SEAS#013

BABY H U M PBAC K W H AL E C R O C H ET PATTER N
Yay! It’s time to share my Baby Humpback Whale crochet pattern with you all!
Thank you to all of you for the kind words and encouragement
on Facebook and Instagram as I tried to figure out the best pattern for this little
guy, and for all your patience as I worked and reworked the shaping and overall
look. I’m super happy with how it has all turned out, so let’s get into how this little
whale took shape!
The whale is worked in rows, but the row is folded in half and sewn together at
the nose to create the front seam. I started in a similar way as the first whale, but
I started winging it pretty quickly, creating a more exaggerated shaping to counter
any stretching that might happen. I also used a smaller G hook with the same
weight yarn, and used a very tight gauge, so the fabric was very tightly woven and
less prone to stretching when stuffed. Then, to be honest, I just flew by the seat
of my pants a bit! On the first whale, I was so picky about the shaping and kept
frogging rows, but I’ve since learned that it doesn’t have to be perfect because
overstuffing the whale can smooth out a lot of minor issues.
Once all the pieces were done (top, bottom, both fins), it was time to sew and
stuff! First, sew the fin pieces together using slip stitches all the way around.
Make sure that the fins are pointing in the right direction with the right color on
top! My friend often makes the mistake of making both fins identical, but they’re
actually mirror images of each other. Then, holding the top and bottom pieces
together, sew the tail top and bottom together using slip stitches around the tail,
then cut the yarn, leaving a nice long tail, about 2 or 3 feet. This yarn tail needs to
be long enough to sew around the whole whale. I used my favorite mattress
stitch to sew the body of the whale together. Once I got to where the fins should
be attached, I decided to sew the fins in as part of the body, instead of attaching
the fins afterwards. This was also inspired by fabric sewing, where you’d sew
right over the fin when seaming two pieces together. Before you close off the
whale, add the safety eyes and stuff the whale! I found that overstuffing the whale
helps give it that puffy, defined look. You don’t need to stuff the fins or the tail.
Close off the whale, sew in any loose ends, squish the whale a bit to shape it, and
you’re done! How cool is that?
Now this little guy really looks like a humpback whale, and the exaggerated mouth
shaping ended up working out well. It’s also definitely bigger in the head and
looks less like a torpedo, which makes it also sit better. Anyways, I hope you like
it!
SUPPLIES
 2 balls: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Denim Mist (85g/3oz,
145yds/133m, 4 Medium)
 1 ball: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Silver Blue (100g/3.5ox,
170yds/156m, 4 Medium)
 1 Clover USA crochet hook G/4.00mm*
 9mm safety eyes
 stitch markers
 polyfill stuffing
 scissors
 tapestry needle
ABBREVIATIONS
 sl st – slip stitch
 ch – chain stitch
 hdc – half double crochet
 dc – double crochet
 sc2tog – single crochet decrease: Insert hook into front loop of next
st. Without yarning over, insert hook into front loop of next st. Yarn
over. Pull through 2 loops on hook. Yarn over, pull through remaining
loop on hook.
PATTERN NOTES
 The Whale Top uses Denim Mist – Color A. The Whale Bottom uses
Silver Blue – Color B. Make 4 Whale Fins, two using Color A, and two
using Color B.
 Gauge = 18 stitches and 18 rows in 4 inches.
 Overall size = approximately 17 inches long and 13 inches from fin tip
to fin tip.
 Turn at the end of each Row.
 Most rows are the reflected over the halfway point. In other words,
they are palindromes! The exceptions are the single decrease
stitches.
 Anytime it’s written just X sc, it means work 1 sc in each of next X
stitches. Eg. “6 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 6 sc” = Work 1 sc in each of
next 6 st, 2 sc in each of next 2 st, 1 sc in each of next 6 st.
 Rows 20-21: the last stitch is the 2nd chain of the ‘Ch 2’ from the
previous row.
 “Row 37: Ch 1. Work 1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 20 sc, 1 sc2tog, 20 sc, 1 sc2tog,
1 sc. (45)” = Work 1 sc in first st. Work the next 2 st together into
1 sc. Work 1 sc in each of the next 20 st. Work the next 2 st
together into 1 sc. Work 1 sc in each of the next 20 st. Work the
next 2 st together into 1 sc. Work 1 sc in the last st. => You start
with 48 stitches in the previous row, and you are decreasing into 45
stitches.
 Row 49 is where the work is folded to create the fin. The previous row
is 38 stitches. Fold your work in half, so there’s 19 stitches in each
half. Work 1 sc in first st. Work the next 2 st together into 1 sc. Work 1
sc in each of next 12 st (all as normal). With the work folded in half,
you should see 4 stitches left before the turn. Work 1 sc in each of
those next 4 st, but work through all 4 loops to secure them
together. You’ve now worked through 19 stitches and it looks like it’s
the end of the “row”. Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sl st into each of the
previous 4 sc that you created. Now, there should be 15 unworked
stitches left in the row. Work 1 sc in each of 12 st (normal 2 loops only
at this point). Work the next 2 st together into 1 sc. Work 1 sc in last
st.
 Rows 74-76: Keep your slip stitches fairly loose so that it’s easier to
work a new row of slip stitches into slip stitches. Otherwise, these 4
stitches get a bit tricky. This is to create the little divot in the tail.
 Whale assembly uses a combination of slip stitches and the mattress
stitch.
 Below instructions are to attach the fins by working them directly into
the mattress stitch while joining the whale together. Alternatively,
attach the fins by sewing them directly onto the finished whale.
HUMPBACK WHALE CROCHET PATTERN

