Welcome to my crochet dolphin pattern. This is another request that I received.  This is what the finished dolphin applique will look like.

When we use to go out in the boat when I lived in Papua New Guinea I loved seeing the dolphins jumping around the boat.

There’s also a video tutorial for this pattern available on my YouTube channel at crochet dolphin tutorial.

To view this pattern for free, continue to scroll down this page. If you would like to download the ad-free version with the reverse pattern, it’s available on my Ravelry store for $1 at crochet dolphin pattern and on LoveCrafts at crochet dolphin pattern.

This pattern will be using US terminology. If you would like to view the UK version go to crochet dolphin pattern (UK version).

Crochet Dolphin Pattern

Abbreviations 

• st – stitch
• sts – stitches
• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet

Materials Used 

• Crochet cotton or wool, I used Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush 2 ply crochet cotton colors (074) Mercury and (106) Snow White.
• A crochet hook, I used a 1mm hook.
• Scissors.
• Darning needle to weave in ends.
• Sewing thread and needle to stitch the dolphin together.
• Black cotton to embroider on eye marking if desired.

Size

Large dolphin (Using 8 ply yarn & a 3mm hook)

15cm x 10cm or 6” x 4”

Medium dolphin (Using 4 ply crochet cotton & a 1.5mm hook)

9cm x 8cm or 3.5” x 3”

Small dolphin (Using 2 ply crochet cotton & a 1mm hook)

8.5cm x 6cm or 3.25” x 2.25”

Body

Using (074) Mercury work 3 ch.

 

Row 1:  Miss 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of next 2 sts.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 2:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.   Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 3:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, 1 hdc in last st.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 4:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.   Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 5:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, 1 hdc in last st.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 6:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, 2 sc in last st.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 7:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 8:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 9:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 10:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 11:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 3 sts, 1 hdc in last st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 12:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 13:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 14:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 15:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 16:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 17:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Row 18:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 19:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 3 sts.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 20:  2 ch, work 1 hdc in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each remaining st.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 21:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 3 sts, 1 hdc in each remaining st.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 22:  2 ch, work 1 hdc in each of 1^st 3 sts, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in last st.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 23:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 4 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 24:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 25:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 4 sts, 1 hdc in each of last 2 sts.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 26:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 27:  Sl st in 2^nd st, 1 ch, 1 sc in same st as ch, 1 sc in each st to end.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 28:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end.  2 ch.  (5 sts + 2 ch)

Row 29:  Work 1 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each st to end.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 30:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (6 sts)

Row 31:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 2 sts, a joined sc over last 4 sts.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 32:  1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 2 sc in last st.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 33:  1 ch, work 1 sc in 1^st st, a joined sc over last 2 sts.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 34:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 35:  1 ch, work a joined sc over the 2 sts.  Turn.  (1 st)

Row 36:  1 ch, work 1 sc in st.  Turn.

Row 37:  1 ch, work 1 sc in st.  Fasten off.

Tail

Using (074) Mercury work 11 ch.

 

Sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 sc and 1 hdc in next st, 1 hdc and 1 dc in following st, 1 hdc and 1 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc and 1 hdc in next st, 1 hdc and 1 dc in following st, 1 hdc and 1 sc in next st, 1 sl st in last st.  Fasten off.

Stitch the tail to end of body where shown.

Neatening Row

Join (074) Mercury to any st.

Work 1 sl st in each st around.  Fasten off.

Tummy

Join (106) Snow White 3 sts up from tail.

Work a joined sl st over next 2 sts, 1 sl st in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, (a joined sc over following 2 sts) 2 times, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, (a joined dc over next 2 sts) 3 times, 1 dc in each st to gap, 3 tr in gap, a joined dc over next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 3 sts, 1 sc in each st to 2^nd last st before tip of mouth, sl st in next st.  Fasten off.

Eye

Using (106) Snow White make a magic loop.

 

1 ch, work 4 sc in circle, pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1^st st.  Fasten off.

Top Fin

Using (074) Mercury make a magic loop.

 

Row 1:  2 ch, work 2 dc in circle.  Pull circle tight.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 2:  3 ch, work 2 dc in 1^st st, 2 hdc in next st and 1 hdc in top of ch.  Turn.  (5 sts)

Row 3:  3 ch, work 1 dc in each st and 1 dc in top of ch.  Fasten off.

Bottom Front Fin

Using (074) Mercury make a magic loop.

 

Row 1:  3 ch, work 1 dc and 1 hdc in circle.  Pull circle tight.  Turn.  (2 sts)

Row 2:  2 ch, work 1 hdc in each st and 1 dc in top of ch.  Turn.  (3 sts)

Row 3:  3 ch, work 1 dc in each st and 1 dc in top of ch.  Fasten off leaving a long tail to stitch it to the body.

Bottom Back Fin

Using (106) Snow White make a magic loop.

 

Row 1:  2 ch, work 1 hdc in circle.  Pull circle tight.  Turn.

Row 2:  2 ch, work 2 hdc in st and 1 hdc in top of ch.  Fasten off.

Join (074) Mercury at the bottom of the 2 ch where shown.

1 sl st in next st, 2 sc in point of fin, 1 sc in each st down the side.  Fasten off.

To Make Up

Weave in ends.  Attach the eye just above the gap.

Embroider black marking to eye if desired.

Attach the 2 bottom fins to the body.

Sew the top fin to the body.

And there’s the finished dolphin applique. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colors.

I’ve also added the dolphins onto a towel.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the pattern. If you have you might want to look at some of my other patterns including the clownfish, tropical fish, humpback whale, goldfish and turtle.