Gilly the Goldfish

CROCHET PATTERN BY
Welcome!
I hope you will enjoy the creation of this goldfish! Please don't hesitate to contact me at
hello@theresascrochetshop.com with any questions that you may have along the way. Have fun!

Did You Know?

• A group of goldfish is called a “troubling.” But don’t worry, the next 2 facts will be far less
troubling!
• Studies have proven that goldfish can recognize and remember human faces!
• Light enables goldfish to produce enough pigments to achieve their vivid color. Thus goldfish that
live outdoors will have a more vibrant color than goldfish kept indoors. In fact, if goldfish are kept
in a dark environment for a long period of time, they will turn white!

The pattern and images contained in this document are the sole
property of Theresa's Crochet Shop. This written pattern is for
personal use only.

Please do not redistribute or sell this pattern in whole or in part.

You may sell the finished product, but please credit

Theresa's Crochet Shop as the designer.

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish i
Materials You Will Need
• Crochet hook size: 3.75mm
• Worsted/medium/aran weight yarn:
gold (50 yards/45 meters needed), plus 1 strand of white
• Yarn needle
• One pair of 12 mm safety eyes (see note 1)
• Polyester fiber fill stuffing Find the materials I use here:
bit.ly/3QIZQuv (Affiliate Link)
• One strand of black embroidery floss

Abbreviations
ch – chain
st(s) – stitch(es)
sc – single crochet
dec – sc decrease st (see note 4)

Size
Final measurement for the finished goldfish will be 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall.

Videos
Did you know I have a YouTube channel? I’m posting a growing selection of how-to videos that may
help you when crocheting this pattern!

Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theresascrochetshop
Vid #1 – How to Embellish Safety Eyes: https://youtu.be/lYPJty0itV0
Vid #2 – How to Crochet the Goldfish’s Tail Fin: https://youtube.com/ev_XEk5B23w
Vid #2 – A Home for Your Goldfish: https://youtu.be/WvmDxq939lQ

Notes
1. Safety eyes can be found on Etsy, Amazon, eBay, or your local craft store. The safety eyes are
recommended, but they can be substituted with embroidered eyes if you prefer.

2. This pattern is crocheted in continuous rounds (you will not join each round).

3. In my patterns, I begin each circle with “ch 2, 6 sc in first ch.” Another way of beginning is to start
with a magic circle. If you are more familiar with this method, just do 6 sc into your magic circle.

4. Single crochet decrease stitch explanation: Insert the hook into the next stitch and yarn over.
Pull a loop through so that there are now 2 loops on the hook. Insert the hook into the next
stitch and yarn over. Pull a loop through so that there are now 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over
again and pull the loop of yarn through all 3 loops on the hook.

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish ii
 www.TheresasCrochetShop.com

Instructions
Body
With gold yarn,
Round 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch. (6 sts)
R2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
R3: (Sc 3, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (15 sts)
R4: (Sc 4, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (18 sts)
R5: Sc 7, 2 sc in next st, sc 1, 2 sc in next st*, sc 1, 2 sc in next
st, sc 6. (21 sts)
*Mark this increase stitch with a stitch marker or a knot with a
different-colored piece of yarn; this is the top middle of the
fish.
R6: Sc 21. (21 sts)
R7: (Sc 6, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (24 sts)
R8: (Sc 7, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (27 sts)
R9: (Sc 8, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (30 sts)
R10: Sc 10, 2 sc in next st, sc 13, 2 sc in next st, sc 5. (32 sts)
R11-13: Sc 32. (32 sts x 3 total rounds)
R14: (Sc 14, dec 1) 2 times. (30 sts)
R15: (Sc 3, dec 1) 6 times. (24 sts)

Here, pause to insert the safety eyes – flatten the fish, with
the marked stitch from R5 at the top middle. Then insert the
safety eyes on either side between R5-R6 of the body (the
eyes should be 7-8 sts apart across the top and 8 sts apart
across the bottom). Firmly press the backs onto the eyes.
Begin stuffing the fish.

Then cut a strand of white yarn, thread it onto your yarn

needle, and insert it through the opening at the back of the
fish’s body, leaving a long enough beginning tail for tying in a
Figure 1: Body and Face
knot later. (See Vid #1 on the Materials page for a video
explanation of sewing stitches around safety eyes.)

