Crochet Whale Shark Pattern

Materials

To crochet your very own large whale shark, gather the following:

• Hook: 7.5 mm crochet hook (or size suitable for your chosen yarn to achieve desired fabric density).
• Yarn:
  • Bernat Blanket Yarn in Blue (Country Blue) – for the main body.
  • Bernat Blanket Yarn in White – for belly and spot details.
• Safety Eyes: 16mm safety eyes. (The original pattern used colored eyes with a white rim; feel free to use solid black or adjust size/color to your preference).
• Other Notions: Yarn needle, stuffing, stitch markers (recommended for working in rounds).

Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these standard crochet abbreviations used in this pattern:

• RND: Round
• SC: Single crochet
• MC: Magic Circle (also known as Magic Ring)
• INC: Increase (2 single crochets in the next stitch)
• DEC: Decrease (single crochet the next 2 stitches together)
• CH: Chain
• FO: Fasten off
• SS: Slip stitch

Finished Size

When completed, your crocheted whale shark will measure approximately 16 inches long, making it a sizable and huggable amigurumi project.

Instructions

This large crochet whale shark pattern is worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning of each round.

Body (Blue Yarn)

Begin with your blue Bernat Blanket yarn to create the main body of your whale shark.

1. Rnd 1: 3 sc in a mc (3 stitches)
2. Rnd 2: 3 sc around (3 stitches)
3. Rnd 3: (inc) 3 times (6 stitches)
4. Rnd 4-5 (2 Rnds): 6 sc around (6 stitches)
5. Rnd 6: (2 sc, inc) 2 times (8 stitches)
6. Rnd 7: 8 sc around (8 stitches)
7. Rnd 8: (3 sc, inc) 2 times (10 stitches)
8. Rnd 9: 10 sc around (10 stitches)
9. Rnd 10: (4 sc, inc) 2 times (12 stitches)
10. Rnd 11: 12 sc around (12 stitches)
11. Rnd 12: (5 sc, inc) 2 times (14 stitches)
12. Rnd 13-14 (2 Rnds): 14 sc around (14 stitches)
13. Rnd 15: (6 sc, inc) 2 times (16 stitches)
14. Rnd 16: 16 sc around (16 stitches)
15. Rnd 17: (7 sc, inc) 2 times (18 stitches)
16. Rnd 18-19 (2 Rnds): 18 sc around (18 stitches)
17. Rnd 20: (8 sc, inc) 2 times (20 stitches)
18. Rnd 21: 20 sc around (20 stitches)
19. Rnd 22-26 (5 Rds): 20 sc around (20 stitches)
20. Rnd 27: (9 sc, inc) 2 times (22 stitches)
21. Rnd 28: 22 sc around (22 stitches)
22. Rnd 29: (inc, 9 sc, inc) 2 times (26 stitches)
23. Rnd 30-35 (6 Rnds): 26 sc around (26 stitches)
24. Rnd 36: (dec, 11 sc) 2 times (24 stitches)
25. Rnd 37: (dec, 10 sc) 2 times (22 stitches)
26. Rnd 38: (dec, 9 sc) 2 times (20 stitches)

Finishing the Body: FO, leaving a long tail for sewing in the mouth later. Begin stuffing the body, but don’t overstuff; you’ll want it to retain a somewhat flat, shark-like shape and need room for the mouth insertion.