Dive into serenity with the Amigurumi Koi Fish, a beautifully crafted crochet project that blends tradition with texture and charm! 🐟🧶 Designed with classic orange and white colorwork, this graceful fish features realistic fins and layered scales that add depth and movement to every stitch. Whether you’re creating a peaceful pond scene, gifting a symbol of good luck, or simply love working with elegant designs, this koi fish is sure to make a splash.
Perfect for crocheters who enjoy detailed work and soothing color palettes, this pattern invites you to stitch up a creature that’s both calming and captivating. Add a few lily pads, pair it with other aquatic friends, or display it as a tranquil accent in your space. The Amigurumi Koi Fish is a joyful way to stitch up harmony, beauty, and a sprinkle of handmade magic—one loop at a time! 🧵✨🌸
🎏 Amigurumi Koi Fish Crochet Pattern
Bring a sense of quiet beauty and balance to your crochet with this elegant koi fish. Designed with a smooth elongated body, three crisp white bands, a fully ribbed white mouth, and soft fan-shaped fins, this koi captures the gentle presence of a pond fish resting in still water. Its rounded form, side-set eyes, and relaxed fins make it perfect for display, gifting, or slow, meditative stitching.
This pattern focuses on clean color transitions, subtle texture, and harmonious proportions, resulting in a koi that feels both lifelike and serene.
✨ Skill Level
Intermediate – clean color changes, BLO ribbing, shaping, and multi-part assembly.
📏 Finished Size
Approximately 38–45 cm (15–18 in) long using DK or light worsted yarn and a 3.0 mm hook.
🧶 Materials
Yarn (DK or Worsted Weight):
- White – approx. 60 g (mouth, bands, fin edges, eye rings)
- Bright orange – approx. 70 g (main body and fin centers)
Other Supplies:
- 3.0 mm crochet hook
- 14–16 mm black safety eyes
- Polyester fiberfill
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Optional: thin craft wire for tail shaping
- Steam or gentle blocking (no direct heat on acrylic)
🧵 Abbreviations (US Terms)
MR – Magic Ring
sc – Single Crochet
inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
dec – Decrease (sc2tog)
ch – Chain
sl st – Slip Stitch
BLO – Back Loop Only
FO – Fasten Off
Work in continuous rounds unless stated otherwise.
🐟 Head & Body (One Piece)
Begin in white for the mouth area, then transition to orange.
Stuff firmly at the head and gradually lighter toward the tail for a natural curve.
R1: MR, 6 sc (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
R7: (5 sc, inc) ×6 (42)
🎨 Color Placement (Body Bands)
- R8–R10: White (first band)
- R11–R15: Orange
- R16–R18: White (second band)
- R19–R25: Orange
- R26–R28: White (third band)
- R29–R36: Orange
The spacing creates three balanced white rings with a long, graceful body section behind the last band.
🧡 Tail Taper
R37: (5 sc, dec) ×6 (36)
R38: (4 sc, dec) ×6 (30)
R39: sc around (30)
R40: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
R41: sc around (24)
R42: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
R43: sc around (18)
R44: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
R45: dec ×6 (6)
FO and close neatly.
👄 Ribbed White Mouth Tube
Worked entirely in BLO to create the deep ribbed ring seen in the photo.
White:
- MR, 6 sc (6)
- inc ×6 (12)
- sc around for 8 rounds (12)
Lightly stuff.
Sew securely to the front opening so the ribs remain visible and rounded.
👁 Eyes
Create subtle white eye bases:
White ring:
MR, 6 sc → inc ×6 (12), FO
Insert safety eyes through the center.
Attach on each side of the head, between R7–R10, slightly forward but not front-facing.
🧡 Pectoral Fins (Make 2)
Flat, disc-shaped fins with orange centers and white rims.
Orange:
- MR, 6 sc (6)
- inc ×6 (12)
- (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
Switch to white:
- (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
- (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
FO, flatten gently.
Sew one fin on each side just behind the eyes, low on the body.
🧡 Dorsal Fin
Fan-shaped, slightly curved, with a white trim.
Orange:
- ch 10
- Row 1: sc across (9), ch 1, turn
- Row 2: inc, sc 7, inc (11), ch 1, turn
- Row 3: inc, sc 9, inc (13), ch 1, turn
- Row 4: inc, sc 11, inc (15)
Switch to white and sc evenly along the curved edge.
FO.
Sew the straight edge along the spine, centered between the second and third white bands.
🧡 Tail Fins (Forked – Make 2 Lobes)
Each lobe worked flat with ribbed texture.
Orange:
- MR, 6 sc (6)
- inc ×6 (12)
- (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
Switch to white:
- sc around (24)
FO. Flatten both pieces.
Overlap inner edges slightly to form a fork, stitch together, then attach to the tail end.
✂️ Final Assembly & Shaping
- Attach mouth tube first, ensuring a clean circular opening
- Insert eyes with white rings
- Sew fins symmetrically (pectoral → dorsal → tail)
- Add two short white whiskers (ch 8 each) just below the mouth seam
- Steam or block fins lightly for gentle curves
- Optional: add thin wire to tail for a subtle flowing pose
🌸 Finishing Notes
This koi is designed to rest naturally, with soft fins and a calm profile. Light stuffing toward the tail allows a graceful curve, while firm shaping at the head keeps the mouth and eyes expressive.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Your koi fish is now complete — smooth, balanced, and quietly expressive. With its rhythmic white bands, ribbed mouth, and flowing fins, it brings a sense of stillness and harmony wherever it’s displayed. Whether styled on a wooden surface, gifted with intention, or kept as a personal piece, this koi reflects patience, care, and the beauty of slow handmade work.
Take a moment to admire the curves, adjust the fins, and enjoy the calm satisfaction of a project finished with purpose. 🧶🌊
