If you're looking for a fun and fun and fast crochet project that’s as adorable as it is realistic, you’re going to love my realistic no-sew goldfish pattern!
This sweet little fishie is part of my Ocean Pals Playset — a charming, portable crochet bundle that features underwater friends and a clever playmat that doubles as a drawstring bag.
This goldfish is completely no-sew — that’s right, no attaching the tail, fins, or sewing pieces together! Just crochet, stuff, and go. It’s a dream come true for anyone who loves making toys without the extra finishing work. Let’s dive into the details!
About the Pattern
- Quick
- Easy
- No-sew
- Designed with medium weight 4 yarn (but can be supersized with bulky yarn or made smaller with thinner yarn)
- Designed using the beautiful Landscapes Breeze yarn
- Available as a 4-in-1 printable PDF pattern download and a free written pattern! (Scroll down for the free pattern)
Uses
This sea creature makes a quick handmade birthday gift, Christmas or holiday present, or a cute product at craft fairs. These fish are unisex and gender-neutral, making them great for both boys and girls. Turn them into a keychain (simply add a keyring), hanging ornament (like car rearview mirror ornaments), or crochet them for charity (check out Random Acts of Kindness Crochet or your local nonprofit organization)!
Get the Bundle
Want a 4-in-1 crochet pattern that is ad-free, printable, and includes three ocean animals plus a bonus ocean play mat that doubles up as a drawstring bag?
.jpg)
This is a detailed, 18-page pattern with 80+ photo references that will guide you through the process of making a realistic octopus, fish, and sea turtle and a portable pouch to contain them!
Below is a pattern preview to give you a quick look! Download the pattern from my store, Ravelry, or Etsy. You can also view the free version of the Ocean Pals Playset pattern here.
REALISTIC GOLDFISH
Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
Terms of Use & Copyright Notice © 2025 Sweet Softies (www.sweetsofties.com). You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but you must credit Sweet Softies as the owner/creator of this pattern by linking to my website (www.sweetsofties.com). No wholesale. You may not translate, copy, alter, or sell my patterns in part or in whole in any way. My patterns may not be used in video tutorials or teaching online classes. My patterns may be used in teaching in-person classes ONLY with written consent from me. You may link to this pattern but you may not copy any part of the pattern instructions on other websites.
Pattern Info
Size:
Mat diameter: 13.5”
Level of Difficulty:
★★★☆☆ Intermediate. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).Stitches/Terms Used:
- FO = fasten off
- YO = yarn over
- sk = skip
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = increase (insert 2 sc in same st)
- dec = decrease (sc 2 sts together)
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- dc-inc = dc increase (insert 2 dc in the same st)
- dc-dec = dc decrease (dc 2 sts together)BLO = back loops only
Materials:
- 1 skein Landscapes® Breeze Yarn in the color "Coast"
- 8mm plastic safety eyes (x2)
- 3.25mm crochet hook (size G)
- Yarn needle
- Stuffing
- Scissors
Crochet Instructions
Use the 3.25 hook and the color COAST yarn.
HEAD
R1: Insert 6 sc in MR. (6)R2: Inc around. (12)
R3: (Sc 3, inc) x 3. (15)
R4: (Sc 4, inc) x 3. (18)
R5: Sc around. (18)
Without FO, continue on the midsection below.
MIDSECTION
Work the entire midsection, R6-R10, all in BLO:R6: (Sc 5, inc) x 3. (21)
R7: (Sc 6, inc) x 3. (24)
R8: Sc around. (24)
R9: (Sc 6, dec) x 3. (21)
R10: (Sc 5, dec) x 3. (18)
Pause to attach 8mm eyes between R3-R4. Place them on opposite sides, with the bottom of the fish being the start of the rounds.
Stuff the body, and keep stuffing as you work along.
END OF BODY
Crochet in both loops for these final rounds.R11: (Sc 4, dec) x 3. (15)
R12: (Sc 3, dec) x 3. (12)
R13: (Sc, dec) x 4. (8)
Check to see if you are at the bottom of the fish. (This may be different for everyone, depending on where you placed the eyes.) Add single crochets until you reach the bottom of the fish’s belly.
Without FO, continue with the tail below.
TAIL
Note: You’ll be inserting your hook to sl st into the same st in the body more than once to create a scrunched-up look for the tail. Go through both layers of the body to close the opening.Attach tail color yarn.
Ch 11.
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (10) Sl st back into the body, going through both layers as they’re pinched flat.
R2: Turn, sc 9 in BLO across the tail row, leaving the last st unworked.
R3: Turn, sk the first st, sc 8 in BLO across the tail row back towards the body. Sl st back into the same st in the body as R1.
R4: Turn, sc 7 in BLO across the tail row, leaving the last st unworked.
R5: Turn, sk the first st, sc 6 in BLO across the tail row back towards the body. Sl st back into the next st in the body.
R6: Turn, sc 3 in BLO across the tail row, leaving the last 3 sts unworked. Ch 4.
R7: Turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in each of the next 5 sts. Then, sl st back into the next st in the body.
R8: Turn, sc 6 in BLO across the tail row. Ch 2.
R9: Turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc 6 in BLO across the tail row back towards the body. Sl st back into the same st in the body.
R10: Turn, sc 7 in BLO across the tail row. Ch 2.
R11: Turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc 7 in BLO across the tail row back towards the body. Sl st back into the next st in the body.
R12: Turn, sc 8 in BLO across the tail row.
Ch 2, sl st back in the last st in R12.
FO and weave in the ends.
BACK FIN
The back fin will sit atop the mid-section.With the fish’s head facing the left, attach yarn to the top of the back over the last round of the midsection.
Note: If you are a left-handed crocheter, have the fish’s head facing the right.
Ch+sc, hdc, hdc, sc.
FO with a tail and weave in the ends.
Ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st.
FO with a tail and weave in the ends.
Repeat on the other side.
As always, you are more than welcome to SHARE this post with any fellow crocheters who'd like to try this pattern! Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a wonderful day!
Ch+sc, hdc, hdc, sc.
FO with a tail and weave in the ends.
FLIPPERS (x2)
Insert hook under a st in R7, where you want the flipper to go. Attach yarn.Ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st.
FO with a tail and weave in the ends.
Repeat on the other side.
Congratulations on finishing!
Want to share your finished projects made from my patterns?
I'd love to see what you make on Instagram, @SweetSofties!
Thank you for reading, and hope you had a fun time crocheting this project! If you'd like to help out my blog, feel free to check out my post, "5 Ways to Support my Blog!"
You might like my other designs if you enjoyed this one! Simply click on the image below for the pattern, or check out all my free patterns here.
I'd love to see your finished work from my designs! Here are links for sharing photos of your creations:
Best wishes,
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
.jpg)
