craft: crocheted fish valentine pattern

you might think i'm odd.  i think i'm odd.  but i woke up fresh from dreamland at 4:00am one morning last week with the idea for this little fish in the heart pocket lodged firmly in my mind.  i know.  dreaming about crochet.  odd.  and maybe i need to get a life.  but hey.  at least it's better than the freaktastic night scares i had in november.

i tried to write down a pattern as i went.  i hope it works for you.  i apoligize in advance if it doesn't.  i'm not a professional crocheter and the skills i do have are very rusty.

supplies:
4 ply cotton in red, yellow, green, and navy.
size D crochet hook
2 vintage buttons
black embroidery floss and needle

heart (red): 
rw 1: ch 4, skip 1, sc in next 3 loops, ch 1, turn.  rw2: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw3: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next 2, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 4: sc in each across, ch 1, turn.  rw 5: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 2, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 6: sc in each across, ch 1, turn.  rw 7: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 4, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 8: sc in each across, ch 1, turn.  rw 9: sc in 1st 2, 2 sc in next, sc in next 4, 2 sc in next, sc in next 2, ch 1, turn.  rw 10: sc in each across, ch 1, turn.  rw 11: sc in next 6, ch 1, turn.  rw 12: red (to reduce i put a loop in first 2 stitches before pulling the sc all the way through), sc in next 4, ch 1, turn.  rw 13: red, sc in next 3, ch 1, turn.  rw 14: red, red, sl st, tie off.  rws 15-18: (starting at opposite side - ie the side without a hump) slip stich to attach, ch 1, repeat rows 11-14.

front pocket (red): 
rws 1-3: repeat rows 1-3 above.  rw 4: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 2, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 5: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 4, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 6: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 6, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 7: sc in 1st, 2 sc in next, sc in next 8, 2 sc in next, sc in next, ch 1, turn.  rw 8: sc in each across, sl st, tie off.

assembling the pocket (yellow):
step 1: sl st to attach, ch 1, sc in each stitch across, sl st, tie off.  step 2: hold pocket onto heart.  starting at bottom heart point, sc all the way around the heart to create border.  you will need to put 2 sc in the 4 stitches at the top of each hump and in the 2 corner stitches of the bottom point.

fish (green and navy):
rw 1 (green): ch 5, join to form ring, 8 sc around, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 2: sc in 1, 2 sc in next, continue around, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 3: sc in each around, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 4: red, sc in next 4, red, sc in next 4, sl st to join, tie off.  rw 5 (navy): sl st to attach, ch 2, sc in each stitch around (only using inner loop), sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 6: sc in each stitch around, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 7: red, sc in next 3, red, sc in next 3, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 8: red, sc in next 2, red, sc in next 2, sl st to join, ch 2.  rw 9: red, sc, red, sc, sl st to join.  tail: ch 3 (there should be four stitches left. hold end together and go through 2 sets of loops on each of the next stitches), 3 dc in same st, sl st in next, ch 3, 3 dc in same st, sl st, tie off.  fins (green): sl st to attach on side, ch 3, 4 dc in same st, sl st, tie off.  repeat on other side.  eyes: stitch on button eyes with black embroidery floss.

i think he must be a blow fish.  see how he puffs out when you squeeze him.  ha.  now i have the urge to create a bee and a frog.  i'll keep you posted.  :)