I have two small children, which means, by my calculations, I’ve heard the song “Baby Shark” approximately 75,824 times. (If you have managed to avoid the “Baby Shark” phenomenon, consider yourself lucky—and, most definitely, do not watch this video.) When my oldest was 2—peak “Baby Shark” age—we received a sweet little pin-loom shark designed and woven by Deborah Bagley. He was delighted beyond words and, in truly toddler fashion, named it Baby Shark. Seven years later, the song “Baby Shark” no longer plays on repeat at our house, but the pin-loom Baby Shark is still a beloved member of our stuffed animal menagerie.
"While I’ve had to make various repairs to countless store-bought stuffies, the pin-loom shark endures."
Back in 2019, we asked Deborah if she could design some pin-loom sharks for us, and she delivered not one, but two playful pin-loom predators—made entirely from 4" square pin-loom pieces. Dubbed Sandy and Sheldon, the sharks are woven and constructed the same, except for the mouths: Sandy has an embroidered smile while Sheldon has an open mouth full of teeth (more on this below). Both are just too cute, and the perfect size for snuggling—especially if you’re little.
Sometimes sharks get a bad rap, but there’s no reason to fear Sandy and Sheldon. Photo by George Boe
My version of the shark is Sheldon, with his big, toothy grin. Along with being snuggled with at night, both kids have spent hours—possibly days at this point—enjoying pretend play with this shark. We found out pretty quickly that his mouth pocket is just the right size for fitting in small toys—perfect for playacting dramatic shark attacks or feeding play food during tea parties.
That shark has traveled around the country, been left outside, and washed many, many times, and he is still going strong. While I’ve had to make various repairs to countless store-bought stuffies, the pin-loom shark endures.
If you have a wee one in your life who loves “Baby Shark,” it’s easy—and fun—to weave your own Sandy or Sheldon. Both sharks require minimal shaping—making them perfect for beginning weavers looking for their first 3D project—and are constructed entirely from 4" pin-loom squares, so you only need that one loom size. You can weave them in charcoal and white as Deborah did, or swap out the colors to match your favorite shark—real or cartoon. Even better, this pattern is free for current magazine subscribers, so you can download the project from our library and get started weaving your own Sandy or Sheldon (or both) today!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a song I need to get out of my head.
Happy Weaving (doo doo doo doo),
Christina
Originally published 5/8/2019; updated 4/28/2026