Knitted Blue Whale Amigurumi: Detailed Pattern in English and Russian | Etsy Maker’s Guide

If you’ve ever fallen in love with the gentle giants of the ocean, you’ll understand why the blue whale holds such a special place in the hearts of crafters around the world. This knitted blue whale amigurumi pattern brings the magic of the deep sea right into your hands — quite literally. Whether you’re a seasoned knitter looking for your next showpiece project or an enthusiastic beginner ready to level up your skills, this pattern is designed to walk you through every stitch with clarity and confidence.

This post covers everything: materials, gauge, techniques, the full English pattern, the full Russian pattern (полная схема на русском языке), finishing tips, and ideas for selling your finished whale on Etsy. Grab your needles and let’s dive in.

Why Knitted Amigurumi Whales Are Having a Moment

Amigurumi — the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals — has evolved far beyond its origins. Today, knitters across Etsy, Instagram, and Pinterest are putting their own spin on the craft, and the blue whale has become one of the most searched and beloved amigurumi designs in the handmade marketplace. Its elongated body, sweeping tail, and expressive button eyes make it both satisfying to knit and absolutely irresistible to display or gift.

On Etsy in particular, knitted whale plushies consistently rank among top sellers in the handmade toys and nursery décor categories. Parents look for them as baby shower gifts. Ocean lovers collect them. Teachers use them as classroom companions. The demand is real, and with this pattern, you’ll have a product — or a personal treasure — worth every stitch.

Materials You Will Need

Before you begin, gather everything on this list. Having your materials ready prevents interruptions mid-project and ensures your gauge stays consistent.

Yarn: Worsted weight (medium weight, category 4) yarn in ocean blue or dusty teal. Approximately 150–200 grams for the main body. You’ll also want a small amount of white or cream yarn for the belly patch, and an optional pale blue for detail accents.

Needles: Double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a short circular needle in US size 4 (3.5mm) or US size 5 (3.75mm). The slightly tighter gauge than the yarn label recommends helps create a dense fabric that holds its stuffed shape without the fiberfill showing through.

Fiberfill: High-quality polyester fiberfill stuffing. Use enough to give the whale a firm, rounded shape without distorting the knitted fabric.

Eyes: Two safety eyes, 12mm or 15mm, in black or dark brown. If making this whale for a child under three years old, substitute embroidered eyes using black yarn for safety compliance.

Tapestry needle: For seaming, weaving in ends, and embroidering details.

Stitch markers: At least four, to mark the beginning of rounds and key shaping points.

Scissors, measuring tape, and row counter: Standard knitting essentials.

Gauge and Sizing

Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round.

Finished size: Approximately 14 inches (35 cm) long from nose to tail, and about 6 inches (15 cm) wide at the widest point of the body. This makes for a generous, huggable plushie.

Always knit a gauge swatch before beginning. Even a small difference in gauge will result in a noticeably different finished size, and in amigurumi, size consistency matters — especially if you’re knitting multiple pieces for sale.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

CO — cast on
BO — bind off
k — knit
p — purl
k2tog — knit two together (decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (decrease)
kfb — knit front and back (increase)
M1L — make one left (increase)
M1R — make one right (increase)
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
BOR — beginning of round
St(s) — stitch(es)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
Rnd(s) — round(s)

Full English Pattern: Knitted Blue Whale Amigurumi

Part One: The Body

The body is worked in the round from nose to tail. Begin with a small provisional cast-on for the snout, which allows you to close it seamlessly after stuffing.

Snout Setup

CO 6 sts using the magic cast-on method or Judy’s Magic Cast-On, dividing evenly across DPNs. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: Knit all sts.
Rnd 2: (kfb) repeat to end of round — 12 sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (k1, kfb) repeat to end — 18 sts.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: (k2, kfb) repeat to end — 24 sts.
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: (k3, kfb) repeat to end — 30 sts.
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rnd 10: (k4, kfb) repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnds 11–15: Knit all sts.

This is the point where you attach safety eyes. Place them between Rnds 10 and 11, approximately 8–10 stitches apart. Insert safety eye posts and secure the washers firmly on the wrong side before continuing.

Body Shaping

Rnd 16: (k5, kfb) repeat to end — 42 sts.
Rnd 17: Knit.
Rnd 18: (k6, kfb) repeat to end — 48 sts.
Rnds 19–22: Knit.
Rnd 23: (k7, kfb) repeat to end — 54 sts.
Rnds 24–30: Knit.
Rnd 31: (k8, kfb) repeat to end — 60 sts.
Rnds 32–45: Knit all sts. This long section forms the rounded belly of the whale. As you work, begin stuffing the head and front body lightly so the fabric doesn’t pucker.

Waist Taper

Rnd 46: (k8, k2tog) repeat to end — 54 sts.
Rnd 47: Knit.
Rnd 48: (k7, k2tog) repeat to end — 48 sts.
Rnd 49: Knit.
Rnd 50: (k6, k2tog) repeat to end — 42 sts.
Rnd 51: Knit.
Rnd 52: (k5, k2tog) repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnd 53: Knit.
Rnd 54: (k4, k2tog) repeat to end — 30 sts.

Continue stuffing as you decrease. Be firm but not overstuffed near the tail end — the narrowing section should taper cleanly.

Rnds 55–60: Knit all sts.
Rnd 61: (k3, k2tog) repeat to end — 24 sts.
Rnds 62–64: Knit.
Rnd 65: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end — 18 sts.
Rnds 66–67: Knit.
Rnd 68: (k1, k2tog) repeat to end — 12 sts.

