Make a fun crochet fidget toy with this free Crochet Fidget Fish pattern! This quick and easy project has a hidden clip inside for a satisfying click.
Kids these days LOVE a good sensory toy. Squishies, fidgets, clickers… if it’s satisfying to squish, squeeze, pop, or click, they’re into it!
So naturally, I had to figure out a way to crochet one. 😂
These little Crochet Fidget Fish have a hidden snap clip inside that gives the most satisfying little click when you squeeze them. They’re quick to make, use very little yarn, and are so fun to customize with different color combinations.
Whether you’re making them for the fidget-loving kids in your life or stocking up for your next market, I have a feeling these little fish are going to be hard to make just one of!
If you’re more of a pen-and-paper gal and prefer to print your crochet patterns, you can find the inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of the Crochet Fidget Fish pattern in my shop here.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no extra cost to you.
Crochet Fidget Fish Pattern
Materials
Worsted weight yarn
G 4.0mm crochet hook
Tapestry Needle
Scissors
Puff Paint in Black and White
Hair Clip
Stitch Key (US Terms)
CH = Chain
SC = Single Crochet
DC = Double Crochet
INC = Increase (2 stitches in same spot)
DEC = Decrease (2 stitches become 1)
SL ST = Slip Stitch
YO = Yarn Over
= To Be Repeated
Special Stitches
Magic Circle: Wrap the yarn around your fingers to create a loop, leaving a short tail. Insert your hook into the loop, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Chain 1 to secure, then work the indicated stitches into the center of the loop. Once your stitches are complete, gently pull the yarn tail to close the center.
Alternating Starting Point: To help minimize the visible “seam” created while crocheting the Fidget Fish, we will alternate where the first stitch is placed at the beginning of each round. Even-numbered rounds will begin in the same stitch as the join, while odd-numbered rounds will begin in the next stitch over. On odd-numbered rounds, the final stitch will be worked into the space right next to the starting CH.
Invisible Decrease: Insert your hook under the front loop only of the first stitch, then whip your hook around to insert it under the front loop only of the second stitch. Grab your yarn and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through two, completing the stitch.
How to Change Colors
You are welcome to use any color-changing method you’d like for this pattern. Here are the instructions for the color-changing method I’ll be using.
Step 1: Complete your last SC using color A. Pull up a loop and remove your hook.
Step 2: Insert your hook down through the body of the stitch, grab color B, and pull it through.
Step 3: Continue working with color B, then gently pull the loop left from color A until it disappears into the stitch.
Fidget Fish Crochet Pattern
Using your G hook and color A yarn:
Round 1: SC 8 into a Magic Circle. Join into the first SC, CH 1. (8)
Round 2: SC 2, INC, SC 5. Join into the first SC, CH 1. (9)
Round 3: Starting in the next stitch over, SC 4, INC, SC 4. Change to color B, join, CH 1. (10)
Sew in first tail from Round 1.
Round 4: Using color B, SC 10. Change to color C, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Round 5: Starting in the next stitch over, SC 10. Change to color B, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Turn the fish inside out and secure the yarn tails with a knot. Don’t worry about weaving them in, no one will see the inside of the fish! Be sure to leave colors B and C connected, as we’re not finished working with them yet.
Round 6: Using color B, SC 10. Change to color C, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Round 7: Starting in the next stitch over, SC 10. Change to color B, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Round 8: Using color B, SC 10. Change to color C, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Round 9: Starting in the next stitch over, SC 10. Change to color B, join into the first SC, CH 1. (10)
Cut color C yarn, leaving a tail long enough to secure with a knot.
Round 10: SC 1, DEC, SC 4, DEC, SC 1. Change to color A, join into the first SC, CH 1. (8)
Cut color B yarn, leaving a tail long enough to secure with a knot.
Round 11: Starting in the next stitch over, SC 4.
Before continuing: Now is a good time to turn the fish inside out and secure all yarn tails, leaving only your working color A yarn connected. The opening will get smaller as we finish this round, making it more difficult to access the inside of the fish.
Turn the fish right side out and continue Round 11: DEC, SC 2. Join into the first SC, CH 1. (7)
Insert the hair clip into the fish body.
Round 12: Starting in the same stitch as the join, SC 3, DEC, SC 2. Join into the first SC, CH 1. (6)
We need to tie off our color A yarn, but we’re not quite finished with it yet. We still need to use it for the fin, so you have two options:
You can either tie off, leaving about a 3 ft tail to work with later, or, if you’re working from a small ball of yarn, you can tie off by pulling the entire ball of working yarn through the loop.
Creating the Fin
Flatten the fish by squeezing the 6 stitches from Round 12 together, creating 3 pairs of stitches.
With the front of the fish facing up, insert your hook through the first pair of stitches and pull your working yarn through and CH 3. DC 2 in the same spot.
SL ST into the middle pair of stitches.
DC 2 into the third pair of stitches, CH 2, then SL ST into the same spot. Fasten off and sew in the remaining yarn tail.
Creating the Eye
I like to use puff paint for my Fidget Fish eyes, but you can use whatever method you prefer.
Make a tiny dot with black puff paint. Once the black paint is completely dry, add tiny white dots for the highlight.
After your eye dries completely, your crochet Fidget Fish is finished!
I hope you enjoyed making your Crochet Fidget Fish! These little fish are so fun to crochet in different color combinations, and they make a great quick project, making them perfect for selling at markets or gifting.
If you make one, I’d love to see it! Be sure to tag me on social media @ACraftyConcept so I can see your finished Fidget Fish.
Happy crocheting!
PS. Looking for more easy free crochet patterns? Be sure to stop by the freebie library here.
