Minigurumi Marine Life

[All in Main Color]
Magic loop

Rnd 1: sc 8 into the magic loop (8)

Rnd 2: [sc 3, inc 1] 2 times (10)

Rnd 3: sc in each st (10)

Rnd 4: [sc 3, invdec 1] 2 times (8)

Rnd 5: Working in the FLO, [slst 1, ch 2, slst 1] in each st around (8 tentacles)

Add eyes into Rnd 3, sts 5 and 8. They should be 3 sts apart.

Stuff very slightly, cut the yarn and pull through. Sew closed using the
tail end.

Sewing Closed

In these minigurumi crochet patterns I utilize a different method for sewing closed than I do for most of my amigurumi to securely sew closed the additional stitches in the last Rnd.
Begin first by pulling the original tail end from the beginning of your project through a stitch on the back of your piece. This will be used to double knot to the tail end you’ll be using to sew closed to complete the project securely.
To sew closed, thread the cut tail end onto a needle and begin weaving in and out of all the unused BLO from Rnd 4. You’ll be going in through the stitches from the outside in for the first, then from the inside out in the next, repeating that process for each stitch around until arriving at the end. Pull tight to close fully, and sew the end into the center and out from where you left the other tail end to knot together. Knot both ends together and hide the end into the body.

Alternative Tentacles

Both the Octopus and Squid minigurumi crochet patterns include 8 adorable tentacles in the last Rnd. I have found a variety of different ways to make these tentacles, all of which I love as much as the next, so I wanted to include a few variations for you! To incorporate these, simply replace the final Rnd of stitches with the alternative tentacle Rnd.

Bubble Tentacles
This method makes small little bubble like balls around the body for cute little tentacles!

Rnd X: Working in the FLO, [slst 1, ch 1, hdc 1, slst 1] in each st around (8 tentacles)

Long Tentacles
This method lets you make the tentacles as long as you want! My preferred amount is around 7 chains long but you can make them even longer!

Rnd X: Working in the FLO, [slst 1, ch 5 to 8, skip the first, slst in each ch down, slst 1 in
connecting FLO] in each st around (8 tentacles)

[All in Main Color]
Magic loop

Rnd 1: sc 8 into the magic loop (8)

Rnd 2: [sc 3, inc 1] 2 times (10)

Rnd 3: sc in each st (10)

Rnd 4: [sc 3, invdec 1] 2 times (8)

Frill A: Work slsts across to the opposite side of the body. Start in the same st and up the side of the body to the top. To help guide your stitches, try to work into the inc sts on either side of the body. There should be 8 slsts total.

Frill B: Ch 1, turn, working into the slsts made back across the top of your squid, slst 1, sc 1, hdc 1, hdcinc 1, mp, hdcinc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, slst 1 (10 sts, 1 mp in the frill)

Rnd 5: Working in the FLO, [slst 1, ch 2, slst 1] in each st around (8 tentacles)

Add eyes into Rnd 3, sts 5 and 8. They should be 3 sts apart.

Stuff very slightly, cut the yarn and pull through. Sew closed using the tail end.

[All in Main Color]
Magic loop

Rnd 1: sc 8 into the magic loop (8)

Rnd 2: [sc 3, inc 1] 2 times (10)

Rnd 3: sc in each st (10)

Rnd 4: Working in the FLO, [slst 1, ch 1, slst 1] in each st around (10 frills)

Rnd 5: Working in the unused BLO from Rnd 3,
[{slst 1, ch 6 to 8, skip the first ch and slst in each remaining ch down, slst 1 in the same st},
slst 1 in next] repeat 5 times around (5 tentacles with 1 slst between)

Add eyes into Rnd 2 or 3, sts 5 and 8. They should be 3 sts apart.

See video at (1:05:23) for instructions for adding a simple smile!

Stuff very slightly, cut the yarn and pull through. Sew closed using the tail end.

