Meet the magical cousin of my free horse amigurumi pattern — this sweet little unicorn has the same soft body, but with a brand new sparkly horn and a gorgeous curly rainbow mane and tail instead of the straight flowing one. If you love the look of ric-rac trim, you’ll love how this curly mane turns out!
This is a bonus/companion pattern — the body, legs, arms, ears, muzzle, and head are all made exactly the same way as the horse pattern (using main color pink and secondary color purple, or any colors you like). Below, I’m sharing everything that’s different for the unicorn version: the horn, the curly mane and tail technique, and how to attach it all.
What You’ll Need
- Everything from the base horse pattern materials list — main color pink, secondary color purple (or any colors you like)
- YarnArt Jeans yarn in several bright colors for the curly mane and tail (the more colors, the more magical!)
- 2.5 mm crochet hook (for the horn and curls)
- 3.5 mm crochet hook (for the body, same as the horse)
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Yarn needle
Crochet the entire body according to the horse pattern using a 3.5 mm hook. Everything below uses a 2.5 mm hook unless noted.
The Horn
Crochet with YarnArt Jeans yarn in any bright color using a 2.5 mm hook:
- 6 sc in MR (6)
- 6 sc (6)
- (1 sc, inc) *3 (9)
- 9 sc (9)
- (2 sc, inc) *3 (12)
- 12 sc (12)
- (3 sc, inc) *3 (15)
- 8–9) 15 sc (2 rounds) (15)
Join with a sl st, cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head. Lightly stuff the horn with fiberfill.
Sew the horn three rounds above eye level, exactly centered relative to the ears.
The Curly Mane & Tail
This is what gives the unicorn its magical look — instead of straight strands like the horse’s mane, the unicorn’s mane and tail are made of little crocheted curls (like ric-rac trim), attached individually.
Tail Curls
Using a 2.5 mm hook, leave a yarn tail approximately 10 cm long, then chain 31. Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook:
- (1 sc, inc) *15
Join with a sl st, cut the yarn, leaving a tail approximately 10 cm long. For the tail, crochet a total of 5 curls in different colors.
Mane Curls
Mane curls can be made in different lengths. Using a 2.5 mm hook, leave a yarn tail approximately 10 cm long, then chain 61 (shorter) or 71 (longer). Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook:
- (1 sc, inc) *30 if you chained 61, or *35 if you chained 71
Join with a sl st, cut the yarn, leaving a tail approximately 10 cm long. For the mane, crochet a total of 14 curls in different colors and two sizes. You can crochet any number of curls you’d like — more curls means a fuller mane.
Attaching the Curls
Attach all curls using the yarn strands left after crocheting them, sewing or knotting them securely into the body.
Tail:
- Attach three curls between rounds 6 and 7, evenly centered between the legs
- Attach the two remaining curls between rounds 7 and 8, evenly above the first three
Mane:
- Attach four curls in front of the ears — two curls on each side of the horn
- Attach all remaining curls (10 pcs.) to the head in random order or in rows: between the ears — 3 pcs., below that row — 4 pcs., and below that — 3 pcs.
Tips for a Polished Finish
- Mix your colors intentionally — alternate warm and cool tones across the curls so the mane reads as “rainbow” rather than random.
- Vary the curl sizes — using both mane curl lengths (61 and 71 chain) gives the mane a fuller, more layered look instead of one flat row.
- Secure every curl well — since these are individually attached (not a continuous fringe), give each one a firm knot or a couple of stitches so it doesn’t work loose with play.
- Stuff the horn lightly, not firmly — you want it to hold its cone shape without becoming stiff or hard.
- Center the horn carefully — pin it in place first and check from the front before sewing, since it’s the focal point of the whole face.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the horse pattern to make this unicorn?
Yes — this post only covers what’s different for the unicorn (horn, curly mane and tail). For the full body, legs, arms, ears, and muzzle instructions, see the base horse pattern.
Can I use fewer mane curls for a smaller mane?
Absolutely — the pattern gives a full 14-curl look, but you can crochet as many or as few curls as you like for a lighter or fuller mane.
What if I don’t have YarnArt Jeans yarn?
Any smooth, medium-weight cotton or acrylic yarn works well for the curls — the curling effect comes from the increase stitches, not the yarn brand.
My curls came out flat instead of curly — what happened?
Curls usually form naturally from the (1 sc, inc) repeat pattern working into a long chain. If yours are flat, try a slightly smaller hook for the curls than for the body, which helps them coil more tightly.
Can I make the horn a different color?
Of course — the pattern calls for “any bright color,” so feel free to match it to your mane colors or make it iridescent with a variegated yarn.
Ready to Make Your Own Magical Unicorn?
I’d love to see your finished unicorns — every color combo turns out totally unique! Tag me or share your makes online, and happy crocheting! 🦄💜