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FlickrTiny Whale
© June Gilbank 2009
This little whale is the perfect size to sit in the palm of your hand! But even better than that: he’s crocheted all in one piece, so there’s no sewing involved to make him!
This pattern is Donationware – the pattern is available for free, but if you like it please consider sending me a donation to show your appreciation:
Send me a donation and receive the easy-to-print PDF version of the pattern as a thank you!
Donations of any size are much appreciated. Just add the amount you wish to donate, and, once you have checked out and paid, your pattern will instantly be available to download from your PlanetJune account.
The complete pattern and instructions are available below, regardless of whether or not you choose to pay for them 
This is a PlanetJune original crochet pattern. Feel free to use items made from this pattern however you wish, but I’d appreciate credit as the pattern designer. Please do not reproduce the pattern anywhere else; instead post a link to http://www.planetjune.com/tinywhale
Not ready to make it yet? Add it to your Ravelry queue: 
Terminology
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet (double crochet for UK/Aus) |
| sl st | slip stitch (single crochet for UK/Aus) |
| st | stitch |
| sc2tog | single crochet decrease (or try an invisible decrease instead for a better finish) |
You will need…
- E US/3.5mm crochet hook
- Small quantity of worsted weight yarn in blue, grey or white
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle to weave in end
- Polyester fibrefill stuffing
- Eyes, approx 8mm diameter
Notes
- Do not join at the end of each round; rounds are worked in continuous spirals.
- Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. Move the marker up each time you start a new round.
Pattern
Make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) six times. (18 st)
Rnd 4: sc in each st around. (18 st)
Rnd 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) six times. (24 st)
Rnds 6-8: sc in each st around. (24 st)
Rnd 9: (sc2tog, sc in next 2 st) six times. (18 st)
Rnd 10: sc in each st around. (18 st)
Insert the first eye just below the stitch you just made, approximately 5 rounds down (as pictured below).
Insert the second eye in the same position on the other side of the whale.
Attach the backs of the eyes.
Rnd 11: (sc2tog, sc in next st) six times. (12 st)
Rnds 12-14: sc in each st around. (12 st). Stuff body firmly through hole.
Rnd 15: (sc2tog, sc in next 2 st) three times. (9 st)
Rnd 16: sc in each st around. (9 st). Add additional stuffing through hole.
Rnd 17: (sc2tog, sc in next st) three times. (6 st)
Rnd 18: sc in each st around. (6 st)
Rnd 19: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Using the position of the eyes as a guide, flatten the open end horizontally.
If the hook is positioned at one corner, continue to the tail instructions. If not, sc in each st around until the hook is at one corner (see pictures below), and then continue to the tail instructions.
Hook is not at corner of flattened tail (marked by arrow)
Sc around until hook is at corner of flattened tail, as pictured
Beginning to sc through both layers of the tail
Tail
Crochet through both layers as follows:
3 sc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Draw the end through the last loop on the hook, and pull tight to form a knot.
Using a yarn needle, weave the end down through the tail and part of the body. Draw the yarn tight, and snip the end close to the body. The yarn end should retract back inside the body after it is cut.
I hope you enjoy this pattern. Please leave me a comment below if you do, and consider leaving me a donation. Thanks!
101 Comments »
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I read and appreciate every comment I receive - thank you! Please note that I only respond to comments here on the blog, so please return to this post to see my reply, or check the above box to subscribe to comments on this post by email.
Please also note that I only speak English and cannot respond to questions or comments written in other languages. - June
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Anniegrace said
Ok I thought you would say that the book is in the mail and I have a class at Joanns on Saturday!
Ps how long have you been crocheting
June said
Sounds like you’re on the right track to becoming an expert crocheter
(I taught myself to crochet in 2003.)
Anniegrace said
Wow I was only like2 have you read amigurumi world or amigurumi toy box or amigurumi two there good is this like yore job do you have a shop do you have kids do you live in Ohio
June said
You’ll find the answers to your questions in my bio: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/about
jannisha said
hi, june!
Thanks for the pattern! made my first amigurumi!
i loved the tiny whale ?!
but it seems that i stuffed it too much
or made the stitches to tight
is there any way to remedy the gaps?
the filling is poking through the little gaps
between the stitches.. help! :S
?jann
June said
Jann, for amigurumi you need to use a hook at least a couple of sizes smaller than you’d usually use with the yarn you’re using, so that you don’t end up with those gaps between your stitches. For example, the worsted weight yarns I use recommend a hook size of between H (5mm) and J (6mm) but I use a much smaller E (3.5mm) or even a D (3.25mm) so that my fabric is nice and firm without big spaces between the stitches.
Jannisha said
thanks, june!
Appreciate your help.
<3 jann
Kelly said
I’d also like to recommend doing the invisible decrease if you don’t already. It made a HUGE difference in gaps on my amigurumi projects. Thanks so much to June for that!
Rebecca said
Hi! i just started crocheting and i need some beginning patterns. Do you know of any?
June said
Rebecca, I have a list of beginner-friendly patterns in my FAQ! Hope that helps
jannisha said
Hi, june!
