Crochet Birthday Cake | Free Crochet Pattern

Baked into this free crochet birthday cake amigurumi pattern are all of the warm-hearted wonders of a day devoted to celebrating YOU—the laughter of loved ones gathered together, welcoming words emphasized with warm hugs upon seeing old friends, and the full-hearted feeling of seeing someone go out of their way to show you just how much you mean to them.

The Virkadia blog is officially 1-year old today—and what better way to celebrate than with this free crochet birthday cake amigurumi!

With this pattern, we want to express our gratitude and give a huge THANK YOU to all of you—we wouldn’t be here without all of your support!

Whether it be through reading our patterns, sharing our content, using our affiliate links, or purchasing our ad-free patterns, every little bit helps us to get to continue this wonderful adventure with all of you!

So, without further ado, here is the pattern for the Birthday Cake Cutie—Happy Birthday, Virkadia!

Pattern Information | Free Crochet Birthday Cake Amigurumi

This free crochet birthday cake amigurumi pattern has a difficulty rating of intermediate.

The finished dimensions are 5 inches (height) by 4.5 inches (width) by 4.5 inches (depth).*

You may also make your pieces larger or smaller by increasing or decreasing your yarn weight and/or hook size, respectively.

*Finished dimensions are calculated from a model using medium weight yarn, a size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, the YU/YO method and the following gauge: 18 sc x 21 rows = 4 inches.

And don’t forget to add your project on Ravelry!

Supplies:

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• Size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
• Medium (4) weight yarn in 4 colors:
  • Yarn A – orange (example uses Loops & Threads Soft Classic: Safety Orange)
  • Yarn B – dark pink (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Shocking Pink)
  • Yarn C – light pink (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Petal Pink)
  • Yarn D – white (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Soft White)
• 10mm black safety eyes (x2)
• Black embroidery floss
• Pink embroidery floss or pink yarn (example uses Big Twist Value: Bubblegum)
• Polyester fiberfill
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Alternate Yarn Supplies:

Color variations 2 and 3 below are worked the same as variation 1 (as seen in the tutorial), except that 3 yarns are used for yarn D, to create the look of multicolored frosting.

To achieve the look of the crochet birthday cake with multicolored frosting, simply color change every 2 stitches during rounds 16 and 25, alternating between your chosen colors.

This pattern will work with a repeating sequence of 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 colors!

Color Variation 2 (as seen on the right in cover photo):

• Medium (4) weight yarn in 5+ colors:
  • Yarn A – orange (example uses Loops & Threads Soft Classic: Safety Orange)
  • Yarn B – blue (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Turqua)
  • Yarn C – white (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Soft White)
  • Yarn D – switch between 3 different colors
    • blue (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Turqua)
    • yellow (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Bright Yellow)
    • pink (example uses Big Twist Value: Bubblegum)

Color Variation 3 (as seen in the photo below):

The chunky example of this pattern measures 6.5 inches (height) by 5 inches (width) by 5 inches (depth) using the following gauge: 16 sc x 15 rows = 4 inches.

All supplies remain the same, except for the following replacements:

• Super Bulky (6) weight yarn in 5+ colors:
  • Yarn A – orange (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Tangerine)
  • Yarn B – blue (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Seaside)
  • Yarn C – white (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: White)
  • Yarn D – switch between 3 different colors
    • blue (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Seaside)
    • yellow (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Sunshine)
    • pink (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Bubblegum)
• 14mm black safety eyes (x2)
• Pink yarn (example uses Premier Parfait Chunky: Pink Lemonade)
• Black embroidery floss (doubled)

Terminology:

This free crochet birthday cake amigurumi pattern uses English (US) terminology:

• st (sts) = stitch (stitches)
• ch = chain stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• sc2tog = single crochet 2 together (over the span of 2 stitches), also known as a decrease
• hdc = half double crochet
• pc = (small) popcorn stitch*
• BLO = back loop only

Also, please note that this pattern is written so that each crochet stitch abbreviation is attached to a number, such as 1sc, 2sc, etc. This number denotes how many of that stitch is to be worked into the same stitch.

You can learn more about how to read Virkadia patterns on our Pattern Help FAQ page!

*Please read through special instructions for this stitch before beginning, as it may be unique for this crochet birthday cake pattern.

Special Stitch Instructions:

Please review our special stitch instructions on our Stitch Tutorials FAQ before beginning, as some techniques may be unique to this pattern.

You can also watch our amigurumi techniques video tutorial for all of our tips and tricks for improving your project!

This free crochet birthday cake amigurumi pattern uses the following special stitch tutorials:

• Single Crochet (YU/YO Method)
• Invisible Decrease
• Joining Rounds
• Changing Colors Mid-Round (Optional)
• Small Popcorn Stitch

This pattern is worked in the round, with each round joined at the end with a slip stitch. Unless otherwise instructed, the first stitch of your next round will always be worked into the same stitch as your joining slip stitch has been worked into.

Be sure to always keep the ‘right side’ of your stitches facing outwards as you work. The right side is the front side of the stitch that is facing you as you are completing each stitch.

