How to Knit a Finding Dory Nemo Fish: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever watched Finding Dory or Finding Nemo with a child — or let’s be real, watched it entirely on your own — you know that Nemo is one of those characters that never gets old. That bright orange body, the white stripes outlined in black, the tiny little fins: he’s practically begging to be turned into a knitting project. Whether you’re making a gift for a Disney fan, a fun toy for a little one, or just treating yourself to a satisfying stuffed animal project, knitting your own Nemo fish is an incredibly rewarding craft experience.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from the yarn and tools you’ll need, to the techniques involved, to a full pattern with instructions for shaping and finishing. By the end, you’ll have an adorable little clownfish that could easily swim right into someone’s heart.

Why Knit a Nemo Fish?

Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why. Knitted stuffed animals, often called “knitted toys” or “knit amigurumi” (though technically amigurumi refers to crocheted figures, the term has been loosely adopted for knitted toys as well), are beloved for a few reasons.

They’re personal. Unlike a toy bought off a shelf, a handknitted Nemo carries the time and love you put into it. They’re also durable when made with quality yarn, and they can be washed and kept for years as a keepsake. Parents who receive handmade toys for their children often treasure them long after the child has outgrown them.

They’re also a great learning project. If you already know the basics of knitting — casting on, knit stitch, purl stitch, and basic increases and decreases — a small toy like this is a wonderful next step. You’ll practice shaping, seaming, and embroidery, all skills that will serve you well across dozens of future projects.

And of course, they’re fun. There’s something genuinely delightful about watching a ball of orange yarn transform into a recognizable, beloved character.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting the right materials before you start will save you a lot of frustration. Here’s a full list of what you’ll need to knit a Nemo clownfish.

Yarn: You’ll need three colors of yarn for Nemo’s classic clownfish look. The main color is a bright, true orange — think pumpkin or tangerine rather than rust or peach. You’ll also need white for the stripe sections, and black for the outlines around the white stripes. A worsted weight yarn works beautifully for this project because it creates a solid fabric that holds stuffing well without the filling showing through. Look for a yarn that’s smooth rather than fuzzy so your color details stay crisp and readable.

Needles: Use US size 4 (3.5mm) or US size 5 (3.75mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a short circular needle. The slightly smaller needle size relative to the yarn weight creates a tighter fabric, which is exactly what you want for a stuffed toy so the polyfill doesn’t poke through.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill is the standard choice. It’s washable, hypoallergenic, and widely available. You don’t need much — a small toy like Nemo takes maybe a handful or two.

Notions: You’ll need a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends, a few stitch markers, scissors, and black safety eyes (two, in size 9mm or 12mm depending on how large you want Nemo’s eyes to appear). If the toy is for a very young child under three years old, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes using black yarn instead.

Optional: A small piece of stiff felt in white or orange to reinforce the fins if you want them to hold their shape better.

Understanding the Pattern: Knitting in the Round vs. Flat

This pattern is worked primarily in the round, starting from the tail end and working toward the mouth. Knitting in the round creates a seamless tube, which is ideal for stuffed animals because it avoids the need for long seams down the sides of the body.

The fins are knit flat as separate pieces and then sewn on. This gives you much more control over their shape and placement.

If you’re newer to knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, don’t let that intimidate you. Working with DPNs becomes intuitive very quickly, and a small project like this is actually a great way to learn because the rounds are short and you can see your progress fast.

Pattern: Knitting Nemo the Clownfish

Gauge

Approximately 22 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge matters here not for sizing precision, but for making sure your fabric is tight enough to hold the stuffing inside.

Finished Size

Approximately 8 inches long and 4 inches tall, which is a comfortable hand-sized toy.

The Body

Tail Section

Using orange yarn, cast on 12 stitches and divide evenly across three DPNs (4 stitches per needle). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Round 1–3: Knit all stitches.

Round 4 (increase round): Kfb (knit front and back) in every stitch. You now have 24 stitches.

Round 5–7: Knit all stitches.

Round 8 (increase round): (Kfb, k1) repeat to end of round. You now have 36 stitches.

Round 9–14: Knit all stitches.

This forms the tapered tail end of the body. Now you’ll begin adding the white stripe sections.

First White Stripe

Switch to white yarn.

Round 15: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 16: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 17: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 18: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 19: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to orange yarn.

Middle Body Section

Round 20–30: Knit all stitches in orange.

During round 25, add a slight increase round to give the belly a little roundness: (k5, kfb) repeat to end. You’ll have 42 stitches.

Round 26–30: Knit all stitches.

Second White Stripe

Switch to white yarn.

Round 31: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 32: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 33: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 34: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 35: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to orange yarn.

Head Section and Tapering Toward the Mouth

Round 36–42: Knit all stitches in orange.

Round 43 (decrease round): (k5, k2tog) repeat to end. You’ll have 36 stitches.

Round 44–46: Knit all stitches.

Third White Stripe (Near the Head)

Switch to white yarn.

Round 47: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 48: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 49: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to black yarn.

Round 50: Knit all stitches in black.

Switch to white yarn.

Round 51: Knit all stitches in white.

Switch to orange yarn.

Closing the Head

Round 52–54: Knit all stitches in orange.

Before you close the head, attach your safety eyes. Position them on either side of the head between rounds 44 and 47, spaced so they look forward and slightly upward the way Nemo’s eyes appear in the film. Insert the safety eye post through the fabric and secure the washer on the inside.

Round 55 (decrease): (k4, k2tog) repeat to end. You’ll have 30 stitches.

