Ocean animals are some of the friendliest shapes in amigurumi: a jellyfish is a dome with ribbons, a turtle is a ball with a shell, and a shark is mostly one smooth body. This page collects our free sea animal amigurumi patterns: rainbow jellyfish, a fluffy baby sea turtle, a mint chocolate chip turtle, a baby shark, a sea pup in a scarf and an octopus keychain.
Cards run from the easiest skill level to the most involved and show the hook, yarn and finished size from each pattern. For land animals, characters and holiday toys, see our complete amigurumi pattern collection.
Free sea animal amigurumi patterns
Cute Crochet Octopus Keychain Pattern: Easy DIY Gift
Beginner · 2.5 mm hook · acrylic yarn · about 5–7 cm
Adorable Pastel Rainbow Jellyfish Trio Crochet Pattern
Beginner–Intermediate · 2.75 mm hook · DK / sport yarn
Adorable Mint Chocolate Chip Turtle Crochet Pattern
Intermediate · 4 mm hook · worsted yarn · about 7 inches
Adorable Baby Shark Amigurumi: Easy Crochet Pattern
4 mm hook · chenille / worsted yarn · about 14–16 cm
Adorable Pastel Rainbow Jellyfish Amigurumi Free Pattern
3.5 mm hook · worsted / cotton yarn · about 6 inches
Choosing your first sea creature
The simplest shape: jellyfish. The minimalist jellyfish on a 3.25 mm hook is little more than a stuffed dome with tentacles, which makes it a great first amigurumi.
A colorful project: the pastel rainbow jellyfish, about 6 inches tall, teaches stripes in the round. The trio version makes three in DK yarn on a 2.75 mm hook, which is perfect for using up scraps.
Something cuddly: the baby shark in chenille-style yarn is about 14 to 16 cm long, and the fluffy baby sea turtle and sea pup also use plush yarn. All three are soft enough for a nursery shelf.
A step up: the mint chocolate chip turtle is rated intermediate and finishes at about 7 inches. It uses worsted yarn on a 4 mm hook, and its shell and speckled details take more care than the others here.
Tentacles, fins and shells
Sea animals have a few parts you will not meet in land animals. Here is how to handle them:
| Part | Common technique | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Jellyfish tentacles | Chains or rows of increases that curl into spirals | Work them tightly so the curls hold |
| Fins and flippers | Small flat or lightly stuffed pieces | Sew on at an angle for a swimming pose |
| Turtle shells | A separate dome sewn over a body | Add a contrast edge to define the rim |
| Octopus legs | Short tubes worked from the body | Stuff lightly so they bend |
Curly tentacles: many jellyfish tentacles curl because of increases worked into a chain. If yours look flat, check your stitch counts. Too few increases means the strip will not spiral.
Shark and seal faces: a wide-set pair of eyes and a small embroidered smile keep sea animals friendly rather than fierce. For the shark, a slightly lighter belly color worked as a color change adds a lot of character.
Even stripes: for rainbow jellyfish, change colors on the last yarn-over of the final stitch of a round. Keep the color-change jog at the back, where the tentacles will hide it.
Yarn for ocean amigurumi
Plush chenille and velvet yarns give a soft, squishy look that suits sharks, turtles and seals. Cotton and DK yarns show stripes and patterns clearly, which suits jellyfish best. If you want a matching ocean mobile or shelf, pick one yarn weight for every animal so they share a scale.
Our foundation chain tutorial is helpful before you start, since jellyfish tentacles begin as chains.
Ocean toys as gifts
Sea animals make great baby gifts, and many families choose an ocean theme for nurseries. For babies, embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes, and sew fins and tentacles on firmly. The octopus is also in our mini keychain patterns if you want a tiny version for a backpack.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest sea animal amigurumi?
The minimalist jellyfish is the easiest: one dome, a few tentacles and no limbs to sew. The octopus keychain is rated beginner by its designer.
How do I make curly jellyfish tentacles?
Work several increases into each chain along the tentacle. The extra stitches force the strip to twist into a spiral.
What yarn should I use for an amigurumi shark or turtle?
Plush chenille or velvet yarn gives a soft, cuddly finish. Worsted or cotton yarn gives more defined shapes and patterns.
Can I make an ocean mobile from these patterns?
Yes. Make the animals in the same yarn weight so they match in size, and sew a strong hanging loop through the top of each one.
More collections to explore
- Woodland & Wild Animal Amigurumi (21 patterns)
- Crochet Keychain Patterns (19 patterns)
- Easy Amigurumi Patterns (15 patterns)