WHALE TOP – Using Color A
Row 1: Chain 11.
Row 2: Starting from the second chain from hook, work 1 sc in each st across.
(10)
Row 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (10)
Row 4: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 3 sc, 2 sc in last st. (14)
Row 6: Ch 1. Work 6 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 6 sc. (16)

Row 9-11: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (20)
Row 13: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 20 sc, 2 sc in last st. (24)
Row 14: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 10 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 10 sc, 2 sc in last st.
(28)
Row 15: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across (28)
Row 16: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 26 sc, 2sc in last st. (30)
Row 17: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 13 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 13 sc, 2 sc in last st.
(34)
Row 19: Ch 2 – counts as stitch. Work 1 hdc in first st, 34 sc, 2 hdc in last st. (38)
Row 20: Ch 2 – counts as stitch. Work 1 hdc in first st, 36 sc, 2 hdc in last st. (40)

Row 37: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 20 sc, 1 sc2tog, 20 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1
sc in last st. (45)
sc in last st. (42)
Row 41: Ch 1. Work 1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 36 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc. (40)
Row 43: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 16 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 16 sc, 1
sc2tog, 1 sc in last st. (40) This is the start of the back fin.
Row 45: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 36 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc in last st. (40)
Row 46-47: Repeat Rows 44-45.
Row 49: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 12 sc. Work 1 sc in each of next 4
st, through all 4 loops. Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sl st in each of next 4 st. Work 12 sc, 1
sc2tog, 1 sc in last st. (36) This is the end of the back fin. See Pattern Notes for
more details on this row.
sc in last st. (25)
Row 53: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 8 sc, 1 sc2tog, 9 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc
in last st. (22)
in last st. (17)
in last st. (14)
in last st. (11)
in last st. (8)
START OF TAIL

Row 72: Ch 2 – counts as 1 hdc st. Work 1 hdc in first st, 14 sc, 2 hdc in last st.
(18)
Row 73: Ch 3 – counts as 1 dc st. Work 1 dc in first st, 16 sc, 2 dc in last st. (20)
Row 74: Ch 3 – counts as 1 dc st. Work 1 dc in first st, 7 hdc, 4 sl st, 7 hdc, 2 dc
in last st. (22)
in last st. (22)
in last st. (22)
Fasten off, weave in ends.
WHALE BOTTOM – USING COLOR B

Row 1: Chain 17.
Row 2: Starting from the second chain from hook, work 7 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 7
sc. (18)
Row 4: Ch 1. Work 1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 5 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc in next 2 st, 1 hdc, 5 sc, 1
sc2tog, 1 sc st. (20)
Row 5: Ch 1. Work 8 sc, 2 hdc in next st, 2 dc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st, 8 sc.
(24)
Row 6: Ch 1. Work 10 sc, 2 sc in next st, 2 hdc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, 10 sc.
(28)

sc2tog, 1 sc. (34)
sc2tog, 1 sc. (34)
sc2tog, 1 sc. (32)
Row 19: Ch 1. Work 2 sc2tog (over 4 st), 24 sc, 2 sc2tog (over 4 st). (28)
Row 37: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 9 sc, 1 sc2tog, 9 sc, 2 sc in last st. (23)
Row 38: Ch 1. Work 11 sc, 1 sc2tog, 10 sc. (22)
Row 41-42: Repeat Rows 39-40. (22)

Row 63: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 2 sc2tog, 2 sc in last st. (6)
Row 65-66: Repeat Rows 63-64.
START OF TAIL
Row 72: Ch 2 – counts as 1 hdc st. Work 1 hdc in first st, 14 sc, 2 hdc in last st.
(18)
Row 73: Ch 3 – counts as 1 dc st. Work 1 dc in first st, 16 sc, 2 dc in last st. (20)
in last st. (22)
in last st. (22)
in last st. (22)
Fasten off, weave in ends.
WHALE FINS (MAKE 4 – 2 IN EACH COLOR)

