This is a crochet pattern review of Shawn the Shark designed by Theresa’s Crochet Shop. Review done by Candace of T&C Crafters for EyeLoveKnots.
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It’s me, Candace with T&C Crafters.
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I have been selling my makes at craft shows for quite a few years now, and one of the most common requests I get at each show is for a shark. While I have wanted to make a shark stuffie for quite some time, I haven’t gotten to it until I found the super cute Shawn the Shark pattern from Theresa’s Crochet Shop!
I have loved all the patterns that I have purchased from Theresa’s Crochet Shop, including the Daphne the Dolphin pattern that I reviewed before. I knew that this pattern would be a great one to try out for shows.
I love how easily the Shawn the Shark pattern worked up! I decided to go rogue and make mine in super bulky yarn, and it turned out so big and cuddly! It really drew a ton of attention at my last market and sold within the first few hours. I am already working on making more of these sharks for my upcoming fall markets.
What Do You Need to Crochet Shawn the Shark?
- Lion Brand Cover Story in the colorway Mineral (gray)
- Bernat Baby Blanket in White
- K10.5/6.5 mm Crochet Hook – I used my Clover Amour Ergonomic Crochet Hook!
- Yarn Needle – I love using these steel yarn needles for amigurumi!
- Polyester Fiber Fil
- 15 mm Black Felt Eyes
- Black and White Worsted Weight Yarn for Details
- Straight Pins
- Shawn the Shark, Paid Crochet Pattern by Theresa’s Crochet Shop via Etsy
Material Notes:
The Shawn the Shark pattern that I used is meant for worsted weight yarn. The designer also has a separate pattern for plush yarn called Sterling the Shark. However, I chose to go with the original Shawn the Shark pattern instead.
If you haven’t tried out Lion Brand Cover Story yarn before, it is really similar to other styles of blanket yarn. The only noticeable difference is that Cover Story is just a little bit thicker than Bernat Blanket yarn. Due to the difference in thickness, it does impact the size of the finished piece as well as the tension that is used. I found myself working a little more slowly with this type of yarn than with Bernat Blanket due to the thickness, but the extra plushy finished pieces were worth it!
I did not have any Cover Story in a white color, so for the underbelly I did use Bernat Baby Blanket in white yarn instead. Since the Bernat Baby Blanket is not as thick, I did have to stretch the underbelly piece quite a bit. I would recommend that whatever yarn you choose, you make sure that both colors are either the same brand or similar thickness.
I used my K10.5/6.5 mm Clover Amour ergonomic crochet hook. I probably could have sized up to a 7 mm hook instead since the yarn was so thick, but I wanted to make sure there were no gaps between my stitches. I did not use any stitch markers for my project because I just rely on counting, but you may want to have them available.
When working with thick yarn and stuffing like this, I recommend using a steel yarn needle for sewing on pieces and finishing. It is much easier to push through the yarn than it would be with a needle that could potentially bend while you are using it. There is a good bit of sewing involved in this pattern, so the proper needle is important. Only the body of the shark requires stuffing, so you probably only need a small or medium bag. It may also be helpful to have some straight pins on hand for placing the underbelly on while sewing.
The pattern calls for black safety eyes. I opted to use felt eyes instead for safety concerns. I used 15 mm black felt eyes. I wanted to make sure the eyes weren’t too big for the body, so I thought this was a good size.
How Long Does it Take to Crochet Shawn the Shark?
It took me between two to three hours to complete this shark. When working with the thicker yarn, I took more breaks than I would with thinner yarn. I have started this pattern in thinner velvet yarn, and it is working up much faster.
How Big is Shawn the Shark?
Since I chose to make Shawn the Shark in super bulky yarn, my finished shark was approximately 14 inches long from nose to the end of the tail, and about 8 inches tall to the top of its fin.
In the pattern, the designer indicates that the finished shark in worsted weight is about 9 inches long and 5 inches tall.
Gauge:
I used a K10.5/6.5mm hook with Lion Brand Cover Story yarn. A magic circle with 6 single crochets measured approximately 1 1/4 inches in diameter.
Gauge is not critical in this type of project. You mainly just want to make sure that there are not gaps between stitches so that the stuffing does not come through. If you notice gaps, you will want to go down a hook size.
All About Shawn the Shark:
The Shawn the Shark pattern is really well-written and easy to follow. This pattern uses basic stitches and is worked in the round for most of the pieces. The underbelly is made in rows. If you are familiar with amigurumi, you will probably find this pattern pretty easy. There is sewing involved in this pattern, so if that is an area you struggle with, you will want to pay attention to the directions and notes provided by the designer. I would also recommend you use straight pins or ami sticks to help you with placement as you sew your shark together.
The body of the shark is made in one big piece, and is the only part of the pattern that is stuffed. After making the body, the underbelly is made and then needs to be sewn on to the body. I found this part to be the trickiest of the whole pattern, but still totally doable. I used straight pins to place the belly, as the designer suggested. Because I used a different type of yarn for the underbelly than the body, I had to do a lot of stretching to get the underbelly to fit. I very much appreciated that the designer provided clear information about what rounds to use to help with placement.
The fins are all made separately and then sewn on. Just like with the underbelly, the designer provided clear directions about where to place each fin, which I found super helpful. The pattern includes a lot of pictures that help as well.
Overall, I’m really happy with how Shawn the Shark turned out! I am actually already working on making a second one since my first sold so quickly at my last market! I hope you give this pattern a try, and I’d love to know what you think. Let us know in the comments.
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