Fabric Fish

This is a doesn’t-need-to-be-sewn-too-precisely pattern for a fabric fish. It’s very forgiving: once you’ve added the tail, the body you’ve sewn changes from peculiar shape to fish shape.

Start by printing the template. If you want a larger fish, cut the pieces with an additional seam allowance. I used curtain fabric for the body, felt for the fins and tail.

Remember to cut two pieces for the body and two pieces of the smaller tail bit.

With one piece of the body right side up (it’s a bit hard to see right/wrong sides with the fabric I’ve used in the photos), put the fin pieces on top of this so they’re aligned with the edge, facing into the body piece as shown. Put the other body piece on top, right side down, and pin ready for sewing.

Sew almost all the way around the fish body. Leave a section that’s large enough to turn the body out and for stuffing it. If you leave too small a gap, you’ll struggle!

Turn the fish right side out, and you’ve got the beginning of a fish shape. Don’t bother to trim the fabric at the fish’s nose, use a pencil or knitting needle to push the excess into the nose when turning it out.

Cut the felt fin at a slight angle, then into sections, being careful not to cut into the body! A few larger sections will stand more upright than many small ones. If you’re unsure of how wide they should be, start in the middle: cut in half, then cut each bit in half again.

Stuff the fish. Don’t worry if it looks a peculiar shape, when you add the tail, it’ll look far more fish-like!

Pin the opening in the body closed. Pin a smaller tail piece on one side of the body. Pin both the larger and other tail piece on the other side. (You may find it easier to tack than pin.) Put the tail a little way up the body rather than right on the very end as this will add rigidity to the tail.

Sew body closed, then tail onto body. (I’ve done it by machine in a rather rough way because I knew I would paint over this.) Sew a few lines into the tail to hold the bits together and add rigidity.

Add an eye to your fish, perhaps a fin and mouth. I’ve used paint (red, white and gold fabric paint, plus iridescent white acrylic paint) but you could use a button, sew on a bit of felt, or embroider the eyes.