There is something about a dolphin that instantly makes a crochet project feel like a holiday, and I have lost count of how many little grey-blue friends have swum off my hook and onto shelves, desks and gift piles over the years. This collection is my love letter to the crochet dolphin in all its forms, from palm-sized keychains you can finish in an evening to a filet table runner that turns an ordinary dinner table into a seaside escape. Every pattern below is genuinely free, properly credited to its designer, and linked to the real source, so you can start stitching the moment you find your favourite.
I have mixed the list on purpose, because dolphins suit so many moods and skill levels. You will find no-sew minis for impatient beginners, big velvety plushies for serious cuddlers, flat appliqués for towels and blankets, a granny square for an ocean afghan, a zippered pencil case and even a table runner worked in filet mesh. Some are classic grey-blue, some are bubblegum pink, one wears a flower on its tail and one balances a tiny striped ball on its nose. Pick the one that makes you smile, raid the blue corner of your stash, and let us make a splash together.
1. The No-Sew Jelly Bean You Can Finish Tonight
If you are the kind of maker who wants a finished toy before bedtime, Sara at Darling Maple Designs has made your dolphin. Her Jelly Bean Dolphin is worked in one piece from front to back in continuous rounds, with only the dorsal fin crocheted into place at the very end, so there is almost nothing to sew and nothing to lose steam over. The sample uses super bulky yarn with a 5.0 mm hook and comes out just over three and a half inches long, with 10 mm safety eyes and a full video tutorial walking you through every round. It is the perfect last-minute gift, market-stall make or stash-buster, and the pattern page also offers a premium printable PDF if you like your patterns on paper. Try it in turquoise with a white belly and you will understand the jelly bean name at once.
Pattern: No-Sew Jelly Bean Dolphin by Darling Maple Designs — Get the free pattern
2. A Chubby Baby in Two Perfect Sizes
Some amigurumi patterns only work in one yarn weight, but Theodore and Rose designed their Chubby Baby Dolphin to be two toys in one. Make it in worsted weight with a 3.5 mm hook and you get a pocket-sized dolphin about eleven centimetres long, ideal for a keychain with the optional lobster clasp; switch to bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook and the same shaping grows into a twenty-one centimetre plushie made for snuggling. The shaping is low-sew and beginner friendly, the eyes are embroidered rather than plastic, which makes it a lovely choice for little hands, and the whole thing works up fast enough for a weekend gift. An ad-free printable PDF is sold as an optional extra, but the complete written pattern is free on the blog. I love this one in soft bluebell blue with a snow-white belly.
Pattern: Chubby Baby Dolphin by Theodore and Rose — Get the free pattern
3. A Mini Keychain with a White Muzzle
For a dolphin you can carry everywhere, meemanan's Mini Dolphin at AmiguWorld is hard to beat. It is a true pocket pattern: 4-ply yarn, a 2.5 mm hook and 5 mm safety eyes, with a neat little body, two small tail pieces, two fins and a contrasting white muzzle sewn between the rounds. The sample is shown in pink, which proves dolphins do not have to be grey to be adorable, and the finished toy is just the right size for a bag charm or keychain. The full pattern is free on the page with a video to follow along, and because it uses so little yarn it is a brilliant way to use up those half-balls of cotton in your stash. Make a whole pod in different colours and nobody will believe they took an evening each.
Pattern: Mini Dolphin by meemanan — Get the free pattern
4. A Floral Tail for Summer Lovers
Danielle at Delinlea admits she struggles with summer themes, and then promptly designed one of the prettiest summer dolphins I have ever seen. Her Floral Dolphin has a classic blue amigurumi body worked in DK yarn with a 2.5 mm hook and 9 mm safety eyes, but the tail is where the magic happens: the tail parts are worked in bright flowery colours, and a little red flower with a pearl centre is sewn on to finish it. The pattern is worked in continuous rounds with three small fins, and the whole thing is free on her blog in her usual friendly step-by-step style. It is the dolphin I would make for a friend who loves flowers as much as the sea, and it looks wonderful perched on a sunny windowsill. Choose your brightest yarn scraps for the tail and let it bloom.
