Cute Smiley Whale Amigurumi Free Crochet Pattern

Designer: Elena Cherchik
Instagram: @echerchik
Difficulty Level: Easy

A Smiling Ocean Friend For Cozy Crochet Moments

A cheerful baby whale can bring a calm ocean feeling to your crochet basket. The free Smiley Whale amigurumi pattern by Elena Cherchik creates a plush baby whale for a soft crochet toy, keychain, or handmade gift idea. If sea animals are your favorite, our amigurumi dolphin is another playful project.

Rated Easy, this pattern uses Kartopu Nubuk or similar yarn, safety eyes, stuffing, embroidery thread, knitting needles, and basic tools. The whale itself feels beginner-friendly, but the clothing detail means it is not a true no-sew project. Ocean crochet fans may also enjoy our turtle amigurumi.

We sincerely thank Elena Cherchik for sharing Smiley Whale. More whale and ocean animal amigurumi ideas wait at the pattern’s end.

Materials

• Kartopu Nubuk yarn (whale body; designer recommended)
• Yarn for the knitted sweater and hood
• Thread for embroidering the smile
• Crochet hook suitable for your yarn
• Knitting needles suitable for your yarn
• Safety eyes
• Toy stuffing
• Sewing needle
• Scissors

Abbreviations

• MR – magic ring
• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• inc – increase
• dec – decrease
• k – knit
• p – purl
• YO – yarn over
• k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
• p2tog – purl 2 stitches together
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• (…) x n – repeat the instructions in parentheses n times

How to Crochet Smiley Whale Amigurumi Step by Step

Body

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: inc x 6 (12)
R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
R7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
R8-R14: 42 sc
R15: 12 sc, (1 sc, dec) x 6, 12 sc (36)
R16-R18: 36 sc
R19: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
R20-R21: 30 sc
R22: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
R23-R25: 24 sc

R26: (4 sc, dec) x 4 (20)
R27-R29: 20 sc
R30: 5 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 5 sc (18)
R31: 18 sc
R32: (7 sc, dec) x 2 (16)
R33: 16 sc
R34: 3 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 3 sc (14)
R35: 14 sc
R36: (dec, 5 sc) x 2 (12)
R37: 12 sc
R38: dec, 10 sc (11)
R39: 3 sc, dec, 6 sc (10)
R40: 6 sc, dec, 2 sc (9)
R41: 9 sc

Stuff the whale as you crochet. By this stage, it should be fully stuffed.

R42: dec, 5 sc (8)

Do not finish this round completely. It is important that your last stitch is on the whale’s side. You may need to crochet 3-4 sc after the decrease, or possibly all 7 sc, depending on your tension.

R43: Crochet 4 sc through both layers.

The whale is now fully stuffed. The tail is crocheted in turning rows. Ch 1 at the beginning of each row.

R44: inc, 2 sc, inc (6)
R45: inc x 2, 2 sc, inc x 2 (10)
R46: Ch 2, 1 dc, dc inc, 1 dc, skip 1 st, 2 sc, skip 1 st, 1 dc, dc inc, 1 dc (10)
R47: Ch 2, 1 dc, dc inc, 1 dc, 1 sc, skip 1 st, 1 sc, skip 1 st, 1 sc, 1 dc, dc inc, 1 sc (12)

The tail is finished. Hide the yarn end.

Fins (Make 2)

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: 1 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 1 sc (8)
R3: 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc (10)
R4-R7: 10 sc

Do not stuff. Sew the fins in place.

Sweater for the Baby Whale

Use a chain of ch stitches to measure the required stitch count for the sweater around the whale, starting from the lower tail area. It is best if the stitch count is divisible by 4.

The designer got 24 stitches, but your stitch count may be different.

Transfer the stitches to knitting needles and distribute 6 stitches per needle.

Knit the first couple of rows in 1×1 ribbing: k1, p1.

Then knit using only knit stitches.

Since the whale gets wider toward the top, start increasing. On each needle, work: k3, YO, k3.

Knit the next 1 or 2 circular rows in knit stitches.

Try the sweater on periodically and make increases until you reach the underarm area below the fins. For the designer, increasing 2 times was enough, ending with 8 stitches on each needle.

Try the sweater on the whale and determine how many stitches need to be bound off for the fin openings.

The designer bound off 4 stitches for each fin.

• Needle 1: k2, bind off 4, k2
• Needle 2: k8
• Needle 3: k2, bind off 4, k2
• Needle 4: k8

The fin openings are formed. Now cast these stitches back on.

• Needle 1: k2, cast on 4, k2
• Needle 2: k8
• Needle 3: k2, cast on 4, k2
• Needle 4: k8

Try the sweater on again.

Next, knit 1 or 2 circular rows in knit stitches.

Now close the front of the sweater and start shaping the hood by moving the work onto 1 needle. The designer had 8 stitches on the front needle, which was not enough for the sweater front, so 2 stitches were added from each side needle.

Knit: k6, bind off 12.

Then continue knitting on 2 needles in knit and purl rows. The designer had 20 stitches on the needle.

Knit straight for the required number of rows, trying the sweater on from time to time. The designer knitted 16 rows.

Hood

Knit the hood using the same principle as knitting a heel flap.

Divide the stitch count by 3. The designer had 20 stitches, which are not divisible by 3, so they were divided as 7-6-7.

Do not knit each row all the way to the end.

Knit 12 stitches: 7 + 5, then k2tog using the 6th stitch and 1 stitch from the second group of 7. Turn.

Slip 1 stitch, p4, p2tog, turn.

Slip 1 stitch, k4, k2tog, turn.

Repeat until only 6 stitches remain on the needle.

Visor

Now knit the visor in knit and purl rows.

Increase each row by 2 stitches by picking up stitches from the sides of the hood.

The designer increased to 14 stitches, picking up 4 stitches from each side. This means 4 rows were knitted, adding 2 stitches from one side at the end of each row.

Bind off all visor stitches.

Crochet around the hood edge with sc so the edges look even and neat.

Ears for the Hat (Make 2)

Crochet and sew on the ears. The ears are crocheted firmly so they hold their shape.

For the bear version, make 5 sc in MR, ch, turn the work, and make 5 increases.

You can crochet the ears your own way and make ears for any animal you like.

Assembly and Finishing

• Sew the fins to both sides of the whale.
• Embroider the smile with thread.
• Attach or embroider the eyes if they have not already been added.
• Dress the whale with the knitted sweater and hood.
• Sew the ears to the hat if you are making the bear-style hood.
• Add a keychain ring if you want to use the toy as a keychain.
• Weave in all yarn tails.

Your Smiley Whale is ready!

Copyright & Credits

This pattern is designed by Elena Cherchik (@echerchik). Please do not copy, redistribute, or republish this pattern without permission. You may sell finished toys made from this pattern, but please credit the designer by tagging @echerchik when sharing your work.

A sweet handmade gift idea for ocean animal lovers, baby shower baskets, and crochet toy collectors. Perfect for anyone who loves tiny sea creatures. People love this whale amigurumi for its soft colors, smiley face, and gift-worthy charm.