6,50 USD (+ taxes if applicable)
#charlytheseahorse is a free pattern now too! 🙂
You can still buy the pattern as a pdf download link in my ravelry shop (see buy now option above) or just scroll down below and work from here, the pattern is the same, a download would just easier to work from (you can print, you can save, you’ll have it in your ravelry library always, you could say thank you to me for the time and brain and heart I put into my designs 🙂
Charly is a seahorse and seahorses are also known as hippocampus and they live in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world.
They are very unique fish, not only do they not look like fish in general, they also swim upright instead of horizontally like other fish. Another crazy fact about them is that the males give birth to their descendants.
Seahorses like to eat small shrimp, tiny fish and plankton, but these prefer chocolate covered strawberries ^__^
for the abbreviations I use in this pattern please read here
Charly is worked in classic amigurumi style, which means in a long spiral round, never join a round after finishing one. Also I like my amigurumi to be worked through both loops (whereas I know couple fellow amigurumi makers who prefer the back loop only). So do whatever you like best.
Size | yarn | hook
I used catania yarn from Schachenmayr and my beloved 3.5 mm hook. My Charly seahorse is about 23 cm from top to bottom.
So, your little seahorse will be the size you choose, go with bigger yarn and a bigger hook and you will get a bigger seahorse. If you decide to go smaller, of course your Charly will be smaller, as easy as this right?
Easy or difficult?
Well, I would think intermediate. I write my patterns stitch by stitch, quite similar to knitting patterns actually. If you are familiar with my patterns you might think this is easy, as you only need the classic single crochet and slip stitch throughout most of the pattern. But it takes concentration so I think intermediate is quite fair 🙂
Final tip!!
use a stitch marker! I never give stitch count at the end of a round. All stitches are written to reach the end of the row. So if you are left with stitches before you reach the end please check you stitches.
I love to use a small piece of scrap yarn (I prefer pearl yarn, it stays unfuzzy pretty long) for marking my rounds. Another plus with scrap yarn, they don’t bulk the stitches around them and I can always choose a contrasting color.
Sooooo, #charlytheseahorse – the pattern:
Head | Body | Tail
1 – – make a double magic ring with 6sts
2 – – m2 x6
3 – – (m2, sc1) x6
4 – – sc1, (m2, sc2) x5, m2, sc1
5 – – (m2, sc3) x6
6 – – sc2, (m2, sc4) x5, m2, sc2
7 – – (m2, sc5) x6
8 – – sc3, (m2, sc6) x5, m2, sc3
make 6 row (sc48)
15 – – sc3, (sc2tog, sc6) x5, sc2tog, sc3
16 – – (sc2tog, sc5), x6
17 – – sc2, (sc2tog, sc4) x5, sc2tog, sc2
18 – – (sc2tog, sc3) x6
19 – – (sc2tog, sc2) x6
20 – – (sc2tog, sc1) x6
make 2 rows (sc12)
23 – – (sc2, m2) x2, sc6
24 – – sc2, m2, sc4, m2, sc6
25 – – sc3, m2, sc4, m2, sc7
26 – – sc4, m2, sc5, m2, sc7
27 – – sc5, (m2, sc2) x2, m2, sc8
28 – – sc5, m2, sc3, m2, sc4, m2, sc2, slst6
29 – – slst3, sc3, (m2, sc4) x2, m2, sc9
30 – – sc7, m2, sc4, m2, sc5, m2, sc5, slst5
31 – – slst3, (sc7, m2) x2, sc13
32 – – (sc10, m2) x2, sc7, slst5
33 – – slst4, sc6, m2, sc6, m2, sc6, m2, sc11
34 – – sc3, m2, sc10, m2, sc8, m2, sc11, m2, sc3
35 – – sc3, m2, sc35, m2, sc3
36 – – sc40, slst5
37 – – slst5, sc11, sc2tog, sc9, sc2tog, sc16
38 – – sc20, sc2tog, sc16, slst5
39 – – slst6, sc10, sc2tog, sc6, sc2tog, sc16
40 – – sc16, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc10, slst5
41 – – slst7, sc8, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc15
42 – – sc11, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc6, slst4
43 – – slst6, sc5, sc2tog, sc1, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc1, sc2tog, sc9
44 – – sc11, sc2tog x4, sc6, slst3
45 – – slst5, sc5, sc2tog x3, sc8
make 3 rows (sc21)
49 – – sc12, sc2tog, sc7
50 – – sc9, slst7, sc4
make 1 row (sc20)
52 – – sc12, sc2tog, sc6 make 1 row (sc19)
54 – – sc10, slst2, slst2tog, slst2, sc3 make 1 rows (sc18)