Sew 1 white stitch at the back of each eye; make sure it is at

the back of the eye and not on top, which will make the fish
look angry. Now weave the white yarn back to the inside of
the body and secure with a knot to the other end of the white
strand.

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish 01
 www.TheresasCrochetShop.com

Next, make the mouth – thread a long strand of black

embroidery floss onto your yarn needle and sew the mouth
between R4-R5: the mouth should be 4 sts wide, and 2 sts
down from the eyes on either side (Figure 1). Secure the floss
to the other end of the floss inside the body with a knot. Now,
go on to finish the body...

R16: Sc 24. (24 sts)

R17: (Sc 2, dec 1) 6 times. (18 sts)
R18: Sc 18. (18 sts)
Figure 2: Finishing the Body
R19: (Sc 1, dec 1) 6 times. (12 sts)
R20: Sc 12. (12 sts)
Continue stuffing the fish.
R21: (Sc 2, dec 1) 3 times. (9 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a short yarn tail for weaving in. Finish
stuffing the body – you want the body shape to be firm but
still narrow and “fish-like.” Your goldfish will now look as
pictured in Figure 2.

Tail Fins (x2) A B

See Vid #2 on the Materials page for a video explanation of making
and cinching the tail fin.
With gold yarn,
R1: Ch 12, turn, and working in the chains you’ve just made,
sc 11. (11 sts)
C D
R2: Ch 1, turn, sc 10 (leaving the last st un-worked). (10 sts)
R3: Do not ch 1, turn, sc 9. (9 sts)
R4: Ch 1, turn, sc 8 (leaving the last st un-worked). (8 sts)
R5: Do not ch 1, turn, sc 7. (7 sts)
Figure 3: Tail Fins
R6: Ch 1, turn, sc 6 (leaving the last st un-worked). (6 sts)
R7: Do not ch 1, turn, sc 5. (5 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing. Thread the yarn
tail onto your yarn needle and then insert the needle into the
bottom right corner of the tail fin (Figure 3-A), then into the
middle of the right side of the fin (Figure 3-B), then into the
top right corner (Figure 3-C); now pull tight to cinch the
straight side of the fin together (Figure 3-D). Secure with a
knot.
Figure 4: Tail Fins Attached

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish 02
 www.TheresasCrochetShop.com

Wait to sew this fin to the body until you’ve made the 2nd tail
fin.

When both tail fins are made, position them at the back of
the body (make sure they are both facing the same direction),
with 1 tail fin covering the top half of the opening at the back
of the fish and the other tail fin covering the bottom half of
the opening. Sew in place; your goldfish will now look as
shown in Figure 4.

Side Fins (x2)

With gold yarn,
R1: Ch 7, turn, and working in the chains you’ve just made, sc
6. (6 sts) Figure 5: Cinching the Side Fin
R2: Ch 1, turn, sc 5. (5 sts)
R3: Do not ch 1, turn, sc 4. (4 sts)

Fasten off and leave a yarn tail for sewing. Use your yarn
needle to sew the 2 corners of the straight side of the fin
together to cinch them together (Figure 5 & Figure 6). You
want the longer side of the fin to be closer to the eyes on
both sides of the fish, so the right fin will need to be turned
over and the corners sewn together on the “back” of the fin.

If this sounds confusing, don’t worry, just cinch the fins with Figure 6: Finished Side Fin

your fingers to hold them in place and then hold them up to

the fish’s body, making sure the longer side of the fin is in
front, and you will see which way each fin needs sewn.

Sew the side fins 3 rounds back from the eyes, with the tops
of the fins in line with the bottoms of the eyes (Figure 7).

Top Fin
With gold yarn,
R1: Ch 4, turn and starting in the 2nd ch from your hook,
sc 3. (3 sts)
R2: Ch 1, turn, sc 3. (3 sts)
R3: Do not ch 1, turn, sc 2. (2 sts)

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish 03
 www.TheresasCrochetShop.com

Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing. Sew the top fin to
the top middle of the body, over R10-R15 of the body, or
starting 3 rounds back from the backs of the eyes (Figure 7).

And now you are done! Thank you so much for joining me in
making a little goldfish!

~Theresa

Figure 7: Finished Goldfish

© 2022, Theresa’s Crochet Shop

Gilly the Goldfish 04