Goldfish Crochet Pattern (Free + 7 More Goldfish to Make)
A real goldfish needs a tank, a filter, and a weekly water change. This one needs about two hours and some leftover yarn.
It is a chubby yellow goldfish with orange patches, a little dorsal fin, two side fins, and a big fanned tail that is honestly the star of the show. It fits in the palm of your hand.
I commissioned this pattern from the crocheter I work with, checked every step photo, and I am sharing the whole thing free. Further down you will find a keychain version, plus seven more free goldfish patterns from other designers for when one fish turns into a whole tank.
Quick Info
| Detail | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Beginner friendly (you need the magic ring, increases and decreases) |
| Finished size | About 8 cm (3 inches) long, nose to tail tip |
| Time | About 2 to 3 hours |
| Stitches used | MR, ch, sc, hdc, dc, tr, inc, dec, sl st |
| Yarn | 4-ply milk cotton in yellow and orange, plus a scrap of white |
| Construction | Body in the round, tail worked flat, fins worked straight onto the body or in a magic ring |
The body is one continuous spiral with the orange patches worked in as you go. No embroidering spots on at the end.
The tail is the only piece you sew on. The dorsal fin is crocheted straight onto the body, and the side fins are tiny magic rings you can sew or glue.
What Makes This Goldfish Different
Plenty of crochet fish patterns end up as a round blob with a triangle stuck on the back. You squint and think, sure, that is a fish.
This one reads as a goldfish from across the room, and the tail is why. It is worked in rows with little stepped edges, then pinched in where it meets the body, so it fans out like a real fancy goldfish tail.
The other nice part is the colorwork. The orange patches are part of the stitch counts, so every round tells you exactly when to switch colors. You do not have to guess where the spots go.
Materials
- 4-ply milk cotton yarn in yellow and orange
- A small scrap of white yarn for the eye rings
- 3 mm crochet hook
- 7 mm safety eyes (one pair)
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Milk cotton gives you crisp, tight stitches, which matters on a fish this small. A fuzzy acrylic would blur the stepped edges on the tail.
Any light DK or sport weight cotton works too. Just keep the hook small enough that the stuffing does not show through.
Abbreviations
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec = invisible decrease
- sl st = slip stitch
- R = round or row
- [24] = stitch count at the end of the round
This pattern uses US crochet terms.
Part 1: The Body
The body is worked in a continuous spiral from the nose back. Put a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round so you do not lose count.
Start with yellow.
- R1: 6 sc in MR [6]
- R2: inc in every stitch [12]
- R3: sc around [12]
- R4: (1 sc, inc) x 6 [18]
- R5: (2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
Tip: Pull the magic ring tight. This is the goldfish’s nose. A loose ring leaves a little hole right at the front of the face.
Working the Orange Patches
From Round 6 the rounds are split into color blocks. Start each round in yellow and switch color at every comma: yellow, orange, yellow, and so on.
- R6 to R8: 9 sc yellow, 6 sc orange, 9 sc yellow [24]
- R9: 3 sc yellow, 3 sc orange, 3 sc yellow, 6 sc orange, 3 sc yellow, 3 sc orange, 3 sc yellow [24]
- R10 to R11: 3 sc yellow, 3 sc orange, 12 sc yellow, 3 sc orange, 3 sc yellow [24]
Tip: Carry the yarn you are not using. Lay the spare color along the top of the stitches and crochet over it. That way there are no long loose strands inside the fish to snag on the stuffing.
Tip: Change color on the last pull-through. On the stitch before a color switch, pull the new color through the final two loops. The new color then starts clean on the next stitch, with no little bump of the old one.
Real goldfish are patchy and lopsided, so if a block lands a stitch off, nobody will notice. It still looks like a goldfish.
Shaping the Back End
Back to yellow only.
- R12: sc around [24]
- R13: (2 sc, dec) x 6 [18]
- R14: sc around [18]
- R15: (1 sc, dec) x 6 [12]
Stuff the body firmly before the opening gets small. You want it plump but still a little squishy when you press it.
Tip: Use invisible decreases. Work the dec through the front loops only of the next two stitches. It sits flat and you will not see a gap where the body narrows.
Leave the last opening for now. The tail goes on over it.
Part 2: The Tail
Switch to orange. The tail is worked flat in rows, turning at the end of each one.
- R1: ch 9, turn, 8 hdc, ch 1, turn
- R2: 6 sc, ch 1, turn
- R3: 3 hdc, 3 sc, ch 1, turn
- R4: 4 sc, ch 1, turn
- R5: 1 hdc, 3 sc, ch 1, turn
- R6: 4 sc, ch 3, turn
- R7: 3 hdc, 3 sc, ch 1, turn
- R8: 6 sc, ch 3, turn
- R9: 8 hdc
The rows get shorter and longer on purpose. That is what makes the stepped, frilly edge on the tail, so do not “fix” it.
