils and place on deck or near masts.

Yellow Hanging Ornament

1. With yellow, MR, 6 sc.
2. R2: Inc around. 12 sc.
3. R3-R5: Sc around. 12 sc.
4. R6: Dec around. 6 sc.
5. Stuff lightly and close.
6. Sew to the right outside bow rail as shown in the image.

Ship Assembly Order

1. Sew the deck insert firmly inside the hull.
2. Sew the rear cabin onto the back-left deck area.
3. Attach the cream railing bars around the ship edge.
4. Sew portholes along the lower hull.
5. Attach the anchor to the front right hull.
6. Sew the main mast into the center of the ship.
7. Sew the rear mast behind the cabin area.
8. Attach rolled sails to their spars and secure spars to masts.
9. Sew the crow’s nest onto the main mast.
10. Add pirate flags at the mast tops.
11. Attach the rope ladder net from the main sail area to the deck.
12. Add side ropes from mast tops to hull corners.
13. Sew the bowsprit to the front.
14. Place cannon on the front deck.
15. Attach the walkway plank to the side of the ship.

Placement on the Ocean Mat

Place the ship slightly left of center, with the bow facing the front right. Sew the bottom of the hull to the mat using dark brown yarn through hidden stitches. Keep the ship upright and balanced before tightening the final stitches.

Sew the treasure island to the front right of the mat. Add the chest on top of the island, slightly open, with coins spilling forward. Sew fish and wave appliques around the ship, making the mat look full but not crowded.

Mini Bear Placement

• Place one black-hat bear near the rear cabin.
• Place one blue-scarf bear near the left deck rail.
• Place one red-bandana bear at the lower center by the plank.
• Place one lookout bear inside the crow’s nest.
• Place one bear climbing or standing near the center rope net.
• Place one red-hat bear near the bow beside the cannon.
• Sew each bear lightly at the feet and back so they remain stable.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Use black embroidery thread to add tiny eyebrows, noses, and mouths to each bear. Add small white highlights near the eyes if desired. Keep the expressions soft and friendly, matching the cute handmade style of the image.

Check all mast supports before finishing. The main mast, crow’s nest, sails, and rigging should stand tall without leaning. Add extra hidden stitches between the mast and deck if the structure feels loose.

Care Notes

• This project is best used as a decorative display piece.
• Spot clean only with a slightly damp cloth.
• Do not machine wash because the masts, supports, and small sewn details may bend or loosen.
• Keep away from rough handling, pets, and very young children if small parts are attached.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Hull is curved and firmly attached to the water mat.
• Blue stripe is visible around the ship sides.
• Cream railings have open rectangular gaps.
• Both masts are straight and supported.
• Rolled sails are tied securely to brown spars.
• Rope net and diagonal rigging are slightly taut.
• All pirate bears have hats, bandanas, or outfit details.
• Treasure chest is open with coins and gems spilling out.
• Fish, waves, anchor, cannon, plank, and flags are attached.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Dust the ship gently with a soft brush, working from the top of the masts downward. Avoid pulling on the rigging ropes. If a small area becomes stained, dab lightly with cool water and mild soap, then let it air dry fully.

Store the piece in a dry place away from direct sunlight to protect the blue, red, and brown yarn colors. If storing long term, place tissue around the masts and crow’s nest so the tall parts keep their shape.