Sunny the Puffer Fish | Free Crochet Pattern

Watch out! He’s sharp!

Okay, he’s fluffy….not even a little sharp.

Sunny the Puffer Fish plushie is not a prickly plushy at all. He’s a cuddle bug. Sunny’s crochet pattern is easy, fast, and fun. It makes a great summer project and is a wonderful finished item to add to a craft fair table.

Construction

Sunny’s easy crochet pattern is very straightforward. He is a ball with lips, fins, and spines. The pieces are all separate and you assemble them at the end.

You can put his spines on any way you like, but I like them a little more symmetrical. You decide what you want your spiky friend to look like.

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Sunny the Puffer Fish

All patterns are written in English, in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.

Pattern is written in English, in US terms, using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.

You Need to Know: chains (ch), single crochet (sc), increases and decreases, mattress stitch sewing. Be eager to learn and ready to have fun!

For a quick refresher of these basic skills, go to www.hookedbykati.com/basics

You Will Practice Easy Techniques:

• How to make a 3-dimensional object in crochet
• How to use pins to perfectly place and attach amigurumi parts
• How to shape an amigurumi part after attachment.
• How to shape using increases and decreases

Supplies

• Red Heart With Love yarn, 100% acrylic, worsted weight, 370 yds/7 oz/198 g, Tangerine (TANG), Cornsilk (CORN), Egg Shell (EGG).
• G (4.00 mm) Furls hook
• Two 15mm solid black safety eyes
• Polyfil stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Straight pins

Measurements

6” x 6”

Gauge

8 sts x 8 rows in sc = 2” x 2”

Pattern Notes

• Work in continuous rounds. Do not slip stitch unless otherwise specified by the pattern.
• For best results, assemble parts in order as directed.
• Weave in attachment ends at very end of project in case pieces require repositioning.

(Link “brush up on basics” link to corresponding page)

Instructions

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Body

With TANG, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st round. (12)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times. (30)

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] 6 times. (42)

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] 6 times. (48)

Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] 6 times. (54)

Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] 6 times. (60)

Rnds 11-16: Sc evenly around.

Insert safety eyes between Rnds 13  and 14, 6 sts apart.

Change to EGG.

Rnds 17-20: Sc evenly around.

Rnd 21: [8 sc, dec] 6 times. (54)

Rnds 22: [7 sc, dec] 6 times. (48)

Rnd 23: [6 sc, dec] 6 times. (42)

Rnd 24: [5 sc, dec] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 25: [4 sc, dec] 6 times. (30)

Rnd 26: [3 sc, dec] 6 times. (24)

Stuff.

Rnd 27: [2 sc, dec] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 28: [Sc, dec] 6 times. (12)

Rnd 29: Dec 6 times. (6)

Cut yarn. Thread needle through front loops of remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close. Leave long tail for sewing.

Fins

(Make 2)

With TANG, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc, inc, inc, 2 sc. (8)

Rnd 3: 3 sc, inc, inc, 3 sc. (10)

Rnd 4: 4 sc, inc, inc, 4 sc. (12)

Rnd 5: 5 sc, inc, inc, 5 sc. (14)

Rnd 6: Sc evenly around.

Rnd 7: 5 sc, dec, dec, 5 sc. (12)

Rnd 8: 4 sc, dec, dec, 4 sc. (10)

Rnd 9: Sc evenly around.

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.

Lips

With TANG, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] 6 times. (18)

Rnds 4-5: Sc evenly around.

Rnd 6: [Sc, dec] 6 times. (12)

Stuff loosely.

Rnd 7: Dec 6 times. (6)

Cut yarn. Thread needle through front loops of remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close.

Insert your needle through the ball from Rnd 7 to Rnd 1. Sew back and forth through the ball around Rnd 1 (6 sts), pinching the center into a “pucker.”

Leave long tail for sewing.

Spines

(Make 8)

With CORN, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in second ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: [Sc, inc] twice. (6)

Rnd 3: [2 sc, inc] twice. (8)

Rnd 4: [3 sc, inc] twice. (10)

Rnd 5: [4 sc, inc] twice. (12)

Rnd 6: [5 sc, inc] twice. (14)

Rnd 7: [6 sc, inc] twice. (16)

Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.

Attachments

Lips

Using pins, mark a 2 x 3 rectangle that straddles the color change line.

Mark the same rectangle on the back of the lips.

Using the pins as a guide, sew lips to body.

Fins

Count 1 stitch down and 4 sts back from the bottom of each eye and place a pin. Place the second pin 4 sts below the first.

Sewing through both layers of the last round of the fins, pointy side down, sew the fins along the line created by the pins.

Spines

Pin several 2 x 2 squares around the body. The spacing is not exact. Move your pinned squares around the body until they are where you like them. I liked mine more symmetrical, you may like it more random.

Using pins as a guide, sew each spine to a rectangle, stopping before closing the last side to stuff the spine.

Weave in all attachment ends when parts are positioned as desired.

© Hooked by Kati LLC 2017-2025

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Post comments and pictures on social media with the hashtag #hookedbykati, or tag me @hookedbykati. You can also post pictures on the Facebook Page, or in the Epic Amigurumi Patterns and Crochet Inspiration Facebook Group.

You may sell products made by this pattern, but please link back to hookedbykati.com or credit Hooked by Kati on the craft fair tag. Do not copy this pattern for distribution or sale; that’s not nice and also illegal.

If you run into a snag, drop me a line! I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.

Find more free patterns like this at allfreecrochet.com.

Here are a few more free crochet patterns you might like:

SUMMER MANATEE

NOT SO GIANT SQUID

BETTA FISH

MURDOCK THE KELPIE

Yarn on, 

Kati

Kati Brown

Kati is the designer behind Hooked by Kati. With thousands of patterns sold around the world, Kati prides herself in creating innovative, easy-to-follow amigurumi patterns. She has designed for several publications, including Crochet!, Crochet World, Simply Crochet, and I Like Crochet. Kati finds her inspiration in science fiction, video games, and numerous visits to the zoo — all passions she shares with her husband and two boys.