Pattern: Floral Dolphin by Delinlea — Get the free pattern
5. A Little Pink River Dolphin from the Amazon
Most crochet dolphins are ocean grey, but the Amazon river dolphin is famously pink, and 5 Little Monsters gave theirs the full storybook treatment. This Little Pink Dolphin is a mini amigurumi about five inches long, worked in medium weight yarn in a muted rosy pink with a G/4 mm hook and tiny 6 mm safety eyes. The body is one tapered piece that flows from a longer, skinnier snout into the tail, just like the real river dolphin, and the dorsal fin is a low ridge rather than the tall fin ocean dolphins wear. The complete pattern is free on the blog as part of a mini crochet-along, with an ebook of the whole set sold as an optional extra. It is a wonderful conversation piece, and the pink makes it a perfect gift for someone who loves an unexpected colour.
Pattern: Little Pink Dolphin by 5 Little Monsters — Get the free pattern
6. A Flat-Panel Dolphin with a Ball on Its Nose
Here is the most unusual construction in the whole collection, and one of my favourites for that reason. Sonja Hood's Playful Dolphin is not worked in rounds at all: the body is two flat panels, a top and a bottom, worked in rows of single crochet in silver grey and white, then sewn firmly together and stuffed, with separate side fins, tail fins and a dorsal fin added on top. The finished dolphin measures twelve and a half inches long and uses medium worsted cotton with a 5 mm hook, French-knot eyes, and a tiny striped ball in yellow and peacock blue balanced on its nose. The complete pattern is available as a free PDF from Crochet World, and the lifelike shaping is genuinely impressive for such simple stitches. If you have never tried a flat amigurumi, this is a delightful first one.
Pattern: Playful Dolphin by Sonja Hood — Get the free pattern
7. A Tall Standing Dolphin with a Cream Belly
Puqqu's dolphins are famous for their clean, classic amigurumi shaping, and this one is no exception. Worked in worsted weight yarn with a 3.0 mm hook and 8 to 10 mm safety eyes, it stands about twenty-five to thirty centimetres tall in a proud upright pose, with a projecting snout, a cream belly panel, curved side fins, a neat dorsal fin and a proper fluked tail. The pattern is rated intermediate, but every step is written out in full on the blog, so a confident beginner who has finished a couple of toys will manage it happily. I think this is the dolphin for a nursery shelf or a desk that needs a cheerful guardian, and it looks beautiful in a soft denim blue with the cream belly showing. Give it a little tilt, as if it is mid-leap, and it comes alive.
Pattern: Amigurumi Dolphin by Puqqu — Get the free pattern
8. Popcorn Fins and a Video to Follow
Pocket Yarnlings brings a lovely bit of texture to the dolphin party with popcorn-stitch fins. This beginner-friendly pattern uses a 3.0 mm hook and Scheepjes Catona fingering-weight yarn, just twenty-five grams each of two colours, and builds the head and body in one flowing piece before continuing into the tail with clever colour changes. The popcorn stitches give the fins a sweet bobble edge that catches the light, and the pattern page includes both the full written instructions and a video tutorial plus a free PDF download. It is a small, satisfying project that teaches colourwork without any stress, and the finished dolphin has a gentle, friendly face that suits a child's bedroom shelf. Try it in classic blue and white first, then go wild with pastels.
Pattern: Dolphin Amigurumi by Pocket Yarnlings — Get the free pattern
9. A Low-Sew Classic in Soft Sport Yarn
Cuddly Stitches Craft has built a loyal following for patterns that are genuinely easy to follow, and this dolphin shows why. It is a low-sew design, so all you really attach are the fins, and it is worked in Fine Sport weight YarnArt Jeans with a 2.5 mm hook and 12 mm safety eyes to a finished size of about twenty-one centimetres long and eleven and a half centimetres high. The head and body are worked in one long piece from the snout to the tail, with step-by-step photos and video tutorials for the trickier moments, and an ad-free PDF sold on Etsy and Ravelry for anyone who prefers print. The shaping gives it a beautifully smooth, realistic curve, and the sculpted eye detail makes it look far more advanced than it is. This is my pick for a first big dolphin.
Pattern: Dolphin Amigurumi by Cuddly Stitches Craft — Get the free pattern
10. A Big Velvet Dolphin with a Felt Eye Detail
If you love velvet yarn, AmigurumiBook's dolphin is the one to make. Worked in YarnArt Velor in blue and white with 18 mm eyes and a touch of white felt, it is a confident beginner to intermediate project with a gloriously long body of more than ninety rounds, a separate belly panel, a back fin, side fins and a careful eye-tightening technique that gives the face its sweet expression. The pattern is written in US terms with clear step-by-step instructions, and the velvet yarn makes the finished toy irresistibly soft and squashy. It is a bigger project than the minis in this list, so set aside a cosy weekend for it, and keep the white felt scraps for the eye backing exactly as the pattern describes. The result looks like something from a boutique toy shop.