[All in Main Color]
Magic loop

Rnd 1: sc 8 into the magic loop (8)

Rnd 2: [sc 3, inc 1] 2 times (10)

Rnd 3: sc 3, fin (ch 3, sc 2 and slst 1 in 3rd ch), sc 7, fin (10 +2 fins)

Rnd 4: Working around the fins so they are on the outside, sc3, invdec 1, sc 1, nose (dc2tog in same stitch), sc 1, invdec 1 (8 including nose)

Add eyes 1 st away from the nose on either side. Specifically into Rnd 3 or 3, sts 5 and 9. They should be 4 sts apart.

Rnd 5: sc 4, invdec 1, sc 2 (7)

Rnd 6: sc 1, invdec 1, sc 4 (6)

Sc 1, tail (ch 7, skip first, slst in each ch down).

Stuff very slightly. Cut the yarn and pull through. Sew closed by working the end through the FLO of each st around in the last Rnd, and make sure to work into the end of the tail to curl it in.

[Starting in Main Color]
Magic loop

Rnd 1: sc 8 into the magic loop (8)

Rnd 2: [sc 3, inc 1] 2 times (10)

Rnd 3: sc in each st (10)

Rnd 4: sc 1, tail (ch 4, skip first, sc 1, hdc 1, slst 1, ch 3, skip first, sc 1, hdc 1, slst in original ch to connect), sc 2, fin (ch 3, skip first, sc 1, hdc 1), sc 6, fin, sc 1 (10 +1 tail and 2 fins)

[Change to White for the belly]

Rnd 5: Working around the tail and fins so that they are on the outside, sc in each st (10)

Rnd 6: [sc 3, invdec 1] 2 times (8)

Add eyes into Rnd 3, sts 5 and 8. They should be 3 sts apart.

Stuff very slightly, cut the yarn and pull through. Sew closed using the tail end.

Alternative Whale Options

There are a few additions to your whale you can do to customize it further turning the base pattern into an orca, dolphin, or narwhal! Most are cosmetic additions to be sewn onto the face before sewing closed, which we'll talk about in the next section, but first let's learn how to add an additional dorsal fin by slightly changing Rnd 2 in the base pattern.

Dorsal Fin Addition
You can add a dorsal fin (back fin) to your whale to make it a porpoise like a dolphin or
orca! To do this we’ll replace the first stitch in Rnd 2 with a stitch I made up!

Step 1: Start like normal, work the start of a single crochet into the first stitch by pulling a loop through.

Step 2: Yarn over, and insert into the center of the magic loop. Yarn over again and pull a loop through the center of the magic loop. There should be 3 loops on your hook.

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops only. There now should be 2 loops on the hook.

Step 4: Chain 2 leaving one loop on the hook.

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops on the hook to finish the stitch.

Work the rest of the round as normal as if you've just made the first single crochet. When you
get to Round 3, work around the stitch

Now let’s discuss some minimal embroidery additions you can do to make your whale distinctly and orca or dolphin. Add these embroidery additions after Rnd 6 before sewing closed.

Orca Customizations:
Before adding the eyes, embroider on a small white patch using White yarn threaded on a need between the stitch where the eye will go and the adjacent stitch towards the back (where to tail is). I like to repeat 3 times to make a solid white spot and double knotting on the inside to secure. Repeat for both eye spots before adding the safety eyes.
You can also add a similar white spot on the back above the tail and just under the dorsal fin.

Dolphin Customizations:
To make your whale a dolphin, besides adding a dorsal fin, you’ll also want to embroider on a small snout to the front using your Main Color. After adding the eyes, thread a strand of Main Color yarn on a needle. Exit from the inside just under where the eyes were added (Rnd 4 st 8) and enter back into the body 2 sts away under the opposite eye (Rnd 4 st 6). Repeat 3 - 4 times to create a small nose. Double knot on the inside and cut close.

Narwhal Customizations:
To add a narwhal horn, after adding the eyes but before sewing closed, cut a pipe cleaner in half and then half again. Fold in half and twist together leaving about 1/2 of an inch untwisted. Insert the two untwisted ends into adjacent stitches between the eyes. Twist together the ends on the inside and bend them up to hide fully.