Get ready for summer with this cute Crochet Whale Shark Bag Pattern! This bag is perfect for holding phones, wallets, and other small items.
While I love whale sharks, I never thought about whether they were whales or sharks until I started making this free crochet pattern. My curiosity got the best of me, and I looked it up. They're actually sharks! They're called whale sharks due to their size and are gentle filter feeders. Who knew?
While whale sharks are very large creatures, they are smaller than blue whales but larger than orca whales. Fun fact: I also have a crochet orca bag pattern, and this one is the same size as the crochet whale shark bag pattern!
I’ve been enjoying creating unique crochet bag patterns for every occasion. From my Crochet GameBoy Bag for Comic Con to my Crochet Strawberry Bag and Crochet Lemon Bag for the farmer's market, I love using them. Now, I can add this crochet whale bag to the mix for when I go to the beach or zoo!
As usual, this whale shark crochet pattern is free, and you can make and sell the finished product! Just don’t sell my pattern, as I am the creator.
So let's get started on this free crochet whale shark bag pattern!
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✏️ Things To Note:
- Yarn Choice: I chose a soft/medium blue for the crochet whale shark bag pattern to make the white pop. You can use any shade of blue or even gray for the bag's main color if you want to add variety.
- Bag Structure: The crochet whale shark bag is made flat, so there isn't a middle piece. However, if you want your crochet animal bag to have more depth, feel free to add a middle piece.
- Finished Size: The crochet whale pattern is roughly 8 inches in diameter.
💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)
- Magic ring - mr
- Chain - ch
- Slip stitch - sl st
- Single crochet - sc
- Double crochet - dc
- Increase - inc
- Decrease - dec
🧋Variations
Whale/Fish Base: You can use this pattern as a base for many other whale or fish bags, like my crochet orca bag. Transform it into a shark, goldfish, rainbow fish, etc.
Cotton Alternative: If you use cotton instead of acrylic yarn and sew it completely together (without an opening), you can make it into a crochet hot pad or pot holder.
🍵Instructions for Crochet Whale Shark Bag Pattern
This free whale shark crochet pattern is made in the round.
Round 1: Make a mr, ch x2 and dc x12. Then sl st to the first dc (skip the chains) and pull the circle tight. (12)
Round 2: Ch x2, then dc inc in every stitch. Then sl st to the first dc (24).
Round 3: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc, then repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (36)
Round 4: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x2, then repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (48)
Round 5: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x3, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (60)
Round 6: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x4, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (72)
Round 7: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x5, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (84)
Round 8: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x6, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (96)
Then fasten off the yarn.
Make 2 circles, one white and one blue.
Crochet Whale Shark Circles:
Make 5.
Round 1: With the white yarn, make a mr, ch x2 and dc x12. Then sl st to the first dc (skip the chains) and pull the circle tight. (12) Fasten off the yarn but leave a tail for sewing.
Sew to the whale in a 3 - 2 pattern on its back.
Crochet Whale Fins:
Arm fins: Make 2 with the blue yarn.
Round 1: Make a mr and then sc x6 into the circle. Then pull the circle tight. (6)
Round 2: In the first sc you made, make a sc inc. Then in the following stitch make a sc. Repeat for the rest of the round. (9)
Round 3: Sc for the entire round (9).
Round 4: Sc inc, then in the following 2 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (12)
Round 5: Sc for the entire round (12).
Round 6: Sc inc, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (15)
Round 7: Sc inc, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (18)
Round 8: Sc dec, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (15)
Round 9: Sc dec, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (12)
Round 10: Sc dec, then in the following 2 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (9)
Round 11: Sc dec, then in the following stitch make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (6). Then fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Tail fin: Make using the blue yarn.
Repeat Round 1-7 from the arm fins 2 times to start your tail fin. Fasten off the first tail fin tip, but not the second one.
Round 8: Join the 2 fin tips together by crocheting into the other edge of the crochet fin and crochet around the entire edge of both fin tips. They should join only where the 2 fins meet in the middle (36).
Round 9: Sc dec, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (30)
Round 10: Sc for the entire round (30).
Round 11: Sc dec, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (24)
Round 12: Sc for the entire round (24). Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Finishing:
Once you have made 2 circles you want to single crochet the edges together. To do this you want to hold the 2 circles together and line them up in relation to stitch openings. Then rejoin the blue yarn to the outer edge going through both circles. Then sc around the edge for about ¾ -⅘ of the way. You want to leave an opening about the size of a hand so you can easily grab things out of the bag.
Sew the arm fins and tail fins to the whale shark bag.
Embroider a mouth if you would like near the opening of the bag and then sew on the eyes.
Now for the strap:
Split the yarn into 2 balls (you really don't need much, just a couple arm spans of yarn) and double the yarn up so you will be working with 2 yarns not 1. Join the double stranded yellow yarn to one corner of the mouth and make a series of crochet chains. I made 150 chains, but you may need more or less depending on the length you are going for. Then join to the opposite side of the bag. Fasten off and weave in any yarn ends.
