About This Duck and Goose Trinket Tray + Pin Cushion Amigurumi Pattern
This pattern creates a small trinket tray with two tiny amigurumi friends: a goose and a ducky pin cushion. It combines a flat tray base with small stuffed figures perfect for holding pins and small sewing notions. The design uses continuous rounds and common amigurumi shaping techniques for compact, tidy results.
Detailed round-by-round instructions are included for each piece and the assembly steps are clearly described. Ideal for gifting or adding a playful, handmade accent to your sewing area.
Why You'll Love This Duck and Goose Trinket Tray + Pin Cushion Amigurumi Pattern
I absolutely love this pattern because it turns two simple amigurumi friends into a useful and decorative trinket tray that brightens any workspace. I enjoy the mix of flat tray work and three-dimensional shaping — it keeps the project interesting and rewarding. The pieces are quick to make but full of personality, and I always enjoy choosing color combos for the duck and goose. Sewing the little beaks and placing the eyes brings the characters to life and never fails to make me smile.
Switch Things Up
I love how easy it is to customize the colors for a whole range of looks; try pastel shades for a softer, nursery-friendly set or bright primaries for a playful sewing table accent.
If you want a larger tray, I change yarn weight and hook size — switching to bulky yarn and a larger hook makes a chunkier, more display-friendly tray.
I sometimes add embroidered eyelids or eyebrows to change expressions on the duck and goose, which instantly gives each character a different personality.
Try swapping safety eyes for tiny felt circles or embroidered eyes if you prefer a softer, child-safe finish; felt glued or sewn on works beautifully.
I often experiment with stitch tension to create a firmer or squishier figure; tighter tension gives a neater amigurumi while looser tension is quicker and softer.
Want a functional upgrade? Add a small magnet or weighted base in the tray to keep it stable on busy surfaces — I do this when I plan to hold more pins or small scissors.
I sometimes add tiny crocheted accessories like a scarf, hat, or a little flower to the tray characters to match seasons or holidays for gifting ideas.
For a travel-sized pin cushion, make a mini version using lighter yarn and a smaller hook; I find these make delightful keychain gifts.
If you want posable necks or limbs, I occasionally insert thin craft wire in the neck for shaping — it lets me bend the goose neck into the perfect '2' shape every time.
I recommend testing placement before sewing by pinning the pieces to the tray; I always pin first and photograph the layout so I can reproduce the same arrangement for gifts.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
✗ Not inserting safety eyes at the recommended rounds can misplace the facial features; insert the safety eyes between the specified rounds (goose: between rounds 4-5, duck: between rounds 3-4) before you continue stuffing.
✗ Overstuffing the small bodies makes sewing and shaping difficult and lumpy; stuff gradually, add small amounts of polyfill, and shape as you go to maintain a smooth form.
✗ Crocheting the tray without using BLO on the rim round will prevent the rim from curving naturally inward; make sure to work the specified BLO round to achieve the correct tray edge.
✗ Skipping stitch counts after increases and decreases leads to uneven pieces; count stitches at the end of each round and check the totals in parentheses to stay accurate.
