Gordon the Goldfish

Gordon the Goldfish Crochet Toy

What Is Being Made

Gordon the Goldfish is a small crocheted amigurumi-style toy designed by Donna Wilkins for The Crochet Craft Co. This beginner-friendly crochet creature measures 6 inches in finished size, making it perfectly proportioned for little hands. Gordon is part of a larger collection of Crochet Creatures, each with distinct personality and charm suitable for children and collectors alike.

Craft and Technique

This project uses crochet as the primary construction method. The pattern is worked in continuous rounds rather than joining at the end of each round, which creates a seamless appearance and streamlines the construction process. This technique is ideal for creating stuffed toys and amigurumi projects. The continuous round method eliminates visible seams at round transitions, resulting in a smoother, more professional-looking finished toy.

Stitches Used

Gordon the Goldfish employs fundamental crochet stitches appropriate for beginner crafters:

• Magic circle (mc): Used to start the pattern with a closed center loop, a common technique for beginning amigurumi projects
• Chain stitch (ch): The foundation stitch for creating the structure and shaping of the goldfish
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and secure stitches
• Single crochet or basic stitches: The primary building blocks for creating the body, fins, and tail of the toy

Materials and Tools

Hook: US G (4.00 mm) crochet hook, a size that pairs perfectly with DK-weight yarn for creating a fabric with appropriate density for stuffed toys.

Yarn: DK-weight acrylic yarn is the specified yarn weight. The pattern calls for 112 metres (50 grams) of Colour A in Bright Orange for the main body, providing the characteristic goldfish coloring. The designer used Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK, though any DK-weight yarn is suitable as a substitute. Additional colors include 3 metres (2 grams) of Colour B in Punchy Pink for decorative stripes and 3 metres (2 grams) of Colour C in White for the eyes.

Additional Materials: The project requires toy stuffing to fill the finished creature, creating a soft, huggable toy. Safety eyes measuring 9mm add dimension and character to Gordon's face, though embroidered eyes can be substituted for a safer alternative suitable for very young children. A stitch marker helps track the beginning of each round during continuous-round construction, and a tapestry needle is used for weaving in yarn ends and attaching embellishments.

Skill Level and Gauge

Gordon the Goldfish is rated as Easy difficulty, making it an excellent project for beginners learning crochet fundamentals. The pattern does not require a specific gauge, which means crafters do not need to worry about precise tension matching—a feature that makes this project more forgiving and accessible to new crocheters. This flexibility allows makers to focus on learning stitch techniques rather than achieving exact measurements.

Pattern Notes

The pattern uses standard US crochet terminology and abbreviations. All stitches and techniques are explained within the pattern, supporting the beginner skill level. The downloadable PDF format allows crafters to access the complete instructions and work at their own pace, making Gordon the Goldfish an ideal introduction to amigurumi toy construction.