Row 1: Ch 6.
Row 2: Starting from the second chain from hook, work 1 sc in each st across. (5)
Row 4: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each of next 4 st, 2 sc in last st. (6)
Row 6: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each of next 5 st, 2 sc in last st. (7)
Row 9: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc in each of next 4 st. (6)
Row 19: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each of next 2 st, 1 sc2tog. (3)
Row 20: Ch 1. Work 1 sc2tog, then sl st into last st. (2)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
ASSEMBLY
 Attach safety eyes at approx. Row 21 on Whale Top, about 3 stitches

from either edge.
 On both Whale Top and Whale Bottom, fold Row 1 in half, sew
together to form nose.
Fins:
 Hold a Color A fin and a Color B fin together, edges lined up. Using
Color A, insert hook through both fins (4 loops together), and attach
yarn. Work slip stitches evenly around the fin. Join to first sl st.
 Repeat for the other set of fins, making sure they are lined up
opposite the first set so that the straight edge of both fins face
forward.
Whale Body:
 Holding the Top and Bottom tail fins together, attach yarn at Row 66
(right side while facing the whale). Work slip stitches evenly around
the tail fin until Row 66, left side.
 Cut the yarn, leaving approximately a 4 ft tail for joining the whale
body.
 Pull yarn through last slip stitch at Row 66 to secure.
 Use the mattress stitch to join the Whale Top to Whale Bottom, edge
to edge, working from the left side while facing the whale, around the
front and down the right side of the whale. Make sure to line up the
rows on both pieces. Having stitch markers in place helps a lot!
 At Row 28 of left side, work the mattress stitch through the left fin to
sew the fin directly into the body. Fin should be attached from
approximately Row 28 to Row 24.
 Continue joining the Whale Top to Whale Bottom around the front of
the whale.
 At Row 24 of right side, work the mattress stitch through the right fin
to sew the fin directly into the body. Fin should be attached from
approximately Row 24 to Row 28.
 Continue joining the Whale Top to Whale Bottom, stopping to stuff the
whale, until Row 66.
 Sew into where the yarn was first attached. Secure tightly and fasten
off. Weave in ends.
All done!
Now that I have a jellyfish, a shark, and a humpback whale, I may need to make
a few more marine animals and create an aquarium series!

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BABY H U M PBAC K W H AL E C R O C H ET PATTER N

HUMPBACK WHALE CROCHET PATTERN

Row 1: Chain 11.

Row 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (10)

Row 5: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (14)

Row 6: Ch 1. Work 6 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 6 sc. (16)

Row 7: Ch 1. Work 7 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 7 sc. (18)

Row 9-11: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (20)

Row 12: Ch 1. Work 9 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 9 sc. (22)

Row 13: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 20 sc, 2 sc in last st. (24)

Row 15: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across (28)

Row 18: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 32 sc, 2 sc in last st. (36)

Row 21: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 38 sc, 2 sc in last st. (42)

Row 22: Ch 1. Work 20 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 20 sc. (44)

Row 23-24: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (44)

Row 25: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 42 sc, 2 sc in last st. (46)

Row 26: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (46)

Row 27: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 44 sc, 2 sc in last st. (48)

Row 28-36: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (48)

Row 38: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (45)

Row 40: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (42)

Row 41: Ch 1. Work 1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 36 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc. (40)

Row 42: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (40)

Row 44: Ch 1. Work 19 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 19 sc. (42)

Row 46-47: Repeat Rows 44-45.

Row 50: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (28)

Row 52: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (25)

Row 56: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (20)

Row 58: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (17)

Row 60: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (14)

Row 62: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (11)

Row 64: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (8)

Row 66: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (6)

Row 68: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 6 sc, 2 sc in last st. (10)

Row 69: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 8 sc, 2 sc in last st. (12)

Row 70: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 10 sc, 2 sc in last st. (14)

Fasten off, weave in ends.

WHALE BOTTOM – USING COLOR B

Row 3: Ch 1. Work 8 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 8 sc. (20)

Row 7: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (28)

Row 8: Ch 1. Work 13 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 13 sc. (30)

Row 9: Ch 1. Work 14 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 14 sc. (32)

Row 11: Ch 1. Work 15 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 15 sc. (34)

Row 12: Ch 1. Work 16 sc, 2 sc in next 2 st, 16 sc. (36)

Row 15: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (34)

Row 20: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (28)

Row 22-24: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (26)

Row 26: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (24)

Row 28-36: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (22)

Row 40: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (22)

Row 41-42: Repeat Rows 39-40. (22)

Row 44: Ch 1. Work 9 sc, 2 sc2tog, 9 sc. (20)

Row 46: Ch 1. Work 8 sc, 2 sc2tog, 8 sc. (18)

Row 48: Ch 1. Work 7 sc, 2 sc2tog, 7 sc. (16)

Row 50: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (16)

Row 52: Ch 1. Work 6 sc, 2 sc2tog, 6 sc. (14)

Row 54: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each st across. (14)

Row 56: Ch 1. Work 5 sc, 2 sc2tog, 5 sc. (12)

Row 58: Ch 1. Work 4 sc, 2 sc2tog, 4 sc. (10)

Row 60: Ch 1. Work 3 sc, 2 sc2tog, 3 sc. (8)

Row 62: Ch 1. Work 2 sc, 2 sc2tog, 2 sc. (6)

Row 63: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in first st, 2 sc2tog, 2 sc in last st. (6)