A tiny round whale and a long sculptural humpback offer very different crochet experiences. These 18 crochet whale patterns explore both, with compact belugas, characterful narwhals, decorative projects, and black-and-white orcas alongside classic two-tone whales. Each idea links to an actual complete project at its original designer or publisher.
The images are original styling and color inspiration, not photographs of projects we made or tested. They do not reproduce the linked patterns exactly. Always look at the designer’s photographs for the intended construction, and read each idea’s notes about meaningful differences. Free web instructions, public PDFs, and paid downloads are labeled separately.
Choose materials and finishing for the intended use. Small eyes, attachments, stuffing, wire, and pipe cleaners need particular care; a decorative object is not automatically suitable as a child’s toy. Finished sizes refer to the designer’s stated materials, not to the apparent size in our illustrations.
1.) A Lilac No-Sew Whale
Lilac and ivory make a small whale feel gentle without hiding its stitch texture. Fay’s compact project is a useful choice when you would rather crochet the fins and tail into the work than attach separate pieces afterward. The designer gives an approximate finished size of 6.5 by 5 centimeters with the listed materials. Keep the contrast between the upper body and belly clear, especially if you choose a marled main yarn. Our illustration has a more upright, extended tail and fuller-looking fins than the designer’s sample. Use Fay’s photos for the actual compact proportions and integrated construction rather than treating this scene as an exact result.
Pattern: A Lilac No-Sew Whale by Fay / Stitch by Fay. Access: Free complete web pattern; optional paid Etsy or Ravelry PDF. No signup is needed to read the web instructions.
2.) A Blue Whale With a Water Spout
A little water spout gives Elisa Sartori’s whale its most recognizable decorative detail. The project combines a rounded blue body with a white lower section, separate side fins, and a shaped tail made from joined lobes. A smooth yarn helps the small white facial stitches remain visible. Teal and warm white look fresh together, but a darker ocean blue would emphasize the same outline. The illustration changes the spout into a more open spray and raises the tail more prominently. Follow the designer’s original photographs and assembly directions for their intended shapes. The public page does not provide a finished measurement, so avoid planning a precise display space from the illustration alone.
Pattern: A Blue Whale With a Water Spout by Elisa Sartori / Elisa’s Crochet. Access: Free complete web pattern; an optional paid Nautical Amigurumi Collection is linked by the designer. The individual whale instructions are public.
3.) A Shaped Baby Humpback
An elongated humpback offers a different making experience from a round amigurumi whale. ChiWei’s project uses shaped rows for the top and bottom, then joins those surfaces with the fins positioned during assembly. Reading the complete finishing section first helps explain why the pieces look unusual before they come together. Denim blue and pale gray suit the long outline, while a lighter background makes the mouth shaping easier to appreciate. Our styling image adds a more sculptural mouth and dorsal detail than the flatter designer sample. It is an interpretation of the overall form. Use the project photos and video for the actual shaping, seams, fin orientation, and finished proportions.
Pattern: A Shaped Baby Humpback by ChiWei / One Dog Woof. Access: Free complete web pattern with video support; optional paid printable PDF. No purchase is needed to read the full project.
4.) A Sleepy Chunky Whale
Soft coral gives a sleepy whale warmth while cream bands create a gentle accent near the tail. Ana’s chunky project has embroidered eyes, an elongated body, and small attached fins rather than a separate contrasting belly. The listed finished measurement is approximately 32 centimeters, with yarn and tension affecting the result. Review the pattern’s material list before following its broader yarn suggestions, and compare any uncertain wording with the linked video. Our illustration shifts the color and shows two broad pale bands; the source photographs establish the exact stripe sequence and proportions. Keep the face simple so the yarn texture and long taper remain the main features.
Pattern: A Sleepy Chunky Whale by Ana / Little Crochet Farm. Access: Free complete web pattern and video; optional paid PDF and optional Patreon membership. Membership is not needed for the public instructions.
