Knit Sea Creature: Clownfish

Clownfish

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in orange (A) and white (B) [Featured: Kitchen Cotton]
Needles: 4 double-pointed needles
Extras: Yarn needle, black yarn or beads for eyes, batting

Method

Note: This fish is worked in the round. In the beginning when there are few stitches, work as you would a cord (sliding the stitches to the other end of your needle when a round is completed). You can either splice the yarn to make the stripes when changing between the orange and white parts, or just leave the free end to pick up later.

Body (make 1)
1st round: Using A, cast on one.
2nd round: K1, p1, k1 in same st. (3 sts)
3rd round: Kfb all. (6 sts)
4th round: [K1, m1] 5 times. K1. Distribute sts to 3 needles. (11 sts)
5th round: [K1, m1] 10 times. K1. (21 sts)
6th round: K all. (21 sts)
7th round: K all. (21 sts)
8th round: [K6, m1] 3 times. K3. (24 sts)
9th round: Using B, k all. (24 sts)
10th round: K all. (24 sts)
11th round: [K6, m1] 4 times. (28 sts)
12th round: Using A, k all. (28 sts)
13th round: K all. (28 sts)
14th round: K all. (28 sts)
15th round: K all. (28 sts)
16th round: [K7, k2tog] 3 times. K1. (25 sts)
17th round: Using B, k all. (25 sts)
18th round: [K6, k2tog] 3 times. K1. (22 sts)
19th round: K all. (22 sts)
20th round: [K9, k2tog] 2 times. (20 sts)
21st round: Using A, k all. (20 sts)
22nd round: [K4, k2tog] 3 times. K2. (17 sts)
23rd round: K all. (17 sts)
24th round: [K4, k2tog] 2 times. K5. (15 sts)
25th round: K all. (15 sts)
26th round: Using B, [k4, k2tog] 2 times. K3. (13 sts)
27th round: K all. (13 sts)
28th round: [K3, k2tog] 2 times. K3. (11 sts)
29th round: Using A, k all. (11 sts)
30th round: K2tog, k9. (10 sts)
Stuff the fish with batting or other material. Now switch from working in rounds to working in rows (see Notes on Knitting, page 16). Put every stitch on a single needle, alternating from front and back of the fish as shown.
31st row: [P1, k1] 5 times. (10 sts)
32nd row: [P1, k1] 5 times. (10 sts)
33rd row: Kfb [k1, p1] kfb. (12 sts)
34th row: [K1, p1] 6 times. (12 sts)
35th row: Finish off.

Side fins (make 2)
1st row: Using A, cast on 6.
2nd row: Kfb [p1, k1] 2 times, kfb. (8 sts)
3rd row: [P1, k1] 4 times. (8 sts)
4th row: [P1, k1] 4 times. (8 sts)
5th row: Finish off.

Back fins (make 2)
1st row: Using A, cast on 4.
2nd row: Finish off.

Top fin (make 1)
1st row: Using A, cast on 8.
2nd row: [K1, p1] 4 times. (8 sts)
3rd row: Finish off.

Bottom fin (make 1)
1st row: Using A, cast on 4.
2nd row: [K1, p1] 2 times. (4 sts)
3rd row: Finish off.

Making up
Sew on pupils (black) with large French knots. Sew white yarn around these to complete. Add shaping to the mouth with orange yarn.

Directions reproduced with permission, from 75 Seashells, Fish, Coral & Colorful Marine Life to Knit & Crochet. Courtesy of St. Martin’s Press, 2012.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES
k= knit k2tog = knit two together
Kfb = knit in front and back of st M1 = make 1
p = purl st(s) = stitch(es)