Knit Whale: How to knit a whale toy FOR BEGINNERS

Cozy up and get ready for an afternoon of knitting! This knit whale uses straight needles and simple stitches. It is suitable for beginners. Best yet — it’s a quick and satisfying project!

featured image for whale, blue knit whale on wood background with white letters saying whale over green background

This beautiful knit whale is whale-y cute!

Follow along on this photographed tutorial for this EASY knitting project.

This project is suitable for beginners.

Filling this whale with wool adds a special touch of warmth and soft yet firm structure.

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Supplies needed for your knit whale:

  • Bulky Yarn (I used “wonderfluff“). Grab a color for the top and another for the underbelly!
  • Scrap yarn to embroider eyes and nose
  • Scissors (I’ve had these for years!)
  • 3.75 straight knitting needles
  • Tapestry needle to sew together your creation
  • Wool — stuffing with wool really makes your toy special!

Stitches Used for this knit whale:

  • Knit
  • Purl
  • KFB (knit front and back)
  • SSK (slip slip knit)
  • K2TOG (knit two together)
  • P2TOG (purl two together)

Let’s jump right into it!

Step 1: Top half of knit whale

Top body piece blue knitting yarn for knit whale with yellow red pink dahlias on white background

First, we will knit the top piece of the whale.

We will start shaping the tail end.

I used blue yarn for the top half of my whale.

For the first 8 rows of this piece, you should end up with 18 stitches at the end of each of your rows.

With 3.75mm straight needles, cast on 18 stitches.

Row 1: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 8: Purl

Row 9: (Knit 1, K2TOG) to end. (12 stitches left on needles)

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: (Knit 1, K2TOG) to end. (8 stitches left on needles)

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: Knit

Row 14: Purl

Row 15: Knit

Row 16: Purl

Row 17: Knit

Row 18: Purl

Row 19: Knit

Row 20: Purl

Row 21: Knit

Row 22: Purl

Row 23: Knit

Row 24: Purl

The tail is now complete. Begin to shape for body.

Row 25: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (12 stitches total on needles)

Row 26: Purl

Row 27: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (18 stitches total on needles)

Row 28: Purl

Row 29: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (27 stitches total on needles)

Row 30: Purl

Row 31: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (40 stitches total on needles)

Row 32: Purl

Row 33: Knit 20 stitches, turn. Work on these 20 stitches only.

Row 34: Cast on 2 stitches, Purl to end. (22 stitches worked)

Row 35: Knit 20 stitches, (KFB) twice. (24 stitches worked)

Row 36: Cast on 2 stitches, purl to end. (26 stitches worked)

Row 37: Knit 24 stitches, (KFB) twice. (28 stitches worked)

Row 38: Cast on 2 stitches, purl to end. (30 stitches worked)

Row 39: Knit 28 stitches, (KFB) twice. (32 stitches worked)

Row 40: Cast on 2 stitches, Purl to end. (34 stitches worked)

Row 41: Knit 32 sttiches, (KFB) twice. (36 stitches worked)

Row 42: Purl these 36 stitches.

Rows 43 to 72: work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next)

Row 73: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (34 stitches worked)

Row 74: Purl

Row 75: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (32 stitches worked)

Row 76: Purl

Row 77: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (30 stitches worked)

Row 78: Purl

Row 79: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (28 stitches worked)

Row 80: P2TOG, Purl to end.

Cast off. Reattach yarn to remaining 20 stitches.

Row 81: reattach yarn, knit to end.

Row 82: Purl to last 2 stitches, (KFB) twice. (22 stitches total)

Row 83: Cast on 2 stitches, Knit to end (24 stitches total)

Row 84: Purl to last 2 stitches, (KFB) twice. (26 stitches total)

Row 85: Cast on 2 stitches, Knit to end (28 stitches total)

Row 86: Purl to last 2 stitches, (KFB) twice. (30 stitches total)

Row 87: Cast on 2 stitches, Knit to end (32 stitches total)

Row 88: Purl to last 2 stitches, (KFB) twice. (34 stitches total)

Row 89: Cast on 2 stitches, Knit to end (32 stitches total)

Rows 90 – 121: Work in stockinette stitch (Purl one row, knit the next)

Row 122: K2TOG, Knit to end (35 stitches)

Row 123: Purl

Row 124: K2TOG, Knit to end (34 stitches)

Row 125: Purl

Row 126: K2TOG, Knit to end (33 stitches)

Row 127: Purl

Row 128: K2TOG, Knit to end (32 stitches)

Row 129: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG (31 stitches)

Cast off

Step 2: Knit Whale Underbelly

White underbelly piece for knit whale on white background with red pink yellow dahlias bare wonderfluff yarn

Next we will be knitting the bottom of the whale.

I used white yarn for the underbelly.

Just like before, we will be starting at the tail end.

We’ll work our way towards the bottom belly.

With the same 3.75 mm knitting needles, cast on 18 stitches.

Just like before, the first 8 rows will all leave you with 18 stitches on your needles.

Row 1: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: SSK, Knit 1, (KFB) twice, Knit 2, SSK, K2TOG, Knit 2, (KFB) twice, Knit 1, K2TOG.

Row 8: Purl

Row 9: (Knit 1, K2TOG) to end. (12 stitches left on needles)

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: (Knit 1, K2TOG) to end. (8 stitches left on needles)

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: Knit

Row 14: Purl

Row 15: Knit

Row 16: Purl

Row 17: Knit

Row 18: Purl

Row 19: Knit

Row 20: Purl

Row 21: Knit

Row 22: Purl

Row 23: Knit

Row 24: Purl

Tail portion is complete. Begin to shape the wide underbelly part.

Row 25: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (12 stitches)

Row 26: Purl

Row 27: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (18 stitches)

Row 28: Purl

Row 29: (Knit 1, KFB) to end (27 stitches)

Rows 30 – 80: Work in stockinette stitch (purl one row, knit the next)

Cast off

Assemble Your Knit Whale

blue and white knit whale on wooden background
Blue and white knitted whale with butterfly bush and blue sky in background knit whale pattern

Now that you’ve knitted your pieces for your whale, it’s time to assemble him!

Sew the top seam of the whale, from back to front.

Then, attach the tail pieces together, lining them up neatly.

Work your way down the base of the tail towards the underbody of the whale.

Sew the majority of the underbelly to the whale, leaving an opening to stuff him.

Fill your whale with wool.

I preferred to stuff my whale not completely full so he had a little “give” to him.

Don’t stuff the very end of the tail to keep it having a flat appearance.

Embroider him a couple of eyes, if you wish.

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