Pattern: Dolphin Amigurumi by AmigurumiBook — Get the free pattern
11. A Twelve-Inch Sweetheart in Milk Cotton
Loopara's dolphin is the one I reach for when I want a gift-sized toy with a truly polished finish. Worked in five-ply milk cotton, about eighty grams of the main colour and twenty-five grams of white, with a 3.0 mm hook, it measures roughly twelve inches from nose to tail and is rated intermediate, though the instructions are so thorough that a patient beginner will manage. The shaping is classic and clean, with a gently curved tail, a neat dorsal fin and a sweet little smile, and the sample in pink and white proves once again that dolphins wear pastels beautifully. Milk cotton gives the finished toy a soft sheen and a lovely drape, so it sits nicely on a sofa or bed rather than standing stiffly. Make one for a new baby's room, in the softest shade you own.
Pattern: Dolphin by Loopara — Get the free pattern
12. A Rounder, Bigger Rework of a Classic
Patricia Castillo at Pops de Milk went back to her original dolphin pattern and made it bigger, rounder and even more huggable, and this revised version is the one to make. Worked in worsted weight yarn with 8 mm safety eyes, it comes out about eight inches long with a 4 mm hook in grey, or seven and a half inches in pink with a 3.75 mm hook, and it is rated experienced beginner to intermediate. The construction includes a proper beak, a dorsal fin with a little hump, flippers and fluked tail pieces, all sewn on with clear photos to guide the placement. The pattern is completely free on her blog, and the finished dolphin has a wonderfully plump, toy-shop shape that children gravitate towards. I love the pink version for a nursery and the grey for a classic seaside look.
Pattern: Dolphin Amigurumi by Pops de Milk — Get the free pattern
13. A Chenille Mini with Crocheted-On Fins
Tilda's Brixham, shared through AmigurumiAllFreePatterns, designed a mini dolphin that skips the sewing almost entirely. Worked in chunky Jellybaby chenille yarn with a 5 mm hook, it has a one-piece body that flows straight into the tail, and the side fins and dorsal fin are crocheted directly onto the body in their proper rows, so there is nothing to attach at the end. The eyes can be black acrylic yarn or safety eyes, whichever you prefer, and the chenille makes the finished mini unbelievably soft and squishy. The full pattern is free on the mirror page with the designer credited, and it works up in an evening, which makes it ideal for a quick gift or a market make. Make a pod of them in ice blue, seafoam and blush and watch them disappear fast.
Pattern: Mini Dolphin by Tilda’s Brixham — Get the free pattern
14. A No-Sew Video Dolphin for Stash-Busting
Here is the one video-tutorial entry in the collection, and it earns its place because it is so clever. Sweet Softies' Flipper Friends set starts from a four-inch no-sew whale base in super bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook and 9 mm safety eyes, and the dolphin version simply adds a dorsal fin and a dolphin nose to that same base. The free version of the pattern is the designer's step-by-step video tutorial, which walks you through the whole little friend, while the written pattern with photo references is sold as a PDF for anyone who prefers print. It is a true stash-buster, using only a small amount of super bulky yarn, and the result is a chubby little dolphin that fits in the palm of your hand. If you learn better by watching than reading, this is your dolphin.
Pattern: Flipper Friends Dolphin by Sweet Softies — Get the free pattern
15. A Velvet Dolphin with a Long, Graceful Body
Creationsbygeisje designed a dolphin that shows off velvet yarn at its very best. The body is worked in long, smooth rounds, fifty-six of them, with a separate white belly panel that runs the length of the underside, giving the finished toy a beautifully realistic two-tone look. At about twenty-one centimetres long, it is a satisfying medium-sized plushie, with a proper back fin, two side fins and a fluked tail, all in soft velvet that begs to be squeezed. The pattern is shared as a free PDF, and the designer is credited by name on the pattern itself. Velvet yarn can be slippery, so work a little more slowly than usual and keep your tension even, and you will be rewarded with one of the softest dolphins in this whole list.
