This little crochet tropical fish is a quick, beginner-friendly amigurumi worked in the round, folded flat and finished with two small fins. The video promises a mini tropical fish in about five minutes. Make one in each color and turn them into keychains, bag charms or a tiny aquarium on a shelf.
Watch the video, then use the written steps below. They are the video’s own subtitles, word for word, so you can follow along at your own pace.
What You’ll Need
Yarn: cotton yarn. The fish in the video are made in soft blue, pink and yellow, each with a stripe and fins in a second shade.
Hook: a crochet hook to suit your yarn.
You’ll also need: scissors, a yarn needle to weave in the ends, and small black eyes like the ones on the finished fish in the video. Add a keychain ring if you want to carry it.
Shop the supplies: cotton yarn · crochet hook set · small safety eyes · yarn needles · keychain rings
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Watch the Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step: The Video Subtitles
These are the video’s subtitles, copied word for word. The video has no chapters, so they are split into six parts, each with the time it starts in the video.
Part 1 (0:00)
Learn to crochet a mini tropical fish in 5 minutes
Magic ring
Chain 1
Work 6 single crochets
Tighten the ring
Slip stitch to first stitch
Chain 1
Round 2: Start with 1 single crochet
Next stitch: single crochet increase
Let me demonstrate again
1 single crochet
1 single crochet increase
Each round ends with slip stitch to first stitch
And chain 1
Part 2 (1:18)
Round 3: Start with 2 single crochets
Then 1 single crochet increase
Another demonstration
First 2 single crochets
Then 1 single crochet increase
Round 4: Pattern is 3 single crochets
1 single crochet increase – repeat
Make 3 sets total
After this round’s slip stitch, fasten off
Insert hook in slip stitch’s stitch
Part 3 (2:34)
Round 5: Pattern is 4 single crochets
1 single crochet increase – repeat
Make 3 sets
Slip stitch and fasten off
Again insert hook in slip stitch’s stitch
Round 6: Pattern is 5 single crochets
1 single crochet increase – repeat
Round 7: Pattern is 6 single crochets
1 single crochet increase – repeat
Part 4 (4:08)
Rounds 8-9: Single crochet in each stitch
24 single crochets per round
Final round: Fold and single crochet together
First stitch meets last stitch
Pair stitches together
12 single crochets total
Part 5 (4:53)
Weave in ends
Insert hook in 5th stitch
Chain 3
Make 2 double crochets in same stitch
Next 3 stitches: 2 double crochets each
Chain 3, slip stitch to last stitch
in final stitch
Fasten off
Part 6 (5:55)
Magic ring for fin
Chain 3
3 double crochets
Chain 3, slip stitch
Fasten off, tighten ring
Tropical fish complete!
Tropical Fish Tips
- Mark the first stitch. Each round is joined with a slip stitch, so a stitch marker makes the join easy to find.
- Play with color. The finished fish in the video each have a stripe and fins in a second shade, so pick two colors that go well together.
- Tidy the ends first. Weave in the loose ends before you add the fins so the fish stays neat.
- Make a school of fish. They are quick, so make a set in different colors for keychains, bag charms or a mobile.
More Little Makes to Crochet
If you enjoyed this one, try the Crochet Fish Keychain, the Crochet Banana Keychain, or the Crochet Butterfly Keychain. For a bigger fish, see the Crochet Fish Scrubbie, or browse 5 WOW Crochet Keychain Ideas.
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Happy hooking!