Now work 4 dec along the straight bottom edge of the tail. This pinches the base in so it looks like it grows out of the fish instead of being glued to a square.
Fasten off and leave a long yarn tail. Sew the pinched end over the back opening of the body, closing it as you go.
Tip: Count your turning chains. Rows 6 and 8 end with ch 3, not ch 1. Those longer chains make the two points on the tail edge, and they are the easiest step to miss.
Tip: Sew through both layers. When you attach the tail, catch the body stitches on both sides of the opening. It closes the stuffing in and holds the tail straight instead of letting it droop.
Part 3: The Dorsal Fin
This little fin is crocheted straight onto the body, so there is no sewing.
- Attach orange yarn at Round 12 on the top of the body, inside the orange patch.
- Working into the stitches of the rows in front of it, crochet: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, sl st.
- Cut the yarn and hide both ends inside the body.
The stitches rise from sc up to dc and back down again, which gives you a neat little shark-fin bump.
Tip: Go through the body, not just the surface. Push the hook all the way under each stitch you work into. If you only catch the top loop, the fin flops over sideways.
Part 4: The Side Fins (Make 2)
These are about as quick as crochet gets. Use orange.
Make a magic ring and work all of this into it: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc.
Pull the ring shut and fasten off, leaving a long tail. Make a second one the same way.
The stitch heights climb up to the tr in the middle and back down, so each fin comes out as a tiny fan.
Part 5: Eyes, Fins and Finishing
- Eyes: Place the safety eyes between Rounds 4 and 5, one on each side of the head. Check them from the front before you snap the backs on, because there is no taking them off after.
- Eye rings: With a scrap of white yarn, stitch a small ring around each eye. It gives the goldfish that wide-awake, slightly startled face.
- Side fins: Sew or glue one fin on each side of the body, just behind and below the eyes, around Rounds 7 to 8.
- Weave in every loose end and give the fish a gentle squeeze to settle the stuffing.
Tip: Fit the eyes before you stuff. It is much easier to push the washer onto the back of a safety eye while the body is still open at the back.
Tip: Glue is fine on the side fins. If sewing something this small drives you up the wall, a dab of fabric glue holds them well on a fish that will sit on a shelf.
That front view is my favorite. It looks mildly offended to be held, which is exactly how a real goldfish looks at you through the glass.
Turn It Into a Goldfish Keychain
This goldfish makes a lovely keychain, because the body is round and the tail is light, so it hangs level instead of nose-diving.
Size it down first. You do not change a single round. Work the same pattern in DK or sport weight cotton with a 2.5 mm hook, and the fish comes out at roughly 5 cm (2 inches). Use 5 mm safety eyes to match.
You will also need a 20 to 25 mm split ring and a small swivel clasp. Get the swivel kind, or the fish ends up stuck face down against your keys.
Anchor the ring before you close the body. This is the whole trick:
- Work the body through Round 15 and stuff it, but do not sew the tail on yet.
- Thread the clasp onto the split ring.
- Cut about 30 cm of yellow yarn. From inside the body, bring the needle up through the top just in front of the dorsal fin, through the split ring, and back down a stitch or two away.
- Repeat five or six times, spreading the passes across Rounds 11 to 13 so no single stitch takes all the weight.
- Pull it snug so the ring sits half buried in the fabric. Knot the ends inside the body, then sew the tail on to close it.
Give it a hard tug now, before your car keys are hanging off it.
If the keychain is for a small child, skip the safety eyes and embroider two black French knots instead. A keychain lives in a bag and gets chewed on, and a washer back is not childproof.
Want more small things to hang off a bag? My roundup of crochet keychain ideas has plenty that work the same way.
Color Ideas: One Pattern, a Whole Tank
The same rounds make very different fish just by swapping yarn.
| Fish | Body color | Patch and fin color | Extra detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic goldfish | Yellow | Orange | White eye rings |
| Koi | White | Red-orange | A small black stitch mark on the head |
| Black moor | Black | Black | Bigger eyes, 9 mm if you have them |
| Fancy white goldfish | White | Orange tail only | Skip the body patches |
| Clownfish | Orange | White bands | Thin black backstitch along each band |
For the clownfish, work the patch rounds in white and outline them afterward. It is the same fish wearing a different outfit.
More Free Goldfish Crochet Patterns
Once you make one goldfish, it is very hard to stop. These seven free patterns come from other designers, and each one does something different from mine. Click through to the designer’s own page for the full pattern.
1. Jelly Bean No-Sew Goldfish by Darling Maple Designs
A squishy little goldfish in chunky chenille yarn with no sewing at all. It is worked in one piece from front to back, and the tail and fin are crocheted on as you go.
It finishes at just over 3.5 inches with a 5 mm hook, so it works up fast. Great as a bag charm or a pocket fidget.
Get the free pattern from Darling Maple Designs
2. Realistic No-Sew Goldfish by Sweet Softies
If you want a goldfish with a long, flowing fancy tail and zero sewing, this is the one. The tail and fins are crocheted on in one piece.
