Would you like to make and sew a goldfish? I hope so! I am very excited to be able to offer a free pattern available as a PDF download Goldfish Pattern. My blog is turning five very soon and this seems like a great way to celebrate!
I love making these goldfish. They are fun to play with and make great ornaments, too. Make a set of three and create your own mobile. The body of the finished fish is about 4″ long, not including the tail.
Some information on the pattern:
You’ll need some wool felt in three different colors, two sparkly iridescent fabrics, two round beads for the eyes, stuffing and thread. Seed beads are optional, but I think they add a nice finishing touch. The pattern requires beginning to moderate hand-sewing and machine skills.
The pattern includes full-sized pattern pieces, step-by-step instructions and photos. I wanted to make it really comprehensive because I think that this project incorporates some really good softie making techniques, like using a wedge shape to create in three-dimensions, gathering and stuffing circles, and catching fabrics in the seam to attach them. My hope is that once you’ve made a goldfish and seen how these techniques work, you’ll be able to apply them to your own projects.
Because the pattern is long, the PDF is large. I am hoping to find a way to zip it. If you have a suggestion on this, please email me.
****Carolyn just sent me a new, optimized PDF that is much smaller and makes for a quicker download! Hooray!****
And last, but certainly not least, I need thank my friend and neighbor, Carolyn Watson, for working with me to create this pattern. I arrived at Carolyn’s house the other night with a CD full of text and images and she transformed them using Photoshop, creating this lovely PDF. Carolyn is an artist and photographer in her own right and I urge you to take a look at her website and her Etsy shop.
Like this post? Sign up for my newsletter for more fun projects!
And check out my Etsy shop for lots of easy-to-sew softie patterns!
Thank you, for your generosity!
your pattern looks beautiful- congratulations! See if you can find Distiller to make your pdf smaller.
So cute! Thank you for sharing!
For making the pdf smaller…was the text and everything done in Photoshop? If your friend or someone else has Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign will let you set the max resolution of the photos while keeping your text readable. If it’s all an image, it does make for a huge file 😉 I’d offer to do it myself, but my computer with the correct programs is currently unplugged and deskless as we reorganize.
Wow!! thank you so much!! it’s a lovely softie!!!! and Congratulations, 5 years is a long time!!!!
Abby, thank you for posting the pattern. I couldn’t wait to download it. The instructions are excellent!
thank you for the pattern, can’t wait to try it out!
what a fantastic idea!!! off to check it out now 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m not much for themed trees, but I see a fishie Christmas tree in my future!
You're welcome, Joyce, and everyone! I hope you that you enjoy making goldfish as much as I do!
-Abby
so cute! Thanks for sharing the pattern, my daughter will love these.
so lovely the fish! 🙂
What a wonderful person you are for sharing your patterns with us! I love it and can’t wait to try it out. Excitedly waiting for your book too!
Wow – can’t thank you enough. I teach preschool and I think these hanging from the ceiling will be a wonderful addition to my classroom. The kids will be thrilled! Again, your generosity is greatly appreciated.
That sounds amazing, Debbie! What a great idea.
Wow, what an awesome tutorial! That must have been a lot of work to make! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, what a gorgeous tutorial! I’m about to be an aunt for the first time (YAY!!!!) & the new baby’s nursery theme is Dr. Suess.
I was just thinking that I might make some felt fish for a mobile…you know “one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish”. 🙂 I think this will be perfect – I’ll just adjust the colors – since it’s such a cute & whimsical fish!!
Thank you so much for sharing this! 🙂
Gorgeous! I made my daughter a ‘big fish’ to eat her toys a few months back and this would be wonderful to make a school of smaller fish!
Dear Abby,
I really enjoy reading your blog.
I would like to make a goldfish according to your pattern.
But I couldn’t find a link to download this pattern.
Please, can you give it to me?
nadyamarimont1@yandex.ru
Nadya Marimont
Moscow
Russia
I've moved the pattern to my pattern shop on Craftsy. It is still free! You'll find the link on the navigation bar below the banner on this blog. Thank you!
I do not see the goldfish pdf link! Could you point me in the right direction?? Thanks…
The free goldfish pattern is now in my Craftsy pattern shop on Craftsy.com
Thank you!!
Hello,
I would like to sew a goldfish for my fish Fugu …
Can I have the plans of the goldfish?
regards from Germany
Artur
Hi Artur,
The free pattern for the goldfish is now right here: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/goldfish/10005
Lovely! Thank you VERY much for sharing this free goldfish softie pattern!