14 Free Crochet Amigurumi Whale Patterns + Video Tutorials
There is something undeniably charming about a chubby little crocheted whale sitting on a shelf or tucked into a child’s arms. The rounded belly, the tiny tail fin, the cheerful button eyes — amigurumi whales have become one of the most beloved projects in the crochet community, and it is not hard to see why. Whether you are just learning to crochet in the round or you are a seasoned maker looking for a quick and satisfying project, a whale is the perfect subject. They are forgiving, they are fast to finish, and they make incredibly thoughtful gifts.
This collection brings together 14 free crochet amigurumi whale patterns, including several with video tutorials so you can follow along stitch by stitch. From tiny beginner-friendly whales you can finish in an afternoon to more detailed designs with realistic fins and expressive faces, there is something here for every skill level and every occasion. Grab your hook and your favorite soft yarn, and let’s dive in.
Why Amigurumi Whales Are Such a Popular Project
Before we get into the patterns themselves, it is worth pausing on why whales have become such a staple of the amigurumi world. Part of it is the shape. Whales have a naturally round, compact body that translates beautifully into the sphere-and-cylinder construction that amigurumi uses. There are no complicated appendages to worry about, no fussy jointing, and no awkward proportions to balance. A basic whale can be constructed from just a few crocheted pieces — a main body, a pair of pectoral fins, and a tail — and the result always looks polished and professional.
Whales are also endlessly customizable. Change the color and you have a blue whale, a beluga, or a narwhal with just a little modification. Add a tiny spout of yarn at the top and suddenly your whale is spouting water. Give it a bow or a little hat and you have the cutest baby shower gift imaginable. The simplicity of the base design is actually an invitation to personalize, which is part of what makes these patterns so appealing to makers at every level.
Finally, whales are fast. Most amigurumi whale patterns can be completed in a few hours, which makes them ideal for gift-making season or craft fair prep. If you are the kind of crocheter who loves the satisfaction of a finished object without committing to a week-long project, a whale is your new best friend.
What You Will Need Before You Start
Most of the patterns in this list share a similar set of materials, so gathering your supplies once will prepare you for nearly any whale pattern you choose to try.
For yarn, a worsted weight (size 4) acrylic or cotton yarn works beautifully for amigurumi. Acrylic is the most forgiving and comes in the widest range of colors, while cotton gives a slightly firmer fabric that holds its shape well. For smaller, more delicate whales, a DK or sport weight yarn will give you a finer result. Whatever yarn you choose, pair it with a hook that is one to two sizes smaller than the yarn label recommends — this tighter gauge creates a denser fabric that keeps your stuffing from showing through.
Speaking of stuffing, polyester fiberfill is the standard choice for amigurumi. It is lightweight, washable, and easy to work with. Make sure to stuff your pieces firmly but not so tightly that the fabric distorts.
For eyes, safety eyes are the most popular choice. They give that classic, professional amigurumi look and come in a wide range of sizes. For toys intended for babies or very young children, embroidered eyes are a safer alternative since safety eyes can be a choking hazard. Black embroidery floss stitched into simple circles or ovals looks wonderful and adds a handmade charm to the finished piece.
You will also want a yarn needle for sewing pieces together, stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, and scissors. That is really all it takes to make something magical.
The Patterns
1. The Classic Blue Amigurumi Whale
This is the pattern that most people picture when they think of a crocheted whale — a plump, rounded body in bright ocean blue, a gentle smile, and a cheerful little spout. The design uses simple increases and decreases to shape the body, and the fins are worked flat and then sewn on. It is a wonderful first amigurumi project and a perfect pattern for brushing up on the magic ring, single crochet, and invisible decrease techniques. Many versions of this pattern include a step-by-step video tutorial that walks you through every round, which makes it especially accessible for beginners.
2. The Tiny Whale Keychain Pattern
Not every whale needs to be huggable. This miniature whale pattern works up to just a few inches long, making it the perfect size for a keychain, a bag charm, or a small gift. The pattern uses fingering or DK weight yarn and a small hook, and because the whale is so tiny, it comes together in under an hour. The video tutorial that accompanies this pattern is especially helpful since small-scale amigurumi can be fiddly, and seeing each step demonstrated in real time makes the process much smoother.