Changing Colors Mid-Round (Optional):

For this free crochet birthday cake pattern, you may use an optional mid-round color changing technique, as seen below, to create multicolored frosting.

This color changing method begins in the stitch immediately before the stitch that you want to be a different color. Begin this stitch as normal by inserting into the next stitch, yarning under, and pulling through.

Before the last pull through, drop your current color and instead grab the color you want to change to. Yarn over this new color and pull through both loops.

After dropping a color, you do not need to cut it off. Instead, you may allow your yarn to ‘float’ in the back, or interior, of your work until you are ready to pick it up again, or work over them as you go.

Choose whichever method works best for you. Just be careful not to let these strands be pulled too tight when you pick them back up!

Small Popcorn Stitch:

This free crochet birthday cake pattern uses a variation of the popcorn stitch that utilizes only 3 double crochet stitches, instead of the more common 5 double crochet, as seen below.

Begin by working 3 double crochet into the next stitch. Then, pull up your working loop (large enough that your last stitch will not be accidentally pulled undone) and remove your hook.

Next, insert your hook, from front to back, through the top of the 1st double crochet you’ve made in the 3 double crochet sequence. Now, pull your working loop from the 3rd double crochet through the top of the 1st double crochet.

Lastly, pull your working tail so that your working loop fits back snugly around your hook and continue to your next stitch.

Pattern Instructions | Free Crochet Birthday Cake Amigurumi

Crochet Birthday Candle Flame:

With yarn A (orange), leave a beginning tail for tying and chain 4.

For best results, try working row 1 into the back bars only (not the back loops) of your chain stitches.

Row 1: sl st into 2nd ch from hook, 1sc into next st, 1hdc into next st (3).

Fasten off and leave an end tail for tying, as well.

Next, take a short length (~6 in) of black embroidery floss and thread it through your needle. Hold your flame piece so that both tails are facing downwards, as seen above.

Insert your needle through the center of your flame, about halfway up or roughly between your slip stitch and single crochet. Then, pull your embroidery floss through halfway and remove your needle.

You should now have half of your embroidery floss hanging down the front side of your flame, and half in the back.

Now, take both ends of your embroidery floss and gently knot them together at the bottom of your flame, between your two tails from the flame.

Do not cut any of your tails, yet. Set aside for now and continue to round 1 of the crochet birthday candle.

Crochet Birthday Candle – Rounds 1 to 2:

With yarn B (dark pink), make a magic ring (or ch 4, sl st into 1st st to form ring, ch 1).

Rnd 1: 6sc into ring, sl st into 1st st to join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 2: 1sc into BLO of each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Secure your working loop with a stitch marker and follow the instructions for attaching the flame before continuing to round 3 of the crochet birthday candle.

Attaching Flame:

Retrieve your crochet birthday candle flame that you’ve set aside earlier.

Using your needle, sew the end tail from your flame piece, from outside to inside, into one side of the top of your candle, just below the front loops only that are leftover from round 1 of your candle.

Then, take your beginning tail and repeat this method on the opposite side of your candle. Sew your beginning tail, from inside to outside, just below the front loops only leftover from round 1, on the opposite side from your end tail.

The flame should be centered over the middle hole of round 1. If you would like your joining seam to stay hidden in the back, take care to position the flame accordingly, so that it looks the way that you want it to from the front.

Lastly, take both tails from the embroidery floss used to create your candle wick and thread them through the center hole of round 1 of your crochet birthday candle.

Secure the tails from your wick with a generous knot on the inside of your candle, so that they do not fall back out of the hole. Cut any excess length.

Then, tie both tails from the flame together on the interior of the candle, as well, to secure your flame. Again, cut any excess length after knotting.

Remove your stitch marker and continue to round 3 of the crochet birthday candle.

Crochet Birthday Candle – Rounds 3 to 8:

Rnd 3: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 4: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 5: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 6: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 7: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (6).

Rnd 8: 1sc into each st around, join (6).

Fasten off yarn B and leave a short tail for tying.

Crochet Birthday Cake – Rounds 9 to 24:

Join yarn C (light pink) by inserting your hook into the first stitch of the next round. Pull up a loop of yarn C and chain 1.

Tie the tails of both yarn B and yarn C together on the interior of your piece to secure your ends.

Rnd 9: 2sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (12).

Rnd 10: [1sc into next st, 2sc into next st] 6 times, join, ch 1 (18).

Rnd 11: [2sc into next st, 1sc into each of next 2 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (24).

Rnd 12: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 2sc into next st] 6 times, join, ch 1 (30).

Rnd 13: [2sc into next st, 1sc into each of next 4 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (36).

Rnd 14: [1sc into each of next 5 sts, 2sc into next st] 6 times, join, ch 1 (42).

Rnd 15: [2sc into next st, 1sc into each of next 6 sts] 6 times, join (48).

Fasten off yarn C and leave a short tail for tying.

Join yarn D (white) by inserting your hook into the first stitch of the next round. Pull up a loop of yarn D and chain 1.

Tie the tails of both yarn C and yarn D together on the interior of your piece to secure your ends.

