3D designers are always coming up with new and unique ways to create their models, with one of the most recent example being designs that appear to have been crocheted or knitted. These models use a crochet pattern throughout the surface of the print to make it look and feel like it was handmade.
This style of modeling works surprisingly well with 3D printing, as the textured surface helps hide the layer lines without any extra post-processing, giving them a more appealing finish.
We’ve gathered a list of our favorite 3D models that feature crochet and knitted designs. We’ve got everything from adorable “stuffed” animals to functional prints that will add to your home decor.
Whether you enjoy knitting yourself or love the patterned aesthetic, you’ll surely find your next print on this list. And if you find the design that’s just right for you or for a loved one, but your 3D printer isn’t exactly in a crocheting mood, check out Craftcloud. With manufacturers all over the world, in just a few simple clicks, your 3D printed crochet model will be a step closer to being delivered to you.
Teddy Bear
One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about crochet is teddy bears. Now, you can 3D print your own realistic not-exactly-knitted teddy bear. This model makes a great household decoration and an even better gift for special occasions. While a multicolor printer will let you color in the eyes and mouth from the go, it’s not a must in order to get a great print. The designer has included printing profiles for both Bambu Lab’s AMS and for single-color setups.
If you trust your printer’s cooling, then you can print this model without any supports – the only significant overhangs are near the bottom of the print. Some makers have even printed the model using the Fuzzy Skin setting (found on Cura and Orca Slicer, for example), with some interesting results that you may want to check out. If you’d prefer a more practical bear model, this knitted bear coaster might be to your liking.
- Who designed it? trixs3D
- How printable/popular is it? This is becoming a popular knitted model, with over 1,600 downloads, more than 1,100 makes, and plenty of rave reviews.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Bowl
Next, this model showcases how simply adding a crochet-effect surface to practical print can make it much more appealing. You can print a crochet bowl in any size you need and use it to display fruits in the kitchen or hold your keys and wallet on your desk.
The designer recommends using a standard infill percentage (10-20%) for the base of the model before swapping to 0% infill for the remainder of the print. This will help reduce print times without compromising on surface quality. A layer height of 0.2 mm should do just fine. For best possible results, you might want to lower the layer height for the final layers that make up the top of the bowl, as these rounded edges are prone to a staircase effect.
And if you’re looking for colorful inspiration, some of the makes include stunning versions in wood and rainbow filaments.
- Who designed it? JamesThePrinter
- How printable/popular is it? You’ll find about 68 makes for this bowl on Printables, with over 1,800 prints according to MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? Printables, MakerWorld
Planter Pot
A practical print that is even more adorable in its crochet form is the knitted planter pot. Give your plants a new 3D printed home with a realistic crochet finish that comes complete with a drainage hole in the bottom for easy watering. How thought out is this design? The planter also comes with a watering dish to keep any excess water from spilling out.
The crochet pot prints out to a reasonable size that is fit for medium-sized house plants and succulents. Of course, you can always scale the planter to your liking. The model is all one piece, meaning you will either need a multicolor printer or a few extra minutes with a paintbrush to color in the face. Depending on your printer’s cooling capabilities, you may want to add some supports to the bottom of the planter for an optimal finish.
- Who designed it? VRsculpts
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 800 people have downloaded this planter and 430 have replicated it according to MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Gnomes
Whether you are decorating your lawn for the Fall season or just love collecting little figures, this crochet-style gnome model should be your next print. The design allows for plenty of creativity when it comes to choosing the color combinations for your gnome. A quick look at the many different makes should give you some great ideas.
The gnomes will need a little support to ensure the tip of the hat prints just right. This is otherwise a very simple model with plenty of potential. To make it as easy as possible, the designer included printing profiles for both a multicolor setup (that includes the AMS) and a single-color printer.
Designer VRsculpts has created quite a collection of knitted models, including an adorable elephant and the entire Five Nights at Freddy’s cast.
- Who designed it? VRsculpts
- How printable/popular is it? Many makers are enjoying these gnomes, with over 2,800 downloads and around 700 makes of this design.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Octoplush Keychain
Another great design by VRsculpts. This Octoplush keychain is a small and simple print that will let you take your love of crochet designs, octopi, keychains, and 3D printing everywhere you go.
