Can I use a different plush yarn than the ones listed?

Yes, the pattern notes that any plush bulky-weight yarn in white or cream works as a substitute for the main color. Just keep your fabric tight enough that the fiberfill inside does not show through.

Do I need to join or turn while working the body?

No, the body is worked in a continuous spiral with no joining or turning unless the pattern specifically says otherwise. A stitch marker at the start of each round keeps you oriented.

How is the tail attached to the body?

It is not sewn on separately. The tail flukes are worked directly from the body's closing chain, then folded and seamed to form their shape.

Where exactly does the dorsal ridge go?

It sits along the center top of the body, spanning rounds 11 through 21 from the very first round. You slip stitch along that section first, then build the ridge upward with a row of double crochet clusters.

How do I attach the fins without extra sewing?

Pin the large fins about 6 to 7 rounds back from the eyes along the lower eye line, and the small fins 5 rounds further toward the tail. Knot the yarn tails from each fin and tuck them inside the body instead of sewing a separate seam.

Koi carp amigurumi: a plush fish crochet pattern

LevelIntermediate
Time4-6 hours
Hook4 mm
YarnBulky

About This Pattern

There is something calm about this one, like watching fish move slow circles in still water. The cream body and orange spots keep the palette quiet even while the shape does something unexpected. It is a plush toy that behaves like a small sculpture once it is stuffed and sitting on a shelf.

Finished, the koi sits with its tail curved and its ridge standing up along its back, looking like it just paused mid-swim. It reads well on a windowsill, a bookshelf, or tucked among other soft toys on a bed. The two large fins and two small fins give it just enough lift to look like it is still moving.

This pattern is written in US crochet terminology and produces a finished koi measuring approximately 8 inches (20 cm). Gauge is not critical, but your fabric should be tight enough that the fiberfill doesn't show through — go down a hook size if your stitches feel loose.

Start the body at the mouth end with a small foundation chain and build outward in a continuous spiral, stuffing gradually as the rounds grow.
Work the increase and decrease rounds without joining or turning, tracking the start of each round with a stitch marker.
Set safety eyes into the head section before the body closes up too far to reach inside comfortably.
Fold and seam the tail directly onto the closing chain at the body's end so no separate attachment step is needed.
Slip stitch along the center top of the body across the marked rounds, then build the dorsal ridge upward with clustered double crochet stitches.
Make the two large fins and two small fins separately, then pin and position them along the lower eye line and toward the tail.
Knot and tuck every yarn tail inside the body as you finish each piece, sealing plush yarn ends with a lighter where needed.

On the desk

Yarn (main color): Yarnart Dolce or Himalaya Dolphin Baby — 100 g / 120 m — cream/milk (Dolce #745) — or substitute any plush bulky-weight yarn in white or cream
Yarn (spots): Himalaya Dolphin Baby — 100 g / 120 m — orange (#80316)

Hook

US G-6 / 4 mm

Safety eyes

10 mm — 2 pieces

Stuffing

Fiberfill / polyfill

Stitch Markers

thin contrasting yarn works well for marking rounds

Other Supplies

Scissors
Lighter (for sealing plush yarn ends)
Yarn needle / tapestry needle

Stitch shorthand

ch — Chain
dc — Double Crochet
dec — Invisible Decrease
dtr — Double Treble Crochet (4 loops on hook)
hdc — Half Double Crochet
inc — Increase (2 sc in same stitch)
MR — Magic Ring
sc — Single Crochet
sl st — Slip Stitch
tr — Treble Crochet