56 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc13
57 – – sc9, slst6, sc2
58 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc12
59 – – sc9, slst6, sc1
60 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc11
61 – – sc2, esc4, sc3, slst5, sc1
62 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc10
63 – – sc1, esc5, sc3, slst4, sc1
64 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc9
65 – – sc2, esc3, sc4, slst3, sc1
66 – – sc2, sc2tog, sc9
67 – – sc2, esc3, sc3, slst3, sc1
68 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc7
69 – – sc2, esc3, sc2, slst3, sc1
70 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc6
71 – – sc2, esc3, sc2, slst3
72 – – sc3, sc2tog, sc5
73 – – sc2, esc3, sc2, slst2
74 – – slst1, sc2, sc2tog, sc2, slst2
75 – – slst2, esc4, sc2
76 – – sc7, slst1
77 – – slst2, sc1, esc3, sc1, slst1
78 – – slst2, sc6
79 – – sc4, esc3, sc1
80 – – slst3, sc5
81 – – slst3, sc1, esc3, sc1
82 – – sc8
83 – – sc1, slst3, sc1, esc3
84 – – sc1, slst3, sc4
85 – – sc5, esc3
86 – – esc1, sc1, slst2, sc2, sc2tog
87 – – sc2, slst2, sc2, esc1
88 – – esc1, sc6
89 – – sc2tog, sc5
90 – – sc2
BO
Snout
1 – – make a dr with 6 sts
2 – – m2 x6
3 – – (m2, sc1) x6
4 – – (sc2, m2) x6
make 1 row (sc24)
6 – – sc5, (sc2tog, sc2) x2, sc2tog, sc4 (row not finished)
BO
When binding off leave a real long tail, about the length of your arm to sew the snout to the head:
the decreases created a bending in the snout which resembles the top of the snout. Now place the snout to the head in a way that the bended end is on top and the flat end is at the lower side. Use pins to fix the snout in place before you sew it to the head. To sew the snout to the head use the BO yarn end. Secure yarn ends and hide within the seahorse.
Head ‘Pocks’
1 – – make a dr with 6 sts
2 – – m2, sc5
BO
make about 4 (or as many as you like) and add them to the head, all centered and lined up in a row, sew to head, secure and hide yarn ends.
Dorsal Fin
1 – – make a chain with smaller hook: chain 10, change back to normal working hook
2 – – start in 2nd chain from hook: sc8, m3 into last chain, turn to crochet into other side of starting chain, sc8
3 – – sc1, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog x2, sc5, sc2tog
4 – – sc1, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc1, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog
make 1 row (sc11) BO
Sew to lower back, opposite to belly, below bending of back and above beginning of tail (see front picture). Secure ends and hide them.
Side Fins | “Arms”
make two
1 – – make a chain with smaller hook: chain 6, change back to normal hook size and start in 2nd chain from hook:
2 – – sc4, m3 into last chain, turn to work on other side of starting chain, sc4
3 – – sc1, (sc2tog, sc1) x3, sc1
make 1 row (sc8)
5 – – (sc2, sc2tog) x2
make 1 row (sc6) BO
Sew to side of body, one thumb wide away from dorsal fin.
Secure and hide yarn ends.
Eyes
white
1 – – make dr with 6 sts
2 – – m2 x6
3 – – (m2, sc1) x6
BO
dark/black
1 – – make dr with 6 sts
2 – – m2 x6
BO
Embroider little sparkles onto the dark pupil parts of the eyes. See figure below for guidance. The figure also shows you how to sew both parts of the eye together.

right eye – – left eye
and that’s it — I hope you enjoyed this mygurumi pattern as much as I do. It’s still one of my favorites!
in case you want to spice up your #charlytheseahorse a little, here are some additional decorative pieces:
Star
use same yarn and hook as Charly (only a different color)
1 – – chain 4 and close to form a ring
2 – – chain 3, sc into 2nd chain from hook, hdc in last chain, sc into ring – repeat 5 times
BO
Sew to body, maybe onto the belly? Or how about right behind one eye?
Heart
use same yarn and hook as Charly (maybe a red color way?)
1 – – chain 4 and make all following sts into the first chain from hook:
2 – – trc3, dc3, chain 1, trc1, chain 1, dc3, trc3, slst2
BO
___________
Erin December 12, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hi, I love this pattern! when do you stuff it? do you do the head half way down the body? What works best?