Now the crochet shark bag should be done. I hope you enjoyed my unique and cool crochet bag pattern!
If you have leftover blue and white yarn, you can make my Japanese Knot Bag Crochet Pattern because it uses the same yarn. The knot bag is designed to look like Mount Fuji!
🐌Expert Tips
- Fabric Liner: If you plan to carry heavy items in this Crochet Whale Shark Bag Pattern, consider making a fabric liner to prevent distortion or stretching. A phone or wallet should be fine without a liner.
- Adjustable Strap Length: For a comfortable fit, you can adjust the number of chains when making the strap based on your height and preference.
- Color Combinations: Experiment with different color combinations to create a variety of whale sharks, using contrasting colors for fins and details.
🧵Pattern FAQs
Of course, chunky yarn would make the shark bag pattern become a large tote versus a phone bag so keep that in mind.
Of course! I usually make my handles out of crochet, but you can always add on a different handle if you want it to be stronger.
Sure! It doesn’t matter which order you assemble the bag.
🧶More Crochet Animal Patterns
If you tried this Crochet Whale Shark Bag Pattern (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Crochet Whale Shark Bag Pattern
Materials
Abbreviations (US terms)
- Magic ring - mr
- Chain - ch
- Slip stitch - sl st
- Single crochet - sc
- Double crochet - dc
- Increase - inc
- Decrease - dec
Notes
- I used a soft blue for the crochet whale shark to highlight the white, but any blue or gray works for variety.
- The bag is made flat with no middle piece, but you can add one for more depth.
- The finished crochet phone bag is about 8 inches in diameter.
Instructions
- This part of the pattern is made mostly in the round.
- Round 1: Make a mr, ch x2 and dc x12. Then sl st to the first dc (skip the chains) and pull the circle tight. (12)
- Round 2: Ch x2, then dc inc in every stitch. Then sl st to the first dc (24).
- Round 3: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc, then repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (36)
- Round 4: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x2, then repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (48)
- Round 5: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x3, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (60)
- Round 6: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x4, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (72)
- Round 7: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x5, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (84)
- Round 8: Ch x2, dc Inc, dc x6, repeat for the entire round. Then sl st to the first dc. (96)
- Then fasten off the yarn.
- Make 2 circles, one white and one blue.
Whale Shark Circles: Make x5
- Round 1: With the white yarn, make a mr, ch x2 and dc x12. Then sl st to the first dc (skip the chains) and pull the circle tight. (12) Fasten off the yarn but leave a tail for sewing.
- Sew to the whale in a 3 - 2 pattern on its back.
Crochet Whale Fins:
Arm fins: Make x2 with the blue yarn.
- Round 1: Make a mr and then sc x6 into the circle. Then pull the circle tight. (6)
- Round 2: In the first sc you made, make a sc inc. Then in the following stitch make a sc. Repeat for the rest of the round. (9)
- Round 3: Sc for the entire round (9).
- Round 4: Sc inc, then in the following 2 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (12)
- Round 5: Sc for the entire round (12).
- Round 6: Sc inc, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (15)
- Round 7: Sc inc, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (18)
- Round 8: Sc dec, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (15)
- Round 9: Sc dec, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (12)
- Round 10: Sc dec, then in the following 2 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (9)
- Round 11: Sc dec, then in the following stitch make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (6). Then fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Tail fin: Make using the blue yarn.
- Repeat Round 1-7 from the arm fins 2 times to start your tail fin. Fasten off the first tail fin tip, but not the second one.
- Round 8: Join the 2 fin tips together by crocheting into the other edge of the crochet fin and crochet around the entire edge of both fin tips. They should join only where the 2 fins meet in the middle (36).
- Round 9: Sc dec, then in the following 4 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (30)
- Round 10: Sc for the entire round (30).
- Round 11: Sc dec, then in the following 3 stitches make a sc. Then repeat for the rest of the round. (24)
- Round 12: Sc for the entire round (24). Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Finishing:
- Once you have made 2 circles you want to single crochet the edges together. To do this you want to hold the 2 circles together and line them up in relation to stitch openings. Then rejoin the blue yarn to the outer edge going through both circles. Then sc around the edge for about ¾ -⅘ of the way. You want to leave an opening about the size of a hand so you can easily grab things out of the bag.
- Sew the arm fins and tail fins to the whale shark bag.
- Embroider a mouth if you would like near the opening of the bag and then sew on the eyes.
Strap:
- Split the yarn into 2 balls (you really don't need much, just a couple arm spans of yarn) and double the yarn up so you will be working with 2 yarns not 1. Join the double stranded yellow yarn to one corner of the mouth and make a series of crochet chains. I made 150 chains, but you may need more or less depending on the length you are going for. Then join to the opposite side of the bag. Fasten off and weave in any yarn ends.
- I hope you enjoyed my whale shark crochet pattern!
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