Orca Crochet Pattern
Meet Orla the Orca, a cute and cuddly amigurumi whale designed for crocheters who love making playful toys with heart. This pattern is suitable for beginners to experienced crocheters who enjoy creating amigurumi projects.
Pattern Details
Skill level: Easy
(Requires basic knowledge of crochet stitches, color changes, and sewing)
Finished size: ~18 cm (7 in)
Crochet hook size: 2.5mm
Yarn: Fine (2) cotton
Crochet Terms: US terms
Copyright
This pattern is © Woolshie. Do not copy, reproduce, or share, in partial or full, without permission. You may sell finished items in small quantities. Please credit @woolshie when posting online.
Why You’ll Love this Orca Crochet Pattern
- Simple, clean shapes — no complicated shaping
- Minimal sewing (only fins and tail)
- Beginner-friendly with clear stitch counts
- Perfect for gifts, nursery décor, or market makes
- Soft and sturdy with cotton yarn
Materials and Tools
- Fine (2) cotton yarn
Yarn used in this pattern: Schachenmayr Catania Black and Cream White - 2.5 mm crochet hook
- 5 mm amigurumi eyes
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Stitch marker
- Scissors
US Terms Abbreviations
- sc – Single Crochet
- st(s) – Stitch(es)
- sl st – Slip Stitch
- inc – Increase (2 SC in same stitch)
- dec – Decrease
- 3inc – 3 single crochet in the same stitch
Pattern Notes
- The pattern is for beginner level, with basic crochet stitches knowledge.
- This pattern is worked in rounds.
- Use a stitch marker to mark each end of the row.
- Always check your stitch count — numbers in parentheses (…) at the end of each row indicate total stitches.
- Important note: This pattern works with changing colors of yarns. On the Body part, use black yarn if the stitches is in bold font, use white cream yarn if it is italicized.
How to change yarn colors
When you get to the last stitch of your first color (right before the color change), do this:
– insert your hook, yarn over, and pull through with the first color.
– take the second color, grab it with your hook, and pull through, continue with the second color until notice.
Begin to crochet Orca
Top/Head fin
Use black yarn
– round 1: Magic Ring 5 sc (5)
– round 2: 1 inc, 4 sc (6)
– round 3: 1 sc, [3inc], 4sc (8)
– round 4: 2 sc, [3inc], 5 sc (10)
– round 5: 3 sc, [3inc], 6 sc (12)
– round 6: 4 sc, [3inc], 7 sc (14)
– round 7: just 6 sc
Leave a long yarn end for sewing.
Side fins/flippers
Make 2, use black yarn
– round 1: Magic Ring 5 sc (5)
– round 2: inc, 4 sc (6)
– round 3: [inc, 2 sc] x2 (8)
– rounds 4-5: Sc all (8)
– round 6: [inc, 3 sc] x2 (10)
– round 7: [inc, 4sc] x2 (12)
– round 8: Sc all around (12)
Leave a long yarn end for sewing.
Body
Note: Use black yarn if the stitches is in bold, use white cream yarn if it is italicized.
– round 1: Magic Ring 6sc (6)
– round 2: 1 sc, 3 sc, 2 sc (6)
– round 3: 1 inc, 3 inc, 2 inc (12)
– round 4: 1 sc, inc, [1 sc, inc] x3, [1sc, inc] x2 (18)
– rounds 5-7: 3sc, 9sc, 6sc (18)
– round 8: [1 sc, inc] x2, 12 sc, [1 sc, inc] x4 (30)
– round 9: 6 sc, 12 sc, 12 sc (30)
– round 10: 4 sc, inc, 1 sc, 3 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 3 sc, 1 sc, inc, [4 sc, inc] x2 (36)
– rounds 11-12: 7 sc, 14 sc, 15 sc (36)
– round 13: 6 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc, 1 sc, 4 sc, inc, [5 sc, inc] x2 (42)
– round 14: 8 sc, 14 sc, 20 sc (42)
– round 15: 3 sc, 2 sc, 3 sc, 12 sc, 3 sc, 2 sc, 17 sc (42)
– round 16: 2 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 12 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 16 sc (42)
– rounds 17-19: 1 sc, 4 sc, 3 sc, 12 sc, 3 sc, 4 sc, 15 sc (42)
Insert safety eyes in rounds between 15 and 16 where the white patch started.
Have a little break and hydrate. 🙂
Note: Use black yarn if the stitches is in bold, use white cream yarn if it is italicized.
