Anglerfish- free crochet pattern

Check out my Youtube video tutorial for this pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y9obnOVx_g

Materials needed:

• DK yarn in purple, lilac, white and yellow

• 3mm crochet hook

• 6mm black safety eyes

• Stitch marker

• Sewing needle- appropriate size for the yarn

• Scissors

• Clear monofilament nylon thread 0.3mm (invisible thread to hang the fish up with)

  
  

When made with the stated yarn weight and hook size, the finished fish measures approx 13cm long from the yellow light to the end of the tail fin.

I didn't use stuffing and I kept it as an open piece but if you want to stuff it then you can crochet a circle (starting with a magic ring and increasing evenly in multiples of 6) to fit the size of the inside bit of the mouth behind the teeth, stuff it and then sew that circle, it might look good with a black circle. 

I found that I didn't need to use any wire for the light in front of the face because it bends into shape and stays in that shape if your tension isn't too loose, but if you want to you can use pipe cleaner or wire, push it inside before you make the yellow bit on the end, and then continue crocheting. The only parts that need to be sewn on are the side fins and the top fin, everything else is attached with crochet or part of the whole piece.

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

ch- chain

sl st- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

sc2tog- single crochet 2 together

hdc- half double crochet

dc- double crochet

tr- treble crochet

BLO- back loops only

Body- starting with the tail fin end:

In purple:

Rnd 1: ch 12, join in a circle with a sc in the first chain, sc in nxt 11 st, put marker in last st you did, work in continuous rnds (12)

Rnds 2- 4 (3 rnds): sc in every st (12)

Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 3 st, inc) x3 (15)

Rnd 6: (sc in nxt 4 st, inc) x3 (18)

Rnd 7: (sc in nxt 5 st, inc) x3 (21)

Rnd 8: (sc in nxt 6 st, inc) x3 (24)

Rnd 9: (sc in nxt 3 st, inc) x6 (30)

Rnd 10: sc in nxt st, inc, sc in nxt 7 st, inc, (sc in nxt 4 st, inc) x3, sc in nxt 5 st (35)

Rnd 11: inc, sc in nxt 34 st (36)

Rnds 12- 15 (4 rnds): sc in every st (36)

Rnd 16: sc in nxt 28 st, ch 12, count 11 st after the st marker and sc in this 11th st to join the chain to the opposite side (push hook in from the outside). Put marker in last st you did.

Rnd 17: sc in nxt 17 st, sc in nxt 12 chain loops (in the BLO), sc in last st (30)

Rnd 18: (sc in nxt 3 st, invdec) x6 (24)

Rnd 19: (sc in nxt 2 st, invdec) x6 (18)

Rnd 20: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x6 (12)

Rnd 21: (invdec) x6 (6)

Don't fasten off, insert safety eyes- (the lower jaw will be crocheted in the third sc st down from where the ch 12 piece is, so count 2 sc stitches in from that and then 2 stitches on the same round going towards the top of the head (4 stitches in total from the eye to the start of the lower jaw), and insert safety eye here between rnds 16 and 17, 12 stitches apart, then do the same for the other eye on the other side, it might not be between rnds 16 and 17, mine was between rnds 15 and 16 on this side because it's continuous spiral.

Continue and make the light coming out of the head:

Rnds 22- 30 (9 rnds): sc in every st (6) Change to yellow as you finish the last sc of the last rnd. If using wire or pipe cleaner, push it inside now.

Rnd 31: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 32: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 33: (invdec) x6 (6)

Fasten off leaving tail. Push ends inside with end of hook or scissors.

Thread tail onto your needle and come up through the front loops only of each of the last 6 stitches, from the outside. Pull tight to gather stitches together and close hole. Find a loop nearby, go through it but don't pull through all the way- leave a loop and go through it from behind, pull tight to make a knot and this fastens off. Weave in tail and trim the excess close to the edge, use the end of your needle to push it inside.

Tail fin:

Flatten end and work through both layers: pull up a loop of lilac, ch 2, dc in same st, ch 1, dc in nxt st, ch 1, tr in nxt st, ch 1, tr in nxt st, ch 1, dc in nxt st, ch 1, dc in nxt st, ch 2, sl st in same st. Fasten off and weave in tails.

Lower jaw:

Row 1: Pull up a loop of purple in the third free st from the corner where the chain edge was used for the upper jaw, (there should be 2 free stitches between the corner and the start of the lower jaw) ch 1, sc in same st, sc in nxt 13 st (14)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 10 st, sc2tog (12)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 8 st, sc2tog (10)

Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 6 st, sc2tog (8)

Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 4 st, sc2tog (6)

Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc in every st (6)

Fasten off and weave in tails.

Pull up a loop through a space between the ends of the rows on the decreasing side at the corner, ch 1, sc in same space, sc in nxt 5 spaces between ends of rows, sc in the 6 st at the top, then sc in nxt 5 spaces down other edge. (17 stitches) (Fasten off and weave in tail.

Top teeth:

Pull up a loop of white in the corner chain loop that's left over from when you did sc in the back loops, (ch 3, starting in 2nd st from hook: sl st, sc in nxt st, skip 1 chain, sl st in nxt st) x6 (6 teeth) - after you've done the last tooth there will only be one st left, sl st in this stitch. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Bottom teeth:

Pull up a loop of white in the corner stitch of the right hand side with the fish the right way up and facing you, so the stitches of the teeth will be on the right side facing outwards, work through both loops: (ch 3, starting in 2nd st from hook: sl st, sc in nxt st, skip 1 st, sl st in nxt st) x8 (8 teeth) Fasten off and weave in ends.

Back middle fin:

ch 6, starting in 2nd st from hook: sl st, sc, tr, ch 1, tr in same st, hdc in nxt st, sl st in nxt st, fasten off leaving tail for sewing. Sew in the middle at the top, starting on the 6th rnd from the last rnd of the tail end, picking up purple loops from the surface and going through the remaining chain loops from the first row. Fasten off and weave in end.

Side fins- make 2:

Make a slip knot leaving a longer tail than usual at the start for sewing. ch 4, starting in 2nd st from hook: sl st, sc, dc, ch 1, dc in same st, fasten off and weave tail into back of stitches, trim excess. Use the tail from the slip knot to sew only the point where the slipknot tail comes out of, making a couple of stitches, sew to the 9th rnd from the tail end on each side, in line with the middle of the top fin. Fasten off and weave in ends.

To hang up the fish:

Cut a 30cm long piece of 0.3mm invisible nylon thread, thread onto needle and go through a stitch on the top of the middle of the fish, come out under the other side of the stitch and bring the ends together so they meet. Tie a knot but bring one side under the other one twice instead of once (see my Youtube video), then make another tie above it in the same way- wrapping under twice, pull tight to bring the two bits together to make a knot which won't come undone. Thread the short tails onto needle and weave through the same space you came out of.

The anglerfish is finished! I'd love to see a photo of yours, you can share it with me by tagging me on instagram @laura_wilson01

Check out my Etsy shop for more patterns: https://laurawilsondesigns.etsy.com

This pattern was designed by Laura Wilson of Laura Wilson Designs. This pattern is strictly for personal, non-commercial use. Copy, distribution or commercial use of this pattern or any of its parts is not allowed. Please give credit if posting photos or selling finished item. © Laura Wilson 2025- All rights reserved.