All the best to you!
just dropped by to say thanks!
your tutorials in blogs and youtube
really helped a lot!
<3,
jann
Stubborngirl said
Hi! I don’t know how to crochet, and I was wondering if there was a knit version of this pattern or if you could make one? Thanks!
Razi said
I just finished this but I made the tail a little bigger. It turned out too cute! I plan on using it as a piece for a baby mobile.
Seyeon said
CuTe As!!
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Eileen said
Hi I’m new to crochet but want to make this for my niece.
Rnds 6-8: sc in each st around. (24 st)
Does that mean make 24 st three times? Or is it 24 st total?
June said
Eileen, there are 24 stitches around at the end of Rnd 5. So you’ll be crocheting around 3 times (Rnds 6-8), with 24 stitches in each round. You don’t need to count though – just put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, move it up each time you work back around to it, and when you’ve gone around 3 times, that means Rnds 6-8 are completed. (I think it’ll be clearer when you actually try it!)
angel said
Hello I am 14 years old and i would really like to try ur tiny whale. It’s so cute! My goal is to be really good so i can start selling what i make! I’m a beginer so hopefully its not to hard for me
Gabs said
Hi there! I am new to ravelry and I appreciate this pattern very much!
However I am a bit confused on the tail when it says: Slip Stitch in to the next stitch, single crochet in to the next stitch… :/ I had just wondered if the statements on either side of the comma are on two different stitches or in the same. I look forward to your reply and Once again thanks for the great and cute pattern! <3
June said
Hi Gabs. I know it can be a bit confusing at first! If you see two instructions separated by a comma, each “next” stitch refers to a different stitch, so the sl st and sc should be made into 2 different stitches.
For future reference, if the sl st and sc were supposed to be made into the same stitch, the pattern would have said either “(sl st, sc) in next st” or “sl st in next st, sc in same st” – I hope you can see the difference now!
Gabs said
Okay that makes plenty of sense! Keep up the great work! Thanks again
Jenna P. said
Thanks for posting this! I just made a little whale in less than half an hour for my very happy five year old boy. He has named him Swimmer and they are currently “splashing” around my house. Only problem is, he saw the dinosaurs on my computer screen…Guess I’ll be making those next!
Destiny said
Hello, My name is Destiny, I am a 17 year old student at the Academy of Techonology and Academics. I do not understand how to stich in a circle, it confuses me… Can you help or am I reading the directions wrong?
June said
Destiny, please see http://www.planetjune.com/magicring for a demonstration of how to get started working in the round.
Emma said
Thank you so much for this pattern! Before today I have only been able to crochet blankets & other flat items. I also found your magic ring tutorial really helpful
emily said
how do you start it?
June said
With a magic ring – see http://www.planetjune.com/magicring for photo and video tutorials
Cydne said
What were the measurements of your whales when they were finished
June said
About 3.5″ long, unless you make the Mega Whale option!
Tina said
Hi June, just finished this adorable whale. I´m still discovering amigurumis and looking around for help and loving everything. Even my 10 year old daughter got so interested that she started learnig how to crochet today.
Thanks
Tina
Lilly said
This is such a cute pattern!!! I’m 11 and I have my own business that I started when I was 9. I’m definitely going to add this to the list of things I sell!!! Thanks again!
Savemylife said
Hi I need some easy and quick ideas to do with yarn. Please help!!!!!
June said
There are lots of options in my free patterns, or try my PocketAmi collections or pattern suggestions for beginners
April said
Hey June! I had a question that seems kind of silly but for Rnd 1 do we work the 6 stitches into the center of the ring or around the outside stitches? I hope this makes sense.
Thank you so much!
June said
April, there are no silly questions! The stitches of Rnd 1 are worked directly into the ring (there are no other stitches to work into at that point), and you’ll draw the magic ring closed before beginning Rnd 2. If it’s still not clear, please see my Magic Ring tutorials at http://www.planetjune.com/magic ring
April said
Oh! Thank you so much! I wasn’t counting the magic ring as the first round and that’s what was messing me up! Once again, thank you for such a quick reply! It’s a lovely & adorable pattern.
Marcia Gravatt said
I love this little pattern. I am thinking about making enough of these for each of my kids in children’s church to have their own little whale when we study about Jonah and the whale.
Now, I guess I need to find a pattern for a Jonah
Thank you for the time you spend on creating such adorable patterns.
I’ve only made two amigurumi pieces – matching dolls for my two of my granddaughters. It was so much fun, I can’t wait to start a new project (have been busy crocheting baby afghans).
Carolyn said
Thank you so much for this pattern. My daughters and I were stuck in the house today (one of them has a cold), and it provided us with something sweet and relaxing to do. My daughters are not very experienced crocheters, but we ended up with two adorable whales (Steve and Moby). We did not have official eyes, but sewed on buttons, and they turned out to be very cute. My older daughter does crafts for charity, and she wants to teach the other members of her club this pattern.
Rosa said
Hi June, thanks for the pattern and your very helpful tutorials! I just finished my first amigurumi: a very tiny, cross-eyed whale
Aubree said
I just made this as my first amigarumi. Thanks!
Myx said
Hello,
really cute, thank you.
Myx