I’ve been thinking about these crochet jellyfish for a while, so I’m happy to
share the pattern today! I think they’re fun to hang around with, and
made from cotton, would pair well with my fish scrubbies in an ocean-
themed kids bathroom!
Last summer when I went back to Taiwan, my sister and I picked up these
weird little hand-towel doohickies from the local Poya. You can buy pretty
much anything there – like a teeny tiny Target, and we’d spent quite a bit
of time in there with my parents just cruising the different cu te odds and
ends. Anyways, these doohickies were these tubes covered in those
microfiber mop wormy ends, and topped off with a cute strawberry or a
cute lime or something. I came home with 2, a red one and a green one,
and the kids have been fighting over them since. They’re supposed to be
used to dry your hands. They have been occasionally used to dry hands,
but more often to be snuggled (while clean) and flung around the house.
That crazy story is the inspiration for my crochet jellyfish. I wanted to
make something that can be used to dry your hands but be adorable too,
and I thought that the jellyfish tentacles could work in that capacity. I
made only one originally, but with two kids, I can’t not make another one.
IT HAS TO BE FAIR! So, one blue one for the boy, and one purple one for
the girl. Le sigh. And of course, neither have ever been used to dry hands.
They are snuggle dolls now.
Because I wanted them originally to be used in a bathroom, I chose to use
cotton yarn. Yarnspirations was kind enough to supply me with their
Bernat Handicrafter cotton, and it was a joy to work with such vibrant
colors. The yarn was sturdy and held its shape well, especially in the curly
cues, but was still soft enough to cuddle with!
The final size of the jellyfish is about 15 to 18 inches long, with the head
about 5 inches across. The length of the jellyfish is up to you and how you
want to make and arrange the curly cues. I did notice that after some
hard playing, my son’s jellyfish’s curly cues loosened and lengthened a
bit.
Just one piece of advice/warning. If you are making this for small children,
PLEASE supervise their play. These are long curly cues, and God forbid it
becomes a strangulation hazard. This pattern was not designed to be
dangerous, but, well, kids. So, be careful if they’re flinging it around, and
especially don’t let kids sleep with their jellyfish friends. Maybe it is safer
to let them hang out in the bathroom as a cute little towel.
I’ve had many people ask me about printing my patterns. You can now
purchase an inexpensive ad-free and comment-free PDF version of this
jellyfish pattern on Craftsy (US only) as well as on Etsy (international
buyers, start here!). The file will be available for download immediately
after payment. Thank you for helping me continue to provide these fun
free patterns!
Thanks to a wonderful reader, Jeannette Kemp, you can also download a
Dutch translation of this pattern here!
SUPPLIES
• G (4 mm) hook (Clover Amour Hook*)
• Note: I used a G hook for the head of the jellyfish,
but tried both a G hook (blue jellyfish) and an H
hook (purple jellyfish) for the curly cues.
• Yarnspirations Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn: main color – 2
skeins, secondary color – 1 skein
• The Blue jellyfish is Robin’s Egg Blue and Mod Blue.
The Purple jellyfish is Soft Violet and Hot Pink.
• 9mm safety eyes
• Black DMC embroidery thread
• embroidery needle
• scissors
• polyester fiberfill
ABBREVIATIONS
sl st – slip stitch
ch – chain stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sc2tog – single crochet 2 together (joining/decreasing stitch)
CROCHET JELLYFISH INSTRUCTIONS
CAP/FACE:
Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic circle. Join with sl st to first sc. (8)
Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to first sc.
(16)
Round 3: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into next stitch, 2 sc into next stitch.* Repeat
around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24)
Round 4: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 2 stitches, 2 sc into next
stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (32)
Round 5: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 3 stitches, 2 sc into next
stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (40)
Round 6: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 4 stitches, 2 sc into next
stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (48)
Round 7-8: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to first
sc. (48)
Round 9: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 5 stitches, 2 sc into next
stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (56)
Round 10-14: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to
first sc. (56)
Round 15: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 2 stitches. Work 1 sc2tog, 1
sc into next stitch, 1 sc2tog.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (40)
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
JELLYFISH BOTTOM PA NEL:
Round 1: Ch 1. Work 8 sc into a magic circle. Join with sl st to first sc. (8)
Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc into each stitch around. Join with sl st to first sc.
(16)
Round 3: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into next stitch, 2 sc into next stitch.* Repeat
around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24)
Round 4: Ch 1. *Work 1 sc into each of next 2 stitches, 2 sc into next
stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc. (32)
Round 5: Ch 3 (does not count as stitch). *Work 1 dc into each of next 3
stitches, 2 dc into next stitch.* Repeat around. Join with sl st to first sc.
(40)
Fasten off, but leave a long enough tail to sc around. (Probably a few feet
at least).
JELLYFISH STREAMERS/TENTACLES:
I found the streamers were easiest and most fun when done freeform. All
of them are a little different, but I used the same basics for each one to
maintain consistency. You can check out my curly cue sampler to get an
idea of what each type of curl will look like. Also, you can change up the
hook size for a different look. I used a G hook for the blue jellyfish and an
H hook for the purple jellyfish. On each jellyfish, there are 8 tentacles of
varying width and length.
• Chain either 30, 40, 50, 60 or even 70.
• Work 2 (or 3) sc in each chain stitch OR work 2 (or 3) hdc in
each chain stitch. If you’re starting with sc, then work into 2nd
chain from hook. If you’re starting with hdc, then work into 3rd
chain from hook.
• Now, think of this as a Choose Your Own Crochet Adventure.
Continue working sc or hdc, working 2 or 3 stitches into each
chain across, then fasten off, leaving a tail.
I found it best if you stick with a particular pattern long enough to
establish the right curl, then change it to create a different type curl.
Don’t change your stitch type too quickly. You can curl the curly cues
properly or leave it messy, up to you!
ASSEMBLY
Step 1: Attach the safety eyes between rows 12 and 13 on the cap, about
8 stitches apart.
Step 2: Use the embroidery thread to sew on a mouth halfway between
the eyes.
Step 3: Attach the tentacles to the bottom panel by weaving both tails of
the tentacles through stitch spaces in the panel, and tie a double knot to
secure. You can weave the ends in, or maybe not, since it’ll be hidden
inside the stuffed head. I chose to weave in ends because I don’t know
how hard the kids will pull on the tentacles.
Step 4: Match up the seam stitch of the panel against the seam stitch of
the cap. Insert your hook through both loops (front to back) on one stitch
on the cap, and pull through a loop of the panel’s tail. Work a chain stitch.
Then insert your hook through the same cap stitch, and through the first
stitch on the panel, pull up a loop and complete a sc. (It’s ok if you fudge
this. You just need to attach the two pieces together to get started.)
Step 5: For the next stitch and for each stitch around, insert hook from
outside of cap through all 4 loops (cap and panel). Work a sc.
Step 6: Once you’ve gone almost around, stuff the head with fiberfill, then
continue working sc around to close up the head. Join to the first sc with
a sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.
If you’d like to hang your jellyfish, you can sew on a loop at the top.
Otherwise you’re done!
