Crochet Harold the Pufferfish

Create your very own stuffed animal by crocheting a lovable character named Harold the Pufferfish. With just a few simple crochet stitches and some colorful yarn, you can bring this adorable sea creature to life. Harold's round body and spiky fins make him a fun and unique project for crocheters of all skill levels. Whether you're an experienced crocheter looking for a new challenge or a beginner wanting to try something new, crocheting Harold the Pufferfish is sure to bring a smile to your face. As you work on crocheting Harold, you can customize his colors to make him truly one-of-a-kind. Choose bright blues and greens for a more realistic look, or opt for vibrant pinks and purples for a whimsical twist. Once you've finished crocheting Harold, you can add some safety eyes and a friendly smile to give him even more personality. Whether you decide to keep Harold for yourself or gift him to a friend, this crocheted pufferfish is sure to become a cherished companion for years to come.

Materials:

• Worsted weight Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in White and Pale Yellow;
• 3.5mm hook
• Tapestry needle;
• Safety eyes (optional);
• Stuffing;
• Keychain ring (optional).

Terms and Special Stitches (US Terminology):

MR – Magic Ring

Slst – Slipstitch

Ch – Chain

Sc – Single Crochet

Inc – Increase. Work 2 sc into the same stitch.

Dec – Decrease. Work 2 sc together.

This pattern uses the bobble stitch, which is worked as follows:

Bobble Stitch: YO, Insert hook into stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 loops (2 loops left on hook). YO, Insert hook into the same stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2 (3 loops on hook). Continue doing this until you have 6 loops left on your hook. YO and pull through all 6 loops on your hook. Ch 1.

In White:

(Work in continuous rounds)

Round 1: MR with 6 sc (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc around (12 sts)

Round 3: *Bobble, inc, sc, inc*, repeat around (18 sts)

Round 4: *Sc 2, inc, bobble, sc, inc* repeat around (24 sts)

Round 5: *Sc 2, bobble, inc* repeat around (30 sts)

Round 6: Sc 4, inc, *bobble, sc 3, inc* repeat from * around (36 sts)

Round 7: Bobble, sc 2, *bobble, sc 5* repeat from * until 3 sts remain in this round. Sc 3. (36 sts)

Switch to Yellow:

Round 8: sc 5, bobble, sc 6, bobble, *sc 5, bobble* repeat from * twice more, sc 5 (36 sts)

Round 9: sc 2, bobble, *sc 5, bobble* repeat from * once more, sc 6, bobble, (sc 5, bobble) repeat ( ) once more, sc 2 (36 sts)

Round 10: *Bobble, sc 3, dec*, repeat around (30 sts)

Round 11: *Dec, bobble, sc 2* repeat around (24 sts)

Place safety eyes between rounds 7 and 8. Begin stuffing. Continue stuffing a little after each round.

Round 12: *Dec, bobble, sc* repeat around (18 sts)

Round 13: *Dec, bobble*, repeat around (12 sts)

Round 14: Dec around (6 sts)

Tie off, leaving a tail for closing. Weave tail through the front loops of each stitch, then down through the opening and out the back of Harold. Tug gently on tail to close. Once you’ve closed the opening, poke the remaining tail back into the piece using the back of your tapestry needle.

Fins (make 2):

**Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row**

In yellow

Row 1: Ch 3, sc across (2 sts)

Switch to white:

Row 2: Inc twice (4 sts)

Row 3: *Ch 3, slst 2 along the chains, slst to first sc of Row 2*. Repeat three more times along the row.

Tie off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Tail:

In yellow:

Row 1: Ch 3, sc across (2 sts)

Row 2: Inc twice (4 sts)

Row 3: Sc 4 ( 4sts)

Switch to white:

Row 4: Inc, sc 2, inc (6 sts)

Row 5: *Ch 3, slst 2 along the chains, slst to first sc of row 4*. Repeat five more times along the row.

Tie off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Sew the fins and tail onto Harold. Sew on mouth.

Add a loop to the top of Harold and attach a keychain to make a sweet bag charm, or simply attach the jump ring right through one of the stitches.