Round 56 (decrease): (k3, k2tog) repeat to end. You’ll have 24 stitches.

Now stuff the body firmly with polyfill. Push the stuffing all the way to the tail end and make sure the body feels evenly padded without lumps.

Round 57 (decrease): (k2, k2tog) repeat to end. You’ll have 18 stitches.

Round 58 (decrease): (k1, k2tog) repeat to end. You’ll have 12 stitches.

Round 59 (decrease): k2tog repeat to end. You’ll have 6 stitches.

Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread the tail through a yarn needle and pull through the remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close the opening, and weave in the end on the inside.

The Tail Fin

The tail fin is knit flat and then folded and sewn onto the tail opening.

Using orange yarn, cast on 20 stitches on straight or DPN needles.

Row 1 (RS): Knit across.
Row 2 (WS): Purl across.
Row 3: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (18 sts)
Row 4: Purl across.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 four more times until you have 10 stitches.

Next row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (8 sts)
Next row: Purl across.

Cast off all stitches. Fold the piece lengthwise and use mattress stitch to seam the long edge. Then position the tail fin at the tail end of the body, fan it out slightly for a natural fish-tail shape, and sew it in place securely.

The Side Fins (Pectoral Fins)

Nemo has one larger fin and one smaller fin — a detail true to the character in the film, where his right fin is slightly smaller (his “lucky fin”). This is a lovely detail to include if you’re making this for a child, and it can also be a quiet way to celebrate differences and inclusivity.

Larger Fin

Using orange yarn, cast on 8 stitches.

Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: Kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (10 sts)
Row 4: Purl across.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 twice. (14 sts)

Row 9: Knit across.
Row 10: Purl across.
Row 11: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (12 sts)
Row 12: Purl across.

Repeat rows 11 and 12 three times. (6 sts)

Cast off. Sew onto the side of the body at the first white stripe area.

Smaller Fin (Lucky Fin)

Using orange yarn, cast on 6 stitches.

Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: Kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (8 sts)
Row 4: Purl across.
Row 5: Knit across.
Row 6: Purl across.
Row 7: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (6 sts)
Row 8: Purl across.
Row 9: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4 sts)
Row 10: Purl across.

Cast off. Sew this smaller fin onto the other side of the body, positioned slightly lower and closer to the belly.

The Dorsal Fin (Top Fin)

Using orange yarn, cast on 12 stitches.

Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (10 sts)
Row 4: Purl across.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 three more times. (4 sts)

Cast off. Sew this fin along the top center of Nemo’s body, positioned roughly between the first and second white stripes.

Finishing Touches

Once all your pieces are sewn on, it’s time for the final details that will bring Nemo to life.

Using black yarn and a yarn needle, embroider a small curved line below the eyes for the mouth. Keep it simple — just a gentle upward curve, because Nemo is usually shown with a cheerful expression. A few small back stitches work beautifully for this.

If you want to enhance the stripe definition, you can use a single strand of black yarn to outline the edges of the white stripes with a simple running stitch or backstitch. This makes the black outlines look crisp and more like the character design from the film.

Weave in all your remaining ends carefully. Turn the fish over and make sure no tails are poking out anywhere. Give the whole toy a gentle squeeze to redistribute the stuffing and make sure the body feels even.

Tips for Success

A few things that will make the process smoother:

When changing colors for the stripes, carry the unused yarn loosely up the inside of the work rather than cutting it every time. This reduces the number of ends you need to weave in and keeps the inside of the toy tidy.

If your yarn edges between colors look uneven or the jog in the stripes is visible, look up the “jogless jog” technique for knitting stripes in the round. It’s a simple adjustment that makes your color changes look nearly seamless.

Don’t overstuff the body or it will distort the shape and stretch your knitting. Firm but not stretched is the goal — think of how a firmly filled beanbag feels.

If the toy is for a baby or toddler, use washable yarn so it can go in the laundry when needed. Superwash wool or cotton-acrylic blends are great options.

Gifting and Display Ideas

A knitted Nemo fish makes a wonderful gift for so many occasions. Baby showers, birthdays, Christmas, or just because — there’s never a wrong time to gift a handmade toy. You can tuck it into a gift bag alongside a copy of the Finding Nemo or Finding Dory DVD for a complete themed gift.

If you’re making multiple fish toys (Dory is a natural companion piece!), consider making a mobile or hanging display for a nursery. A blue Dory fish knit in the same basic shape but with yellow accents would be adorable beside a Nemo, and you could add a few simple fish shapes in other colors to create a whole undersea scene.

You can also add a little loop of yarn at the top of the dorsal fin to make Nemo hangable — perfect as a car mirror charm, a bag tag, or a festive ornament.

Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basic Nemo pattern, the shape is easily adapted. The same oval body structure can become Dory with blue and yellow yarn, or a generic tropical fish in any color combination you like. You could make an entire reef worth of fish using different colors, fin shapes, and eye placements. Making a set of different fish in varying sizes is a fun way to use up yarn scraps while building a whole ocean scene.

Some knitters also enjoy adding embroidered scales using chain stitch in a slightly darker shade of the main color. It adds texture and realism without being overly complicated.

Final Thoughts

Knitting a Nemo fish is one of those projects that feels ambitious when you first look at it but turns out to be completely manageable once you break it into steps. The body works up quickly in the round, the fins are small and satisfying to complete, and the finishing details are what transform a simple orange oval into a recognizable, loveable character.

Whether this is one of your first toy knitting projects or you’re an experienced knitter looking for something fun and quick, Nemo delivers. He’s cheerful, bright, and full of personality — just like the real thing. And when you’re