It is rated intermediate, uses worsted weight yarn and a 3.25 mm hook, and finishes at 4 to 5 inches. A variegated yarn gives it that shimmery look.
Get the free pattern from Sweet Softies
3. Mosaic Goldfish by Sweet Softies
These have little scale patterns worked into the body, and they are no-sew too. In thin yarn they are keychain sized, and in bulky yarn they turn into a plush.
The free version on the blog covers the first scale design, which is just single crochet in the back loops. The other three designs are in the paid PDF.
Get the free pattern from Sweet Softies
4. Tanja the Goldfish by DIY Fluffies
Tanja is a round, stripy goldfish with rosy cheeks, a forked tail and a full set of fins. She is beginner friendly and comes with a link to a basic stitches tutorial.
She is about 17 cm (7 inches) long in sport weight cotton with a 2.5 mm hook, so she is a good step up in size from mine. The fins are sewn on.
Get the free pattern from DIY Fluffies
5. Amigurumi Goldfish by Punqa
This one is all about the big round body and the huge eyes. It has a pale belly, a burnt orange back, and a tall double-layer tail.
It uses worsted weight yarn, a 3.5 mm hook and 18 mm safety eyes, and finishes around 18 to 20 cm. That makes it a proper cuddle-sized goldfish.
Get the free pattern from Punqa
6. Fancy Goldfish by Kate Wood
The biggest fish on this list at about 9 inches nose to tail. It is the one to pick if you want a black moor or a long-finned fantail.
It is worked in aran weight yarn with a 3.75 mm hook, and the head and body are one continuous piece. It is a free download on Ravelry.
Get the free pattern from Kate Wood on Ravelry
7. Bubbles and Goldfish Teether by One Dog Woof
Not a plushie at all. This is a baby teether with a little goldfish blowing a trail of crocheted “bubble” beads, finished on a wooden ring.
It is a lovely baby shower gift. Use cotton yarn and real teething-safe beads, and check it for wear often.
Get the free pattern from One Dog Woof
Which Goldfish Should You Make?
| Pattern | Size | Sewing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crochee goldfish (this page) | 8 cm | Tail only | A first goldfish, keychains |
| Darling Maple Jelly Bean | 9 cm | None | Chunky chenille, bag charms |
| Sweet Softies Realistic | 10 to 13 cm | None | A flowing fancy tail |
| Sweet Softies Mosaic | 9 to 17 cm | None | Textured scales |
| DIY Fluffies Tanja | 17 cm | Fins | Stripes and rosy cheeks |
| Punqa Goldfish | 18 to 20 cm | Fins | A big, cuddly fish |
| Kate Wood Fancy | 23 cm | Fins | Black moor and fantail |
| One Dog Woof Teether | Small | Some | Baby gifts |
Tips for a Better Goldfish
- Keep your tension tight. Small amigurumi looks best when you cannot see the stuffing through the stitches. If you can, go down half a hook size.
- Do not overstuff the back end. Stuff the head firmly and the back a little lighter, so the tail sits flush instead of being pushed off at an angle.
- Block the tail. Mist it lightly with water, pin it flat into a fan shape, and let it dry. The stepped edges sharpen up nicely.
- Make two and compare. The second one is always faster, and a pair looks great on a shelf or a desk.
FAQ
Is this goldfish crochet pattern good for beginners?
Yes. If you can make a magic ring, increase and decrease, you can make it. The only fiddly parts are the color changes and the small fins, and both are explained step by step above.
How big is the finished goldfish?
About 8 cm (3 inches) long from nose to tail tip in 4-ply milk cotton with a 3 mm hook. Use thicker yarn and a bigger hook for a bigger fish, or DK yarn and a 2.5 mm hook for a keychain-sized one.
Is there a no-sew version?
My pattern only sews one piece, the tail, and the dorsal fin is crocheted straight on. If you want a fully no-sew goldfish, the Darling Maple Jelly Bean and both Sweet Softies patterns above have no sewing at all.
What yarn is best for a crochet goldfish?
Cotton or milk cotton gives the clearest stitches and holds the tail shape well. Chenille makes a soft, squishy fish but hides your stitches, so it is harder for a first try.
Can I make it safe for a baby?
Replace the safety eyes with embroidered eyes in black yarn, and sew the side fins on rather than gluing them. Stuff firmly so nothing shifts, and check the seams regularly.
How do I make a black moor or koi version?
Use the color table above. A black moor is all black with bigger eyes, and a koi is a white body with red-orange patches in place of the orange.
Build Your Yarn Aquarium
If you make this goldfish, I would love to see it. Save the pattern to your crochet board on Pinterest so it is there the next time you need a quick gift.
Want more water friends for your tank? The axolotl crochet pattern is no-sew and every bit as cute, and my roundup of crochet ocean animals has everything from jellyfish to sea turtles. For more quick critters, browse my free amigurumi patterns.
