Admiral’s Vintage Gunboat: Crochet Your Own High-Seas Adventure

A nostalgic, beginner-friendly amigurumi project for sea lovers.

Do you ever smell the ocean when you’re just sitting on your couch with a ball of yarn? That happened to me last Tuesday. I was holding this skein of deep Navy Blue cotton, and suddenly I wasn't in my living room anymore—I was seven years old, pushing a little plastic boat across a sun-drenched puddle. That nostalgia hit me hard, and I knew I had to capture it. Meet the Admiral's Vintage Gunboat. It’s not just a toy; it’s a little vessel of memories. I designed this pattern to be sturdy enough for play but detailed enough to look gorgeous on a shelf next to your favorite adventure novels. It’s a project that feels like building a model ship, but with the softness we all crave. Grab your hook, pour yourself a tea (or maybe some rum for the sailors among us!), and let's set sail together.

Choosing Your Shipyard Materials

Let’s talk about the foundation of our little fleet. For this project, the yarn choice is everything. I went with a mercerized cotton because it gives that crisp, clean stitch definition that mimics the smooth sides of a painted ship. Wool is lovely, but for a boat that needs to hold its shape (and maybe survive a few imaginary battles), cotton is king. The colors—Navy Blue, Steel Grey, and Cream—are a classic nautical triad. I actually started with a brighter royal blue, but it looked too 'cartoonish.' Switching to the darker Navy gave it that vintage, authentic vibe immediately. If you're looking for a sea companion for this boat, my Shelly Serene Turtle pattern would make the perfect underwater friend for your Admiral to spot from the deck!

Constructing the Unsinkable Hull

The hull is where the magic happens. We are working from the bottom up. I remember the first time I tried to shape a boat hull; I ended up with something that looked more like a lopsided taco. The trick here is in the increases at the bow and the stern. You want a sharp point at the front and a slightly squared-off back. Don't rush these rounds. I found that using a stitch marker is non-negotiable here—getting lost in a sea of navy blue stitches is easier than you think. Keep your tension tight! We want a vessel that doesn't leak... stuffing, that is. Once you finish the hull, you might need a place to stash your project while you take a break. Check out this Summer Beach Bag pattern—it's the perfect size for carrying your fleet.

The Bridge and Battle-Ready Details

Now for the personality! The bridge and the tiny cannons are what turn a gray blob into a warship. For the cannons, I used a simple bobble stitch technique, but kept it small. I debated using grey beads, but I wanted this to be safe for younger captains, so yarn it is. Embroidering the portholes with black thread was surprisingly meditative. Just a few French knots or simple straight stitches create the illusion of windows. It’s these tiny details that make you smile when you look at it. I accidentally made the bridge too tall on my first draft—it looked too like a skyscraper on a canoe! I ripped it back (frog, frog, frog) and lowered it by two rows. Perfection. Trust your eye; if it looks top-heavy, scale it back.

Abbreviations

• MR: Magic Ring (adjustable loop)
• CH: Chain
• SC: Single Crochet
• INC: Increase (2 SC in one stitch)
• DEC: Decrease (SC 2 together)
• BLO: Back Loop Only
• SLST: Slip Stitch
• FO: Fasten Off

Assembly

1. Stuff the Hull firmly with fiberfill. You want it to hold a distinct boat shape.
2. Pin the Deck piece on top of the Hull. The R9 BLO ridge on the hull helps define the edge.
3. Sew the Deck to the Hull using the whip stitch through the inner loops to keep the join neat.
4. Stuff the Cabin lightly and sew it to the center-back of the Deck.
5. Sew the two Cannons onto the front deck, pointing forward.
6. Using Black embroidery thread, stitch an anchor symbol on the side of the hull and a 'waterline' stripe if desired.

Pro Tips

• Use a smaller hook than the yarn label suggests (I used a 3.0mm) to ensure no stuffing shows through the dark navy yarn.
• Flatten the bottom of the hull slightly with your thumb while stuffing so the boat can stand upright on a shelf.
• For a 'weathered' look, you can brush the grey yarn slightly with a pet slicker brush to make it look like sea spray foam.