🐳 "Bubbles" the Chubby Whale — Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

A super-cute, cuddly little whale made from fluffy Dolce yarn. Beginner-friendly, seamless body, and only a few small pieces to sew. Perfect as a first amigurumi or a shop-ready plush!

Designer: [Your Name / Shop Name] Skill Level: Beginner Finished Size: Approx. 4 in (10 cm) long × 3 in (7.5 cm) tall

💛 Etsy/Copyright Note: This is your original pattern write-up. You are free to sell finished items made from it and to publish it as your own listing. When you upload it, add your own photos and shop branding.

📋 Materials

• Yarn: Fluffy "Dolce"-type worsted weight (4) chenille/velvet yarn
  • Main Color (MC): Blue, gray, or teal — approx. 50 g
  • Small amount of White or Cream for the belly (optional)
• Hook: US E-4 (3.5 mm) — go a size down from label to keep stitches tight and hide stuffing
• Safety eyes: 2 × 8 mm (or embroider with black yarn for baby-safe toys)
• Fiberfill stuffing (polyester)
• Yarn needle (large-eye, blunt tip — best for chenille yarn)
• Stitch marker (use a bright contrasting one — fluffy yarn hides stitches!)
• Optional: Black embroidery thread for mouth, white yarn for spout

🧶 Gauge

• 4 sc × 4.5 rnds = 1 in (2.5 cm)
• Gauge is not critical for toys, but tighter = cleaner. With fluffy yarn, count stitches by feel more than sight.

🔤 Abbreviations (US Terms)

📝 Notes Before You Start

• Work in continuous spiral rounds (do not join) unless stated.
• Move your stitch marker up at the start of each round.
• Stuff firmly as you go — it is very hard to add stuffing once the hole is small.
• With chenille/velvet yarn, work slowly; use a blunt yarn needle to avoid splitting the fibers when sewing.

🐋 PART 1 — Body (make 1, in MC)

Worked bottom-up as a rounded sphere. This is the whole whale body!

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12] (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 ✓)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) around [18] (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 ✓)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) around [24] (6 increases → 18 + 6 = 24 ✓)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) around [30] (6 increases → 24 + 6 = 30 ✓)
• Rnds 6–10: sc in each st around [30] (5 plain rounds — this makes the chubby body)

👀 Insert safety eyes now between Rnds 7 and 8, about 6–7 stitches apart on the front. Push the washers on firmly from the inside.

• Rnd 11: (3 sc, dec) around [24] (6 decreases → 30 − 6 = 24 ✓)
• Rnd 12: (2 sc, dec) around [18] (6 decreases → 24 − 6 = 18 ✓)

🧸 Start stuffing firmly now. Keep the body nicely rounded.

• Rnd 13: (sc, dec) around [12] (6 decreases → 18 − 6 = 12 ✓)
• Rnd 14: dec around [6] (6 decreases → 12 − 6 = 6 ✓)

Add any final stuffing. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end.

🐟 PART 2 — Tail (make 2 lobes, in MC)

The tail is made from two small flat leaf shapes joined together.

• Ch 5.
• Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across [4]
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, dec, dec [2] (4 sts → 2 dec → 2 sts ✓)
• Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.

Make 2. These are small and flat — no stuffing needed.

Assemble the tail: Hold the two lobes so the wide ends touch, forming a "V" (like a real whale tail). Use one of the tails to whip stitch the two wide ends together at the center.

🐳 PART 3 — Flippers (make 2, in MC)

• Rnd 1: 5 sc in MR [5]
• Rnd 2: (sc, inc) around, ending with sc [7] (2 increases → 5 + 2 = 7 ✓)
• Sl st to next st, fasten off leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.

Flatten each flipper slightly — no stuffing needed.

💧 PART 4 — Water Spout (optional, in White)

• Ch 8.
• Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail.
• Fold into a small loose loop/curl for the "spout" of water on top of the head.

🪡 Assembly

Refer to the front (where the eyes are) as you position pieces.

1. Tail: Pin the joined tail to the back point of the body (the closed end from Rnd 14). Sew securely all around the base with the yarn tails. Weave in ends.
2. Flippers: Pin one flipper on each side of the body, roughly level with the eyes, about 3–4 rounds back from the face. Sew flat along the straight edge so the rounded part sticks out. Weave in ends.
3. Spout (optional): Sew the folded white loop to the top of the head, centered between and slightly behind the eyes.
4. Mouth: Using black embroidery thread or yarn, embroider a small gentle curved smile below and between the eyes (a shallow "U" shape, about 4 stitches wide).
5. Belly (optional): With white yarn, embroider a few horizontal surface lines under the chin, or use surface slip stitch across the lower front for a striped belly look.

🌟 Finishing & Embellishment Ideas

• Rosy cheeks: Dab a tiny bit of pink chalk pastel or add small pink embroidered circles below each eye.
• Sparkle eyes: Add a tiny white French knot at the top corner of each safety eye for a "shine."
• Baby-safe version: Skip safety eyes and embroider eyes with black yarn instead.
• Keychain version: Add a keychain finding to the top before closing (see size note below).

📐 Size Adjustments

• Smaller (keychain, ~2.5 in): Stop increasing at Rnd 4 [24], work only 3 plain rounds, then decrease 24 → 18 → 12 → 6.
• Larger (~6 in): Add one more increase round — Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) around [36] — work 6–7 plain rounds, then mirror the decreases: 36 → 30 → 24 → 18 → 12 → 6. Add 1–2 sts to each tail lobe and flipper to keep proportions.
• Using bulky yarn instead of worsted will naturally make everything ~25–30% larger.

💡 Beginner Tips for Fluffy Dolce Yarn

• Count as you go: Chenille/velvet yarn hides stitches. Place a marker every round and count by feeling the bumps.
• Avoid "worming": If the yarn twists into loops, let your hook dangle to un-twist between rounds.
• Sewing: Use a blunt yarn needle and go slowly so you don't split the soft fibers.
• Stuffing: Stuff firmly but keep it rounded — a squishy whale is the goal! For a stress-ball feel, stuff extra firm.

✅ Stitch Count Quick Reference (Body)

All increase and decrease rounds change the count by exactly 6 — math verified. ✓

Happy crocheting! 🐳 Tag your finished "Bubbles" whale so I can see your adorable makes.