step-by-step guide to making your own adorable crochet dolphin 💖

This dolphin amigurumi is crocheted using joined rounds for the main body and fins, along with flat rows for the abdomen to create a realistic two-tone belly effect. Using a soft cotton yarn like 5-ply cotton helps produce clean stitches while keeping the plushie soft and cuddly.

💡 Tip: Because this is a long body project, start stuffing the head gradually as you work to keep the snout nicely shaped.

🌊 The Main Body (Make 1)

Using pink yarn, crochet the body in joined rounds, finishing each round with a slip stitch.

1. Begin the Snout

• Round 1:
  Create a magic ring, chain 1, and crochet 6 single crochets (sc) into the ring.
  Join with a slip stitch. (6 stitches)
• Round 2:
  Chain 1, crochet 2 sc in each stitch around.
  Join. (12 stitches)
• Round 3:
  Chain 1, crochet 12 sc around.

2. Expand the Head

• Round 4: (1 sc, 1 increase) ×6 → 18 stitches
• Round 5: (2 sc, 1 increase) ×6 → 24 stitches

3. Build the Head Length

• Rounds 6–9:
  Crochet 24 sc around.

4. Shape the Dolphin’s Face

• Round 10: (1 sc, 1 inc) ×8, then 8 sc → 32 stitches
• Round 11: (2 sc, 1 inc) ×8, then 8 sc → 40 stitches

5. Form the Upper Body

• Round 12: 40 sc around
• Round 13: 14 sc, 8 increases, 18 sc → 48 stitches
• Round 14: 48 sc around

6. Continue Increasing

• Round 15: 15 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc) ×7, 19 sc → 55 stitches
• Round 16: 17 sc, (2 sc, 1 inc) ×6, 20 sc → 61 stitches
• Round 17: 18 sc, (3 sc, 1 inc) ×5, 23 sc → 66 stitches

7. Build the Dolphin’s Body

• Round 18: 66 sc around
• Round 19: (10 sc, 1 inc) ×6 → 72 stitches
• Rounds 20–21: 72 sc around

8. Final Body Expansion

• Round 22: (11 sc, 1 inc) ×6 → 78 stitches
• Rounds 23–34:
  Crochet 78 sc around.

💡 Tip: This is the best time to start stuffing the head and body gradually.

9. Taper Toward the Tail

From Round 35 onward, begin decreasing gradually to shape the dolphin’s sleek tail.

Examples:

• Round 35: (7 sc, 1 decrease) repeats → 72 stitches
• Round 38: (6 sc, 1 decrease) repeats → 66 stitches
• Round 41: (5 sc, 1 decrease) repeats → 60 stitches
• Round 44: (4 sc, 1 decrease) repeats → 54 stitches

Continue decreasing gradually while maintaining body length.

10. Finish the Tail Base

• Rounds 45–76:
  Continue alternating even rounds and decrease rounds to narrow the body.
• Round 77:
  Crochet 6 decreases.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

⚪ The Abdomen (Make 1)

The white belly piece is crocheted in flat rows, which creates the dolphin’s natural two-tone look.

Use white yarn.

🔁 Remember to turn your work after each row.

1. Start the Abdomen

• Row 1:
  Chain 7, then crochet 6 sc starting in the 2nd chain from the hook.

2. Build the Belly

• Rows 2–4:
  Chain 1, turn, 6 sc across.

3. Increase the Width

Gradually widen the belly panel:

• Row 5: (1 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc) → 8 stitches
• Row 7: Increase to 10 stitches
• Row 9: Increase to 12 stitches
• Row 11: Increase to 14 stitches

4. Expand the Center

• Row 13: (2 sc, 1 inc) ×4 → 18 stitches
• Row 15: (2 sc, 1 inc) ×6 → 24 stitches

5. Form the Belly Length

• Rows 16–46:
  Crochet 24 sc across each row.

6. Taper the End

Decrease gradually to shape the abdomen:

• Row 47: (6 sc, 1 decrease) ×3 → 21 stitches
• Row 53: (2 sc, 1 decrease) ×5 → 16 stitches

Continue decreasing until 4 stitches remain.

Fasten off.

🎨 Fins and Flippers

📍 Tail Fins (Make 2)

Using pink yarn:

1. Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc.
2. Round 2: 4 sc, 2 inc → 8 stitches
3. Round 3: 6 sc, 2 inc → 10 stitches

Continue increasing until you reach 30 stitches by Round 10.

• Rounds 11–13: 30 sc around
• Rounds 14–19: Begin decreasing to 18 stitches

Finish by flattening the piece and crocheting 6 sc through both layers.

📍 Front Flippers (Make 2)

Using pink yarn:

1. Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc
2. Rounds 2–8: Gradually increase to 28 stitches
3. Rounds 9–10: 28 sc around
4. Rounds 11–12: Decrease to 20 stitches
5. Rounds 13–14: 20 sc around

Flatten and crochet 10 sc through both layers.

📍 Dorsal Fin (Make 1)

Using pink yarn:

1. Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc
2. Rounds 2–11: Increase gradually to 26 stitches
3. Rounds 12–13: 26 sc around

Flatten and crochet 13 sc through both layers.

🧵 Assembly & Finishing Touches

Now it’s time to bring your dolphin to life!

1. Attach the Abdomen

• Pin the white belly piece to the pink body.
• Sew carefully around the edges, aligning the stitches.

2. Attach the Dorsal Fin

• Position the fin at the center of the dolphin’s back.
• Sew securely.

3. Add the Eyes

• Create eye sockets between rows 15–17.
• Insert safety eyes.
• Use white thread to embroider small highlights and eyelashes.

4. Attach Flippers and Tail

• Sew the front flippers to the sides of the body.
• Attach the tail fins to the end of the body.

5. Decorative Details

Use yellow yarn to add small embroidery details or a cute little smile.

💡 Tip: When sewing amigurumi pieces, use a whip stitch for a nearly invisible seam.

🌟 Optional & Creative Ideas

Make your dolphin even more special with these fun variations!

🎨 Color Variations

Try different yarn colors:

• Classic grey and white dolphin
• Sparkling blue yarn for a magical ocean theme