Jellyfish Crochet Pattern with Curly Tentacles and Ruffle

This jellyfish crochet pattern makes a big, huggable mint jellyfish with a round head, a scalloped ridge around the bottom of the bell, rosy cheeks and a stitched smile.

Underneath hang twelve tentacles: seven springy curly ones and five thin chain tentacles in any colors you like, so you can go soft and matching or bright and rainbow.

It is a large piece, about 16 in (40 cm) from the top of the head to the tip of the longest tentacle, worked in worsted weight yarn with a 3.25 mm hook. The head is a simple 60-stitch ball, and all the personality comes from the ruffled ridge, the curly tentacles and the face.

The designer, Sweet Oddity Art, rates it intermediate. The crochet itself is basic sc, hdc, dc and tr, but you need patience to sew on twelve long tentacles neatly and evenly.

Tip: Use a slightly smaller hook than the yarn label suggests. Tight stitches keep the stuffing hidden and help the big head stay round.

Finished size

About 16 in (40 cm) tall from the top of the head to the bottom of the tentacles, using worsted weight (#4) yarn and a 3.25 mm (D) hook, as given in the pattern. The head alone is a 60-stitch ball, so it is roughly the size of a large grapefruit. Thicker yarn or a bigger hook makes a bigger jellyfish.

Yarn substitution

The sample uses "I Love This Yarn" acrylic in Mint (main color), White, Pink and Black. Any soft worsted weight (#4) acrylic or cotton blend works with a 3.25 mm hook.

• Color A (main color): about 100 g. Used for the head, the ridge and the curly tentacles.
• Color B (tentacle color): 50-75 g for the chain tentacles. The photos use several bright scraps, so this is a great stash-buster.
• Color C (pink): a small amount for the cheeks.

You can switch to another weight. The pattern stays the same, but the size changes and you may need to move the eyes.

Common mistakes

• Missing the BLO round. Rnd 26 is worked in back loops only. The free front loops it leaves are where the ridge goes, so don't skip the BLO.
• Placing the eyes too far apart or too low. Set the 18 mm eyes between Rnd 17 and 18 with 11 stitches between them, before you close the head.
• Stuffing too late. Start stuffing at Rnd 26 and keep adding as you decrease. Once the hole is small, it is hard to fill the head evenly.
• Short tails on the tentacles. Leave a long tail on every tentacle. You need it to sew each one securely to the bottom of the head.
• Sewing tentacles without pinning. Pin all of them first: the chain tentacles in a circle in the middle, then the curly ones around them. Check the look before you sew.

FAQ

Why do the curly tentacles curl?
You work a single crochet and an increase in turn along a long chain. The extra stitches make the strip twist into a spiral on its own, with no blocking.

Is this jellyfish safe for a baby?
The 18 mm safety eyes and long tentacles are not ideal for children under 3. For a baby, embroider the eyes with black yarn and sew the tentacles on very securely, or make them shorter.

Can I make the chain tentacles in different colors?
Yes. The pattern says "color of choice", and the sample uses a mix of bright colors. You can also match them to the main color for a calmer look.

How do I make the smile even?
Mark both ends with pins between Rnd 21 and 22 first. Make one long straight stitch between the pins, then wrap the thread around its middle to pull it into a gentle curve.

Pattern

The head is worked from the top down in a continuous spiral. Don't join rounds unless told to, and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. All stitches are worked through both loops unless the pattern says BLO or FLO.

Head

Worked in Color A.

1. Rnd 1: mr, 6 sc [6]
2. Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
3. Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4. Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
5. Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 [30]
6. Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 [36]
7. Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 [42]
8. Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) x 6 [48]
9. Rnd 9: (7 sc, inc) x 6 [54]
10. Rnd 10: (8 sc, inc) x 6 [60]
11. Rnd 11-21: sc in each st around [60]

Place the 18 mm safety eyes between Rnd 17 and 18, with 11 stitches between them.

1. Rnd 22: (8 sc, dec) x 6 [54]
2. Rnd 23: (7 sc, dec) x 6 [48]
3. Rnd 24: (6 sc, dec) x 6 [42]
4. Rnd 25: (5 sc, dec) x 6 [36]
5. Rnd 26: in BLO, (4 sc, dec) x 6 [30]

Start stuffing the head.

1. Rnd 27: (3 sc, dec) x 6 [24]
2. Rnd 28: (2 sc, dec) x 6 [18]
3. Rnd 29: (sc, dec) x 6 [12]
4. Rnd 30: dec x 6 [6]

Fasten off and sew the hole closed.

Ridge on head

Worked in Color A. Turn the head upside down and join the yarn at Rnd 26, in the free front loops left by the BLO round.

1. (hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc) all in one st, sl st in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat this shell and 2 slip stitches all the way around the head: 12 shells.

Fasten off and weave in the ends. The shells form a scalloped ruffle around the bottom of the bell.

Curly tentacles (make 7)

Worked in Color A.

1. Ch 71. sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, inc in the next ch, then (sc, inc) across the chain.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. The strip twists into a spiral as you work.

Chain tentacles (make 5)

Worked in a color of your choice.

1. Ch 75. sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Cheeks (make 2)

Worked in Color C (pink).

1. Rnd 1: mr, 6 sc [6]
2. Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Face

Mark two spots for the smile with pins, between Rnd 21 and 22. Thread a long strand of black embroidery thread, insert the needle into a hole on the side of the head and bring it up at the first pin.

Make one straight stitch across to the second pin, then wrap the thread around the middle of the line to curve it into a smile. Weave in the ends.

1. Pin the cheeks next to the eyes and sew them in place.

Tentacles

1. Pin the five chain tentacles in a circle in the middle of the bottom of the jellyfish, then sew them on.

1. Pin the seven curly tentacles around the chain tentacles, then sew them on. Weave in all the ends.

Optional & Creative Ideas

• Customize colors: Make a black or white jellyfish with rainbow chain tentacles, like the trio on the cover, or match all tentacles to the head.
• Add a bow: Crochet or tie a small ribbon bow and sew it to the top of the head.
• Mix tentacle lengths: Shorten some chains (ch 50-60) for a layered, wavy look.
• Baby-safe version: Embroider the eyes and make shorter, securely sewn tentacles.

Final Thoughts

This jellyfish is all about texture: a simple ball head, a quick scalloped ruffle and a pile of springy curls. Once you have the head down, it is easy to make a whole colorful bloom of them.

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