3. The Beluga Whale Plushie
The beluga is a wonderful departure from the typical blue whale design. Its rounded white body, distinctive melon-shaped head, and slightly upturned smile give it an expression that looks almost impossibly happy. This pattern captures all of those features beautifully. The melon is worked as a slightly raised dome at the top of the head, which requires a small amount of shaping but is well within the reach of a confident beginner. This is one of those patterns where the color does a lot of the work — a clean white yarn really makes the piece look finished and intentional.
4. The Humpback Whale with Textured Fins
If you want something a little more realistic, this humpback whale pattern delivers. The long pectoral fins are worked with a subtle texture stitch that mimics the knobbled edges of real humpback fins, and the body has a slightly elongated shape that feels truer to the real animal. This pattern is best suited to crocheters who are comfortable with intermediate techniques, and the accompanying video tutorial is a genuine help when it comes to shaping and attaching those distinctive fins.
5. The Narwhal — A Whale-Adjacent Favorite
Technically a narwhal is a whale, and this wildly popular amigurumi design has earned its place on this list many times over. The spiral horn is the star of the show, worked in a tight, decreasing spiral that gives it a wonderfully authentic twist. Many narwhal patterns also incorporate a touch of pastel color or a simple rainbow striped body for a more whimsical feel. If you are making gifts for children, this is consistently one of the most squealed-over designs you can produce.
6. The Mama and Baby Whale Set
This two-pattern set gives you a large mama whale and a tiny baby whale that nestle together beautifully. They use the same basic construction, just at different scales, which makes them a satisfying pair to work through. The size difference also makes this a great project for practicing consistency in your tension — making the same shape at two different scales will quickly teach you how your hook pressure affects your finished gauge. As a gift set, these two together are incredibly sweet, especially in coordinating colors.
7. The Whale With Embroidered Details
This pattern takes a slightly more artisanal approach, featuring a whale whose belly markings, facial features, and fin outlines are all embroidered in contrasting thread after the main pieces are complete. The result is a piece that looks like it could belong in a boutique gift shop. The embroidery work is straightforward — mostly simple running stitches and satin stitches — and the pattern includes detailed diagrams showing exactly where to place each element. No video tutorial is needed here because the placement guide is so thorough, but a basic embroidery refresher video is worth watching if you are new to surface embroidery.
8. The Sleeping Whale
Closed eyes, a gentle curve to the body, and a slightly downturned tail give this whale an unmistakably dreamy quality. It is the kind of piece that looks perfect in a nursery or on a bookshelf, and the pattern uses simple surface slip stitches to create the softly closed eyes. This is a wonderful project for using up smaller quantities of yarn in muted, calming colors — dusty blue, soft grey, pale lavender — and the result always feels thoughtful and intentional.
9. The Orca Amigurumi
Black and white amigurumi poses a specific challenge because working with two colors in the round requires careful planning, but this orca pattern handles it elegantly. The distinctive white patches are worked by changing colors at specific points in the round, and the pattern includes clear notes on how to carry your yarn neatly so there are no loose ends or visible color floats on the finished piece. The result is a striking, graphic little toy that stands out from the typical pastel amigurumi palette.
10. The Sperm Whale
The sperm whale’s boxy, asymmetrical head makes it instantly recognizable, and this pattern captures that distinctive silhouette with impressive accuracy. The head is worked with a flat front face and rounded back, and the lower jaw is shaped separately and sewn on. It is a more complex construction than your average round amigurumi whale, but the pattern is written clearly and the accompanying video breaks the assembly process down in a way that makes it feel achievable. This is a wonderful project for a crochet maker who loves nature or ocean life and wants to add some anatomical accuracy to their amigurumi shelf.
11. The Striped Baby Whale
Worked in alternating stripes of two colors, this pattern is a great way to use up leftover yarn and produce something that looks intentionally designed at the same time. The stripes are worked in simple single crochet rounds with clean color changes, and the result has a fresh, graphic quality that makes it feel very modern. This whale also makes an excellent baby toy — the high contrast between the two colors is visually stimulating for infants, and the finished piece is soft and squishable.
12. The Whale Rattle
This clever pattern incorporates a small plastic rattle insert or a handful of dried beans sealed in a small fabric pouch inside the body before the final stitches close it up. The result is an amigurumi whale that makes a gentle sound when shaken — a wonderful sensory feature for babies and toddlers. The construction is identical to a standard whale pattern, so this is really more of a technique tip than a separate design, but patterns that specifically include this modification are especially helpful for gift-making for new parents.
