Welcome to my crochet tropical fish pattern. It’s a similar fish to the one I made for the fish scrubbie.
There is also a video tutorial for this pattern available at Crochet Tropical Fish Tutorial.
To view the full pattern for free continue scrolling down the page. The pattern is also available to download on my Ravelry store at Crochet Tropical Fish Pattern.
This pattern will be using US terminology. If you would like to view the UK version go to Crochet Tropical Fish Pattern (UK Version).
Crochet Tropical Fish Pattern
Abbreviations
- st – stitch
- sts – stitches
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
Materials Used
- I used blue, black, yellow and a very small amount of white 4 ply crochet cotton.
- A crochet hook, I used a 1.25mm hook.
- Scissors.
- A darning needle to weave in ends.
- Sewing thread and a needle to stitch the body fin and eye onto the fish.
Body
Make a magic loop.
Row 1: Work 1 ch, 3 hdc, 3 tr, 6 hdc, 3 tr, 3 hdc into circle. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 2: 1 ch, 1 hdc in same st as ch, 1 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in following st, 2 tr in each of next 3 sts, 2 hdc in following st, 1 hdc in each of next 4 sts, 2 hdc in following st, 2 tr in each of next 3 sts, 2 hdc in following st, 1 hdc in each remaining st. Sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 3: 2 ch, 1 dc in same st as ch,1 dc in each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in each of following 5 sts, 1 dc in each of next 8 sts, 2 dc in each of following 5 sts, 1 dc in each st to end. Join with a sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 4: 2 ch, 1 dc in same place as ch, 1 dc in each of following 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st) 6 times, (1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st) 2 times, (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st) 6 times, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st, 1 dc into any remaining sts. Sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 5: 2 ch, 1 dc in same st as ch, (1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st) repeat to end. Join with a sl st in top of 1st st.
Row 6: 2 ch, 1 dc in same st as ch, (1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 2 dc in following st) repeat to end. Join with a sl st in top of 1st st. Fasten off.
Head
Join cotton 9 sts before centre st on long end.
Row 1: 3 ch, 1 joined dc over next 2 sts, 1 joined hdc over following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 10 sts, 1 joined hdc over following 2 sts and 1 joined dc over next 2 sts. Turn.
Row 2: 2 ch, 2 joined hdc over 1st 4 sts, 1 sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 joined hdc over last 4 sts. Turn.
Row 3: 2 ch, 1 joined hdc over 1st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 6 sts, 1 joined hdc over last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 4: 2 ch, 1 joined hdc over 1st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of next 4 sts, 1 joined hdc over last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 5: 2 ch, 1 joined hdc over 1st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 joined hdc over last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 6: 3 ch, 1 dc cluster over all sts. Don’t fasten off.
Neatening Row
Turn work over so the right side is facing.
1 ch, work 1 sc in each st around head and body, join with a sl st in 1st ch. Fasten off.
Tail
Join cotton 3 sts back from centre st on a long end as shown.
Row 1: 3 ch, work a joined dc over next 2 sts, 1 dc in following st, a dc cluster over next 3 sts. Fasten off.
Join black cotton to end of tail on right side as shown.
Row 2: 3 ch, 2 dc in 1st st, 2 tr in next st and 2 dc in last st, 3 ch, sl st in same st as last dc. Fasten off.
Join contrast cotton to the top of the 3 ch from last row of black on right side as shown.
Row 3: 3 ch, work 2 dc in same place as ch, 1 dc in each st and 2 dc in top of ch. Turn.
Row 4: 3 ch, work 2 dc in same place as ch, 1 dc in each st and 2 dc in top of ch. Fasten off.
Join main colour to the 1st st on wrong side of tail.
Row 5: 3 ch, work 2 dc in each of the 1st 2 sts, 1 dc in each st to the last 2 sts, 2 dc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 6: 10 ch, work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in each of following 2 sts, 1 tr in each st to 2nd last ch, work a tr cluster over last 2 ch and 1st 2 dc on tail, 1 tr in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in each of following 3 sts, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in each of following 2 sts, 1 tr in each of next 2 sts, 9 ch, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in each of following 2 sts, 1 tr in each remaining ch and work 3 tr into the side of the last tr on the tail. Sl st in top of last st of previous row. Fasten off.
Body Fin
Make a magic loop.
Row 1: 3 ch, work 3 dc into circle, pull circle tight but don’t join. Turn.
Row 2: 3 ch, work 1 dc in same place as ch, 1 dc in next st and 2 dc in following st. Turn.
Row 3: 3 ch, work 1 dc in same place as ch, (1 dc in next st and 2 dc in following st) repeat to end. 1 dc in top of ch. Turn.
Row 4: 3 ch, work 1 dc in same place as ch, (1 dc in next st and 2 dc in following st) repeat to end. Turn.
Row 5: 3 ch, work 1 dc in same place as ch, (1 dc in next st and 2 dc in following st) repeat to end. Fasten off.
Top Fin
Join cotton 17 sts back from 1st st of tail.
1 sc into each of next 3 sts, 1 hdc into each of following 3 sts, 1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 1 tr into each of following 3 sts, 2 tr into next st and a 3 tr cluster in following st. Fasten off.
Bottom Fin
Join cotton in the 3rd st from the tail.
4 ch, work a joined tr in same st as ch, 2 tr in next st, 1 tr in each of following 3 sts, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 3 sts, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 1 sl st in following st. Fasten off.
Inner Eye
Make a magic loop.
1 ch, work 3 sc into circle. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in ch. Fasten off.
Outer Eye
Make a magic loop.
2 ch, work 10 hdc into circle. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in 2nd ch. Fasten off.
Middle Stripe
28 ch.
Miss 1st ch and work 1 hdc in each ch to end. Fasten off.
Outside Stripes (Make 2)
26 ch.
Miss 1st ch and work 1 hdc in each ch to end. Fasten off.
To Make Up
Weave in ends. Stitch the middle stripe to fish covering up the centre circle.
Sew the outside stripes to either side of the middle stripe.
Embroider a white dot on the inner eye if desired.
Attach the Inner eye to the outer eye.
Stitch the eye to the fish.
Stitch the body fin to the fish.
And there’s the finished crochet tropical fish. I hope that you’ve liked it. If you have, I’ve got a clownfish and a fantail goldfish that you might enjoy.
