PlanetJune Craft Blog

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Amigurumi Chameleon crochet pattern

That’s right, it’s my 3rd commissioned design – the Chameleon!

Chameleon amigurumi crochet pattern by PlanetJune

Thank you to my chameleon pledgers – this design was especially fun for me, as I could run out into the garden to consult with my ‘pet’ (actually wild) chameleon, Kermit, whenever I had a shape or proportion question 😀

Chameleons are probably the most fascinating of lizards because of their unique physiological adaptations. Here are a few of the most interesting chameleon facts for you!

Chameleon Fun Facts

  • There are well over 150 species of chameleon, ranging from under 1″ to 30″ in length.
  • Most chameleons are found in Africa and Madagascar.
  • A chameleon shoots its amazingly long tongue at its insect prey. The tongue is as long as its body and has a suction cup on the end to capture the insect.
  • Chameleons move slowly for camouflage, with a swaying motion like a leaf blowing in the breeze.
  • Chameleon colour changes are usually due to stress or other emotions, not for camouflage as popularly believed.

I can attest that chameleons are very hard to spot if they want to stay hidden! I’ve spent hours playing ‘where’s Kermy’ in my garden, and sometimes I find him on a branch I swear was empty moments before 😀

Kermy is a Cape Dwarf Chameleon, and he obviously influenced my design decisions – especially with the bright green colour – but my aim was to create the archetypal chameleon without getting too fussy with excessive details. So here are the factors I needed to build into my design:

  • Chameleons have large eyes, but their eyelids are fused together leaving only a small opening for them to see through. Each eye can swivel independently through 180° so chameleons can hunt and look for predators in all directions simultaneously.
  • Chameleons have amazing Y-shaped feet to grip onto branches. (They actually still have 5 toes on each foot: the toes are just joined together into forward- and backward-pointing groups.)
  • A chameleon’s prehensile tail can be held straight out for balance, curled around a branch for stability when climbing, or coiled tightly when asleep.

Chameleon amigurumi crochet pattern by PlanetJune

Some species have large horns, spines, crests or stripes, so, if you’re feeling especially creative and want to make a different type of chameleon, you could crochet extra pieces and add them. Of course, chameleons are found in almost every colour: red, blue, yellow, brown, orange; the easiest modification would just be to make one in a different colour – or wouldn’t a chameleon look amazing crocheted in a variegated yarn?

This design does use pipe cleaners for poseability, so please, as always, be sensible and omit the wires from a toy for babies or young children. (I give tips in the pattern for how to make your chameleon still look good if you choose to omit the wires.)

Chameleon amigurumi crochet pattern by PlanetJune

(A little note about my Commissions process – it’s still going strong – in fact, my 4th and 5th commissions were fully pledged before I even had a chance to complete this one! I didn’t anticipate this level of demand when I set up the commissions process, so I’ll be making some more changes later today or tomorrow – see my next blog post for details.)

Chameleon amigurumi crochet pattern by PlanetJune
With my arm for scale – he’s about 8″ long with his tail fully coiled up!

If you pledged towards the commission, you should have already received your copy of the pattern. Otherwise, if you’d like to make a chameleon of your own – or a whole troop in different colours – you can now pick up the Chameleon crochet pattern from the PlanetJune shop! I hope you like it 🙂

If you’re not quite ready to buy though, how about queuing Chameleon on ravelry so you don’t forget about it?

14 Comments »

  1. Clare said

    Hi, I am a particle physicist and I research a type of particle called the chameleon that may be able to change it’s behaviour depending on the environment. It may be that these particles occur in string theory, and I would like a picture of a chameleon made of string (yarn) to illustrate a talk I am writing. Do you mind if I use your pictures? I will give you proper acknowledgement of course.

    • June said

      Thanks for checking with me, Clare! Provided you credit me, you’re welcome to use my photos in your talk 🙂

      (This will actually be my work’s 2nd appearance in a physics talk; my amigurumi Discworld photo was used in an astronomy lecture on alternative cosmologies!)

  2. Jonathan said

    I got a real chameleon but this one is really cool, you can make me one and i pay you for it. If you want i can send you pictures from “rango” is the name of me chamaleon.
    Thanks for the atention. 🙂

    • June said

      Jonathan, I’m afraid I don’t have time to accept commissions for finished items based on my patterns, but some of my customers do: you can find the list of customers who sell items based on my patterns at www.planetjune.com/buytoys

      Maybe you’ll find one of them who has what you’re looking for in stock, or can custom-make it for you 🙂

  3. pam said

    Guess I am what most people would call a late adopter! So thank you for all the current info re the commission program!

    I love this little guy – brilliant! He is on my must order list – I am thinking he would be a very good project to work toward. Of course there are ten others I love in the shop as well – so with practice my crochet skills will be ready to take on this adorable creature!

    Brilliant!

  4. Kristine said

    Absolutely amazing!

  5. Resmi said

    He is too good. I loved the texture of his tail the most!

    Love,
    Resmi

  6. sue said

    He’s hilarious, I may have to make one myself!

  7. Heidi said

    So awesome!

  8. Gillian McMullen said

    Wow, the chameleon is wonderful, I’m starting it today! Thanks June!

  9. Stacey H said

    Fantastic job! Love him! Can’t wait to make him!

  10. Quinn said

    Wow, this is absolutely amazing! It looks so realistic yet very cute, great job!

  11. Lindy said

    Brilliant chameleon, and he blends in so well in the tree and foliage, especially in that colour! Love the photos.
    Love, Lindy xx

  12. Ana said

    I love him!!! 🙂

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