Crochet Whale Pattern
Here’s how to crochet a simple whale!
This is one of the first crochet patterns I ever came up with, so just like my beginner frog pattern, this whale pattern really only uses five amigurumi skills (the magic circle, single crochet, increase, decrease/invisible decrease, fasten off). This makes it a perfect amigurumi project for beginners or something that more advanced crocheters can work up relatively quickly.
If you do need more help with any of those skills, you can find my tutorial on those five skills here or follow my crochet whale video tutorial (I go over all the skills here too!) Otherwise, you can find the written pattern below!
Bonus: You can also turn your whale into a narwhal! Just add a horn! Visit my narwhal modification instructions (linked at the end of this pattern) after you’ve completed your whale!
Here’s the written pattern:
Do not duplicate to distribute or sell this crochet pattern in any form without permission. However, you may absolutely gift, donate, or sell any plushies that you make with this pattern. Please give "The Mary Jay" pattern credit and link back to this pattern when possible.
Skills and Abbreviations (In U.S. terms)
MR = Magic Ring (Magic Circle)
SC = Single Crochet
INC = Increase
DEC = Decrease (or I recommend the Invisible Decrease)
FO = Fasten off
R = Round/Row
Sewing
Materials:
Super Bulky Weight Yarn (#6) in Blue (or the color of your choice)
6.5 mm Crochet Hook (or a similar hook size)
Two 18 mm Safety Eyes (WARNING: Safety eyes can be choking hazards and are not recommended for crochet plushies made for young children, pets etc.)
Stuffing
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Stitch Marker (Optional)
Pins (Optional)
The above listed eyes, yarn, and hook size are simply recommendations based on what I used to make the whale in the sample photo. Feel free to switch up the yarn, eyes, or hook size based on what you have available or your preference.
If you are using a different yarn or hook size, don’t forget to make sure that the yarn and hook size work well together. For amigurumi, it is often recommended to use a hook size that is 1-2mm smaller than the recommended hook size on the yarn label for tighter stitches and less holes in your project. However, different crocheters have their own preferences on hook size, so please feel free to follow your own preference!
“Where can I get the materials?”
You can find most of these items in a craft store or on my Amazon Storefront. My Amazon Storefront contains my own personal favorites to use! It is an affiliate link, which means I will earn a small commission if you use it to make a purchase. This is one way that helps support me and lets me continue to make free content for you.
While I do get some harder-to-find yarn colors off of Amazon (the ones linked on my storefront), I do also get a lot of my yarn from Joann! The colors that I used for the whale in the sample photo is Baby Blue (this is also affiliate links that help to support me as well!).
Body:
Using Blue
R1 6 SC in a MR
R2 [INC] x 6 (12)
R3 [SC, INC] x 6 (18)
R4 [2 SC, INC] x 6 (24)
R5 [3 SC, INC] x 6 (30)
R6 [4 SC, INC] x 6 (36)
R7-12 36 SC (36) 6 Rounds
R13 [4 SC, DEC] x 6 (30)
R14 30 SC (30)
R15 [3 SC, DEC] x 6 (24)
R16 24 SC (24)
R17 [2 SC, DEC] x 6 (18)
R18 18 SC (18)
Attach the eyes between rounds 7 and 8. They should be 15 stitches apart from each other, following the bottom side of the whale.
Begin stuffing and continue stuffing as you finish the last few rounds.
R19 [SC, DEC] x 6 (12)
R20 12 SC (12)
R21 [DEC] x 6 (6)
R22 6 SC (6)
R23 [ DEC] x 3 (3)
FO leaving a long tail for sewing.
Use the tail to sew the body closed.
Fins:
Using Blue
R1 4 SC in a MR
R2 [INC] x 4 (8)
R3 [SC, INC] x 4 (12)
FO with a long tail for sewing
Make 2
Tail:
Using Blue
R1 4 SC in a MR
R2 [SC, INC] x 2 (6)
R3 [2 SC, INC] x 2 (8)
R4 [2 SC, DEC] x 2 (6)
R5 [SC, DEC] x 2 (4)
FO with a long tail for sewing
Make 2
Assembly:
Please visit 53:15 of my video tutorial if you need more clarification and visuals on assembly.
Fins
Do not stuff the fins. Sew them on flat.
Identify the top and bottom of your whale. The eyes should be further away from each other on the top of the whale and closer to each other on the bottom of the whale.
Count two stitches below the eye (on round 8) and then move one stitch over towards the back end of the whale. Start sewing on the fin here, moving towards the back of the whale. If you’re using a different eye size, you may want to adjust the placement accordingly.
Sew one fin to each side. Please visit my video tutorial at 53:23 if you need more clarification on attaching the fins.
Tail
Do not stuff the tail pieces. Again, sew them on flat.
Sew a tail piece on each side of the tip on the very back end of the body. For more clarification on attaching the tail pieces, please visit 57:05 of the video tutorial.
Congratulations! You have finished your whale! Let me know what you named your whale in the comments! If you have any questions or find any mistakes in this pattern, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
Follow and tag my socials! Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube: @themaryjay I love seeing the plushies ya’ll make!
But wait, what’s one way that you can level up your whale?
Turn it into a narwhal!
Fun fact, my whale pattern was originally written as a narwhal pattern! I created that large forehead on the whale to easily hold a horn.
Find the instructions for the horn here.
Thank you so much for following along! I really hope you enjoyed this pattern!!