Eel Amigurumi Pattern


MATERIALS
Worsted Weight Yarn:
2 6mm plastic eyes with backs
Crochet hook (I used size F, but E would be better)
Yarn needle
Stuffing
recommended: C- shape stitch marker

Techniques:
Main Color (MC)
Contrasting Color (CC)

Magic loop method of starting a circle
Recommended: foundation crochet for top and belly fins

Tutorials:
For magic ring tutorial
http://www.planetjune.com/blog/tutorials/

Here’s my tutorial for foundation crochet
http://snuffykin.livejournal.com/43642.html

NOTES: This pattern has not been tested; I'd appreciate you letting me know if you find any errors. Please do not sell pattern. Thank you! :-)

SIDE FINS (MAKE 2)
With magic loop method, sc 4.
1. (2 sc in next st) x4. 8 sts.
2-4. Sc around.
Leaving long tail for sewing, cut yarn, draw yarn through remaining st.

BODY
With MC, using magic loop method, sc 6.
Work in rounds.
1. (2 sc into next st) x 6. 12 sts.
2-4. Sc around.
5. (Sc in next st, 2 sc into next st). 18 sts.
After round 8, attach eyes and stuff head. Continue to stuff body as you work.
After round 16, sew fins to sides of body.
6-18. Sc around.

Belly: The bottom half, or underside, of body. Mid-way across the Belly is the center.
Top: The Top half of body. Mid-way across the Top is the center.
Work every increase in a center stitch.
Work every decrease in center 2 stitches.

The round #s are approximate, since the location of the actual stitch starting the round will change as you work. Therefore, always work incs/decs of Belly and Top in what appears to you to be the center stitches.

Begin downward slant of body, increasing at Belly and decreasing at Top.
20. Belly: 2 sc inc. Top: sc2tog. 18 sts.
21-23. Sc around for 3 rounds.
24. Repeat round 20
25-26. Sc around for 2 rounds.
27. Repeat round 20
28-30. Sc around for 3 rounds.

Begin upward slant of body, decreasing at Belly and increasing at Top.
31. Belly: sc2tog. Top: 2 sc inc. 18 sts.
32-34. Sc around for 3 rounds.
35. Repeat round 31.
36-38. Sc around for 3 rounds.

Begin downward slant of body, increasing at Belly and decreasing at Top.
39. Belly: 2 sc inc. Top: sc2tog. 18 sts.
40-42. Sc around for 3 rounds.
43. Repeat round 39.
44. Sc around.

Continue downward slant of body, decreasing at Top only while narrowing the body.
45. Top: sc2tog. 17 sts.
46. Sc around.
47. Repeat round 45. 16 sts.
48. Sc around.

Begin upward slant of body, decreasing at Belly with irregular inc/dec at Top, while continuing to narrow the body.
49. Belly: sc2tog. Top: 2 sc inc. 16 sts.
50. Belly: sc2tog. 15 sts.
51-54. Belly: sc2tog. Top: 2 sc inc. 15 sts.
55. Belly: sc2tog. 14 sts.
56-57. Belly: sc2tog. Top: 2 sc inc. 14 sts.
58-59. Belly: sc2tog. 12 sts.
60. Belly: sc2tog. Top: sc2tog. 10 sts..
61. Belly: sc2tog. 9 sts.
62. Sc around. 9 sts.
63-64. Belly: sc2tog. Top: sc2tog. 5 sts.
Cut yarn, draw yarn through remaining st and all sts of round. Pull tight to close.

BELLY FIN
Why use foundation crochet here instead of chaining? 1) It is more adjustable to extending the length of the fin to the size of your eel. You don’t have to guess how many chains to make. 2) Chains tend to be too small for the first row of crochet and distort how the stitches lie.

Using foundation crochet and CC yarn, sc 1, hdc about 34, and end with a regular hdc in the same chain as the previous st. 36 sts. Leave long tail for sewing, and cut yarn.

If you don’t want to use foundation crochet, you could try this, but I can’t guarantee it will be long enough for your eel.
Ch 35. Sk 1, hdc 33, 2 hdc into last ch.

TOP FIN
Using foundation crochet and CC yarn, sc 1, hdc about 41, and end with a regular hdc in the same chain as the previous st. 43 sts. Leave long tail for sewing, and cut yarn.

Again, if you don’t want to use foundation crochet, you could try this, but I can’t guarantee it will be long enough for your eel.
Ch 42. Sk 1, hdc 40, 2 hdc into last ch.

FINISHING
If you haven't already sewn the Side Fins on, do so now. Hide yarn tails by drawing them through eel body.
Sew Belly Fin along belly of body horizontally, from tip of tail to about 1 inch from side fins.
Sew Top Fin along top of body horizontally, from tip of tail to about 2 inches from side fins.
Hide yarn tails by drawing them through eel body.