This jellyfish is a showpiece amigurumi rather than a quick cuddly toy. It has a rounded yellow bell, a pink collar, a bright red ruffled skirt, and a second teal ruffle that hangs below it like a frilly petticoat. Nine tentacles trail underneath: two red ones with tiny curls, three white ones with little nubs, and four smooth grey ones. The whole thing is worked in joined rounds with 5ply combed cotton and a small 3.0 mm hook, so the stitches are dense and the ruffles hold their shape.

This pattern suits crocheters who are comfortable with magic rings, working in front and back loops only, and who want a project with a bit of sculptural detail. Nothing is sewn on: the ruffles are grown directly from the bell by working into the loops left behind, and the tentacles are crocheted straight from the last round of the body. That means fewer assembly steps, but you need to read the loop instructions carefully.

Finished size

The pattern does not give measurements, so treat these as estimates. With 5ply cotton and a 3.0 mm hook, the stuffed bell is roughly 8-9 cm wide, and the ruffles add a few extra centimeters of flare. With the longest tentacle (ch 90), the jellyfish hangs roughly 35-45 cm long. Your tension and how tightly you stuff will change the final size, so measure your own bell after R14 to check.

Yarn substitution

The designer used Loopara 5ply combed cotton in Blue 13, Pink 17, Pink 20, Yellow 33, Grey 56 and White 60. The pattern also calls for red on the outer ruffle (R21-R22 and the red tentacles). In the photos it looks like Pink 20 is the red shade, but check your own yarn labels.
Any smooth cotton in a similar weight (sport or light DK) works with a 3.0 mm hook. Smooth cotton shows ruffle definition best.
Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarn. Ruffles made of 3 hdc in 1 stitch need a yarn that keeps its shape.
If you change the weight, the stitch counts still work, but the jellyfish will scale up or down. Go up a hook size for thicker yarn.
Keep strong contrast between the bell, collar, and ruffle colors. The layered look is what makes this pattern special.

Common mistakes

Skipping the slip stitch join. Every round ends with a sl and starts with ch 1, so there is no spiral. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
Losing track of loops. R18 is worked in FLO only, which leaves a ledge of unworked back loops. R23 picks up that ledge to work the yellow inner body, so do not cut or hide that edge.
Mixing up which loops come next. R26 is worked in FLO and ends in the ruffles of R26 and R27. R28 returns to the remaining loops of R26 and is worked in BLO. All of R29-R33 are also BLO.
Forgetting to stuff early. The bell is stuffed before the narrow opening closes in on itself. Stuff the bell firmly through the opening before attaching the tentacles, since the opening is only a few stitches wide by R33.
Counting ruffle stitches loosely. The ruffles use huge stitch counts (80 groups on R22, 126 increases on R27). Mark every 10 groups with a stitch marker so you do not lose your place.
Making tentacle chains too tight. The chains for Tentacles 3-5 are long and the nubs are worked back along them. Chain loosely so the hdc in the 3rd chain from hook is easy to find.

FAQ

Do I need to stuff the whole jellyfish?
Stuff the yellow bell only, and stuff it firmly enough to hold its egg shape under the ruffles. The ruffles and tentacles are not stuffed. Add fiber fill through the opening after R33, then work the tentacles from the last round.

Are there eyes or wire in this pattern?
No. This jellyfish has no eyes, wire, or hard parts, which makes it easy to finish and safe for display. If you give it as a toy, check that all yarn ends are secure, since the tentacles are long.

How do the color changes work?
Change color in the last stitch of the round, as the pattern says: pull the new color through on the final loop of the last stitch, then join with a sl in the new color. This happens at the end of R17 (yellow to pink), R21 (pink to red), and R25 (to blue).

How do I start the grey section and the tentacles?
R28 starts a new grey yarn in the remaining loops of R26. The tentacles then begin from the last round of the body, so attach each yarn into the 6 stitches of the final round and spread them around the opening.

Why does the red ruffle curl so much?
3 hdc in one stitch adds a lot of extra fabric to each stitch. The curl is the point of the design, so do not pull the stitches tight.

Tip: Use tweezers to pull tentacle yarn ends through tight spots and to hide ends deep inside the bell.

Pattern: head and body

Work every round as a joined round. Start each round with ch 1 (unless noted) and finish with a sl into the first stitch.