HimiKo-SaN April 4, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Your amigurumis are BRILLIANT! ^^
Very cutes all 😀
Regards from Spain ^^
Wendy Austin-Rawlings July 26, 2014 at 8:37 pm
I honestly think this is my favourite of all your little creatures – just adorable 😀
Katrine October 5, 2016 at 10:37 am
Hi!
I know this is an old pattern, but where is it? This post says its free, but when i scroll down there is nothing there :’-( And the seahorse is soooo cute!
Diana October 7, 2016 at 8:54 am
Hi Katrine,
it’s up again 🙂 my wordpress got broken with the last update and it was lost
hugs Diana
Willeke van Amersvoort March 6, 2017 at 7:13 pm
Just love your pattern of the seahorse. My daughter want to crochet this for her little babygirl, so I translate it for her in Dutch…*Ü*…
The head, body and tail is almost done.
I have a question about row 90. It says: sc2. Row 90 says: sc2. Maybe you mean to sc2tog x3 because after row 89 I have 6 stitches left.
Diana March 9, 2017 at 3:59 pm
Hi, actually row 90 is the last and it looks nicer if you bind off directly after making only two sc. So it is sc2 in row 90 🙂
best wishes Diana
Willeke March 10, 2017 at 8:46 am
Thanx for replying so quick. We Will follow your directions.
Diane April 29, 2017 at 8:22 am
This pattern is very confusing. I think using the term m2 and all the brackets and x 6 is crazy when it can be something as simple as 1sc, increase (18) or 2sc, decrease (18). Makes for an easier pattern. Because of the instructions I cannot make the pattern without rewriting it. It’s too bad. The seahorse is really cute.
Diana September 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm
I’m sorry to confuse you.
Unfortunately the pattern does not work the way it does if you increase or decrease a stitch anywhere you like. This is exactly the reason why I write my patterns as I do, there is some very precise shaping included.
Maybe give it try though 🙂
Hadas Perry June 24, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Hi!
What an amazing pattern! Quite challenging for begginers I must say but I almost made it!
I do not understand the instructions on the fins…
For example in the dorsal How can it be shifting from 11 st (line 2) to 16 st (line 3).
Same thing with the arm fins…
Kindly assist me as my Charley can’t swim 🙁
Thank you so much!
Diana September 29, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Are you working the fins in the round? This is often a little brain challenge as first instinct is to crochet them back and forth, it should work that way
Kathy August 27, 2017 at 9:39 pm
This seahorse pattern worked up so well. I love the finished product. It is one that requires attention while making though. Thank you for making this a free pattern.
Diana September 29, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Thank you so much 🙂
Kim November 16, 2017 at 8:21 am
Hello, I don’t completely understand the pattern, because I am from another country 😉
Can you give the explanations?
m = …
Thank you very much!!!
Diana November 16, 2017 at 8:56 am
Hi Kim, i have a whole page on my abbreviations 🙂 please check there for all info:http://www.cinnamonpurl.com/abbreviations/
(m is a increase)
Best Diana
Ann January 27, 2018 at 11:09 pm
Very challenging pattern but i did get thru it! Ran out of body color at row 83 so i ended & just closed off tail. He is very cute. I had a little trouble doing a sc in a slst, but got it done. Made the shaping so nice! I used a #3 cotton thread & a 00 hook, body is dk green & add ons are light blue. Very cue.
Mandy March 14, 2018 at 7:39 am
I love this pattern, it is so qute! The head/body/tail is finished, but the snout isn’t looking like it has to. Do you crochet the snout in only back loops or something else? Mine is too big and isn’t decreasing/increasing the way yours is..
Natalie April 14, 2018 at 4:49 am
In row 61 itvsays esc4, I read the meaning for esc but not for esc4, and nomatter how do this, my stitch count for row 62 is off by 3 acai can only add 7 a.c. not 10. What am o doing wrong?
Natalie April 14, 2018 at 10:02 pm
ok, I figured it out, but it was 2am when I got to row 76 and so I decided to stop the tail there for my first attempt at this pattern. My little girl turned out super cute! Ill try to send pics in an email!
Elly May 4, 2018 at 7:33 am
Hi, i really couldn’t understand the way the snout looks. After following the instructions mine looks like a little bowl? Nothing like the picture
Diana January 17, 2019 at 3:52 pm
it should look like a little bowl 🙂 sew the open part to the head and stuff a little, it will be fine 🙂