Hammerhead Shark Free Crochet Pattern

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Hammerhead Shark Free Crochet Pattern

Hi, everyone! I’m popping in today with a fun little project: a hammerhead shark! Next week is Shark Week! And you know I love a good theme project! So I thought a friendly little shark pal would be the perfect make this week. Hey, not all sharks are mean and scary, right?

As usual, this shark pattern is made in the same style as our Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. This little guy has just 9 separate pieces, so he works up pretty quickly!

His finished measurements are approximately 18 cm (7 inches) from the tip of the head to the tail fins, and about 12.5 cm (5 inches) from the tip of the dorsal fin to the bottom of the belly.

Before we get into it, just a note about the yarn. I used a light weight (category 3) yarn in grey and white. The yarn is called A.T.I. I got it at a local store and I don’t believe it’s available in big box stores like Michaels. There’s nothing special about it; just a 100% acrylic yarn.  That being said, you can use any weight yarn you want, simply adjust your hook size accordingly. If you use worsted weight, I recommend a 3.5mm hook. If you want to stick with the light weight yarn, the Patons Astra line is a category 3 weight which would be a great substitute, as it’s available at most stores. Similar to HERE and HERE.

Yarn

Okay, let’s get started. Here’s what I used:

**If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE.**

*Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row*

Tail Fins in grey:

Row 1: Ch 7, sc along (6 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 4, inc (8 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 6, inc (10 sts)

Now we will start the first fin. You will be crocheting only part way along the previous row before turning.

Row 4: Inc, sc 4 (6 sts)

Row 5: Dec, sc 3, inc (6 sts)

Row 6: Sc 4, dec (5 sts)

Row 7: Dec, sc 2, inc (5 sts)

Row 8: Sc 3, dec (4 sts)

Row 9: Dec, sc, inc (4 sts)

Row 10: Sc 2, dec (3 sts)

Row 11: Dec, inc (3 sts)

Row 12: Sc, dec (2 sts)

Row 13: Dec (1 st)

Tie off. Turn your work so that the completed fin is on the left (as you look at it) as seen in the picture below. Join your yarn and begin working on the remaining stitches from Row 3. Repeat rows 4-13 for second fin.

First Tail Fin

Body in grey:

Turn your fins so that they are pointing down. You will now join your yarn and begin to work up the body.

Tail Fins

Row 1: Sc along (6 sts)

Rows 2-3: Sc along (6 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc 4, inc (8 sts)

Row 5: Sc along (8 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc 6, inc (10 sts)

Rows 7-8: Sc along (10 sts)

Row 9: Inc, sc 8, inc (12 sts)

Rows 10-11: Sc along (12 sts)

Row 12: Inc, sc 10, inc (14 sts)

Row 13: Sc along (14 sts)

Row 14: Inc, sc 12, inc (16 sts)

Row 15: Sc along (16 sts)

Row 16: Inc, sc 14, inc (18 sts)

Row 17: Inc, sc 16, inc (20 sts)

Rows 18-26: Sc along (20 sts)

Row 27: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts)

Rows 28-29: Sc along (18 sts)

Row 30: Dec, sc 14, dec (16 sts)

Rows 31-32: Sc along (16 sts)

Row 33: Dec, sc 12, dec (14 sts)

Row 34: Sc along (14 sts)

Row 35: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts)

Row 36: Sc along (12 sts)

Now we will start the head.

Row 37: Ch 7, sc 6 along the chains, then continue to sc 12 along the previous row (18 sts)

Row 38: Ch 7, sc 6 along the chains, then continue to sc 18 along the previous row (24 sts)

Row 39: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts)

Row 40: Inc, sc 24, inc (28 sts)

Rows 41-45: Sc along (28 sts)

Row 46: Hdc 7, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 6, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 7 (28 sts)

Tie off. Repeat all of the above for the second panel. Put these aside for assembly later.

Belly/Head Patch (make 1 panel) in white:

The head portion of the patch will be slightly smaller than the head portion of the body panel. This is to make it easier to attach later. However, if you’re finding that the head portion of your patch is a lot smaller than the head portion of the body panel and it cannot be stretched into place, you may want to frog back a few rows and loosen up your tension.

