Hook, Yarn, and a Dapper Fish: My Free Pattern for Finley!

It all started on a rainy afternoon with a steaming cup of chamomile tea. I was curled up on the sofa, flipping through an old book of fairy tales my grandmother gave me—the kind with wonderfully quirky, detailed illustrations. Tucked away in the corner of a page, almost hidden, was a tiny drawing of a fish wearing a top hat. I was completely charmed! I couldn't stop thinking about him. What was his story? Where was he going, looking so smart and proper? And just like that, Finley the Fish-Gentleman swam right out of that book, into my imagination, and onto my crochet hook. There’s something so special about bringing these little whimsical characters to life, just like when I created Shelly, my serene sea turtle friend. I just knew I had to share Finley with you. I hope he brings a little touch of old-world charm and magic to your day!

Gathering Your Treasures

To bring Finley to life, you’ll want to choose your yarns with care. Think of it as dressing him! For his body, I picked a lovely, soft worsted weight in a powder blue that reminds me of a calm morning sea. His little shirt front is a crisp, clean white, and for his very important top hat, only a classic, deep black would do. The real sparkle, though? That little glint of gold yarn for his monocle. It’s the final touch that gives him his distinguished personality. And of course, you'll need a small bit of polyester fiberfill to give him a nice, huggable shape, and a pair of 6mm safety eyes to give him that curious spark.

The Pattern

Abbreviations

• MR: Magic Ring
• sc: Single Crochet
• inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec: Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st: Slip Stitch
• ch: Chain
• BLO: Back Loop Only
• R: Round(s)

Head and Body (Worked in one piece)

1. Start with your main body color (e.g., powder blue).
2. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
3. R2: Inc in each st around (12)
4. R3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18)
5. R4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24)
6. R5: [Sc 3, inc] x 6 (30)
7. R6: [Sc 4, inc] x 6 (36)
8. R7-12: Sc in each st around (36) - 6 rounds
9. R13: [Sc 4, dec] x 6 (30)
10. Insert 6mm safety eyes between R10 and R11, about 6 stitches apart.
11. R14: [Sc 3, dec] x 6 (24)
12. R15: [Sc 2, dec] x 6 (18)
13. Begin stuffing the head firmly.
14. R16: Change to white yarn for the shirt. In BLO, sc in each st around (18)
15. R17: Sc in each st around (18)
16. R18: Change back to main body color. In BLO, [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24)
17. R19-23: Sc in each st around (24) - 5 rounds
18. R24: [Sc 2, dec] x 6 (18)
19. R25: [Sc 1, dec] x 6 (12)
20. Finish stuffing the body firmly.
21. R26: Dec x 6 (6)
22. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in the end.

Tail Fin (Make 1 in main body color)

1. Ch 9.
2. R1: Starting from the 2nd ch from hook: sc, hdc, dc, dc, tr, tr, dc, hdc. (8)
3. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Side Fins (Make 2 in main body color)

1. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
2. R2: [Sc 1, inc] x 3 (9)
3. R3: Sc in each st around (9)
4. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff.

Top Hat (In black yarn)

1. R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
2. R2: Inc in each st around (12)
3. R3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6 (18)
4. R4: In BLO, sc in each st around (18)
5. R5-7: Sc in each st around (18) - 3 rounds
6. R8: In FLO, [Sc 2, inc] x 6 (24)
7. R9: [Sc 3, inc] x 6 (30)
8. Sl st to the first stitch to finish. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Monocle (Chain and Lens)

1. Chain: With gold/yellow yarn, ch 15. Fasten off.
2. Lens: With white yarn, make a MR and sl st to close, leaving a small hole in the middle. Ch 1, then work 8 sc into the ring. Sl st to join. Fasten off.
3. Attach one end of the gold chain to the white lens. Leave tails for sewing.

Assembly

1. Let’s bring him to life! First, sew the Tail Fin onto the center back of the body, right where it narrows.
2. Next, flatten the Side Fins and sew one onto each side of the body, around round 19.
3. Now for his accessories! Position the Top Hat on his head. I like to tilt it just a little for a bit of personality. Sew it securely in place.
4. Carefully position the monocle. Sew the white lens part so it sits over one of the safety eyes. Tack the other end of the gold chain down near his side fin, letting it drape naturally.
5. Using black embroidery floss, stitch a small, simple mouth a few rows below the eyes.
6. Finally, weave in any remaining ends, and admire your dapper new friend!

A Few Pro-Tips

• To make sure your stitches are nice and tight so no stuffing peeks through, try to maintain a consistent tension. This is key for amigurumi!
• Don't be shy with the stuffing! A firmly stuffed amigurumi holds its charming shape much better over time. Use the end of your crochet hook or a chopstick to get it into all the little spots.
• When you're attaching the pieces, use pins to hold everything in place before you start sewing. This lets you check the positioning from all angles to make sure your Finley looks just right!
• If you're new to making amigurumi or just want a little refresher, I have a handy guide right here on the blog about how to read crochet patterns that breaks it all down.

About the Author

Alessandra Soti is a passionate crafter who believes every ball of yarn holds a story waiting to be told. When she’s not lost in a crochet project, you can find her tending to her herb garden or searching for inspiration in dusty old bookshops.