These Cute Fish Amigurumi Free Crochet Patterns turn small yarn leftovers into cheerful little goldfish with round bodies, colorful stripes, tiny fins, and dramatic fantails. The body is worked from the nose toward the tail, while the fins are made separately and sewn on after stuffing.
The pattern is quick enough for a weekend project and easy to customize. Make one golden fish with coral fins or crochet a whole pastel school for ornaments, nursery decorations, keychains, and imaginative play.
Finished Size and Skill Level
Using DK cotton and a 2.75 mm hook, one finished fish measures approximately 6 inches (15 cm) from nose to tail and 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. Change the yarn weight and hook together to make a smaller baby fish or a larger cuddly version.
- Skill level: Confident beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Construction: Continuous-round body with sewn fins
- Time: About 2–3 hours per fish
Materials
- DK or light worsted cotton yarn in gold or yellow for the body
- Small yarn amounts in coral, cream, pink, mint, blue, or lavender
- 2.75 mm crochet hook
- Polyester fiberfill
- Black embroidery floss for the eyes
- Locking stitch marker
- Tapestry needle and scissors
A tightly twisted cotton shows the stitch pattern clearly and keeps the tail crisp. Acrylic also works, but choose a smaller hook than the label recommends so the filling does not show through.
For toys intended for children under three, use embroidered eyes and secure every yarn tail inside the body. Safety eyes can loosen and are not suitable for babies.
Abbreviations
- MR: magic ring
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec: invisible single crochet decrease
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
Work the body in continuous rounds. Place a marker in the first stitch and move it upward after every round.
Goldfish Body Pattern
Begin with golden yellow yarn at the nose.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in an MR. (6)
Round 2: Inc in every st around. (12)
Round 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)
Round 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] 6 times. (24)
Round 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] 6 times. (30)
Rounds 6–8: Sc around. (30)
Embroider one small black eye on each side between Rounds 5 and 6, approximately 9 stitches apart. Add one tiny white highlight stitch if desired.
Pastel Stripe Band
Change colors at the end of a round by completing the final yarn-over with the new shade. Carry unused colors inside only for short distances; otherwise cut and knot the ends securely.
Round 9: With cream, sc around. (30)
Round 10: With blush pink, sc around. (30)
Round 11: With mint, sc around. (30)
Round 12: With pale peach, sc around. (30)
Round 13: With lavender, sc around. (30)
Round 14: Return to gold and sc around. (30)
For a mosaic look, add small duplicate stitches over the stripe band after the body is finished. Scatter cream crosses across the colored rounds rather than covering every stitch.
Round 15: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] 6 times. (24)
Round 16: Sc around. (24)
Round 17: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] 6 times. (18)
Round 18: Sc around. (18)
Stuff the nose first, then fill the middle evenly. Keep the body rounded but not rigid.
Round 19: [Sc, dec] 6 times. (12)
Round 20: Dec 6 times. (6)
Fasten off, thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining stitches, pull closed, and hide the yarn inside.
Fantail Goldfish Crochet Pattern
Make two matching tail lobes in coral or your chosen fin color. The narrow beginning edge attaches to the fish.
Row 1: Ch 6. Starting in the second ch from the hook, sc across. Turn. (5)
Row 2: Ch 1, inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. Turn. (7)
Rows 3–7: Repeat Row 2. The counts are 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 sts.
Do not fasten off. Ch 1 and sc evenly down the side, work 3 sc across the narrow foundation edge, sc up the opposite side, then work a gently scalloped outer edge: [sl st, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sl st] spaced evenly across the final row. Fasten off with a long sewing tail.
Block the lobes lightly if the edges curl. The finished pair creates the flowing shape associated with a Fantail Goldfish Crochet Pattern.
Side Fins—Make Two
Ch 6. Starting in the second ch from the hook, work sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. Continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain with sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. Join with a sl st and leave a long sewing tail.
Dorsal and Lower Fins
For the dorsal fin, ch 8. Starting in the second ch, work sc, hdc, dc in next 3 chains, hdc, sc. Fasten off with a long tail.
Make the lower fin the same way with ch 6, then work sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. These small pieces balance the large tail without making the fish look crowded.
Assemble the Goldfish
- Place the two fan-tail lobes at the closed back end of the body. Angle one slightly upward and one slightly downward.
- Sew through the narrow foundation edges and the final two body rounds. Pass through each join twice so the tail cannot swivel.
- Attach one side fin to each side below the stripe band.
- Sew the dorsal fin along the top center and the smaller fin underneath.
- Shape the body with your fingers and spread the tail lobes into a soft fan.
Baby Goldfish Variation
To make a Crochet Baby Goldfish, use sport-weight yarn with a 2 mm hook and follow the same stitch counts. Make each tail lobe only through Row 5 and use ch 4 for the side fins. The smaller fish is adorable as an ornament or bag charm.
Add a hanging loop through the top of the body for display. If the fish will be used as a keychain, reinforce the loop through several stitches and keep all attachments away from babies and toddlers.
Color and Pattern Ideas
Classic gold and coral instantly suggest a goldfish, but aqua and blue create a cool ocean palette. Try blush with lavender, cream with sage, or peach with rust fins. Use variegated scraps in the five center rounds for effortless mosaic bands.
These Free Goldfish Crochet Pattern ideas also work for mobiles and pretend aquariums. Sew clear thread to different hanging lengths, or arrange several fish with crocheted bubbles and seaweed on a wall hanging.
Troubleshooting Tips
- The body looks pointed: Add stuffing in small pieces and massage it toward the nose.
- The color change steps: Change yarn during the final yarn-over of the previous round.
- The tail droops: Use cotton yarn, a smaller hook, or light blocking.
- The fins twist: Pin them in position before sewing and attach along the full foundation edge.
- The filling shows: Reduce the hook size by 0.5 mm.
A Tiny School of Handmade Fish
This original Goldfish Crochet Pattern combines an easy oval body with decorative stripes and a dramatic two-piece tail. Once you make one fish, color changes and different yarn weights make every variation feel new.
Save these Cute Fish Amigurumi Free Crochet Patterns for scrap-yarn projects, cheerful handmade gifts, nursery decorations, and relaxing afternoons of small-scale crochet.
