Hello! Today I wanted to highlight this super playful and cuddly humpback crocheted whale I made. This baby whale was so cute that I just couldn’t resist. My young nephew’s room is decorated in a whale theme, so naturally, I made this and gifted it to him last Christmas. He absolutely loved it! This is an incredibly easy project to make, and all of the materials can be purchased at your nearest big box craft store, like Michael’s or JoAnn’s. While I wouldn’t recommend this to a beginner, it would be a great first stuffed animal to crochet if you haven’t tried amigurumi crochet yet.
This pattern is how I first found One Dog Woof. Last week, I posted about the Bramble Basket Hanging Organizer, also by One Dog Woof. From working both of these patterns, I am so appreciative of the clarity and step-by-step directions she writes for her projects. Every row has very clear instructions and is easy to follow.
While most projects require yarn, hook/needle, and potentially the odd button or two, this project required some extra materials: safety eyes and polyfill. I found both of these items at my nearest big box craft stores. Having these supplies on-hand is a great idea for any crocheter or knitter, too, because once you make one stuffed animal, I don’t think you can stop!
The safety eyes were very important to me; my nephew is very young and I did not want to have any small parts that could potentially detach and be a choking hazard for him. If you haven’t worked with safety eyes before, they’re a game changer. They interlock between the stitches with a solid backing that helps the eye stay put. So nifty!
Polyfill, or the “stuffing” in stuffed animals is another great addition to your craft closet. I am finding more and more uses for this, seeing that I have a part of my bag leftover from this project. We use it to filter water in our fish tank, and I have more stuffed animal projects in mind for future baby shower gifts for friends.
The yarn I used for this project was Loops & Threads Impeccable. It is 100% acrylic, which means no potentially sensitizing animal fibers for my nephew. Plus, it is machine washable, which is always good when crafting for kids. I used smoke for the belly, and found Speckle in Blue Fog as a close substitute for what I used for the back. (The color I purchased isn’t available any longer, from what I can find.) I paired these with the suggested crochet hook size in the pattern, G/4.00mm, to maintain a tight amigurumi-style fabric.
The whale is made in six separate pieces that are stuffed and sewn together at the end. The fins each have two pieces, and then the back and belly of the whale make up the last two pieces. Each piece is worked flat and then sewn along the edges to make a 3D figure. This seam also creates the mouth at the front of the whale, which I thought was so clever.
I adore this whole pattern, from the concise writing, to the easily accessible materials, to the finished product. If you’re looking to make a new little buddy, look no further than this adorable whale by One Dog Woof!
That’s all for today everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Crocheting!
Bilingwool 