5.) A Flat Ragdoll Whale
A ragdoll whale has a pleasing graphic silhouette that works beautifully in a single strong color. Jillian Hewitt’s project uses flat pieces joined around their edges, with tapestry color changes forming the belly. Its approximate 20 by 20 centimeter size gives the outline enough presence to show the curling tail and optional spout clearly. A coral body with turquoise detail feels playful against plain linen. Our image uses an embroidered closed-eye face and a differently shaped spout; the original project also offers a dapper version with accessories. These are styling differences rather than promised pattern options. Consult the designer’s photos when choosing the actual face, panel outline, and attachments.
Pattern: A Flat Ragdoll Whale by Jillian Hewitt / Spin a Yarn Crochet. Access: Free complete web pattern with full panel and assembly instructions. The water spout and dapper accessories are project options.
6.) William With a Contrasting Belly
Sage green and cream bring a quiet palette to Cheryl Bennett’s William. The body is rounded, but the separate side fins and joined tail lobes give the small project a distinct profile. The designer lists approximately 4.25 inches from the front to the tail tip and 1.75 inches of body height. This is useful when choosing between a tiny display piece and a larger plush project. Use a yarn with clear stitch definition if you want the pale belly edge to stay crisp. Our tail stands higher and the illustrated fins look fuller than the original. Follow the designer’s own photographs for the intended placement and assembly rather than trying to reproduce the scene exactly.
Pattern: William With a Contrasting Belly by Cheryl Bennett / Crochet 365 Knit Too. Access: Free complete web pattern; optional paid printable PDF. The public page includes body, side fins, joined tail fins, and finishing.
7.) A Tiny One-Piece Whale
A whale does not need many extra details to have character. June Gilbank’s Tiny Whale is crocheted as a single flowing shape, with a rounded head narrowing toward the tail and no separate side flippers to sew on. That simple outline makes a monochrome yarn especially effective. The designer’s shop describes a length of approximately 3.5 inches with the suggested worsted yarn and hook. Dusty blue looks calm on pale ceramic, while charcoal would make the tiny eyes subtler. Our image changes the tail’s spread and head proportions slightly. The original pattern photographs show the correct flattened tail treatment, which matters more here than adding cheeks, a smile, or extra fins.
Pattern: A Tiny One-Piece Whale by June Gilbank / PlanetJune. Access: Free complete web pattern, offered as donationware. A donation unlocks a printable PDF through a PlanetJune account; the web instructions remain free.
8.) A Detailed Black-and-White Orca
Black and white colorwork makes a realistic-shaped orca immediately recognizable. June Gilbank’s project is an intermediate option with an elongated body, prominent dorsal fin, and carefully arranged markings along the underside. It measures approximately 11 inches long with the listed materials. The useful challenge is keeping those transitions tidy while maintaining an even surface, so choose a comfortable contrast that lets you see the dark stitches. Our image makes the eye patches look more raised and changes the exact marking boundaries. Those details are illustrative. Follow the purchased pattern and designer photos for the actual colorwork placement, shaping, and assembly instead of copying the image as a stitch map.
Pattern: A Detailed Black-and-White Orca by June Gilbank / PlanetJune. Access: Paid complete-project PDF from the designer’s shop. A PlanetJune account is used for purchased downloads; express checkout can create one automatically.
9.) A Domed Whale With Rosy Cheeks
A large domed head and flat pale belly give Robin’s whale a wonderfully sturdy-looking silhouette. The public project includes the fins, separate tail pieces, body, and their placement, with a video to clarify the finishing. Sky blue and soft pink cheeks create a gentle palette without needing additional accessories. Our illustration uses fuller-looking fins and a more upright tail; the designer’s sample is the reference for the actual attachment shapes. Lay the pieces together before sewing so the face and fins feel balanced from both sides. Choose the project’s listed yarn and hook as your starting point, then assess the fabric itself rather than assuming that every chunky yarn behaves alike.
Pattern: A Domed Whale With Rosy Cheeks by Robin / Hooked by Robin. Access: Free complete written web pattern and video; optional paid ad-free PDF. The public instructions include all pieces and assembly.
