Low-Sew Chubby Baby Dolphin Plushie

Free Beginner Friendly Crochet Pattern

Looking for a quick and adorable amigurumi project? This Low-Sew Chubby Baby Dolphin Plushie is the perfect make for beginners and seasoned crocheters alike. Designed with minimal sewing and simple shaping, this dolphin pattern works beautifully with any yarn weight – from soft bulky blanket yarn to smooth worsted cotton.

Whether you want to create a pocket-sized dolphin for a keychain, or a larger plushie perfect for snuggles, this pattern is easy to customise. Change the colours, size up or down, and add your own creative touches!

Pin it now, make it later!

Suggested Crochet Tools and Materials​

Hooks:
• 3.5mm (US E/4) for worsted weight yarn
• 5mm (US H/8) for bulky weight yarn3.5mm (US E/4) (Worsted Weight Yarn) OR 5mm (US H/8) Bulky Weight Yarn)

Yarn:
Small Dolphin (Worsted Weight):
• Scheepjes Cahlista – Bluebell (173): 25g
• Scheepjes Cahlista – Snow White (106): 10g

Large Dolphin (Bulky Weight):
• Premier Parfait Chunky – Light Blue (05): 50g
• Premier Parfait Chunky – White (01): 10g

Extras:
• Scrap black yarn for embroidered eyes
• Fibrefill
• Stitch marker
• Embroidery scissors
• Yarn needle
• Lobster clasp (optional for keychain)

Finished Sizes

Using the recommended yarn and corresponding hook sizes:

• Small Dolphin: Approximately 11cm (4.3in) long
• Large Dolphin: Approximately 21cm (8.3in) long

Crochet Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Beginner.
• Written in US crochet terms.
• Read the entire pattern before starting.
• This pattern is worked using the amigurumi method. Work stitches in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch unless otherwise instructed. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round, moving it up as you work. This helps to keep track of the round and when counting your stitches to compare it with the pattern.
• To prevent your fabric from showing large holes when stuffed, choose a smaller hook size than that recommended on the ball sleeve of your yarn.
• Stuff firmly unless instructed otherwise.  Insert small amounts at a time until you get the right look.  Stuffing your toy can be tricky, but it is an important step in getting the right shape and look for your toy: overstuffing might stretch the fabric too far and show gaps, and under stuffing will give your toy a deflated look. Take your time with this step, shaping as you go.
• To help you when sewing pieces together, first pin them into place and check that you are happy with the positioning.
• Always leave long enough yarn ends where instructed so that they can be used for sewing later.
• Yarn and colours are easily substituted at your discretion. 

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• […] ‘X’ times = work instructions within brackets, as a sequence, as many times as directed
• ch = chain (yarn over, pull through)
• dec = decrease (crochet two stitches together)
• FLO = front loop only
• inc = single crochet increase (make two complete single crochets (sc) into the same stitch)
• Rnd/s = round/s
• sc = single crochet (Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, you will have two loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through remaining two loops). 
• slst  = slip stitch (Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both stitch and loop on hook)
• st/s = stitch/es

Let’s Get Started!

Body

Using main colour, make a magic ring:

Rnd 1: sc 6 into magic ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts) 

Rnd 2: [sc inc] 6 times (12 sts)

Rnd 3: [sc in next st, sc inc in next st] 6 times (18 sts)

Rnd 4: [sc in next 2 sts, sc inc in next st] 6 times (24 sts)

Rnd 5: [sc in next 3 sts, sc inc in next st] 6 times (30 sts)

Rnd 6: sc in next 2 sts, sc inc in next st, [sc in next 4 sts, sc inc in next st] 5 times, sc in next 2 sts (36 sts) 

Rnds 7-8: sc in each st around (36 sts) (2 Rnds)

Rnd 9: sc in next 9 sts, [dec] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts (33 sts)

Rnd 10: sc in next 7 sts, [sc inc] 7 times, sc in next 19 sts (40 sts)

​Mark between the 1st and 2nd inc and the 6th and 7th inc in Rnd 10 – inserting the marker at the base of the stitch as shown in Photo 1.1.

Rnd 11: sc in next 31 sts, ch 8, sk next 6 sts, sc in next 3 sts (34 sts & 8 ch). Refer to Photo 1.2.

Rnd 12: sc in next 7 sts, [dec] 7 times, [sc in next 2 sts, dec] 2 times, sc in next 2 sts, working in to ch; [dec, sc 2, dec, sc 2], dec, sc (30 sts) Note: change to White with this last sc – refer to Photo 1.3. Click HERE to see a tutorial on how to make a colour change in the round.

