Marilyn the Fancy Fish

Hi!
Welcome to Woolly Toons and my first ever post. Basically, I’ve been crocheting toys or amigurumi for about 8 years, creating my own patterns for about 2 years, and I thought it was about time to share. It’s only fair – the internet has taught me practically everything I know about crocheting (okay, Mum helped a little too), and if it wasn’t for all those generous hookers out there who share their patterns for free, I would never have started this addictive and surprisingly rewarding hobby.
The first pattern I want to share with you is Marilyn the Fancy Fish, who first started out as a figment of my sister’s imagination. The pattern is untested so let me know if I've made any mistakes or if you're having any trouble. Enjoy!

Marilyn the Fancy Fish

Size
13cm/5in long, 10cm/4in high

Skill Level
Moderate. The individual parts are straightforward but assembly is a little complicated.

Note on yarn and hook size
I crochet with a light worsted (DK) weight yarn. You can use a slightly heavier or lighter yarn as long as you use the same type of yarn for the different colours. This will ensure your fish is in proportion. Use a hook size that will give you a nice firm stitch. The 3.00mm is my favourite hook.

Materials
Yarn
Orange (Approx. 70metres, 77yards)
White (small amount)
Purple (Small amount)
Red (Small amount)

Crochet Hook – 3.00mm or preferred size
Filling
Plastic pellets or dried beans and stocking (optional)
Tapestry needle
Black felt
White felt
Craft glue and/or thread and sharp needle for attaching felt

Terminology
***This pattern is written using US crochet terminology***
ch – Chain 
dc – Double crochet
Rnd – Round

sc – Single crochet
sl st – Slip stitch
st – Stitch. This term covers ch, sc, dc, sl st and other stitches used in crochet.
sc2tog – Single crochet two stitches together
Make a ring – The starting point for crocheting in a spiral. Use which ever method you prefer.
* * - Repeat the instructions between the asterisks as directed.
( ) – The number of stitches that should be in a completed round are placed in brackets at the end of that rounds instructions.

Instructions

Body (in Orange)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 7 sc in ring (7)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (14)
Rnd 3: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (21)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (28)
Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (35)
Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (42)
Rnd 7: *sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (49)
Rnd 8: *sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (56)
Rnd 9-13: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 14: *sc in next 12 sc, sc2tog*  around (52)
Rnd 15: *sc in next 11 sc, sc2tog*  around (48)
Rnd 16: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 17: *sc in next 10 sc, sc2tog*  around (44)
Rnd 18: *sc in next 9 sc, sc2tog*  around (40)
Rnd 19: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 20: *sc in next 8 sc, sc2tog*  around (36)
Rnd 21: *sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog*  around (30)
Rnd 22: *sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog*  around (24)
Start stuffing. Plastic pellets or dried beans tied in a stocking can be placed in the body to give it a bit of weight.
Rnd 23: *sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog*  around (18)
Rnd 24-26: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 27: *sc in next sc, sc2tog*  around (12)
Finish stuffing firmly.
Rnd 28: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 29: sc2tog  around (6)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Flatten the opening and sew shut.

Dorsal Fin (in Orange)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 5 sc in ring (5)
Rnd 2-3: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 4: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc (6)
Rnd 5: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* twice (8)
Rnd 6: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* four times (12)
Rnd 7: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 8: dc in next 6 sc, sc in next 6 sc (12)
Rnd 9: dc in next 6 dc, sl st in next sc (7)
Fasten off, leaving tail for joining to the body. Leave unstuffed.

Tail Fins (in Orange)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 5 sc in ring (5)
Rnd 2: sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc (7)
Rnd 3: sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc (9)
Rnd 4: sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc (11)
Rnd 5-6: sc in each sc around
Rnd 7: sc next 4 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog (9)
Rnd 8: sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog (7)
Fasten off, leaving tail for joining to the body. Leave unstuffed. Make two.

Side Fins (in Orange)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 5 sc in ring (5)
Rnd 2: sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc (7)
Rnd 3: sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc (9)
Rnd 4-6: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 7: sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog (7)
Rnd 8: sc in each sc  around
Fasten off, leaving tail for joining to the body. Leave unstuffed. Make two.

Eyes (in White)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 3: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (18)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*  around (24)
Rnd 5: sc in each sc  around
Rnd 6: *sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog*  around (18)
Rnd 7: *sc in next sc, sc2tog*  around (12)
Fasten off, leaving tail for joining to the body. Stuff firmly. Make two.

Eyelids (in Purple)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 3: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* around (18)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* around (24)
Rnd 5: sc in each sc around
Fasten off, leaving tail for joining to the eyes. Make two.

Lips (in Red)
Make a ring.
Rnd 1: 5 sc in ring (5)
Rnd 2-21: sc in each sc around
Fasten off. You now have a long tube. Fold the tube in half and sew the ends of the tube together. Leave a long tail for joining to the body.

Assembly
***These are guidelines only. Be guided by your own eye at all times.***

Join the tail fins to the body. They are sewn onto the flattened end of the body, one fin on each corner.

Join the dorsal fin to the body. The dorsal fin should be aligned with the tail fins, its tip pointing towards the tail. It should sit about three finger-widths away from where the tail fins meet the body.

Join the side fins to the body. One should be placed on either side of the body about a hand-width down from the dorsal fin.

Join the eyelids to the eyes. The eyelids sit with the back edge sitting along the open edge of the eye and the front edge overhanging the front of the eye. Pin the eyelid onto the eye and start joining the two parts together about two rows back from the open edge of the eye. The eyelids should be able to curve up a little bit at the front but should not be able to completely lift up like a flap.
Join the eyes to the body. They should sit close together, less than a finger-width from the front of the dorsal fin. I joined the eyes with a stitch because there was a slight gap between them after I had joined them.

Shape the mouth then join it to the body. The joined ends of the lips make one corner of the mouth. The other corner being on the opposite side (the halfway point of the red crocheted tube). Pinch the tube at the corners and place a single stitch through the pinch to shape the mouth. Sew or glue a piece of black felt to the back of the mouth to cover the opening. The mouth sits just below the eyes. Pin it and join it to the body.

Felt features. Cut out two circles (1.5cm/0.5in in diameter) from the black felt for the pupils. For highlights, cut out two very small circles from the white felt and attach them with glue or needle and thread to the black circles. The pupils sit on the eyes just below the eyelids, a little off centre. Attach them with glue or thread.

For Marilyn’s eyeliner, cut out two slightly curved strips from black felt. They should be a little bit longer than the eyelids are wide. Glue or sew them on to the front edges of the eyelids, leaving the outer ends unattached so that they can curve up.

Cut out a small circle of black felt for Marilyn’s beauty mark. Glue or sew this on just above one corner of the mouth.

Now you have your very own fancy fish. I hope you like her.

Check out her little partner Walter.

Copyright © Kim Lapsley 2012