Fish Rattle

Copyright Anne Bank Nielsen @abanisverden. English translation by Bymami @bymamidk.

This pattern may not be used commercially. You may sell items made from this pattern, as long as long
as you credit me for the design.

Feel free to share photos of the finished rattle along with the tags @abanisverden and
#hækletfiskerangle or #crochetfishrattle

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Before you begin

Make sure to read the entire pattern before starting and always read all of the instructions for each part!
This rattle is crocheted in such a way that all the fish parts (except the eyes) are crocheted directly onto the
fish body. This means almost no sewing. This particular way of crocheting may need a little practice if you
are not used to doing this. I have tried to illustrate each major step with photos. If you get lost and find
yourself in need of help finishing this pattern feel free to contact me through Instagram @abanisverden or
send me an email at flyingabani@gmail.com

Materials:
Hook size: 2 mm
Yarn: 8/4 ply cotton
Yardage: ½ a skein (25g) for the body and ½ a skein for fins and tail. A small amount of white and black yarn
for the eyes.
Other materials: fibre filling, rattle insert (max 22 mm).

NOTE: The recommended hook size for 8/4 ply cotton yarn is mostly 2½-3 mm. This pattern uses a 2 mm
hook to get a tightly crocheted fabric to prevent the filling from working its way through the stitches.
Use a tightly spun yarn, that makes it easier to crochet on a smaller hook. If you choose to use a larger
hook size, the finished fish rattle will be larger than stated in this pattern, there is a risk that the stuffing
will show through the tube part of the fish and the proportions may be off in comparison to the original.

Abbreviations (US):
rnd = round
mr = magic ring
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
inc = increase (2 sc in the same st)
inc3 = 3 sc into the same st
dec = decrease (2 sc tog)
blp = back loop
* - * = repeat the part between * for the remaining rnd/row

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Body

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st (12)
Rnd 3: *3 sc, inc*x3 (15)
Rnd 4: *4 sc, inc*x3 (18)
Rnd 5: *5 sc, inc*x3 (21)
Rnd 6: *6 sc, inc*x3 (24)
Rnd 7: *7 sc, inc*x3 (27)
Rnd 8: *8 sc, inc*x3 (30)
Rnd 9: *9 sc, inc*x3 (33)
Rnd 10: *10 sc, inc*x3 (36)
Rnd 11: *17 sc, inc3*x2 (40)
Rnd 12: 18 sc, inc3, 19 sc, inc3, 1 sc (44)
Rnd 13: 19 sc, inc, 21 sc, inc, 2 sc (46)
Rnd 14-15: 1 sc in each st (46) [2 rnds]
Crochet 3 sc
Now it is time to close the body by crocheting the two sides together:
 Insert hook in next st. Count 14 stitches backwards and insert hook from the wrong side into the
14th st (1st photo above). Crochet 1 sc through both of these two stitches.
 Continue crocheting the two sides together by inserting the hook through stitches on both sides for
the next 9 stitches. Remember to put in stuffing and the rattle insert and stuff firmly before closing
up entirely.
Continue crocheting the tube, 1 stitch at a time:
Rnd 16: 1 sc in the next 13 st. Crochet 1 sc into the last stitch unifying the two sides as shown in the 2nd
photo above (14 sc)
Rnds 17-55: 1 sc in each st (14) [39 rnds]
Stuff firmly as you go. Make sure to distribute the filling evenly inside the tube.
Finish with a sl st. Cut yarn but leave a tail for sewing the tube onto the remaining hole in the body as
shown on the following photos.

TIP: Stuff firmly. For the best result, the finished rattle should feel almost hard. The stuffing will soften
after some time, if it is filled too lightly the rattle will become squashy and loose its form.

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Tail

TIP: To get the best looking twirls, make a tight chain and crochet the sc with a normal or looser tension.
If you struggle to get a firm spiral, try crocheting 3 sc in each st instead of 2 sc. Keep in mind that the
twirls may need a helping hand to make them spiral correctly around the chain.

The tail is crocheted from the bottom up and consists of twirls crocheted back and forth in a zigzag motion,
placing the twirls one above the other as shown in the picture below. Please note that the fish is turning
upside down when beginning the tail, it will twist and turn while crocheting the tail twirls. Whenever the
pattern states ’above’, this is related to the fish in its correct position. The bottomside of the fish is the side
where it was sewn together. The red numbers (in brackets) easily compare the locations in the photo.
If you want the twirls in different colours, cut yarn after each twirl and attach the new colour.
Count up the tube, starting from the closure (without counting the
seam) and fasten yarn with a sl st between rnds 17 and 18 around a
front post (1).
Twirl 1: Ch 35, turn and begin in the 2nd st from hook: inc in each
ch st. Finish with a sl st around the sc located on the body next to
the beginning stitch (2) Turn the fish.
Twirl 2: Sl st around the sc located above the sc you just crocheted
(3). Ch 30, turn and begin in the 2nd st from the hook: inc in each st,
sl st around the sc located next to the previous stitch on the body
(4). Turn the fish.
Twirl 3: Sl st around the sc located above the sc you just crocheted
(5). Ch 25, turn and begin in the 2nd st from the hook: inc in each st,
sl st around the next sc located next to the previous stitch on the
body (6). Turn the fish.

