Last summer, my niece went through an intense ocean phase. She wanted everything sea creatures. Her bedroom walls, her pajamas, her lunch box. When she asked me to make "something jellyfish" for her ceiling, I honestly had no idea where to start. I grabbed my hooks, some yarn from my stash, and spent a weekend experimenting. What came out of that weekend became one of my favorite projects I have ever designed.
These hanging jellyfish are everything I wanted them to be. They are whimsical without being cartoonish. They have movement and texture without being fussy to make. And when you hang three of them together at different heights, they create this dreamy underwater effect that makes everyone who sees them smile.
If you have been looking for a project that feels special, looks impressive, and actually teaches you some fun techniques along the way, this is the one. Let me walk you through exactly how to make your own jellyfish trio.
Why This Jellyfish Pattern Works So Well
The magic of this design is in the details. Each jellyfish has a stuffed dome bell with horizontal stripes, a ruffled frill around the base that mimics the delicate edge of a real jellyfish, and two types of tentacles hanging below. Some tentacles are worked as bobble chains that create a beaded, spiral look. Others are simple chains worked in a way that makes them naturally twist and curl.
The combination of these elements gives the finished piece dimension and movement. When a breeze catches them, they actually look like they are floating through water.
You will make three jellyfish in different colorways. One in pink and burgundy, one in teal and white, and one in lavender and purple. They are sized identically, so once you make one, the second and third go much faster.
Skill Level and Time Commitment
I would call this an intermediate level project. You need to be comfortable working in the round without joining at the end of each round. This is called working in a spiral, which is standard for amigurumi. You also need to know how to make clean color changes and work bobbles.
If you are a confident beginner who has made a few amigurumi pieces before, you can absolutely tackle this. The bobble chain tentacles require patience and consistent tension, but they are not complicated once you get the rhythm.
Time estimate: Plan for about 4 to 6 hours per jellyfish, not including assembly. All three together will take most makers 14 to 20 hours total.
Finished Measurements
Each jellyfish bell measures approximately 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) across at the widest point and about 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall.
The total hanging length, including tentacles, is approximately 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm). This varies depending on your tension when making the tentacles.
Materials You Will Need
Yarn
You will use worsted weight yarn throughout. Here is what you need per jellyfish:
Yarn suggestions: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice works beautifully here. It has excellent stitch definition for the bobbles and holds color well. Red Heart Super Saver is an economical choice if you want to buy one skein of each color. Any smooth worsted weight yarn will work. Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns because they will hide the stripe details and make the bobbles hard to see.
Hooks
Other Supplies
Gauge
With your G-6 hook and worsted weight yarn, working single crochet in the round:
18 stitches and 20 rounds = 4 inches / 10 cm
Gauge matters here. If yours is too loose, your bell will be larger and stuffing might show through gaps. Too tight, and the bell will be smaller than intended. Adjust your hook size if needed.
Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions
Let me define every stitch you will use:
Special Techniques
Bobble Chain Tentacle Stitch (BCT)
This creates the beaded, spiral tentacles. Here is how it works:
1. Make a slip knot and place on hook
2. Chain 3
3. Yarn over, insert hook into the 3rd chain from hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain)
4. Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops remain)
5. Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (4 loops remain)
6. Yarn over, pull through all 4 remaining loops. One bobble complete.
7. Chain 1 to close and anchor the bobble
8. Chain 3, then repeat steps 3 through 7
Continue until your tentacle reaches 10 to 12 inches. Fasten off, leaving a 6 inch tail.
The bobble chain naturally spirals because of the tension from working into the same point repeatedly. Do not fight this curl. It is exactly what you want.
Twisted Chain Tentacle (TCT)
This creates the wavy, curly tentacles:
1. With your larger hook (H-8) and T2 yarn, make a slip knot
2. Chain 80 loosely
3. Starting in the 2nd chain from hook, work 2 single crochet into every chain across
The extra stitches cause the chain to spiral and twist on itself. This is intentional. Fasten off with a 6 inch tail.
