Free Pattern: Fishing Game Kid's Toy

This was a Christmas present for our little friend Jack.  It turned out to be somewhat more involved than I thought it would be, but it turned out even better than I'd imagined!  It's fun to "fish" the fish, and it can be used to help teach colors and counting.  The storage bag flattens out into a play surface.

Supplies:
(J/10) 6mm, (G/6) 4.25mm and (E/4) 3.5mm hooks
Light blue worsted weight yarn (about a third of a skein?)
Small amounts worsted weight yarn in red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple and black (I used Red Heart Super-Saver)
Sport weight yarn in silver or gray
Small dowel rod (3/8" x 10")
Small amount of nylon string
White glue
7 super-strong button magnets (neodymium buttons 1/2" diameter)
Fiberfill
Jingle bells and/or mylar crinkly stuff (I used some from the windows of junk-mail envelopes, as suggested in the linked pattern)

Abbreviations:
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet

Fishing Pole:
Hook:  Cut a piece of nylon string about 1.5 times the length of the dowel.  Knot one end and dip in glue.  Let dry.
Using sport-weight gray or silver yarn and (E/4) 3.5mm hook, magic ring, sc 6.  Before closing the ring, put the knot-end of the nylon string through the center of the magic ring from right-side to wrong-side, so that, when finished, the knot is on the inside of the hook.  Pull magic ring tight. 
R2-8: sc around (6 sc)
R9: 2 sl st, hdc, 2 dc, hdc.
R10: 2 sl st, hdc and dc in hdc, dc in next two dc, dc and hdc in hdc.
R11: 2 sl st, hdc, 4 dc, hdc.
R12: 2 sl st, hdc, 2 dc dec over next two dc, 2 dc dec over next two dc, hdc.

As soon as it will fit, put a super-strong magnet button in the bottom of the hook.  Opt: stuff with a tiny bit of fiberfill or odd bits of yarn.
R13: sc dec over two st, around.
R14: sc dec in all three st.  Finish off, tuck in ends. (I weaved through the dcs first, to hide the magnet a little better.)
Drill a small hole about a quarter inch from one end of the wooden dowel.   Sand outsides of hole if necessary.  Poke free end of string through hole, tie a knot.  Dip in glue, let dry.

Fish:
Using worsted weight yarn in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple, make one fish cat toy in each color.  (Thanks for the pattern, Heather!)
I wanted round-bodied fish, and the tail was turning out curly, so I modified the pattern a little:  Skip rows 7-8.  In Round 13, instead of “2 sc in each,” “*2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, repeat from *across.”  You will have 15 sc, so you will only have 15 sc in Round 14 as well. 
Before stuffing, place a super-strong button magnet in the nose of each fish.  Test with the hook to make sure it is facing the right way.  Stuff with fiberfill.  I put a jingle bell in three and mylar crinkly stuff in the other three.  Use a tiny amount of worsted weight black for eyes.  If anyone knows how to make eyes that look less "slash-y," please comment and let us all know!

“Pond” Bag
Using worsted weight light blue yarn and a size (J/10) 6mm hook:
R1: Magic Ring, dc 12, join with sl st.
R2: Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in same st.  2 dc in each dc around (24 dc)  Join with sl st.
R3: Ch 2, dc in same st.  2 dc in each dc around (48 dc) Join with sl st.
R4: Ch 2, dc in same st.  *Dc in next st, 2 dc in next st.  Repeat from * around. (72 dc) Join with sl st.
R5: Ch 2, dc in same st.  *Dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st.  Repeat from * around.  (90 dc) Join with sl st.
R6: Ch 2, dc in same st.  *Dc in next 6 st, 2 dc in next st.  Repeat from * around.  (105 dc) Join with sl st.
R7: Ch 2.  Dc in each dc around.  (105 dc)  Join with sl st.  Finish off, weave in ends.
Finishing: Using worsted weight green yarn, cut a piece of yarn the length of four times the diameter of the pond bag.  Cut it into three equal pieces.  Braid tightly, knot at either end, trim fringe.  Weave through the spaces between every 3rd dc in R7.  Knot two ends together.  Place fish inside, pull string tight to close.

To play, flatten out bag and spread fish out in the pond.  Lower the fishing hook towards the fish, and the pole will magnetically "catch" a fish!
 
©2011 Alli Hyer, all rights reserved.  You may sell items you make with this pattern (defined as what is written on this page.  The fish pattern does not belong to me.).  But, if you sell it online, you must link to this pattern.  You may not sell this pattern or claim it as your own.  You may publish or post a link to this pattern, but you may not publish or post this pattern in whole or in part.