Stuff the remaining body firmly. Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts, and close. Weave in end securely.

Part Two: The Belly Patch

The belly patch gives your whale that classic two-tone look. It is worked flat and then seamed onto the finished body.

CO 10 sts in cream or white yarn.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): k1, purl to last st, k1.
Repeat Rows 1–2 for 30 rows.
Row 31: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 — 8 sts.
Row 32: k1, purl to last st, k1.
Repeat rows 31–32 four more times — 0 sts remain when fully decreased. BO when 2 sts remain.

Pin the belly patch to the underside of the whale body, centering it from around Rnd 12 through Rnd 50, and seam in place with the tapestry needle using mattress stitch or whip stitch.

Part Three: The Tail Flukes

The tail flukes (the two curved fins at the very back of the whale) are knitted as two separate flat pieces and then attached.

For each fluke, CO 4 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: kfb, knit to last st, kfb — 6 sts.
Row 3: Knit.
Repeat Rows 2–3 until you have 14 sts.
Knit 6 rows even.
Next row: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog — 12 sts.
Knit 1 row.
Repeat last 2 rows until 6 sts remain.
BO all sts.

Make two. Fold each piece lightly, seam the cast-on edges together, and attach to the tail end of the body, angling them outward symmetrically.

Part Four: The Pectoral Fins

These are the side fins that give your whale its graceful, swimming posture.

CO 4 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: kfb, knit to last st, kfb — 6 sts.
Rows 3–10: Continue in garter stitch, increasing at each end every RS row until you have 14 sts.
Rows 11–16: Knit even.
Row 17: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog — 12 sts.
Repeat Row 17 every other row until 4 sts remain.
BO.

Make two. Stuff very lightly or leave flat depending on your preference. Pin and seam to the sides of the body at approximately Rnd 20, angling slightly downward and forward.

Part Five: The Dorsal Fin

CO 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: kfb, knit to end — 4 sts.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: kfb, knit to end — 5 sts.
Continue increasing at the beginning of every RS row until you have 10 sts.
Knit 4 rows even.
Row: k2tog, knit to end. Repeat every RS row until 3 sts remain.
BO.

Fold the fin in half lengthwise. Seam the cast-on and bind-off edges. Attach to the center back of the whale at approximately Rnd 30, perpendicular to the body.

Finishing Details

Once all pieces are seamed together, weave in every yarn end thoroughly. Blocking a stuffed piece isn’t necessary, but you can lightly steam-block the flat seams if your blue yarn shows any puckering. Use your tapestry needle to embroider a gentle smile along the snout area, about 3–4 sts wide using a single strand of white or pale pink yarn. This gives your whale its characteristic friendly expression that makes it so appealing on Etsy listings.

Полная схема на русском языке: Вязаный синий кит Амигуруми

Материалы

Пряжа: средней толщины (категория 4), цвет — синий океан или пыльно-бирюзовый. Примерно 150–200 граммов для тела. Небольшое количество белой или кремовой пряжи для брюшка. Спицы: чулочные спицы или короткая круговая спица, размер 3,5–3,75 мм. Наполнитель: синтепух. Глаза: безопасные глаза 12–15 мм, или вышитые глаза для изделий для детей до 3 лет. Игла для сшивания.

Условные обозначения

н — набрать петли
сн — снять петлю
л — лицевая петля
и — изнаночная петля
уб — убавление (2 петли вместе лицевой)
пр — прибавление (из одной петли вязать две)
нач.к — начало ряда

Часть 1: Тело

Тело вяжется по кругу от носа к хвосту.

Набрать 6 петель методом «волшебного кольца» или набором Judy’s Magic Cast-On, равномерно распределив по спицам. Соединить для вязания по кругу.

Круг 1: Вязать все петли лицевыми.
Круг 2: (пр) повторить до конца круга — 12 петель.
Круг 3: Лицевые.
Круг 4: (1л, пр) повторить до конца — 18 петель.
Круг 5: Лицевые.
Круг 6: (2л, пр) повторить до конца — 24 петли.
Круг 7: Лицевые.
Круг 8: (3л, пр) повторить до конца — 30 петель.
Круг 9: Лицевые.
Круг 10: (4л, пр) повторить до конца — 36 петель.
Круги 11–15: Вязать все петли лицевыми.

На этом этапе установите безопасные глаза между 10-м и 11-м кругами, на расстоянии 8–10 петель друг от друга. Зафиксируйте шайбы с изнаночной стороны.

Круг 16: (5л, пр) повторить до конца — 42 петли.
Круг 17: Лицевые.
Круг 18: (6л, пр) повторить до конца — 48 петель.
Круги 19–22: Лицевые.
Круг 23: (7л, пр) повторить до конца — 54 петли.
Круги 24–30: Лицевые.
Круг 31: (8л, пр) повторить до конца — 60 петель.
Круги 32–45: Вязать все петли лицевыми. Постепенно набивайте голову и переднюю часть тела синтепухом.

Сужение к хвосту:

Круг 46: (8л, уб) повторить до конца — 54 петли.
Круг 47: Лицевые.
Круг 48: (7л, уб) повторить до конца — 48 петель.
Круг 49: Лицевые.
Круг 50: (6л, уб) повторить до конца — 42 петли.
Круг 51: Лицевые.
Круг 52: (5л, уб) повторить до конца — 36 петель.
Круг 53: Лицевые.
Круг 54: (