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Continue in the same manner with the remaining twirls
Twirl 4: Sl st around the st. above (7), Ch 20, turn, inc in each st, sl st around the next st (8) turn
Twirl 5: Sl st around the st. above (9), Ch 25, turn, inc in each st, sl st around the next st (10) turn
Twirl 6: Sl st around the st. above (11), Ch 30, turn, inc in each st, sl st around the next st (12) turn
Twirl 7: Sl st around the st. above (13), Ch 35, turn, inc in each st, sl st around the next st (14) turn
Cut yarn and fasten all ends.

Photo 1: Tail without changing colour. Note that the twirls are located above each other and change direction as you make them.

Photo 2: Finishing a twirl to change colour. The nicest finish is achieved by inserting the hook towards the beg stitch of the twirl.

Photo 3: Different colour twirls, cut yarn between each twirl and begin a new twirlin the next stitch.

Dorsal Fin
The fins are crocheted directly onto the body in a straight line. Keep in mind that the tube part of the
fish is turning slightly, which means the stitches will not follow a straight line of stitches on the tube.

The dorsal fin consists of rows of stitches crocheted back and forth in the back loop only.
Decreasing in the back loop: Insert hook through back loop of both stitches and finish the sc as usual.
Count from the nose and attach yarn with a sl st around rnd 15
(see photo on the right)
Row 1: Ch 6, turn and begin in the 2nd st from hook.
Row 2: 5 sc. Sc around the next rnd of the body. Turn and skip this sc
Row 3. In blp: 3 sc, dec. Ch 1 to turn
Row 4: In blp: 4 sc. Skip 1 rnd on the body, sc around next rnd. Turn
and skip sc
Row 5: In blp: 2 sc, dec. Ch 1 to turn

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Row 6: In blp: 3 sc. Skip 1 rnd, sc around next rnd. Turn and skip sc
Row 7: In blp: 1 sc, dec. Ch 1 to turn
Row 8: In blp: 2 sc. Skip 1 rnd on the body, sc around next rnd. Turn and skip sc
Row 9: In blp: dec. Ch 1 to turn
Row 10: In blp: 1 sc. Skip 1 rnd on the body, sc around next rnd
Row 11: Skip 1 rnd on the body, 1 sc around next rnd
Row 12: Sl st around next rnd
Cut yarn and fasten all ends.

Ventral Fin

The ventral fin crocheted directly onto the body in a straight line along the body of the fish. Crochet one
stitch in each round.
Count 12 rnds up (skip the seem) from the closure towards the tail and begin by attaching the yarn with a sl
st. Around the following rnds in a straight line, crochet: 2 sl st, 3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 sc, 2 sl st (the last sl st is
crocheted around the closing seem).
Cut yarn and fasten all ends.

Ventral Fin, shown from the back: From right to left, one stitch around each rnd of the tube

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Fins

The fins are crocheted directly onto the body between rnds 14 and 15 (counted from the nose towards the
back, located in the middle between tubes. Each fin is crocheted over 3 sc.
Row 1: Attach yarn with a sl st, ch 6, turn and begin in the 3rd loop from hook
Row 2: 2 hdc, 2 sc, sl st around next sc on the body, turn and skip the sl st
Row 3: In blp: 2 sc, 2 hdc, turn with a ch 2
Row 4: In blp: 2 hdc, 2 sc, sl st around next sc on the body
Cut yarn and fasten all ends.
Repeat on the opposite side of the fish, beginning from the opposite direction. Make sure the placement of
the fins is symmetrical.

Shown left is the direction for fin 1, to the right is shown the direction for fin 2. Note that they are crocheted in
opposite directions to get the correct placement.

Eyes

Make two of each

Pupil (black)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr, close with a sl st (6)
Cut yarn but make sure to leave a tail long enough to sew onto White of the eye

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen
Sew the white parts of the eye onto the body first. Then sew the pupils onto the whites. Put a dot of white
in each pupil.

Congratulations – You have made a fish!

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Copyright: Anne Bank Nielsen