About This Hammerhead Shark Friend Amigurumi Pattern
This pattern creates a small, happy hammerhead shark amigurumi with a simple, flattened head and cute fins. You will work a compact head and a joined body, then add a large dorsal fin and smaller side fins. Techniques used include working in rounds, back loop only stitches and simple decreases for shaping. The pattern includes photos and tips to help you place eyes and attach fins for the best finished look.
Recommended for crocheters comfortable with single crochet, increases and decreases, with options to use different yarn weights. The instructions include helpful notes about hook sizing, stuffing, and finishing touches like a sewn smile.
Why You'll Love This Hammerhead Shark Friend Amigurumi Pattern
I absolutely love this pattern because it turns simple stitches into a character full of personality. I enjoy how a few carefully placed decreases and a tiny smile can make such a friendly face. The pattern is flexible so I can experiment with yarn weight and hook size to create different sizes and textures. I also appreciate that it comes together quickly, making it perfect for gifting or practicing shaping techniques. Seeing the finished shark in photos always makes me smile and inspires new color variations.
Switch Things Up
I love how easily this pattern adapts to different yarns; try pastel greys or blues for a softer, nursery-friendly shark or vivid teals for a lively ocean-inspired friend.
Want a tiny keychain version? Use fingering weight yarn and a much smaller hook to create a miniature shark perfect for attaching to bags or keys.
Make a giant plush by using bulky or super bulky yarn and a large hook — you will also need extra stuffing but the result is delightfully squishy.
I often change eye styles: safety eyes for a polished look, embroidered eyes for baby-safe toys, or tiny felt circles for a craftier finish.
Try adding stripes or a belly in a contrasting color by changing yarn between rounds — this can give your shark more personality with simple colorwork.
I sometimes sew on tiny accessories like a crochet bow or a tiny felt tag to personalize each shark and make it gift-ready.
If you want posable fins, consider inserting a small piece of florist wire into the fin before sewing it closed; bend gently to pose.
For textured skin, experiment with surface crochet or a few slipped stitches to create subtle ridges along the back.
I recommend testing your stitch tension on a swatch so the final piece feels correct; changing hook size by half-millimeters can make a big difference in the finished size.
Don’t be afraid to mix yarn types for fun effects — a fuzzy yarn for the dorsal fin or a cotton body with a sparkly yarn accent can create a unique and charming shark.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
✗ Skipping the instruction about stitch totals in brackets can cause confusion later; always check the number in brackets at the end of each round and count your stitches after each round.
✗ Using a hook that is too large will make loose stitches and stuffing show through; go down 0.5mm-1.0mm from the recommended size or adjust until you obtain a tight fabric.
✗ Forgetting to insert safety eyes in the specified beginning/end spaces will mean you have to reopen seams; place the eyes before closing the head and check spacing against the photo.
✗ Not decreasing at the edge stitches when instructed will change the shape of the head/body; if decreases are not sitting at the edge, adjust your stitch placement so one decrease occurs on each side as described.
✗ Overstuffing early can distort shaping as you continue; start stuffing gradually and add more as you shape the body to ensure smooth, even filling.
