Crochet Shark Blankets

Check out my free pattern and instructions for creating these shark blankets!

Inspiration

We all remember last year when these shark blankets became all the rage.  There are some amazing patterns out there that paved the way for all future shark blankets.  Check out this amazing one from MJ’s Off The Hook Designs!  I made a couple last year, free form (check them out here) but really focused on the Mermaid Tail blankets (my very popular post on them is here).  This season I was asked to make 4 of them as a custom order and it reminded me how much fun they were to put together!  I figured it was high time I jotted down the pattern.  This is how I make my shark blankets – there are tons of different ways you can work through it.  Enjoy!

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn:
  • Grey: ~1000 yards – I used a variety of Bernat Super Value (True Grey, Clay, Soft Grey)
  • Red: ~40 yards – I used Bernat Super Value in True Red
  • White: ~40 yards – I used Bernat Super Value in White
  • Black: ~5 yards – I used Bernat Super Value in Black
• 6 mm crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Batting or some kind of stuffing material for the top fin

Sizing

This pattern makes a child size blanket for someone ~5-10 years old.  To adjust it for a toddler or adult, simply adjust the base ch to be an appropriate length (make it a multiple of 6+1) and adjust the body length to account for leg lengths.

Pattern

Body (Blanket)

Row 1: ch 97, dc into 3rd ch from hook and across.  Leading ch2 counts as a dc here and throughout (96 st)
Row 2: ch 2, dc into second st and across, ending at top of ch2 from previous row (96 st)
Row 3-41: as Row 2 (96 st)
Join blanket into the round by sl st into top of ch2 from start of row 41
Round 42-44: ch 2, dc into second st and across, sl st into ch2 from start of round (96 st)
Round 45: ch 2, *dc2tog, dc in next 4 st*, repeat to end of round, sl st into ch2 from start of round (80 st)
Round 46: ch 2, *dc2tog, dc in next 3 st*, repeat to end of round, sl st into ch2 from start of round (64 st)
Round 47: ch 2, *dc2tog, dc in next 2 st*, repeat to end of round, sl st into ch2 from start of round (48 st)
Round 48: ch 2, *dc2tog, dc in next st*, repeat to end of round, sl st into ch2 from start of round (32 st)
Round 49: ch 2, dc2tog until end of round, sl st into ch2 from start of round (16 st)
Round 50: as Round 49 (8 st)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing
Sew remaining hole shut

Join red yarn at top opening of blanket, ch 2 and dc across.  Fasten off.

Join white yarn at top of red yarn and do as follows across: *sc in next st, hdc in next st, (dc, tr, ch2, tr, dc) in next st, hdc in next st, sc, sl st* repeat across to form teeth.

Block teeth on a blocking board to form pointed edges.

Tail

The tail I used was from YarnUtopia’s Mermaid Tail Blanket pattern (free!) here.

Side Fins

Row 1: ch 21, dc into 3rd ch from hook and across.  Leading ch2 counts as a dc here and throughout (20 st)
Row 2: ch 2, dc into second st and across, ending at top of ch2 from previous row (20 st)
Row 3-8: as Row 2 (20 st)
Row 9: ch 2, dc2tog, dc across until 3 st remain in row (including ch2 from previous row), dc2tog, dc into ch2 from previous row (18 st)
Rows 10-16: repeat Row 9 (4 st)
Fasten off

Top Fin (make 2)

Row 1: ch 26, dc into 3rd ch from hook and across.  Leading ch2 counts as a dc here and throughout (25 st)
Row 2: ch 2, dc into second st and across, ending at top of ch2 from previous row (25 st)
Row 3-4: as Row 2 (25 st)
Row 5: ch 2, dc2tog, dc into each remaining st, including ch2 from previous row (24 st)
Row 6: ch 2, dc into each remaining st until 3 st remain, dc2tog, dc into ch2 from previous row (23 st)
Rows 7-8: Repeat Rows 5 and 6 once more (21 st)
Row 11: ch 2, dc2tog, dc2tog, dc into each remaining st, including ch2 from previous row (19 st)
Row 12: ch 2, dc into each remaining st until 5 st remain, dc2tog, dc2tog, dc into ch2 from previous row (17 st)
Rows 13-14: Repeat Rows 11 and 12 once more (13 st)
Row 15: ch 2, dc2tog, dc2tog, dc into each remaining st until 1 st remains, 2dc into last st (ch2 from previous row) (12 st)
Row 16: ch 2, dc into same st as ch2, dc into each remaining st until 5 st remain, dc2tog, dc2tog, dc into ch2  from previous row (11 st)
Row 17-18: Repeat rows 15 and 16 one more (9 st)
Fasten off
Hold wrong sides together and sc around the sides and top of fin
Stuff to desired firmness

Eyes (make 2)

Create magic loop, ch 2, 12 dc into magic loop, sl st into top of first dc, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

1. Holding right side of tail together with top side of blanket and sew in place
2. Sew side fins in place starting at 12th row of the blanket’s grey dc as pictured
3. Sew top fin in place as pictured, starting in the middle of the blanket, around the 18th row of the blanket’s grey dc
4. Sew eyes in place on rows 8-9, halfway between top fin and side fins as pictured
5. Weave in loose ends and enjoy!

Please feel free to make and sell items made from this pattern, but please link back to my post if you do. Please do not copy my pattern and claim it as your own, or publish the pattern elsewhere without permission. Happy crafting!

See my pattern listing on Ravelry here.