10.) A Pocket Whale With Popcorn Fins
An elongated pocket whale can show surprisingly expressive shaping at a small scale. Huipei Zhang’s design carries the head into the body and uses popcorn stitches to form little fins within the work. A navy back and pale blue underside make that construction easy to see without extra decoration. The paid PDF description lists about eight centimeters with sport yarn and a three-millimeter hook; use the designer’s photos to judge the actual scale and shape. Our image has larger-looking fin bumps and a different embroidered eye expression. They are styling differences, not extra instructions. Keep the stuffing controlled so the narrow tail retains its definition rather than becoming a thick extension of the body.
Pattern: A Pocket Whale With Popcorn Fins by Huipei Zhang / Pocket Yarnlings. Access: Free complete web pattern and video; optional paid 11-page printable PDF. The paid download is not necessary to use the public project.
11.) A Beginner Whale With Flat Fins
Flat fins give this beginner whale a different outline from a plush project with stuffed appendages. Louie’s Loops provides a complete public lesson with separate fins and tail, a rounded body, and detailed placement guidance. The lesson lists about five inches in length with its materials. Cyan and white keep the color change clear while leaving the simple shape easy to read. Our scene makes the body rounder and the tail more upright than the original sample. Follow the lesson photographs and time-coded video for the actual proportions. It is helpful to finish the small pieces first and keep them beside the body while checking their orientation, especially where the two sides need to mirror one another.
Pattern: A Beginner Whale With Flat Fins by Louie’s Loops / Club Crochet. Access: Free complete web instructions and video on the lesson page. A paid whale bundle is optional; no login was needed to read this project.
12.) A Round White Beluga
A compact white beluga brings a softer outline to a whale collection. Louie’s Loops uses increases and decreases to suggest its rounded forehead, with small attached fins and a forked tail. The individual lesson lists an approximate five-inch length; the bundle has a general measurement that should not replace each project’s own notes. White yarn reveals shadows and stitch definition beautifully, so plain linen makes a useful styling background. Our corrected illustration still gives the snout a little more definition than the designer’s almost spherical sample. Use the source photographs for the intended head shape. This is a separate paid lesson, even though the same publisher’s beginner blue whale has free public instructions.
Pattern: A Round White Beluga by Louie’s Loops / Club Crochet. Access: Paid complete project through the linked lesson’s whale bundle or Designer membership. Login is required for restricted lesson access; the bundle advertises immediate PDF and video access after purchase.
13.) Purl the Narwhal
A narrow pink tusk makes a lavender narwhal feel playful without overwhelming its small body. Louie’s Loops calls this project Purl and uses a yarn-wrapped pipe cleaner for the stylized tusk rather than a thick stuffed crochet cone. That distinction matters when choosing the project for display or deciding whether its materials suit the intended recipient. The lesson lists about five inches long, with final size depending on materials. Our illustration changes the tusk angle and the fullness of the fins. Consult the original photos for construction and placement. Keep the surrounding colors quiet so the long forward line remains readable, and do not assume the illustration demonstrates the strength or suitability of that detail.
Pattern: Purl the Narwhal by Louie’s Loops / Club Crochet. Access: Paid complete project through the linked lesson’s whale bundle or Designer membership. Login is required for restricted lesson access; the bundle includes this narwhal and its video.
14.) A Compact Colorwork Orca
A compact orca emphasizes colorwork rather than a realistic long silhouette. Louie’s Loops supplies a dedicated lesson and chart for the eye spots, with the project listed at about 3.5 inches long. This makes it a different proposition from the longer PlanetJune orca earlier in the collection. Black and white yarns provide the classic contrast, while a warm yellow background helps the dark stitch texture remain visible. Our illustration makes the white patches appear as raised pieces; the linked project uses its own color-changing method. Follow the chart and video for the actual markings and fin assembly. That extra attention is worthwhile because small placement differences have a strong effect at this scale.