Yellow bell

R1: MR, 6 sc, sl. (6)
R2: Ch 1, 6 sc inc, sl. (12)
R3: Ch 1, (sc, sc inc) x 6, sl. (18)
R4: Ch 1, sc, sc inc, (2 sc, sc inc) x 5, sc, sl. (24)
R5: Ch 1, 24 sc, sl. (24)
R6: Ch 1, (3 sc, sc inc) x 6, sl. (30)
R7: Ch 1, 30 sc, sl. (30)
R8: Ch 1, 2 sc, sc inc, (4 sc, sc inc) x 5, 2 sc, sl. (36)
R9: Ch 1, 36 sc, sl. (36)
R10: Ch 1, (5 sc, sc inc) x 6, sl. (42)
R11: Ch 1, 42 sc, sl. (42)
R12: Ch 1, 3 sc, sc inc, (6 sc, sc inc) x 5, 3 sc, sl. (48)
R13: Ch 1, 48 sc, sl. (48)
R14: Ch 1, (7 sc, sc inc) x 6, sl. (54)

Pink collar and red ruffle

R15-R17: Ch 1, 54 sc, sl. Change to pink in the last stitch of R17. (54)
R18: Ch 1, FLO: 4 sc, sc inc, (8 sc, sc inc) x 5, 4 sc, sl. (60)
R19: Ch 1, (2 sc, sc inc) x 20, sl. (80)
R20-R21: Ch 1, 80 sc, sl. Change to red in the last stitch of R21. (80)
R22: Ch 2, (3 hdc in 1 st) x 80, sl. Fasten off.

Tip: R22 makes the big red ruffle. Keep your stitches loose and let the fabric wave.

Yellow inner body

R23: With yellow yarn, join in the unworked back loops left by R18. Ch 1, BLO: 54 sc, sl. (54)
R24: Ch 1, (7 sc, sc2tog) x 6, sl. (48)
R25: Ch 1, 3 sc, sc2tog, (6 sc, sc2tog) x 5, 3 sc. Change to blue in the last stitch, sl. (42)

Teal ruffle

R26: Ch 1, FLO: ch 2, (3 hdc) x 42, sl. (126)
R27: Ch 2, hdc inc x 126, sl. Fasten off. (252)

Grey underside

R28: With grey yarn, join in the remaining loops of R26. Ch 1, BLO: (5 sc, sc2tog) x 6, sl. (36)
R29: Ch 1, BLO: 2 sc, sc2tog, (4 sc, sc2tog) x 5, 2 sc, sl. (30)
R30: Ch 1, BLO: (3 sc, sc2tog) x 6, sl. (24)
R31: Ch 1, BLO: sc, sc2tog, (2 sc, sc2tog) x 5, sc, sl. (18)
R32: Ch 1, BLO: (sc, sc2tog) x 6, sl. (12)
R33: Ch 1, BLO: 6 sc2tog, sl. (6)

Stuff the bell firmly now, before you start the tentacles.

Pattern: tentacles (make 9)

Work each tentacle from the last round of the body (the 6 stitches of R33). Spread the 9 tentacles around the opening.

Tentacle 1 (red): (Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl) x 8. Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl. (Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 4 sl) x 8. Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 3 sl, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 2 (red): (Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl) x 10. Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl. (Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 4 sl) x 10. Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 3 sl, then 6 sl. Fasten off.
Tentacle 3 (white): Ch 80, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl. (Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 5 sl) x 15, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 4 (white): Ch 70, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl. (Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 5 sl) x 13, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 5 (white): Ch 90, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, sl. (Ch 4, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc, 5 sl) x 17. Fasten off.
Tentacle 6 (grey): Ch 45, 44 sl in 2nd ch from hook, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 7 (grey): Ch 55, 54 sl in 2nd ch from hook, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 8 (grey): Ch 45, 44 sl in 2nd ch from hook, then 6 sl.
Tentacle 9 (grey): Ch 55, 54 sl in 2nd ch from hook. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends with a yarn needle. Optionally, add tiny white and colored French knots on the yellow bell, as seen in the cover photo.

Optional & Creative Ideas

Customize colors: Try a pastel palette (lilac bell, mint ruffle) or glow-in-the-dark style with deep navy, neon pink and teal.
Make a mobile: Make several jellyfish in different sizes and hang them from a ring or branch for a nursery or window.
Turn it into a charm: Use thinner yarn and a 2.0 mm hook for a miniature version for a bag or keychain.
Add sparkle: Embroider small French knots or sequins on the bell for a speckled look.
Vary the tentacles: Shorten or lengthen the chains, or swap the nubbed tentacles for plain slip stitch ones.

Final Thoughts

The layered ruffles and varied tentacles make this jellyfish look far more complex than it is to follow, because every part is just repeated, simple stitches. Take your time with the loop-only rounds and you will end up with a dramatic piece that looks great hanging, sitting on a shelf, or draped over a bookcase.

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Ruffled Crochet Jellyfish Amigurumi Pattern