Row 1: Ch 2, sc 1 (1 st)

Row 2: Sc along (1 st)

Row 3: Inc (2 sts)

Rows 4-6: Sc along (2 sts)

Row 7: Sc, inc (3 sts)

Row 8: Sc along (3 sts)

Row 9: Sc 2, inc (4 sts)

Rows 10-12: Sc along (4 sts)

Row 13: Sc 3, inc (5 sts)

Row 14: Sc along (5 sts)

Row 15: Inc, sc 4 (6 sts)

Row 16: Sc 5, inc (7 sts)

Row 17: Inc, sc 6 (8 sts)

Row 18: Sc 7, inc (9 sts)

Row 19: Inc, sc 8 (10 sts)

Row 20: Dec, sc 7, inc (10 sts)

Row 21: Sc 8, dec (9 sts)

Row 22: Sc along (9 sts)

Row 23: Sc 7, dec (8 sts)

Row 24: Sc 7, inc (9 sts)

Row 25: Inc, sc 8 (10 sts)

Row 26: Dec, sc 7, inc (10 sts)

Row 27: Inc, sc 7, dec (10 sts)

Row 28: Dec, sc 7, inc (10 sts)

Row 29: Ch 7, sc 6 along chains, continue to sc 10 along previous row (16 sts)

Row 30: Ch 7, sc 6 along chains, continue to sc 16 along previous row (22 sts)

Row 31: Inc, sc 20, inc (24 sts)

Row 32: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts)

Rows 33-35: Sc along (26 sts)

Row 36: Hdc 6, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 6, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 6 (26 sts)

Tie off.

Sc around the inside curve only, as seen in the pictures below. Put aside for assembly later.

Pectoral Fins (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in grey:

Row 1: Ch 6, sc along (5 sts)

Row 2: Sc along (5 sts)

Row 3: Dec, sc, dec (3 sts)

Rows 4-5: Sc along (3 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc (2 sts)

Row 7: Sc along (2 sts)

Row 8: Dec (1 st)

Tie off first panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides. Chain 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, sc) into the bottom corners of Row 1. Sc 2 into the same stitch at the tip of the fin. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off and hide yarn tail inside. Repeat for second fin.

Dorsal Fin (make 2 panels) in grey:

Row 1: Ch 11, sc along (10 sts)

Rows 2-3: Sc along (10 sts)

Row 4: Dec, sc 8 (9 sts)

Row 5: Sc 7, dec (8 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc 6 (7 sts)

Row 7: Sc 5, dec (6 sts)

Row 8: Dec, sc 4 (5 sts)

Row 9: Dec, sc, dec (3 sts)

Row 10: Sc along (3 sts)

Row 11: Sc, dec (2 sts)

Row 12: Sc along (2 sts)

Row 13: Dec (1 st)

Tie off first panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides. Chain 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, sc) into the bottom corners of Row 1. Sc 2 into the same stitch at the tip of the fin. Stuff when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds around the piece. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off and hide yarn tail inside.

Assembly:

Step 1: Belly/Head Patch, Pectoral Fin and Gills

The first step is to appliqué the inside curve of the white belly/head panel to your front body panel. This is the same curve that you single crocheted along earlier. You will not sew down any of the outside edges, as these will be crocheted together later. Just make sure all the edges are lined up before sewing the inside curve.

The second thing you will want to do is sew the first pectoral fin onto the front body panel of your shark. Place it above the natural curve of the belly patch. Tie a knot on the back of the panel to secure.

Stitch three little gills on the front body panel above the belly patch using black crochet thread.

Step 2: Body, Second Pectoral Fin, Dorsal Fin, Eyes and Mouth

Cut off two lengths of grey yarn about 30 cms (12 inches) long. Put them aside for later.

Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides.

**Make sure the front of your Shark is facing you as you crochet around the outside of the piece.**

Starting at the base of the tail, begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels.

Sc 2 in the tip of each fin. Crochet right around both fins and back to the base of the tail then stop. Pull up a long loop. Stuff the tail fins now.

Continue crocheting around. You will need to switch to white when you reach the belly patch. When switching colours, insert your hook into the last stitch and pull up a loop with Colour A. Yarn over with Colour B and pull through both loops. Continue with Colour B (in this case, white).

**As you crochet along the belly and head, you will be crocheting all three panels together; both body panels and the white belly/head patch**

Stop about half-way across the belly. Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the second pectoral fin between the panels and attach it by sewing through three pieces; the top body panel, the fin, and the bottom body panel. You don’t need to sew through the belly patch when attaching the fin.

Now, picking up where you left off, continue single crocheting around the outside of the body. When you get to the fin, simply sc in the stitches of the belly/head patch and the front panel only; since this portion is already sewn shut, you simply need to attach the top two panels together. Once you are past the fin, continue single crocheting all three panels together as normal.

As you crochet around the head, be sure to (Sc, ch, sc) in each of the four corners of the “hammer” sections!

Stop when you’ve crocheted around the head. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now. Now that the head panel is securely in place, you will want to insert your safety eyes and stitch on your mouth using black crochet thread.

Once your eyes and mouth are in place, stuff the head.

Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of yarn that you set aside earlier, place the dorsal fin between the panels and attach the same way you did for the pectoral fin. Tie a knot to secure and hide the yarn tails between the panels.

Finish stuffing your shark.