13. The Flat Whale Appliqué
Not all whale patterns produce a three-dimensional toy. This flat appliqué design creates a whale-shaped crocheted patch that can be sewn onto a baby blanket, a tote bag, a hat, or anything else you want to personalize. The whale is worked in rows rather than in the round, and the fin shapes are built directly into the flat silhouette. It is a versatile little pattern to have in your library, and the clean, simple shape works in virtually any color combination.
14. The Giant Snuggly Whale
This is the oversized, pillow-sized whale that exists at the opposite end of the spectrum from the keychain whale. Worked in a bulky or super bulky yarn with a large hook, this pattern comes together quickly despite its size and produces a plushie that is genuinely snuggle-worthy. Children adore this whale for its huggability, and adults love it as a decorative throw pillow alternative. The pattern uses the same basic shaping techniques as a small whale, just scaled up, and the video tutorial is extremely helpful for understanding how the increased number of stitches affects the shaping.
Tips for Making Your Amigurumi Whale Look Its Best
Once you have chosen your pattern, a few simple techniques will help elevate your finished whale from good to great.
Working in a continuous spiral rather than joining at the end of each round is the standard amigurumi method, and it produces a smoother, more uniform fabric. Keep a stitch marker in the first stitch of your current round at all times so you always know where you are.
When stuffing your whale, add the filling gradually as you work rather than waiting until the very end. Stuffing a small opening is difficult, and you are more likely to end up with a lumpy or lopsided result. Stuff firmly as you go and add a final top-up before closing.
The invisible decrease, sometimes called the invisible single crochet decrease, produces a much neater decrease line than the standard single crochet two together. If your pattern specifies it, it is worth taking the time to learn — the difference in the finished fabric is immediately visible.
For sewing pieces together, use the yarn tail left from finishing each piece and a yarn needle. Position each fin or tail piece carefully before committing to any stitches, and pin it in place with a straight pin if you need to step back and check the placement from a distance. A well-positioned fin makes a huge difference to the overall symmetry of the finished whale.
Finally, when it comes to eyes, take your time deciding on placement before attaching anything permanently. Safety eyes cannot be repositioned once their washers are snapped on. Try placing them at different heights and distances apart using straight pins first, and look at the face from several angles before you commit.
Making Whales as Gifts
Amigurumi whales are one of those gifts that work for nearly every occasion and nearly every recipient. A tiny whale keychain is a lovely little thank-you for a teacher or a coworker. A mama and baby whale set is a perfect baby shower gift. A giant snuggly whale is a memorable birthday present for a child. A sleeping whale in soft colors makes a sweet get-well gift for someone who needs a little comfort.
If you are making whales for children under three, remember to use embroidered eyes instead of safety eyes, check that all pieces are very firmly sewn together, and avoid any small embellishments that could be pulled off and swallowed. A whale worked in a smooth, washable acrylic yarn is the most practical choice for a child’s toy since it can go straight into the washing machine when it needs cleaning.
For craft fair makers, whales are a reliable bestseller. They are quick to make in batches, they photograph beautifully, and they appeal to a wide audience. Making them in a range of sizes and a rotating palette of seasonal colors keeps your display looking fresh and gives customers a real sense of the variety available.
Getting Started Today
If you have never made an amigurumi before, a whale is one of the best possible first projects you could choose. The shape is forgiving, the techniques involved are foundational to all amigurumi work, and the result is a finished object you will genuinely be proud to give or display. Start with one of the beginner-friendly patterns on this list and watch the accompanying video tutorial from beginning to end before you pick up your hook. Seeing the whole process laid out first will make your actual crocheting go much more smoothly.
If you are an experienced amigurumi maker looking for something new, try one of the more detailed designs — the humpback with its textured fins, the orca with its two-color construction, or the sperm whale with its anatomically inspired shaping. Each of these will introduce you to a technique or an approach that you can carry forward into future projects.
The ocean is full of inspiration, and your yarn stash is full of possibilities. Whether you make one whale or fourteen, every single one of them will bring a little joy to whoever holds it — and that is really what crochet is all about.
