Crochet Chonky Whale - Free Pattern

This is a crochet pattern to make this super cute, super chonky whale.

I have wanted to design a whale for a while, but couldn't work out whether to design it from the back to the front, front to back, or top to bottom! Each way of working up the whale has various benefits in terms of the overall shape. Eventually I decided to start at the tail, and then work towards the body, making the body increase towards the top to give this cute chunky shape! The tail naturally curves up as well, which makes it super cute.

There's very little sewing in this pattern. You only need to sew on the fins at the end. That's a win in my books!

You can even turn this whale into a narwhal! To make the horn for the narwhal, you can use the horn pattern here.

There is a full Youtube tutorial to create this whale here

Yarn used

James C Brett Flutterby Chunky

- Less than half of a 100g skein

Other Items used

- US G/4.25mm Crochet Hook

- 9mm safety eyes

- Yarn needle
- Poly fill

- Stitch markers -optional

*Please note that safety eyes are NOT recommended for children under the age of 3 years.

Abbreviations and stitches

• MR: Magic ring 
• St(s): Stitch(es) 
• SC: Single crochet 
• Inc: Increase (Stitch 2 SC into the stitch) 

• Dec: Decrease using the invisible method

• (...) x n: Repeat instructions in brackets n times
**This pattern uses US Crochet Terms**

Pattern

We crochet the whale starting at the tail fins, and moving towards the front.

Tail fins

- Make 2

R1: 4 SC in a MR
R2: (SC, inc) x 2 (6)
R3: (2SC, inc) x 2 (8)
R4: 8 SC
R5: (3SC, inc) x 2 (10)
R6: 10SC

For the first tail fin only:
Close and cut the yarn after R6, leaving a tail for sewing 

For the second tail fin only:
Don’t close after R6. 
Join to 1st tail fin with 1SC
(this is first st of R1 of body - place a marker in this st) 

For more detailed instruction on joining the tail fins, please see the video tutorial 

Body

Continue straight on to the body
The first st of R1 was done in the previous step to join the tail fins together

R1: (2SC, dec) x 5 (15)
(This means it’s 2SC, dec, 2SC, dec, 2SC on 1st fin, and dec, 2SC, dec, 2SC, dec on 2nd fin)

R2: (3SC, dec) x 3 (12)
(The first st of R2 goes into the marked SC used to join the tail fins)

Use the tail from the end of the first fin to sew the hole between the tail fins closed 

R3: 12 SC
R4: (SC, inc) x 6 (18)
Make a few sts to get to the middle of the bottom of the whale, right between the tail fins. This is your new end of round 4 

R5: 4SC, inc, (2SC, inc) x 3, 4SC (22)

Stuff the tail fins

R6: 5SC, inc, 3SC, inc, 2SC, inc, 3SC, inc, 5SC (26)
R7: 6SC, inc, 3SC, inc, 4SC, inc, 3SC, inc, 6SC (30)

Make a few sts to get to middle of the bottom of the whale. This is your new end of round 7

R8: 6SC, inc, 3SC, inc, (2SC, inc) x 3, 3SC, inc, 6SC (36)
R9: 11SC, inc, 12SC, inc, 11SC (38)
R10: (12SC, inc) x 2, 12SC (40)
R11: 13SC, inc, 12SC, inc, 13SC (42)
R12-18: 42SC (7 rounds of 42)
R19: (5SC, dec) x 6 (36)
R20: (4SC, dec) x 6 (30)
R21: (3SC, dec) x 6 (24)

Partly stuff the whale

R22: (2SC, dec) x 6 (18)

Attach the eyes, between R18 and R19, 12 sts apart, at the underside of the whale

R23: (SC, dec) x 6 (12)
Finish stuffing the whale
R24: 6 dec (6)
Close and cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the hole closed and weave in the end.

Fins

- Make 2

R1: 4 SC in a MR
R2: 4 inc (8)
R3-5: 8 SC (3 rounds of 8) 

Fold the fin flat, and SC along both sides to close.

Close and cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.

Assembly

Sew the fins to the sides of the whale, starting about 3 sts behind the eyes.