We love narwhals. They are the unicorn of the sea. This giant, squishy narwhal and his friend the shark are soft and cuddly, and make great pillows. They use a lot of stuffing, but they’re so worth it. With my free pattern, now everybody can have their own narwhal or shark friend.
If you want a pattern that you can save on your computer and easily print, this pattern is available in my Ravelry shop for only $3.00. I love printing patterns and saving them in a binder to keep track of the ones I’ve done and the ones I still plan to do.
Abbreviations:
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
inc: increase (2 single crochets in one loop)
dec: decrease (pull yarn through loop, pull yarn through second loop, yarn over and pull through all loops)
Materials needed (with affiliate links):
Bernat Blanket yarn – 10.5 ounce size (2 balls of dark grey for the shark, or 1 ball of country blue and 1 ball of vintage white for the narwhal)
White worsted weight yarn (for shark teeth)
Poly-fil (I used a little more than half of a 50 oz bag for each of them)
**A couple of notes before you begin**
- If you tend to crochet with loose stitches, you may want to use a smaller crochet hook to reduce the amount of yarn that you use and tighten up your stitches.
- As you crochet the body, you’ll notice it doesn’t really look all that round. Once you stuff it with the poly-fil, it will round out. If it’s not as round as you’d like it to be, put more poly-fil in and force it into the places you want it to shape it. Stuffing it extra full will help form its shape, but it will also ensure that it keeps its shape after all of the hugging and squishing it is sure to get.
- This pattern is worked “in-the-round”, and stitches are worked through both loops unless otherwise noted. At the end of each row, I slip stitch then chain 1 and turn it, working the next row in the opposite direction. If you’d like, you can skip turning it and continue working in the same direction throughout the pattern.
Body:
ch 3. Sl st to first ch to create circle. (Instead, you can perform the “magic circle” if you’d like.)
Row 1: ch 1, 10 sc inside of circle. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 2: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next stitch , repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 4: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 3 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 5: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 4 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 6: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 7: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 6 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 8: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 7 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 9: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 8 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 10: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 9 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 11: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 10 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 12: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 11 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 13: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 12 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 14: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 13 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 15: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 14 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 16: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 15 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 17: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 16 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 18: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 17 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 19: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 18 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 20: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 19 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 21: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 20 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 22: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 21 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 23: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 22 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Rows 24-29: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn. (If you’re working on the narwhal, switch to vintage white before row 28.)
Row 30: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 22 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 31: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 21 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 32: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 20 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 33: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 19 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 34: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 18 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 35: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 17 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 36: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 16 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 37: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 15 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 38: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 14 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 39: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 13 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 40: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 12 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 41: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 11 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 42: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 10 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 43: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 9 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 44: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 8 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 45: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 7 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 46: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 6 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Stuff the body as full as you can, shaping it as you stuff. Position the eyes between rows 24 and 25 with a space of 12 sc’s between them. For the shark, sew the teeth on starting around row 28. Continue stuffing the body as you go.
Row 47: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 5 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 48: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 4 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 49: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 3 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 50: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 51: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next stitch, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 52: *Dec in first 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
If there’s still an opening at the bottom, you can use a slip stitch to close. Tie off.
Fins (make 2):
ch 3. Sl st to first ch to create circle. (Instead, you can perform the “magic circle” if you’d like.)
Row 1: ch 1, 10 sc inside of circle. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 2: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next stitch , repeat from * around, but leave the last 2 stitches unworked, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: *Inc in first stitch, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * around, ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Sc in each stitch around. Tie off, leaving a tail long enough for sewing. Position fins on each side and sew on around row 27.
Narwhal Horn:
Leaving a long starting tail for sewing, ch. 30, sl st to first ch to form a ring. Ch 1.
Rows 1-2: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 4 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Rows 4-5: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 6: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 3 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Rows 7-8: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 9: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Rows 10-11: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 12: *Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next stitch, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Rows 13-14: Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
Row 15: *Dec in first 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
If there’s still an opening at the top, you can use a slip stitch to close. Tie off. Stuff horn, center on head and sew on.
Shark Fin (make 2):
Ch. 17
Rows 1-2: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 12 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 10 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 8 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 6: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 6 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 7: Sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.
Row 8: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 4 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 9: Sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.
Row 10: Dec in first 2 stitches, sc in next 2 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 11: Sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.
Row 12: Dec in first 2 stitches, dec in last 2 stitches, ch 1, turn.
Row 13: Sc in each stitch across. Tie off with first one. With second one, put 2 fins together and sc around the sides and top, leaving an opening at the bottom. Tie off, leaving a tail long enough for sewing. Lightly stuff fin, center on shark head, and sew on.
Here is the finished shark…
And the finished narwhal…
I hope you enjoy your new underwater friends. This is a fun pattern, and I love how adorable they are. They team up quite well with my giant octopus pattern.
If there are any mistakes in this pattern, or something is unclear, please feel free to leave me a comment and let me know. Or message me on Facebook. If you create any sea creatures of your own, be sure to post a photo on my Facebook page so I can see.
lefthandedcrocheter.com 
Thank you so very much for these patterns.I am always wondering what to make for my Grandchildren and even though I can not read a pattern this one seems fairly simple.I may be able to follow it.
Hmmm…. winner of I could work out a snout and turn this into a dolphin or an orca?
That’s a neat idea. It probably wouldn’t be too hard to turn it into a dolphin or orca.
I love the pattern!! As a beginner, I am a little confused with the decreases starting in round 30. I decrease two times, then sc 22 and repeat. I am just a little stuck without knowing how many stitches each round should have. I am making the shark for my daughter for Christmas. Any advice would be great!!
LOVE the narwhal! Are your patterns on Ravelry? I can’t find it there, but love to list my projects on there. Will link back to your blog or FB page if it is ok with you! I am going to make this for my son 🙂 Thank you for sharing your pattern for free!