It's been a theme lately for me to crochet my brother people/creatures from video games that he has been playing. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to create them and it is fun to throw on a show, kick-back, and crochet.

This is the first time I've actually recorded the pattern for one of my crochet projects and I think it turned out pretty well. Any issues that you may find in the pattern feel free to let me know and I'll gladly fix it so others can easily re-create this if they want to. I'll apologize now for some of the dark pictures, I tend to crochet at night and usually only work under a small light.

I would recommend reading through all the steps before starting, or at least skim them, to make your life easier once you start.

With that out of the way, let's get on to the project!

Step 1: Crocheting Basics

Here are some extremely helpful links on the crocheting basics. This will help those who are new to crocheting or new to reading patterns/understanding terms. I was taught how to crochet by my aunt so when I learned I was taught different terms and different ways of going about crocheting. With these references, hopefully, they'll help those who are new to crocheting.

Perfect video to help you with this pattern:

Decreasing:

Other useful links

Magic Circle:

Single Crochet:

Step 2: Understanding the Abbreviations and Reading the Pattern

Abbreviations are a huge part of crochet patterns in general and everyone tends to have similar, but different, abbreviations. Here are the abbreviations I'll use for this pattern:

Sc = Single Crochet

Inc = Increase (two single crochets in one stitch)

Magic Circle = Magic Circle (this is the easy one)

Dec = Decrease (decreasing the number of stitches by one)

*For decreasing you just skip a stitch and leave it empty.

Pattern Example

Here's an example of what you'll see and how to read it:

Row 1 - 5sc in magic circle (5)

Row 1 refers to the row that you are currently on and is helpful for keeping track of where you are in the pattern.

5sc in magic circle means that you'll crochet 5 single crochet stitches within the magic circle.

The (5) at the end tells you how many stitches you'll have in the entire row. This will help you make sure you didn't miss a stitch or are on track to continue on.

Here's another example:

Row 3 - Sc around (10)

Row 3 once again refers to the row you are currently on.

Sc around means to single crochet in each stitch of the row as normal.

The (10) at the end again tells you how many stitches in the entire row.

So, in this case, you would single crochet 10 stitches for the row.

Here's one last example:

Row 3 - 7sc, inc, 7sc, inc (18)

Row 3 refers to the row you are currently on.
7sc, inc means you crochet 7 single crochet then in the next stitch you'll put two single crochets in one stitch.
The (18) at the end tells you how many stitches in the entire row.

Step 3: Before You Officially Start

Before you start here are a few tips I think will be useful to you to know before you start:

I highly recommend stuffing the different parts as you go. If I had to stuff the mouth part after I was done crocheting it, it would be a nightmare to get it evenly stuffed.

If you are a novice to crocheting take your time, count your stitches after every row, and don't be afraid to take out stitches if they aren't looking right. Counting stitches each row may seem tedious, but in the long-run, it will really help you.

If you are a veteran to crocheting and have a better way to make different parts of this Zapfish feel free to stray from the pattern. If you do find an easy/better way to make a part please feel free to share and help others who are interested in creating this.

Now let's officially start the project!

Step 4: What You'll Need

To complete this project here's what you'll need:

Yarn

Orange yarn (http://www.redheart.com/yarn/love#prettyPhoto)
Yellow yarn (http://www.redheart.com/yarn/love#prettyPhoto)
Black yarn (http://www.redheart.com/yarn/love#prettyPhoto)

Tools

Most of the tools I got were from Joann's, but you can easily find most of these at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or any grocery/department store.

3.75mm hook or F/5 hook
5mm hook or H/8 hook
Yarn sewing needle (I use a plastic one)
Yellow pipe cleaners
Safety Eyes (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y5ZLZWC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
White felt
Stuffing

Feel free to use whatever yarn you'd like, especially since I know people have favorite yarn to crochet with (I know I do). You can also use whatever size yarn you'd like, but as the yarn's diameter gets larger (more chunky) you'll want to go up a size for your crochet hook. A good way to figure out the hook size you'll need is by looking at the yarn label. Somewhere on it, it should give you a recommended hook size. If the hook size is close to the size I used in the pattern I highly recommend just using the same size hook I used.

*I tend to use a smaller hook size to keep my stitches looking more full without having to worry about the tension in the yarn. I find this also helps keep the stuffing from leaking out between stitches.

Step 5: The Head

In yellow with 5mm hook or H/8:

Row 1 - 8sc in magic circle (8)
Row 2 - Increase in each stitch (16)

Row 3 - 7sc, inc, 7sc, inc (18)

Row 4 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc (24)

Row 5 - 11sc, inc, 11sc, inc (26)

Row 6 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc (34)

Row 7 - 16sc, inc, 16sc, inc (36)

Row 8 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc (48)

Row 9 - 23sc, inc, 23sc, inc (50)

Row 10 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc (66)

Row 11 - 32sc, inc, 32sc, inc (68)

Row 12 - 33sc, inc, 33sc, inc (70)

Row 13 - 70sc (70)

Row 14 - 70sc (70)

Row 15 - 70sc (70)

Row 16 - 33sc, dec, 33sc, dec (68)

Row 17 - 32sc, dec, 32sc, dec (66)

Row 18 - 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc (50)

Row 19 - 23sc, dec, 23sc, dec (48)

Row 20 - 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec (36)

Row 21 - 16sc, dec, 16sc, dec (34)

Row 22 - 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc (26)

Row 23 - 11sc, dec, 11sc, dec (24)

Row 24 - 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec (18)

Do not close the head, if you do it will make it harder than necessary to attach the safety eyes.