Jellyfish Bell Instructions
With MC and G-6 hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into the magic ring, pull the ring closed. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc in next st, inc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st] 6 times. (24 sts)
Round 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st] 6 times. (30 sts)
Round 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st] 6 times. (36 sts)
Round 7: [Sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st] 6 times. (42 sts)
Round 8: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to CA at end of Round 8.
Round 9: With CA, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to CB at end of Round 9.
Round 10: With CB, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to MC at end of Round 10.
Round 11: With MC, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Round 12: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to CA at end of Round 12.
Round 13: With CA, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to CB at end of Round 13.
Round 14: With CB, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Change to MC at end of Round 14.
Round 15: With MC, sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Round 16: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Round 17: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)
Round 18: [Sc in next 5 sts, dec] 6 times. (36 sts)
Round 19: [Sc in next 4 sts, dec] 6 times. (30 sts)
Checkpoint: Your bell should measure about 2.75 to 3 inches tall and 4 to 4.5 inches wide at this point. Begin stuffing firmly now. The bell should hold a nice round dome shape.
Round 20: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] 6 times. (24 sts)
Round 21: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 22: [Sc in next st, dec] 6 times. (12 sts)
Round 23: Dec 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Weave the tail inside and secure.
Frill Instructions
The frill is worked into the front loops only of Round 17. This is the last plain round before decreasing starts.
With MC (or a slightly lighter shade if desired), join yarn with a sl st into any front loop of Round 17.
Frill Round: [3 hdc in front loop of next st] 42 times, sl st to first hdc to join. (126 hdc)
Fasten off and weave in the end inside the bell.
The frill will naturally flare outward like a little ruffled skirt around the bell. This is exactly what you want.
Tentacle Instructions
For each jellyfish, make the following:
Bobble Chain Tentacles: Make 6 total in T1
Twisted Chain Tentacles: Make 4 total in T2
Assembly
Attaching the Tentacles
Thread a yarn needle with the tail of one tentacle. Insert the needle up through the closed base of the bell, pull through about 0.5 inches, then bring the needle back out and make 2 to 3 small anchoring stitches. Knot securely and trim.
Attach all 6 bobble chain tentacles first, spacing them evenly in a ring near the outer edge of the base. Then attach the 4 twisted chain tentacles between and slightly inside the bobble tentacles so they hang in the center cluster.
Adding the Hanging Loop
Cut a 24 inch length of fishing line. Thread it onto a sharp sewing needle. Insert the needle through the center top of the bell (the magic ring center), then bring it back up 2 to 3 stitches away. Tie the two ends together at your desired hanging height with a secure double knot.
Colorway Guide
Pink and Burgundy Jellyfish:
Teal and White Jellyfish:
Lavender and Purple Jellyfish:
Tips for Success
Color changes: Complete the last yarn over of the final stitch with your new color. Carry unused colors loosely up the inside if you are changing back within a few rounds.
Stuffing: Stuff firmly enough that the dome holds its shape without flat spots, but not so tightly that the stitches gap open.
Tentacle curl: If your tentacles are not curling enough, lightly mist them with water, twist gently by hand, and let them dry hanging in place.
Display: For the best effect, hang all three jellyfish from a single ceiling hook using different lengths of fishing line so they cascade at different heights.
Care Instructions
Hand wash gently in cool water with mild soap. Do not wring. Press between towels to remove water, reshape the dome while damp, and hang to dry. Machine washing is not recommended because it can distort the stuffing and tangle the tentacles.
I hope you love making these jellyfish as much as I loved designing them. They make wonderful nursery decor, party decorations, or gifts for the ocean lover in your life. If you want to find this pattern again later, save it to your Pinterest boards so it is right there when you are ready to cast on. And if you make your own jellyfish trio, I would absolutely love to see them. Drop a comment below and share your finished project!
