Handmade Crochet Clownfish Amigurumi | Cute Ocean Plush Gift
He just fits so perfectly in one hand, and I genuinely don’t know what to do with myself. This handmade crochet clownfish has the chunkiest little body, the crispest white stripes, and one glossy eye that just looks at you like “yes, I am perfect, I know.” Ocean therapy, but make it yarn.
This is a handmade crochet clownfish amigurumi, made one at a time from soft chenille yarn. Palm-sized but chunky. Simple to look at from a distance, detailed up close. The kind of thing that sits on a shand elf and somehow always catches the light just right. It works as a gift for literally anyone, ocean lovers, kids, adults who just want something handmade and real in their space. No mass production. No shortcuts. Just yarn, time, and a fish that looks a little too confident for something that lives in an anemone.
Materials
Yarn:
- Super bulky chenille yarn (weight 6) — Bernat Blanket or Premier Basix Chenille recommended
- Orange
- White
- Black
- Pink (for blush — optional)
- Thinner acrylic or cotton yarn (weight 3–4)
- White — for embroidering eye highlights
- Black — for embroidering face details
Supplies:
- 5mm crochet hook
- Black safety eyes (14mm)
- Tapestry needle
- Fiberfill
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Cosmetic blush (optional)
Abbreviations
MR — Magic Ring SC — Single Crochet INC — Increase DEC — Invisible Decrease SL ST — Slip Stitch BLO — Back Loop Only HDC — Half Double Crochet DC — Double Crochet CH — Chain
Skills used: Magic ring, changing yarn colors, and embroidering face details.
Head and Body
Start with the orange yarn
Rnd 1: 8 SC in MR (8) Rnd 2: INC in all 8 (16) Rnd 3: 6 SC, 4 INC, 6 SC (20) Rnd 4: 6 SC, (INC, SC) x 4, 6 SC (24) Rnd 5: SC in all 24 (24) Rnd 6: (3 SC, INC) x 6 (30)
Change the yarn to white
Rnd 7: BLO — SC in all 30 (30) Rnd 8: (9 SC, INC) x 3 (33)
Change the yarn to orange
Rnd 9: (5 SC, INC, 5 SC) x 3 (36) Rnd 10: SC in all 36 (36)
Note: Make sure the increases in Rnd 3 and Rnd 4 are positioned at the top of the plushie.
Insert safety eyes between Rnd 4–5, leaving 5–6 visible stitches between them. Embroider brows and smile with thin black yarn. Add eye highlights with thin white yarn. Embroider a blush with pink yarn.
Begin stuffing the body and continue as you go.
4 times. (32 stitches)
Switch your yarn to white.
Round 12: Working in Back Loops Only — 3 sc, decrease, 3 sc — repeat 4 times. (28 stitches)
Round 13: Single crochet in all 28 stitches. (28 stitches)</em>
Switch your yarn to orange.
Round 15: BLO — 4 sc, decrease — repeat 4 times. (20 stitches)
Round 16: 3 sc, decrease — repeat 4 times. (16 stitches)
Round 17: 1 sc, decrease, 1 sc — repeat 4 times. (12 stitches)
Switch your yarn to white.
Round 18: BLO — single crochet in all 12 stitches. (12 stitches)
Round 19: Single crochet in all 12 stitches. (12 stitches)
Switch your yarn to orange.
Round 20: BLO — single crochet, increase — repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)
Final Steps
Switch to black yarn, chain 1, turn, and work 9 sc across.
Weave in all remaining yarn ends to finish cleanly.
Tip: Make sure the decreases in Round 14 are aligned at the top of the plushie for the best shape.
Here is your content in professional, natural English:
Side Fins
For the side fins, we will be crocheting directly onto the surface of the plushie.
Left Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 9 with a slip stitch — use the middle of the eye as your reference point for placement (see pictures).
Row 1: Work 3 sc, chain 1, turn. (3 stitches)
Row 2: Increase in all 3 stitches. (6 stitches)
Switch to black yarn.
Row 3: Chain 1, turn — work 2 sc, increase — repeat 3 times. (8 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
Right Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 9 with a slip stitch — place it 2–3 stitches below the eye as your reference point (see pictures).
Row 1: Work 3 sc, chain 1, turn. (3 stitches)
Row 2: Increase in all 3 stitches. (6 stitches)
Switch to black yarn.
Row 3: Chain 1, turn work 2 sc, increase repeat 3 times. (8 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
Here is your content in professional, natural English:
Top Fins
For the top fins, we will be crocheting directly onto the surface of the plushie.
Smaller Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 17 with a slip stitch, at the top centre of the plushie — use the tail and the eyes as reference points for placement.
Row 1: Work 3 half double crochets. (3 stitches)
Switch to black yarn.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn — single crochet in all 3 stitches. (3 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
Bigger Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 12 with a slip stitch, at the top centre of the plushie, use the first top fin and the eyes as reference points for placement.
Switch to black yarn.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn single crochet in all 4 stitches. (4 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
Here is your content in professional, natural English:
Bottom Fins
For the bottom fins, we will be crocheting directly onto the surface of the plushie.
Bigger Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 17 with a slip stitch, at the bottom centre of the plushie — use the tail as your reference point for placement.
Row 1: Work 3 half double crochets. (3 stitches)
Switch to black yarn.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn — single crochet in all 3 stitches. (3 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
Smaller Fin
Start with orange yarn. Join it to Round 9 with a slip stitch, at the bottom centre of the plushie — use the first bottom fin and the eyes as reference points for placement.
Row 1: Work 2 half double crochets. (2 stitches)
Switch to black yarn.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn — single crochet in all 2 stitches. (2 stitches)
Weave all yarn ends neatly into the plushie.
You don’t need to live near the ocean to have a little piece of it. This clownfish is handmade, limited, and already looking at you like he knows he’s going home with you. Don’t make him wait too long.
