The fully-grown pufferfish from my original pattern are bored, so here's a set of baby pufferfish to keep them entertained!
Click the photo above to read more.
Basic Info:
Gauge:
5 sc x 5 rows = 1" x 1"
Finished Measurements:
Completed fish is about 2 1/4" long and 2" tall.
Suggested Materials:
US Size E crochet hook, or size required to achieve gauge
Lily Sugar'n Cream: Hot Pink
Lily Sugar'n Cream: Tea Rose
(or a worsted-weight yarn of your choice. Yardages required are very minimal. Much less than a skein per color.)
Needle and thread
Stuffing
6mm black safety eyes, or eyes of your choice
Felt (if leaving out the crocheted fins and tail)
Making the Pieces:
Tail:
(make 1 in Hot Pink)
ch 4, 2-dc cluster in 3rd loop from hook, ch 1, fasten off
join again in next stitch (the last stitch of the chain), ch 3, 2-dc cluster in same space as join, ch 1, fasten off
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Fins:
(make 2 in Hot Pink)
ch 2, dc 2 in first chain st, ch 2, sl st 1 in same space as prev. dc. Fasten off
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Top Fin:
(Make 1 in Hot Pink)
ch 3, hdc 1, dc 2 in 1, ch 2, sl st in same space as prev. dc, fasten off
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Body:
(Make 1 in Tea Rose)
Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring, continue around in a spiral {6 sts}
Round 2: [inc] around {12 sts}
Round 3: [sc 1, inc] around {18 sts}
Round 4: [sc 5, inc] around {21 sts}
Rounds 5 through 7: sc around {21 sts}
Round 8: [sc 5, dec] around {18 sts}
Round 9: [sc 1, dec] around {12 sts}
Round 10: [dec] around, fasten off {6 sts}
Fill with stuffing, stitch end closed.
Tip: I paused at the end of Round 4 to add safety eyes. Add the eyes on both sides between Rounds 3 and 4.
Tip #2: I found it easier to add the stuffing by pausing after Round 9, adding the stuffing, then going on with Round 10.
Assembly:
All-crocheted Version:
Using needle and thread, tack the Fins, Top Fin, and Tail onto the Body.
Tip: I suggest pulling the yarn ends of the fins through the Body to roughly place them, then using the needle and thread to more precisely and strongly attach them.
For reference, the Fins attach between Rounds 5 and 6 of the Body, on either side. The Top Fin is centered between the side fins. The Tail is placed vertically over Round 10 of the Body.
Stitch mouth using contrasting yarn.
This completes the all-crocheted version of the baby pufferfish!
Felt Version:
Tip: If the crocheted Tail and Fins are too finicky for your tastes, they can be replaced by felt pieces. To replace these pieces with felt, cut out your tail and fins according to the template below:
To attach the fins, first stitch the felt onto the Body using needle and thread. The seam's position on each felt piece is marked by the dotted line on the template above.
For reference, the Fins attach between Rounds 5 and 6 of the Body, on either side. The Top Fin is centered between the side fins. The Tail is placed vertically over Round 10 of the Body.
Once the felt pieces are tacked onto the Body, fold the felt in half with the seam just made as the fold, and whipstitch closed around the edges.
This completes the felt version of the baby pufferfish!
