Posted on 30-9-2021 by Elianne van Steenis
It is the 4th of October. A day dedicated to animals. The perfect occasion to spoil your dog or cat with treats, extra attention, and a new toy. For the latter, we are here to lend a helping hand with a free pattern to make a super fun cat toy, designed by Annemarie Arts! It is crocheted using Yarn and Colors Must-Have Minis, and you only need 1 ball to make a fish. But with no fewer than 100 colors to choose from, you can go all out like we did and make the most colorful curly-tailed fish toy for your pet.
What do you need?
- 1 ball Yarn and Colors Must-Have Minis 100 Black, 065 Turquoise, 086 Peony Leaf, 054 Grape, 034 Deep Cerise, 032 Pepper, 017 Papaya, 012 Lemon
- Crochet hook 2 mm
- Stuffing
- 2 rattle boxes 8 x 15 mm
- Safety eyes Yellow 10 mm
- A stick or branch, approx. 50 cm long
Abbreviations used (US terms, UK in brackets):
ch = chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
sc…tog = single crochet … stitches together (= decrease)
hdc = half double crochet (UK half treble)
dc = double crochet (UK treble)
tr = treble (UK double treble)
rep = repeat
Crochet Pattern Fish
Round 1: With Deep Cerise and 2 mm hook, work 6 sc in a magic ring, or begin as follows: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch, sl st in 1st sc to close the round. (6)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
Round 3: Work round in back loops only to leave unworked single loops on outside of work. 12 sc. (12)
Round 4: 2 sc in every 2nd st, 1 sc in all remaining sts. (18)
Round 5: 1 sc, *2 sc in next st, 2 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 1 sc. (24)
Rounds 6 and 7: 24 sc in each round. (24)
Round 8: 2 sc in every 4th st. (30)
Round 9: 30 sc. (30)
Round 10: 2 sc, *2 sc in next st, 4 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 2 sc. (36)
Round 11: 6 sc, then work next 6 sc in back loops only, 12 sc in both loops, 6 sc in back loops only, 6 sc in both loops. (36)
Round 12: Change color to Papaya. 36 sc. (36)
Rounds 13 – 15: From this point, work rest of pattern in back loops only. 36 sc in each round. (36)
Before you continue, place safety eyes between rounds 7 and 8.
Eyes should line up with the 6 single loops from round 11 on both sides of face.
Round 16: Decrease 6 sts: Sc every 5th and 6th st tog. (30)
Round 17: 30 sc. (30)
Round 18: Decrease 6 sts: Sc every 4th and 5th st tog. (24)
Round 19: 24 sc. (24)
Round 20: Decrease 6 sts: Sc every 3rd and 4th st tog. (18)
Rounds 21 and 22: 18 sc in each round. (18)
Round 23: Decrease 3 sts: Sc every 5th and 6th st tog. (15)
Round 24: 15 sc. (15) Now stuff body firmly and place 2 rattle boxes in middle of stuffing.
Round 25: Sc every 4th and 5th st tog. (12)
Round 26: Decrease 6 sts: Sc2tog all around. (6) Fasten off. Draw yarn tail through last 6 sts and pull to close hole. Weave in ends.
Side fins:
Use Lemon to crochet side fins across outer loops from round 11. Insert hook into loops from front side of fish.
(Sl st 1, 1 hdc) in 1st st, (1 hdc, 1 dc) in 2nd st, (1 dc, 1 tr) in 3rd st, (1 tr, 1 dc) in 4th st, (1 dc, 1 hdc) in 5th st, (1 hdc, sl st 1) in last st. Weave in all ends.
Rep for second fin on other side of fish.
Mouth:
Use Pepper to crochet mouth in outer loops from round 3. Insert hook into loops from back side of fish.
Round 1: 12 sc.
Round 2: Sl st 12. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Scales
Use Peony Leaf to crochet scales in outer loops from round 13 onwards. Insert hook into loops from front side of fish.
Sl st 1 in 1st loop, *ch 2, skip 1 loop, sl st 1 in next loop *.
Rep *-* to last outer loop from round 25. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Tail fins
Crochet tail fins in 2 different sizes. Make 7 in total.
Crochet longer tail fins in colors Papaya, Peony Leaf, Lemon, and Pepper as follows:
Ch 21. Begin in 2nd ch from hook, work 2 sc in first 19 ch sts. Sl st 1 in 20th ch st. Fasten off.
Crochet shorter tail fins in colors Grape, Turquoise, and Deep Cerise as follows:
Ch 17. Begin in 2nd ch from hook, work 2 sc in first 15 ch sts. Sl st 1 in 16th ch st. Fasten off.
Twist the fins to help them curl nicely. Use a couple small stitches to attach all the fins securely to round 26.
With Black, ch 100. Sew one end to round 1 of fish toy and tie other end to your stick.
Crochet Pattern Fish in a Fishbowl
What do you need?
- For fish: 1 ball Phildar Phil Coton 2 Ciel (3), Rosee (1), Corail (33), Vitamine (6)
- For fishbowl floor: 1 ball Phildar Phil Coton 4 Seigle (88), Veronese (83), Bambou (87)
- Crochet hooks 1.75 mm (for fish) and 3 mm (for fishbowl floor)
- Stuffing
- Safety eyes Orange 8 mm
- Piece of iron wire, approx. 13 cm long
- Piece of duct tape
- Double-sided sticky tape
- Small decorative pebbles
Crochet the fish in the bowl using the same fish pattern as the cat toy, omitting the rattle boxes.
Fishbowl floor
Use crochet hook 3 mm and Phil Coton 4.
Round 1: With Seigle, work 6 sc in a magic ring, or begin as follows: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch, sl st in 1st sc to close the round. (6)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
Round 3: 2 sc in every 2nd st, 1 sc in all remaining sts. (18)
Round 4: 1 sc, *2 sc in next st, 2 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 1 sc. (24)
Round 5: 2 sc in every 4th st. (30)
Round 6: 2 sc, *2 sc in next st, 4 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 2 sc. (36)
Round 7: 2 sc in every 6th st. (42)
Round 8: 3 sc, *2 sc in next st, 6 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 3 sc. (48)
Round 9: 2 sc in every 8th st. (54) Round 10: 4 sc, *2 sc in next st, 8 sc*. Rep *-* to end of round but end with 4 sc. (60)
Round 11: Sl st 60. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Iron wire
Insert iron wire through body of fish at height of first scales and fold in half.
Join Bambou yarn against body of fish at base of wire. Work 12 sc around the double wire. Fasten off. Use start tail to securely crochet work to body of fish.
Pass wire ends through middle of crocheted floor. Bend the wire ends out to the sides against underside of floor piece and secure in place with duct tape.
Use Veronese, Bambou, and Seigle to crochet 3 different water plants.
Plant 1: Ch 12. Begin in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in first 10 ch sts, fasten off with sl st in 11th ch st.
Plant 2: Ch 8. Begin in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in first 6 ch st, fasten off with sl st in 7th ch st.
Plant 3: Ch 16. Begin in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in first 14 ch sts, fasten off with sl st in 15th ch st.
Twist plants with your fingers to help them curl nicely. Use ends to sew onto floor around wire.
Use double-sided tape to stick floor to inside of fishbowl. Scatter decorative pebbles.
Say hello to your new pet!