– round 20: 1 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 12 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 17 sc (42)
– rounds 21-22: 17 sc, 12 sc, 23 sc (42)
– round 23: 5 sc, 16 sc, 21 sc (42)
– rounds 24-25: 4 sc, 18 sc, 20 sc (42)
– round 26: 3 sc, 3 sc, 1 sc, 12 sc, 1 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 8 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc (40)
– round 27: 3 sc, 3 sc, 1 sc, 5 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc, 1 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 2 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc (39)
– round 28: 1 dec, 1 sc, 3 sc, 1 sc, 11 sc, 1 sc, 3 sc, 3 sc, 4 sc, 2 sc, 2 sc, 2 sc, 4 sc (38)
– round 29: 6 sc, 11 sc, 7 sc, 14 sc (38)
– round 30: 3 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 11 sc, 3 sc, 1 dec, 3 sc, 12 sc, 1 sc (36)
– round 31: 5 sc, 11 sc, 8 sc, 4 sc, 2 sc, 4 sc, 2 sc (36)
– round 32: 5 sc, 11 sc, 7 sc, 1 dec, 10 sc, 1 dec (34)
– round 33: 5 sc, 11 sc, 12 sc, 1 dec, 4 sc (33)
– round 34: 5 sc, 8 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 10 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (31)
– round 35: 5 sc, 10 sc, 5 sc, 1 dec, 7 sc, 1 dec (29)
– round 36: 5 sc, 10 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 10 sc (28)
– round 37: 5 sc, 10 sc, 13 sc (28)
– round 38: 5 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 6 sc, 13 sc (27)
– round 39: 2 sc, 1 dec, 1sc, 9 sc, 13 sc (26)
– round 40: 4 sc, 9 sc, 6 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (25)
This is a long series of crocheting. Take a rest and hydrate. 🙂
– round 41: 4 sc, 9 sc, 12 sc (25)
– round 42: 4 sc, 9 sc, 5 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (24)
– round 43: 4 sc, 3 sc, 1 dec, 4 sc, 6 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (23)
– round 44: 1 dec, 2 sc, 8 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 7 sc (21)
– round 45: 3 sc, 8 sc, 1 sc, 1 dec, 7 sc (20)
– round 46: 3 sc, 1 dec, 6 sc, 3 sc, 1 dec, 4 sc (18)
– round 47: 3 sc, 7 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 4 sc (17)
– round 48: 3 sc, 3 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc, 3 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc (15)
– round 49: 3 sc, 1 sc, 1 dec, 3 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc (13)
– round 50: 3 sc, 2 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 5 sc (12) add 3 sc for adjustment
End of the body. Cut the cream white yarn only, fasten it off and hide the end.
For the tails, continue to work with black yarn.
Tails
With black yarn
– round 51: Sc all around (12)
– round 52: [1 sc, 1 dec] x4 (8)
– round 53: Sc all around (8)
– round 54: Inc all around (16)
At this time, we will work on the 1st fin.
– round 1: 6 sc, skip 8 sts, sl st. Assume this is the first round for the 1st tail
– round 2: CH 1, 1 sc on the same st where you did the sl st, 1 inc, [1 sc, inc] x3 (12)
– round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
– rounds 4-5: Sc all (18)
– rounds 6: [1 sc, 1 dec] x6 (12)
– rounds 7: 5 dec, 2 sc (7)
Fasten off and weave the end to hide.
For the 2nd tail, start in the first st the 1st tail skipped
– round 1: sl knot, Ch 1, 7 sc (8)
– round 2: 1 sc in CH 1 from the previous round, 1 inc, [1 sc, inc] x3 (12)
– round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
– rounds 4-5: Sc all (18)
– rounds 6: [1 sc, 1 dec] x6 (12)
– rounds 7: 5 dec, 2 sc (7)
Fasten off and weave the end to hide.
Assemble the Parts
Use pins to temporarily attach the parts – flippers and top fin – and see if you need adjustments before sewing.
Top fin
Sew it as seen in the photo
Flippers
Sew it on both sides as seen in the photo
Eyes (optional)
You can add a little eyeliner for the eyes. I used scrap light blue yarn.
Voila! You did it!
A Note from Angie
Dearest Crocheter,
Congrats on finishing the pattern. I hope you had fun making your Orca with ease and joy. If you need help or have questions at any point, please reach out — I’m always happy to assist.
Don’t forget to share your makes and tag @woolshie or #Woolshie on Instagram and Facebook — I’d love to see your beautiful creations!
Enjoy your lovely Orca — perfect on its own, as a gift or yours to keep!
Pattern Support
If you need help and assistance or want to ask questions about the pattern, please contact us on our contact page. If you choose to modify the pattern or use a different yarn weight or crochet hook size, you can share your questions to our Facebook WCC Woolshie Crochet Club.
Beginner Tips for Success
If this is one of your first crochet projects, keep these tips in mind:
- Count your stitches at the end of each row
- Use a stitch marker to track row ends
- Maintain even tension and tight stitches
- Take your time — small projects are perfect for practice
Crochet is meant to be relaxing, so don’t worry about perfection. Each piece you make helps build confidence and skill.
If you enjoyed this Orca Crochet Pattern, you may also like exploring other beginner crochet patterns and free crochet projects available on Woolshie. Be sure to bookmark this page or share it with fellow crocheters who love quick and cozy handmade projects.
Accessibility Statement
This crochet pattern is written in clear, beginner-friendly language and designed to be accessible for a wide range of crocheters.
