This is a scrap-yarn pattern for a little fish. I designed it for my 16 month old who loves “swimming” his toys around the air and “cooking” them in his pot.

It’s the kind of pattern I love, because it looks complicated and sophisticated, but it’s totally easy, shaped entirely with simple increases and decreases. It’s knit in the round on double pointed needles, with tail and fins knit flat. There is very minimal finishing required. I knit it with self-striping yarn I made myself. The tutorial for self-striping yarn is linked to the pattern.

A note about gauge: exact gauge is not important for a toy, however you should choose yarn and needles that combine to create a firm, stiff fabric, so that your fish holds its shape and the stuffing remains well hidden. This often means picking a needle one or two sizes smaller than that recommended on the yarn label.