Mr Puffy - Free Crochet Puffer Fish Pattern

My free crochet puffer fish pattern is a quick, easy to hook up amigurumi design. It took me just a couple of days to produce. Whatever level of crocheter you are, you’ll be able to follow this simple pattern, and create your very own amigurumi puffer pal. When you’re done, you can even make him a goldfish buddy.

Your kit list.
Pattern notes and terminology.
The full free crochet puffer fish pattern.

I created this pattern as an homage to a local shop’s cheerful store pet Mbu, Mr Puffy. Beloved by my son and stared at for several minutes every time we visit. Needless to say he’s been over the moon with his new toy, although we haven’t introduced it to the real Mr Puffy yet!

This crochet pattern also goes beautifully with my crochet seahorse and squid designs! You can check out all of my sea creature patterns here too.

What You’ll Need

50g/1.8oz variegated orange DK yarn
3.5mm crochet hook
16mm safety eyes*
Toy safe stuffing*
Yarn / tapestry needle

The yarn I used was out of my stash – a skein of DK Bergere de France Baronval. I am not sure this is still easily available, but any orange or brown shade of acrylic or wool blend Double Knit yarn* will do just fine.

Pattern Notes and Tips

You’ll find the following abbreviations and terms in this pattern:

sc – single crochet
2sc – make two single crochets into the same stitch
sc2tog – use a single crochet to join two stitches together
BLO – back loop only
FLO – front loop only
dc – double crochet
slst – slip stitch

The Free Crochet Puffer Fish Pattern

You’re going to crochet your puffer fish all in one color of yarn, using your 3.5mm crochet hook.

The Amigurumi Puffer Fish Body and Tail

Round 1

Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)

Round 2

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 3

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 4

FLO 1sc x 24 (24)

Round 5 – 6

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 7 – 8

BLO 1sc x 24 (24)

Round 9 – 11

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 12

(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)

Round 13

1sc x 32 (32)

Round 14

(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)

Round 15

1sc x 40 (40)

Round 16

(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)

Round 17

1sc x 48 (48)

Round 18

(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)

Round 19

(1sc x 6, 2sc) x 8 (64)

Insert safety eyes, in line with the top lip of the mouth, around four stitches to the left and right.

Round 20

(1sc x 7, 2sc) x 8 (72)

Round 21

(1sc x 8, 2sc) x 8 (80)

Round 22 – 23

1sc x 80 (80)

Round 24

(1sc x 8, sc2tog) x 8 (72)

Round 25

1sc x 72 (72)

Round 26

(1sc x 7, sc2tog) x 8 (64)

Round 27 – 28

1sc x 64 (64)

Round 29

(1sc x 6, sc2tog) x 8 (56)

Round 30 – 32

1sc x 48 (56)

Round 33

(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)

Round 34 – 36

1sc x 48 (48)

Round 37

(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)

Round 38

1sc x 40 (40)

Round 39

(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)

Round 40

1sc x 32 (32)

Round 41

(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)

Round 42

1sc x 24 (24)

Round 43

(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)

Round 44

1sc x 16 (16)

Fill the body with toy safe stuffing, leaving the mouth unfilled so that you can indent it.

Round 45

sc2tog x 8 (8)

Increasing for the tail

Round 46

1sc x 8 (8)

Round 47

2sc x 8 (16)

Round 48

(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)

Round 49 – 54

1sc x 24 (24)

Finishing the tail

To detail the tail you’ll now need to crochet the end flat and closed. Make sure you line it up along the same angle as the eyes, so it doesn’t look wonky.

Make 1sc until you reach the end point, then single crochet the two sides together. You’ll end up with a row of 12 stitches.

At the end of that row, turn your fish and work back into it, put 1slst, 1sc, 2dc, 1sc, 1slst twice, and tie off at the end of the row, and hide the yarn tail in the fish tail!