Rnd 16: [1pc into next st, 1sc into next st] 24 times, join (48).

Fasten off yarn D and leave a short tail for tying.

Alternatively, as seen on the right in the cover photo for this free crochet birthday cake pattern, you may also use a mid-round color changing technique in rounds 16 and 25 to create the effect of multicolored frosting.

To achieve the look of the multicolored frosting, simply color change every 2 stitches during rounds 16 and 25. This pattern will work with a repeating sequence of 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 colors!

Join yarn C (light pink) by inserting your hook into the first stitch of the next round. Pull up a loop of yarn C and chain 1.

Tie the tails of both yarn D and yarn C together on the interior of your piece to secure your ends.

Rnd 17: 1sc into each st around, join, ch 1 (48).

Rnds 18 to 23 (6 rnds): repeat rnd 17 (48).

Rnd 24: 1sc into each st around, join (48).

Fasten off yarn C and leave a short tail for tying.

Follow the instructions for adding the eyes, mouth, and blush before continuing to round 25 of your crochet birthday cake.

Adding Eyes:

Using the example piece below as reference, insert both safety eyes through the front of your piece (on the opposite side from your joining seam).

The safety eyes should be inserted between rounds 20 and 21 and should sit 6 stitches apart, from the center of one eye to the center of the other.

Adding Mouth:

Rotate your piece so that the beginning rounds face upwards and your last round faces downwards.

Using the example piece below as reference, embroider a mouth using black embroidery floss.

The mouth should be embroidered over top of round 22 and be centered between the eyes. The mouth will be 2 stitches wide and 1 round tall.

Begin by inserting your needle from inside to outside, 1 round down and 2 stitches to the right from where you've inserted the left eye. Pull through and leave some tail for tying later.

Then, insert your needle again, 2 stitches to the right, and out again, 1 round down and 1 stitch to the left from where you've just inserted, and pull through.

Pass your needle up and underneath the horizontal strand you’ve just created and pull through. Then, insert your needle back into the same space as you've last exited from.

Pull your thread through and tug it down slightly until it forms a V-shape. Gently tie both ends together inside your piece.

Take extra care as you tie your ends not to pull the threads too tight! After finishing your knot, trim any excess length.

Adding Blush:

Using the example piece below as reference, embroider a blush line using pink embroidery floss or yarn next to each eye.

Each blush line should start 1 round down (between rounds 21 and 22) and 1 stitch outwards from where each eye was inserted, and span 1 stitch length outwards (away from the center of the face).

Begin by inserting your needle from inside to outside, 1 round down and 1 stitch outwards from where you’ve inserted the eye.

Pull through, leaving some tail inside for tying later. Then, insert your needle back in, 1 more stitch outwards.

If using yarn, you may skip ahead to tying both ends together on the inside of your piece.

If using embroidery floss, pass your needle back out through the same space as you’ve last exited from and pull through. Reinsert your needle, again, 1 stitch outwards in the same place as before.

Repeat these last steps 3 more times, or until you are satisfied with the size of your blush. Then, gently tie both ends together on the inside of your piece.

Take extra care as you tie your ends not to pull the threads too tight! After finishing your knot, trim any excess length.

Crochet Birthday Cake – Rounds 25 to 32:

Continue to the next round and begin stuffing as you go.

Join yarn D (white) by inserting your hook into the first stitch of the next round. Pull up a loop of yarn D and chain 1.

Tie the tails of both yarn C and yarn D together on the interior of your piece to secure your ends.

Rnd 25: [1pc into next st, 1sc into next st] 24 times, join (48).

Fasten off yarn D and leave a short tail for tying.

Join yarn C (light pink) by inserting your hook into the first stitch of the next round. Pull up a loop of yarn C and chain 1.

Tie the tails of both yarn D and yarn C together on the interior of your piece to secure your ends.

Rnd 26: [sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1sc into each of next 6 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (42).

Rnd 27: [1sc into each of next 5 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (36).

Rnd 28: [sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1sc into each of next 4 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (30).

Rnd 29: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (24).

Rnd 30: [sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1sc into each of next 2 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (18).

Rnd 31: [1sc into next st, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 6 times, join, ch 1 (12).

Rnd 32: [sc2tog over next 2 sts] 6 times, join (6).

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing closed.

Sewing Closed:

To sew the bottom hole closed, pass the needle, from front to back, through the front loop only of each stitch around and then pull tight. Secure your sewing with a knot, trim the tail, and sew in any remaining length.

Conclusion | Free Crochet Birthday Cake Amigurumi

And with that, you’re done the free crochet Birthday Cake Cutie pattern! Happy 1-year birthday to Virkadia and a HUGE thank you to all of you—all of your support is seen and appreciated beyond words!

You can also explore the Cutie Collections and the Pocket Pets archives for more original and free amigurumi patterns, or our Home Decor Patterns for other homemade household goodies!

If you’re looking to cozy up with a longer project, check out our Clothing Patterns, or assemble your own designs from one of our Granny Square Patterns!

And don’t forget to browse our downloadable, ad-free patterns in our Etsy store!

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