Today I’m going to be making this fantail goldfish crochet pattern and tutorial. When finished the goldfish crochet will look like this.

Finished crochet goldfish group

For the example today I’ll be making the multi-coloured goldfish crochet appliqué.

If you would like to follow along with the video tutorial the how to video is available on my YouTube channel at Crochet Goldfish Tutorial.

This pattern will be using US terminology, for the UK version go to Fantail Goldfish Crochet Pattern (UK Version).

The complete pattern is available to view for free on this page if you continue to scroll down. If you would like to download the pattern it’s available on Ravelry for $1 at Fantail Goldfish Crochet Pattern.

If you like the goldfish, I’ve just released the crochet pattern for this clown fish that you might like as well.

Finished crochet clown fish group landscape

Fantail Goldfish Crochet 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

  • 5 colours of cotton or wool if making a multi-coloured fish, or 3 colours if making a plain goldfish. Crochet hook.
  • Scissors.
  • Darning needle for weaving in ends.
  • Sewing needle.
  • Black and white thread for sewing on the eyes. 

Head

Make a magic loop.
Row 1:  3 ch. Work 14 dc into loop and pull tight. Slip st. into 3rd ch.
Row 2:  3 ch. Work 1 dc in same place as ch, then 2 dc into each dc. Join with a sl st in 3rd ch.

Row 3:  1 ch, work 1 sc in same place as ch and then 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in following 2 sts) 4 times, 2 dc in next st, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 5 sts, fasten off if using a different colour for mouth.

Crochet goldfish face

Mouth

Join Contrast colour if desired and continue row.
sl st in next st, 4 ch, 1 tr in same st, 1 tr in next st, 4 ch & sl st into same st as last tr, 4 ch, 1 tr in same st, 1 tr in next st, 4 ch & sl st into same st. Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish face with mouth

Body

Join cotton after 2nd hdc.

Crochet goldfish beginning body

Row 1: 1 ch 1 joined sc in same st as ch and next st, 1 ch, sl st in same st as last sc, sl st into next st, 2 ch, a  joined hdc over same st as ch and next st, 2 ch, sl st into same st as last hdc, sl st into next st (3 ch, 2 joined dc, over same st as ch and next st, 3 ch sl st into same st as last dc, sl st into next st) 6 times work 2 ch, a  joined hdc over same st as ch and next st, 2 ch, sl st into same st as last hdc, sl st into next st, 1 ch 1 joined sc in same st as ch and next st, 1 ch, sl st in same st, as last sc. Turn.

Crochet goldfish body first row

Row 2: 1 ch, sl st into bottom middle of cluster, 3 ch sl st into bottom middle of next cluster, repeat across to end. Turn.

Crochet goldfish body beginning second row

Row 3: 1 ch (sl st into next 3 ch space, work 3 ch, a joined dc, 3 ch sl st into same 3 ch space), repeat into each 3 ch space across. Turn.

Crochet goldfish body second row closeup

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 with one less cluster until you finish with 1 cluster.  Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish body

Tail

Join thread to bottom back of body on the last cluster.

Crochet goldfish beginning tail closeup

Crochet goldfish beginning tail

15 ch, miss 1st ch, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 tr in each ch to end, join with a sl st to top of last cluster.  Turn, work 8 sc along tail 15 ch miss 1 ch, 1 sc in next st, 1 hdc in following st, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of next 4 sts, 2 tr in each of next 2 sts, 1 tr in each of next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts and sl st in last st.

Crochet goldfish tail beginning bottom part

Crochet goldfish tail finished bottom half

Top tail bit

25 ch, miss 1 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 7 sts, 1 tr in each of next 5 sts, 2 tr in each of next 3 sts, dc over remaining ch and 1 dc in base of last row, join to body. Turn.

Crochet goldfish tail beginning top half

1 ch, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in following st, 1 tr in each of next 3 sts, (2 tr in next st, 1 tr in following st) 3 times, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 1 hdc in following st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sl st. Turn.

Crochet goldfish tail top half

Sl st, sc in next st, 1 hdc in following st, 2 dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in following st) 5 times, 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc in next st, 1 joined sc over next 2 sts.  Turn.

Crochet goldfish tail connecting top half to body

Sl st in first st. 1 sc in each of next 13 sts, 17 ch, miss 1 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 4 sts, tr along rest of ch, 2 dc in each of 1st 2 sts after you meet rest of tail, 1 dc in each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 hdc in next st, sc down to body and join to body with a sl st. Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish finished tail

Fin bottom near face

Join yarn to body near face.
5 ch miss 1 ch, 1 sc in next st, 1 hdc in following st, 2 dc in next ch, 1 tr, join to body with a sl st. Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish 1st bottom fin

Fin bottom back

9 ch, hdc in 3rd st from hook, 1 dc in next st, 1 dec tr over next 2 sts, 1 tr in each of remaining sts, join to body with a sl st.  Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish 2nd bottom fin

Top fins

Join yarn half way along top of body.
4 ch 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, sl st into body.
1 sc in next st on body, 5 ch, 1 sc and 1 hdc in 2nd st from hook, 2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch and 2 dc in last ch, sl st into body.

1 sc in next st on body, 11 ch,1 sc and 1 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 2 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 2 tr in next ch, 1 tr in each of next 2 ch, st. st. into body.

1 sc in next st on body, 8 ch, 1 sc and 1 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dec dc over next 2 ch, dc over remaining ch, sl st into body.  Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish top fins

Eyes

Middle of eye (black)

Make a magic loop.
1 ch 8 sc into loop and pull tight sl st into ch.  Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish inner eye

Outside of Eye (White)

Make a magic loop.
3 ch, 12 dc into loop and pull tight. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch.  Fasten off.

Crochet goldfish outer eye

To Make up

Weave in ends.  Stitch inner eye to outer eye.  Attach eye to face.

Crochet goldfish eye

Finished crochet goldfish

I hope you enjoy the goldfish crochet pattern, leave a comment to let me know how you go or if you have any issues.