Novelty Crochet: Screen Amigurumi Fish and Market Bag Free Patterns
Make a screen amigurumi fish or a crochet market bag with these free patterns and speed hacks.
You can crochet a fish that looks like it's swimming across your phone screen in about an hour.
Screen amigurumi are little crochet figures that sit on your phone or tablet screen like they're part of the display. A fish pattern is the perfect starting point because it's small, fast, and uses basic stitches.
The market bag is the practical cousin. It's a mesh tote that stretches to hold groceries or beach stuff, and it works up quickly with simple chains and double crochets. Both projects use worsted weight yarn and a 4mm or 5mm hook.
Novelty crochet covers fun, unexpected projects like amigurumi shaped like screen fish and practical market bags. This guide gives you the patterns, the materials, and the quick tricks to finish both without the fuss.
What you need
Worsted weight yarn
About 50g for the fish, 200g for the bag. Cotton works best for the bag because it's sturdy.
3.5mm and 5mm hooks
The smaller hook for the fish, the larger for the bag. You can adjust for gauge.
Yarn needle
For sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.
Stuffing
Polyester fiberfill works fine. You need about a handful for the fish.
What is screen amigurumi?
Screen amigurumi are tiny crochet toys that perch on the edge of your phone or tablet. They look like they're part of the screen, so a fish pattern makes a fun illusion.
Most patterns are worked in the round with single crochet, and they use a small amount of yarn. You can finish one in about an hour if you know the basics.
Use a light-colored yarn for the fish so it stands out against a dark screen.
What you need for the fish and bag
For the fish, grab worsted weight yarn in two colors, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook, a yarn needle, and some stuffing. For the bag, use worsted weight cotton yarn and a 5mm hook.
The fish pattern uses single crochet, increases, and decreases. The bag uses chains and double crochet. If you can do those, you're set.
- Worsted weight yarn (about 50g for the fish, 200g for the bag)
- 3.5mm and 5mm hooks
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Stuffing for the fish
How to crochet the screen fish
Start with a magic ring and work 6 single crochet into it. Pull tight. That's round one.
Increase evenly until the body is about 2 inches long. Then work even rounds for the middle, and decrease to close the tail end.
Add fins and a tail separately, then sew them on. Embroider eyes with black yarn.
The finished fish should sit flat on your screen. If it wobbles, add a small stitch at the bottom to create a flat base.
Speed hack: work the fins directly into the body instead of sewing them on. It saves 10 minutes.
How to crochet the market bag
Chain 40 and join to form a circle. Work double crochet in each chain around, then continue in a mesh pattern: chain 3, skip a stitch, double crochet in the next.
Repeat the mesh until the bag is about 12 inches long. Then work a few rounds of single crochet for the top edge.
Make two straps by chaining 80 and working a row of single crochet back. Attach them to opposite sides of the bag.
The bag stretches, so it holds a lot. It's best for produce or light groceries, not heavy cans.
Speed hack: use a larger hook, like 6mm, to make the mesh looser and the bag faster to finish.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
If your fish curves instead of lying flat, you're increasing too much. Check that you have the right stitch count.
If the bag twists, you're not joining rounds correctly. Mark the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker.
If the mesh is too tight, the bag won't stretch. Loosen your tension or use a bigger hook.
Make it your own
Change the fish colors to match your phone case. Use glow-in-the-dark yarn for a fun surprise at night.
For the bag, add a lining to make it sturdy, or attach a button and loop for a closure.
You can also make the fish bigger by using thicker yarn and a larger hook, or smaller with fingering weight yarn.
Step
Make the fish body
Start with a magic ring, work 6 sc, and increase evenly until the body is about 2 inches long. Then work even rounds, and decrease to close.
Add fins and tail
Crochet small triangles for fins and a larger one for the tail. Sew them onto the body, or work them directly to save time.
Embroider the face
Use black yarn to embroider the eyes and mouth. Make the eyes large for a cute look.
Start the bag base
Chain 40 and join. Work double crochet in each chain, then continue in a mesh pattern until the bag is 12 inches long.
Add straps
Chain 80 for each strap, work a row of single crochet, and attach to opposite sides of the bag.
Ways to change it
Different fish colors
Use bright colors like orange and yellow for a tropical look, or pastel for a softer vibe.
Glow-in-the-dark yarn
Makes the fish visible at night. Fun for kids.
Bag lining
Add a fabric lining to keep small items from falling through the mesh.
Size adjustments
Use thicker yarn and a larger hook for a bigger fish or bag, or thinner yarn for a mini version.
The short version
- Screen amigurumi are small crochet figures that sit on your phone screen.
- The fish pattern uses basic stitches and takes about an hour.
- The market bag is a mesh tote that stretches to hold groceries.
- Use worsted weight yarn and a 3.5mm or 5mm hook for both projects.
- Speed hack: work fins directly into the fish body to save time.
- Speed hack: use a larger hook for the bag to make it faster.
- Adjust colors and size to make each project your own.
Questions people ask
What is screen amigurumi?
Screen amigurumi are tiny crochet toys that sit on the edge of a phone or tablet, looking like they're part of the screen. They're usually small and quick to make.
How long does it take to crochet a fish?
A screen fish takes about an hour if you know basic stitches. It's a quick project for a beginner.
What yarn is best for a market bag?
Cotton worsted weight yarn is best because it's sturdy and holds its shape. Acrylic works too, but it stretches more.
Can I make the fish bigger?
Yes, use thicker yarn and a larger hook. The pattern is easy to scale up or down.
Grab your hook and make a fish or a bag today
Novelty crochet is all about having fun with yarn. The screen fish and market bag are two easy projects that give you something cute and useful. Start with the fish if you want a quick win, or the bag if you need a new tote. Keep it quick and cute!
