Hungry Fish Stuffed Animal Pattern

This fish stuffed animal sewing pattern can be sewn by hand or on a sewing machine. Here you will find step-by-step hand sewing instructions using fleece and felt fabrics. Gather your materials, download the free sewing pattern below, and follow along with the picture tutorial.

The hungry fish plush pattern is part of the Sew a Softie July 2020 tutorial hop. Every day this month, talented crafty and sewing bloggers are publishing free plush sewing patterns and tutorials. These free stuffed animal patterns with tutorials are geared toward teaching both kids and adults to learn to sew by hand. There are so many fun softie patterns and tutorials for animals, flowers, food, people, and more. Follow along on Instagram to find all of the patterns and tutorials, plus see what everyone is making.

How to Make the Hungry Fish Stuffed Animal

The hungry fish plush has an open mouth to be fed. In addition to the fish stuffed animal pattern, there are four simple shapes to make as “fish food.” The fish uses two types of hand stitches that even a beginner sewist can learn quickly. Get creative with your fabric and thread colors, and the food shapes you make.

Materials

• fish stuffed animal sewing pattern (download below)
• fleece fabric (for the body)
• felt fabric (for the fins, tail, lips, eyes, and food shapes)
• embroidery thread
• Poly-fil or other stuffing
• coordinating thread
• sewing needle
• sewing pins, clips, or clothespins

Project Notes

• Final size is approximately 12″ X 8″.
• Fleece fabric works great for the body as it has some stretch. Felt fabric can be used for the entirety of the fish too.
• The top fin and tail are double-layered felt to add body and stiffness.
• The fish food shapes are included in the pattern, though you can draw your own too.
• While this pattern is intended to have an opening to feed the fish, the opening can be omitted. If going this route, only cut two body pieces and stitch the mouth shut after stuffing.

Print the fish pattern and cut out the paper pattern pieces.

Cut out the pattern pieces from your fabrics. You will have:

• 4 body pieces
• 2 top fins
• 2 tails
• 2 side fins
• 2 lips
• 2 eye A
• 2 eye B
• 2 each of fish food shapes

Make the Fish Tail and Top Fin

Layer the two top fin pieces on top of each other and clip or pin to hold together. Tie a knot at the end of your thread, and starting at one corner, push the needle through the top layer of felt. This will hide the knot between the layers. Sew along the jagged top edge of the fin with a running stitch. The bottom curved edge does not need to be sewn. Tie a knot at the other corner of the fin. Set aside.

Repeat the same steps with the tail pieces. Start at the corner of the tail and sew all the way around to the other corner, leaving the flat edge open. Set aside.

Add the Side Fins, Eyes, and Lips to the Body

For this step, you’ll need two body pieces, two eye A pieces, two eye B pieces, two lips, and two side fins. On the body pieces, layout the side fin, eye pieces, and lips to determine placement. Remember that the two body pieces will be mirror images of each other.

Pin the side fin and eye A to the body piece. S ew the large eye A piece in place with a whipstitch.

Sew the flat side of the fin with a whipstitch.

Next, add the small eye B on top and sew all the way around with a whipstitch.

For the lips, align the edge of the lip piece to the edge of the body piece so the lip slightly overlays the body. Clip or pin in place and sew with a running stitch on just the inner edge (nearest to the eye) of the lip piece.

Repeat sewing the side fin, eye, and lip on the other side of the body.

Assemble the Body

Layer the four body pieces on top of each other with the two blank body pieces sandwiched in the middle. The body pieces with the side fins, eyes, and lips should be facing out just as they will in the final fish. Slide the top fin and tail in place between the middle body layers. Clip or pin all the layers together to hold in place.

Starting at the top of the mouth, sew around the body with a running stitch. Make sure you’re catching all four body layers, the tail, and the top fin as you sew along. Knot at the other side of the mouth, leaving the mouth open.

Lightly stuff the top and bottom portions of the body, leaving the middle empty to create the belly of the fish stuffed animal. Do not over stuff! Just a little stuffing will give the fish a plump shape and allow enough room for little hands to feed the fish.

Sew the two openings closed using a whipstitch.

Make the Fish Food Shapes

Layer the two pieces of each shape on top of each other. Begin stitching around the perimeter with a running stitch and stopping when there is about a one inch opening. Lightly stuff the shape and continue stitching closed. Knot your thread.

Have fun with your food shapes. Kids will love to stick their hands in the fish mouth.

You know have a plush fish that’s hungry and ready to be fed!

I hope you had enjoyed making this Hungry Fish Stuffed Animal! Make sure to check out Sew a Softie for more free plush sewing patterns.

Did you make the hungry fish? I love seeing your creations. Be sure to tag @scratchandstitch on Instagram and Facebook. You can also send me a note here.