This pocket-sized figure is just big enough to show the level of detail that these crochet prints can pull off. You’ll find files for both a figurine and a keychain model.
This is another design that’s printed in one piece, and which will need either a bit of paint or a multicolor printing setup. That said, some makers have shared some great single-color prints using this model, as well as great filament options, as seen above. There are dual-color versions that are also quite stunning.
No supports are needed and you can find a third angry-faced version available through VRsculpt’s Patreon.
- Who designed it? VRsculpts
- How printable/popular is it? This keychain has already been downloaded over 3,000 times on MakerWorld, with over 2,200 makers having their own adorable replicas.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Gift Boxes
If you need to quickly print out a gift box for a small last-minute gift but want something with a little more personality than traditional gift boxes, a knitted gift box is the perfect solution. These are designed to hold small items and look cute while doing it. You’ll find an optional ribbon and bow model that can be glued onto the gift box to personalize the look even more.
Each piece of this model can be printed separately, meaning you can get the perfect color combinations on any 3D printer. You’ll need some glue to put it all together. Other than that, the model is fairly simple to print with no special settings needed. Some makers have found success in lowering the layer height a bit to get a cleaner surface finish on such a small print.
For a bit of a dazzling effect, you can opt for a silk filament for the ribbon and bow, as a few makers already have.
- Who designed it? Tactical Kaoz
- How printable/popular is it? Well over 3,100 people have downloaded these gift boxes. Check out some of the shared 5,500 makes for some inspiring color options.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Controller Stand
If you’re more interested in practical prints, you can’t go wrong with a controller stand.
This collection of four textured controller stands features some knitted and crochet effects that will add a bit of personality to your gaming setup. They’ll also give your favorite controller the perfect pace of honor at your desk or entertainment center.
Choose between the unique patterns and don’t forget to pair your controller with a complimentary color of filament as well. These models are designed to fit perfectly with an Xbox controller. For any PS5 fans, we’ve also found a knitted controller stand model just for you.
- Who designed it? Tactical Kaoz
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 200 people have downloaded this model, while around 100 have made it, according to MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Ghost
If you’re familiar with the popular Booh ghost model, you’ll be happy to see that it has reappeared in an all-new crochet-style design. While still just as adorable as the original, the Crochet Booh’s unique pattern makes it a great model for your crochet collection.
The model prints without any support and is completely hollow, meaning you can stick it on top of a tea light for that classic glowing ghost effect. While the model comes in two variations, with and without a mouth, the designer has also created a crochet keychain ghost that’s worth checking out.
- Who designed it? Body3D
- How printable/popular is it? So far, 87 makers have shared their replicas across Cults, Thingiverse, and Printables.
- Where to find it? Cults, Thingiverse, Printables
Christmas Containers
Get your Christmas decorations prepared ahead of time with these knitted containers. The collection features many different Christmas-themed containers, including a snowman, a Christmas tree, and Santa Claus himself. Underneath each figure is a small container that can hold some seasonal treats, making them a great surprise gift.
No special print settings are required to get a good print out of these containers. The designer even recommends trying a 0.24-mm layer height for faster prints while still getting acceptable quality. Each figure consists of two parts, the outer shell and the inner container; you might want to ensure your 3D printer is calibrated before getting started.
These models benefit greatly from a multicolor printing setup. In addition to STLs, the designer included a 3MF file for a four-color AMS (although Santa will still need a bit of painting, as the model’s composed of five colors).
If you want to have the whole collection, which includes a reindeer, a cat, a gnome, and a tree, you can buy the additional models for ~$5.
Bunny Rabbit
Crochet stuffed animals are a classic household item that you wouldn’t expect to look so good when 3D printed. The designer of this knitted bunny rabbit model has put a lot of effort into recreating every little detail that you’d expect to find on such stuffed animals, down to the button eyes, resulting in a high-quality print.
The model prints in one solid piece, meaning you will want to use a multicolor 3D printed to get the most out of it. That said, the designer also included printing profiles for single-color setups, so you can always go the painting way. Only three colors are needed for the original model, though you can personalize your bunny with as many different hues as you wish. The model scales well, with most makers opting to print smaller versions than the original 120-mm file.
- Who designed it? Jurdis
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 350 times, and from the 125 makes, you can find plenty of different color variation ideas on MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
License: The text of "3D Printed Crochets: Our Favorite Designs" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.