Create a Stunning Purple Betta Fish Amigurumi With Flowing Fins

This gorgeous purple betta with those crazy long fins will make you want to start an entire crocheted aquarium! At 4.5 inches, it’s the perfect size to show off those flowy fins that make betta fish look so fancy.

Love these betta patterns? My complete 5 Betta Fish Crochet Pattern Book includes this design plus four more stunning variations – perfect for creating your own colorful school!

Get Hooked on the Cutest Betta Fish You’ll Ever Make!

What’s Inside?

5 Complete Betta Fish Patterns – From simple beginner designs to show-stopping realistic beauties
Step-by-Step Photo Guides – Because sometimes written instructions just don’t cut it
Instant Download – Start crocheting in the next 5 minutes

Ready to make your awesome crochet betta collection?

Why This Pattern Rocks

What I love about this design is how those separate fin pieces really capture how a real betta moves through water.

The purple and white color combo gives it that fancy vibe – because let’s face it, bettas are basically underwater show-offs with all that attitude and those flashy fins.

I’ve made this guy in about six different color combinations now, and every single one looks completely different. It’s like having a whole personality change just by switching yarns!

Project Details

Skill Level: Beginner friendly (perfect for building your amigurumi confidence!)
Time Required: 3-4 hours (perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon)
Finished Size: About 4.5 inches from nose to tail

What You’ll Need

Yarn:

4-ply milk cotton yarn in Purple and White
Pro tip: This pattern looks amazing in jewel tones – try emerald green or sapphire blue

Tools:

2.5 mm crochet hook (for nice tight stitches)
Safety eyes (5 mm)
Fiberfill stuffing
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Pattern Abbreviations

MR = Magic Ring
ch = Chain
sc = Single Crochet
inc = Increase
dec = Decrease
sl st = Slip Stitch
R = Round/Row
hdc = Half double crochet
dc = Double crochet

Let’s Build This Beauty!

The Body (Keep It Simple)

Grab your purple yarn and let’s start with the basics

R1: 6 sc in MR [6]
R2: 6 sc [6]
R3: 6 inc [12]
R4-15: 12 sc around [12]

This body is long and skinny – perfect for those big dramatic fins!

Eye placement time! After round 6, position those safety eyes between rounds 4-5. Take a step back and make sure they look even – nothing worse than a cross-eyed fish!

Stuffing break: Fill that body up before we close it. I like mine firm but not rock-hard.

R16: 6 dec [6]

Close it up tight and weave in that tail!

The Tail (Where the Magic Happens)

Switch to white yarn for this dramatic flowing tail

Attach your white yarn where you want the tail to start (back end of the fish, obviously) and work 5 sc to create your tail base.

Chain 9 – this is going to be your tail length

R1: Starting from 2nd chain from hook: 5dc, 1hdc, 1sc, sl st in 2nd sc of tail base [7]
R2: 1sc, 1hdc, 5dc, ch2 and turn [7]
R3: 5dc, 1hdc, 1sc, sl st in 3rd sc of tail base [7]

R4: 1sc, 1hdc, 5dc, ch2 and turn [7]
R5: 5dc, 1hdc, 1sc, sl st in 4th sc of tail base [7]
R6: 1sc, 1hdc, 5dc, ch2 and turn [7]
R7: 5dc, 1hdc, 1sc, sl st in 5th sc of tail base [7]

By now you should have this gorgeous flowy tail that actually looks like it could wave around in the water!

Upper and Lower Fins (The Fancy Bits)

Stick with white yarn for these dramatic fins

Upper Fin: Attach yarn at the top of the body next to your tail base.

R1: 8 sc in the body
R2: 8 dc inc [16]
R3: sc inc, 14 sc, sc inc [18]

Lower Fin: Make exactly the same pattern underneath the body.

These fins give your betta that classic flowy look – so much drama and fanciness in such a simple pattern!

The Finishing Touch (Making It Pop)

Here’s where we add that professional edge detail that makes all the difference:

Tail edging: Join purple yarn at one corner of the tail and single crochet evenly around the entire edge. This gives it that finished look and really makes the white pop against the purple.

Fin edging: Do the same thing around both the upper and lower fins.

This step might seem optional, but trust me – it’s what transforms your fish from “cute” to “holy cow, did you really make that?”

My Learning Moments (AKA What Not to Do)

The Wonky Tail Disaster: My first attempt at the tail looked like my fish had been in an accident. Turns out, consistent tension on those chain sections really matters. Take your time!

The Fin Placement Mess: I got excited and stuck the fins too far forward. My poor betta looked like it was wearing shoulder pads. Measure twice, attach once!

The Stuffing Situation: I understuffed the body thinking the fins would balance it out. Nope. Floppy fish syndrome is real, people.

Color Combo Ideas (Because Purple Isn’t Everyone’s Thing)

I’ve gone a little crazy with this pattern and tried:

Turquoise body with coral fins (tropical vibes!)
Black body with silver fins (gothic betta!)
Rainbow gradient (because why not?)
Classic blue and white (always looks good)

Each color combination gives the fish a completely different personality. It’s like having a whole collection of different breeds!

What’s Next?

Once you’ve mastered this betta pattern, you’ll probably find yourself planning an entire yarn aquarium like I did.

I’m currently working on some aquatic plants to go with my fish collection because apparently I have no self-control.

Want the complete collection? My 5 Betta Fish Crochet Pattern Book includes this purple beauty plus four more gorgeous designs including a halfmoon betta that’ll blow your mind!