Pattern: A Compact Colorwork Orca by Louie’s Loops / Club Crochet. Access: Paid complete project through the linked lesson’s whale bundle or Designer membership. Login is required for restricted lesson access; a color chart and video support the project.
15.) A One-Inch Minigurumi Whale
For a very small project, a minigurumi whale creates character with remarkably few stitches. Louie’s Loops offers a separate one-piece lesson with several sea-creature options; this idea uses its basic whale rather than counting each variation as another project. The lesson describes approximately one inch of length with its listed materials. Pale pink and a narrow white belly work well when the outline is tiny. Our illustration enlarges the stitch texture for visibility and should not be used as a size guide. Check the original photographs and supplies before selecting eyes or stuffing. At this scale, keeping the tail and fins clear is more useful than adding extra surface details that obscure the compact form.
Pattern: A One-Inch Minigurumi Whale by Louie’s Loops / Club Crochet. Access: Paid complete minigurumi project through the linked lesson’s bundle or Designer membership. Restricted lesson access requires login. The lesson also offers credit redemption for permanent access.
16.) A Plush Whale With Integral Fins
Velvet yarn gives a turquoise whale a much softer surface than smooth cotton. Jennifer Reynolds’ public PDF includes a complete small whale with fins and tail worked into the body construction, followed by the contrasting underside and closure. The material notes provide suggested hook and eye sizes rather than a guaranteed finished measurement. Our image gives the fins and tail a fuller appearance than the designer’s flatter integral details. Use the PDF photographs to understand their actual outline. A plain tray and contrasting background help reveal the plush stitches, but the scene does not demonstrate a tested yarn substitution. Choose the specified materials first if predictable proportions are more important than experimenting with texture.
Pattern: A Plush Whale With Integral Fins by Jennifer Reynolds / Jenn’s Crafty Creations. Access: Free complete four-page public PDF from the original designer. No account or purchase was needed to open the actual file.
17.) A Grinning Decorative Whale
A wide felt grin gives Pierrot’s decorative whale a deliberately cheerful character. The original English PDF combines charts, written notes, and schematics, with a finished length of approximately 30 centimeters shown in the drawing. It also uses yarn-covered wire for the water spout and felt for the face. That combination makes this an adult decorative project to assess carefully, rather than an automatic choice for a child’s toy. Our illustration omits the optional riders and changes the spout curls and facial proportions. The whale itself is the complete project linked here; those extra animals are not needed. Read the charts alongside the finishing notes so the tail, side fins, and broad body stay in proportion.
Pattern: A Grinning Decorative Whale by Pierrot Yarns / Gosyo, English translation by Linda Lanz. Access: Free complete three-page public PDF from the original publisher. No account or purchase was needed; instructions combine English notes, charts, and schematics.
18.) William in a Single Color
One color lets the shaping of Stacey Trock’s William take center stage. This is a different William from Cheryl Bennett’s smaller two-tone design: the designer lists an approximate 11-inch length and intermediate shaping in a paid PDF with progress photographs. A muted sea green makes the broad head, tapering body, and paddle-like fins easy to see. The sample photograph is the reference for the original silhouette, while our illustration changes the fin fullness and the dorsal and tail profiles. Avoid treating those changes as an alternate set of instructions. A smooth yarn is a useful starting point when the appeal lies in the outline itself, because a very fuzzy surface can hide the shaping you are trying to appreciate.
Pattern: William in a Single Color by Stacey Trock / FreshStitches. Access: Paid complete-project PDF through the designer’s Ravelry listing. Ravelry supplies an email download receipt; an account is useful for saving the purchase in your library.
Choose the Whale That Suits Your Making Style
Choose your whale by the kind of making you enjoy as much as by its color. A one-piece miniature suits a different mood from a shaped, seamed humpback or a detailed colorwork orca. Open the original project, review the materials and finishing, and compare its photos with the styling ideas here before buying yarn or a paid pattern. Keep a note of any color or material changes you make, and use the designer’s instructions for construction. A well-chosen palette and a clearly defined outline can give even the smallest whale a memorable character.
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