Pattern: Dolphin Amigurumi by creationsbygeisje — Get the free pattern
16. A Three-Size Appliqué for Towels and Blankets
Not every dolphin needs to be a toy, and Kerri's Crochet proves it with an appliqué that is as useful as it is cute. Her dolphin is worked flat in three sizes, large at fifteen by ten centimetres, medium at nine by eight and small at eight and a half by six, with both US and UK versions of the pattern and a video tutorial to follow along. The full pattern is free on her blog, with an ad-free version sold for one dollar on Ravelry and LoveCrafts for anyone who prefers it, and the flat shape makes it perfect for sewing onto towels, blankets, bags and children's clothes. The little curved body and flipped tail read instantly as a dolphin even at the smallest size, which is no small feat. Make a school of them in different blues for a beach towel border.
Pattern: Dolphin Appliqué by Kerri’s Crochet — Get the free pattern
17. A Dolphin Square for an Ocean Afghan
If you are building a blanket, Maria's Blue Crayon has the dolphin square you need. Her Dolphin Granny Square is an appliqué dolphin worked onto a classic granny square in worsted weight yarn with a G/4.00 mm hook and 6 mm safety eyes, and it is part of her free Ocean Themed Granny Square afghan, so you can keep going with turtles, starfish and seahorses once you have the dolphin done. The full pattern is free on her blog, with an ad-free printable PDF sold on Etsy for anyone who wants it, and the square is a wonderful way to use up blue yarn scraps. Join sixteen squares for a baby blanket or go bigger for a throw, and the dolphin will be the square everyone asks about first. Edge it in white for a wave effect.
Pattern: Dolphin Granny Square by Maria’s Blue Crayon — Get the free pattern
18. A Tiny Appliqué with a Picot Edge
Janet Carrillo, who blogs as "damn it Janet, let's crochet!", designed a dolphin appliqué so small and neat it could live almost anywhere. At about two inches by three and a quarter inches, worked in worsted weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook and a black embroidery-floss eye, it uses half triple crochet and a picot edge to get that curved dolphin silhouette with almost no bulk. The complete pattern is free on her blog, with her usual original-pattern notice, and the uses are endless: sew it to a towel, glue it to a magnet, hang a row of them as a garland, or stick one on a bookmark for a sea-loving reader. It is also the fastest project in this list, so it is my go-to when I need a little handmade touch at the last minute. One evening, one dolphin, done.
Pattern: Dolphin Applique by Janet Carrillo — Get the free pattern
19. A Zippered Pencil Case with a Chart
KT and the Squid proves that dolphins belong on your desk as well as your shelf with this clever pencil case. The body is a flat dolphin shape worked in back-loop single crochet in the round in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, aqua with silver accents, using an F/3.75 mm hook, and the pattern includes a chart so you can follow the shaping stitch by stitch. Once the two sides are done, a seven-inch zipper turns it into a proper pencil case measuring about seven and a half inches by five and a quarter inches flat, big enough for pens, hooks and small notions. The full pattern is free on her blog, with a PDF sold as an optional extra, and it is a wonderful back-to-school gift for a young maker. Line it if you like, or leave it unlined for a quicker finish.
Pattern: Dolphin Pencil Case by KT and the Squid — Get the free pattern
20. A Filet Table Runner with Three Dolphins
We close with the grandest project in the collection, and the one that will make your dining table the talk of the summer. Handmade by Raine's Dolphin Table Runner is worked in filet crochet, thread size ten with a 1.75 mm hook, and features three dolphins leaping across a mesh panel, finished with a white wave edge and measuring about eighteen inches by seven inches. The pattern includes the full written instructions and the filet chart, plus a video tutorial, and an ad-free PDF is sold as an optional extra, while the complete pattern itself is free on the blog. Filet crochet is just filled and empty squares arranged with discipline, so it is far easier than it looks, and blocking and a touch of starch will make the dolphins crisp and clear. Lay it down for a seafood dinner and watch your guests lean in.
Pattern: Dolphin Table Runner by Handmade by Raine — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
From a no-sew jelly bean you can finish before bedtime to a filet runner that takes a whole season of evenings, these twenty dolphins prove that one sea creature can fill an entire crochet library. My honest advice is to start with a mini or an appliqué if you are new to amigurumi, because a quick win will teach you the shaping faster than any tutorial, and then work your way up to the big velvet plushies and the table runner when your confidence catches up. Keep your blue yarns sorted by shade, save every scrap for the appliqués, and remember that a dolphin in an unexpected colour is often the one people remember most. Which one will you make first, and will yours be classic grey-blue, bubblegum pink or something gloriously unexpected? Tell me in the comments, I read every single one.
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