Step 6: The Mouth

In orange with 3.75mm Hook or F/5:

Row 1 - 5sc in magic circle (5)

Row 2 - Increase in each stitch (10)

Row 3 - Sc around (10)

Row 4 - Sc around (10)

Row 5 - Sc around (10)

Row 6 - Sc around (10)

Row 7 - Sc around (10)

Row 8 - Sc around (10)

Row 9 - Sc around (10)

Row 10 - Sc around (10)

Row 11 - Sc around (10)

Row 12 - Sc around (10)

Row 13 - Sc around (10)

Row 14 - Sc around (10)

Row 15 - Sc around (10)

Row 16 - Sc around (10)

Row 17 - Sc around (10)

Row 18 - Sc around (10)

Row 19 - Sc around (10)

Row 20 - Sc around (10)

Row 21 - Sc around (10)

Row 22 - Sc around (10)

Row 23 - Sc around (10)

Row 24 - Sc around (10)

Row 25 - Sc around (10)

Row 26 - Sc around (10)

Row 27 - Sc around (10)

Row 28 - Sc around (10)

Row 29 - Sc around (10)

Row 30 - Sc around (10)

Row 31 - Sc around (10)

Row 32 - Sc around (10)

Row 33 - Sc around (10)

Row 34 - Sc around (10)

Row 35 - Sc around (10)

Row 36 - Sc around (10)

Row 37 - Sc around (10)

Row 38 - Sc around (10)

Row 39 - Sc around (10)

Row 40 - Sc around (10)

Row 41 - Sc around (10)

Row 42 - Sc around (10)

Row 43 - Sc around (10)

Row 44 - Sc around (10)

Row 45 - Sc around (10)

Row 46 - Sc around (10)

Row 47 - Sc around (10)

Row 48 - Sc around (10)

Sew together end of the piece with the starting of the piece. It should fit together pretty nicely, once you've got that set, sew the two together.

The white string was used for shaping as I went so I knew how long I wanted it while writing the pattern. This isn’t something you need to do, but you can if you'd like to.

Step 7: Back of the Mouth

In Black with 3.75mm Hook or F/5:

Row 1 - 8sc in magic circle (8)

Row 2 - Increase in each stitch (16)

Row 3 - 7sc, inc, 7sc, inc (18)

Row 4 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc (24)

Fasten off with a long tail for sewing and make another one so you have two.

Sew the two "ovals" together to create this mask type object. Once that is done sew it on the back of Mouth. It doesn’t need to look pretty, just make sure that you use orange yarn. I regrettably used black yarn, which made it slightly difficult to make sure you couldn't see the black yarn once I attached the complete mouth to the head.

If you wanted you could easily use black felt for the back of the mouth. I just personally wanted to make it out of yarn.

Step 8: Assembling the Head

Start by sewing the mouth on the head where you want it. It may take a while to get it just right. I would recommend sewing the mouth on with the yellow yarn to get a clean look without having to spend a ton of time sewing. You could easily use orange yarn though.

Once that's done, cut two circles out of felt that are slightly larger than the diameter of the safety eyes. Make a small cut in the center of the felt so the safety eyes can easily fit in them. Put the safety eye through the felt, then put the eye where you'd like it. Once you're happy with where it is, attach the back of the safety eye to keep it in place.

The last thing to do is to sew on nostrils in black between the eyes and stick the pipe cleaners into the head for the whiskers. To keep the whiskers in place make a small knot or slightly bend the part inside the head.

Step 9: The Body

In Yellow with 5mm Hook or H/8:

Row 1 - Sc 8 in magic circle (8)

Row 2 - Inc in each stitch (16)

Row 3 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 1sc (21)

Row 4 - Sc around (21)

Row 5 - Sc around (21)

Row 6 - 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc (25)

Row 7 - Sc around (25)

Row 8 - 4sc, inc, 4sc, inc, 4sc, inc, 4sc, inc, 4sc, inc (30)

Row 9 - Sc around (30)

Row 10 - Sc around (30)

Row 11 - Sc around (30)

Row 12 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 15sc (35)

Row 13 - Sc around (35)

Row 14 - Sc around (35)

Row 15 - Sc around (35)

Row 16 - Sc around (35)

Row 17 - Sc around (35)

Row 18 - Sc around (35)

Row 19 - 18sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 4sc (40)

Row 20 - 21sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 6sc (44)

Row 21 - Sc around (44)

Row 22 - Sc around (44)

Row 23 - 21sc, dec, 3sc, dec, 3sc, dec, 3sc, dec, 6sc (40)

Row 24 - 18sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 4sc (35)

Row 25 - 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 3sc (27)

Row 26 - Sc around (27)

Row 27 - Sc around (27)

Row 28 - Sc around (27)

Finish off and sew head onto body.

Step 10: The Fins and Tail

Fins (x2)

In Black with 5mm Hook or H/8:

Row 1 - Sc 6 in magic circle (6)

Row 2 - Inc in each stitch (12)

Sew fins onto the body.

Tail

In Black with 5mm Hook or H/8:

Row 1 - Sc 6 in magic circle (6)

Row 2 - Inc in each stitch (12)

Row 3 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc (16)

Row 4 - 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 2sc, inc, 1sc (21)

Row 5 - Sc around (21)

Row 6 - Sc around (21)

Row 7 - Sc around (21)

Row 8 - Sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec (14)

Sew tail onto the body.

Step 11: It's Complete!

Now your Zapfish is complete!

He ended up turning out pretty well and is adorable according to my brother. Though I think it has a cute derpy look to it.

I hope that you'll try making one yourself, especially since it isn't too long of a project. If you end up making it yourself I'd love to see pictures. If anyone has any tips or easier ways of creating this, please share because I'd love to improve this pattern if I can and improve my own skills.

Time to figure out what to crochet next!

Introduction: Crochet a Zapfish From Splatoon