Continue crocheting around. You will need to switch back to grey yarn where appropriate. Remember, when you reach the dorsal fin, sc in the stitches of the front panel only. Continue to sc both panels together as normal once you are past the dorsal fin.

Close with a slst to first st. Tie off. With your tapestry needle, poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.

That’s it! Now you’ll have a buddy to keep you company while watching Shark Week!

 

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35 thoughts on “Hammerhead Shark Free Crochet Pattern

      1. Your Sharky is adorable! And thank you for offering to translate! I will keep you in mind 🙂

  1. Great pattern! Thank you so much for doing something Sharkey. Though I think the dorsal (top) fin is backwards. The curve should be at the back. Love it 🙂

    1. Hrm, maybe! I think the front of the dorsal fin usually has a convex curve, which is what I tried to do here, but feel free to switch it around if you like the other way better! 🙂

  2. Wonderful pattern. The head of the therapy dept. is a shark lover. She goes all out for shark week. They have games and drawings for shark items. I made and donated crocheted shark freeze pop holders and cup cozies. I am definitely making her this. This is the first shark pattern that I can say I love, especially since it’s a hammerhead. Keep up the good work! I am going to follow you.

    1. Yay! Thank you so much, Jody! That’s so nice to hear 😀 I hope she loves her Hammerhead!

  3. I’m having difficulty with the assembly. It would be helpful to have pictures of each assembly step. I’ve been crocheting for a long time so am surprised I’m having difficulty. Lol it is 147 am though. Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!

    1. Hi Darcie,
      I’d be happy to help! Which part of the assembly are you having difficulty with?

      1. Hi! Thanks for posting this pattern! It is so cute! It did work up quick, but now, I am at a standstill. I am so confused with the assembly. Do you have pics of what the top of the shark should look like? Thank you for your time!

        1. Hi, Cassie! I’m not sure what you mean by the “top of the shark”. Maybe THIS and THIS picture will help. What part of the assembly are you having trouble with specifically? I will try to clarify further!

          1. Hi! Thanks for the quick response! I actually figured it out. After I got started with the assembly, I couldnt believe how difficult i was trying to make it. Thanks again!

  4. Thank you for the pattern. Works up really fast and i finsh it just in time for shark week. Everyone loves it and now I need to make 3 more.

  5. I just finished making the Hammerhead Shark!! So easy and cute!!! My grandson loves sharks and I can’t wait to give it to him!!!

  6. Thank you for the pattern! I am new to crochet, so I must make this shark! It was featured recently on Ravelry, which lead me here.

  7. I’m having a great deal of trouble with assembly as well – help! Tail… no problem. But how on earth do I get the panels together with the top ridge and crocheting through all three panels? Is complicated folding part of it? I just cannot make it work! I may be overcomplicating things…

    1. Hi Shelley,

      You will simply stack all three panels on top of each other; the back body panel is on the bottom (grey), the front body panel is on top of that (grey), and the belly patch panel is on the top (white). Line the belly patch up with the belly of the shark’s body panels. As you crochet along the belly, you will be crocheting through all three of the panels.

      Keep in mind that you will already have stitched down the top curve of the belly patch to the front panel (where it lays across the middle of the body panel i.e. where you made your sc sts).

      Hope that helps a bit! Please let me know if I can clarify further!

      Jillian

  8. I can’t get my pieces to seem to assemble right. Is the white belly/ head patch supposed to be smaller than the body head part? from your photos your white section goes almost from the tail to all the way around the head section and mine is not doing that.

    1. The white patch is slightly smaller so that it doesn’t overlap the grey part too much. You can try stretching it a little to get the right fit but if you are finding that the patch is too small even to slightly stretch into place, you can try (1) loosening your tension for the white belly/head patch, or (2) sizing up a hook size for the white belly/head patch, or both.

  9. MERCI Beaucoup j’habite dans le Sud est en bord de mer, donc j’adore les animaux marins. Tuto à titre perso, et je respecte votre site. Je mettrais le lien au cas ou on me demanderai. Bien à vous, cordialement Joce

  10. So confused about the fins. Haha.
    I don’t get this:
    “Sc, ch, sc) into the bottom corners of Row 1. Sc 2 into the same stitch at the tip of the fin. Slst to beginning st to close”
    Bottom corners, as in a triangle (the fin is a triangle after all) or one bottom corner through the two sewn together? And then how can one go to the tip of the fin after that without a long piece of yarn dangling off? And then, to top it off, lol, slip stitch these together? I need a picture or video please! Making this for a Hammerhead lover’s going-away party this Saturday!😁

  11. Hi,I love your hammerhead shark! I have all the pieces ready to assemble but am confused with the white belly patch placement. Could you post a pic of the whole underside.
    Thank you!

  12. I don’t understand for the grey body panel where it says repeat everything again does that mean even fins head and everything…if so how do I know which is going to be my top and bottom.

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