If using safety eyes; insert them between Rnds 9 and 10, 3 sts, either side of the markers in Rnd 10 – as shown in Photos 1.4 and 1.5.

Rnd 13: [sc in next 3 sts, dec] 6 times (24 sts)

Rnd 14: [sc in next 2 sts, dec] 6 times (18 sts)

Rnd 15: [sc in next st, dec] 6 times (12 sts)

Stuff the body with fibrefill. Take your time with this step, shaping as you go. Refer to Photo 1.6.

Next, we’ll add shaping to the face. Cut a 20cm length of blue and thread it onto a tapestry needle. Insert the needle through the open bottom of the body and bring it out at one of the marked stitches between Rnds 9 and 10. Then, insert the needle in through the second marked stitch and exit through the bottom of the body again. Refer to Photo 1.7.

Pull both yarn tails firmly to create an indent between the marked stitches. Tie a few knots to hold the shaping in place.  Refer to Photos 1.8 and 1.9.

Tail

Leaving a long yarn tail, join main colour to the last chained st made in Rnd 11 – refer to Photo 2.1.

Rnd 1: sc in next 8 sts, sc into the side of Rnd 11 – refer to Photo 2.2. Sc in next 6 sts, sc into other side of Rnd 11 (16 sts) Refer to Photo 2.3.

Rnd 2: keeping your yarn tail on the outside of your work; sc in each st around (16 sts)

Rnd 3: sc in next 11 sts, dec, sc in next 3 sts (15 sts)

Rnd 4: sc in next 11 sts, dec, sc in next 2 sts (14 sts)

Rnd 5: sc in next 3 sts, dec, sc in next 9 sts (13 sts)

Rnd 6: sc in next 3 sts, dec, sc in next 8 sts (12 sts)

Rnd 7: [sc in next 2 sts, dec] 3 times (9 sts)

Pause here to stuff the tail lightly with fibrefill – concentrating most of the fill where the tail meets the body and shaping the tail downwards as you go. Refer to Photo 2.4.

Rnd 8: [sc in next st, dec] 3 times (6 sts)

Rnd 9: sc in each st around (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long enough yarn tail to close the round. Weave the yarn tail through the FLO of Rnd 9 and pull firmly to close off the tail. Weave yarn tail into your work.

Use the starting yarn tail to sew closed any gaps that may have formed at the corners where the tail joins the body. Refer to Photos 2.5 and 2.6.

Dorsal Fin & Flippers (make 3)

Using main colour, make a magic ring:

Rnd 1: sc 4 into magic ring. Pull the ring closed. (4 sts) 

Rnd 2: [sc inc] 4 times (8 sts)

Rnd 3: sc in each st around (8 sts)

Rnd 4: Flatten the fin together at the base and working through both layers – refer to Photo 3.1; sc in next 4 sts (4 sts)

Fasten off leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.

Sew the Fin and Flippers into Place

Pin the dorsal fin in place, centring it on the body over Rnds 5 to 8. Use the yarn tail to sew it securely. Refer to Photo 3.2. Next, position the flippers on each side of the body between Rnds 12 & 13. Sew them securely using the yarn tails. Refer to Photo 3.3.

Flukes (make 2)

Using main colour, make a magic ring:

Rnd 1: sc 3 into magic ring. Pull the ring closed. (3 sts) 

Rnd 2: [sc inc] 3 times (6 sts)

Rnd 3: [sc in next st, sc inc in next st] 3 times (9 sts)

Rnd 4: [sc in next 2 sts, sc inc in next st] 3 times (12 sts)

Rnd 5: [dec] 6 times (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Weave the yarn tail through the FLO of Rnd 5 and pull firmly to close off the round. Using one of the yarn tails, sew the flukes together, forming a ‘V’ shape, as shown in Photo 4.1. Leave the other yarn tail for sewing the flukes to the tail.

Sew the Flukes into Place

Use the yarn tail to sew the flukes into position at the tip of the tail. Refer to Photos 4.2 and 4.3.

Embroider Eyes

Use a piece of lightweight (4 ply) black cotton to embroider a little eye 2 sts wide over Rnd 9, by 1 st high and the front and 2 sts high at the back. Tie yarn tails together at the bottom of your work and weave in ends. Follow Photos 5.1 to 5.6 below;

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your Chubby Baby Dolphin is finished.

Turn your small dolphin into a key charm
by adding a lobster clasp.

Thread a loop of yarn from the bottom of the dolphin through the clasp ring, then back down to the bottom. Tie the yarn tails securely in a knot and weave them into your work to finish.

Video Tutorial

More of a visual learner? Watch the full video tutorial below!