Marley the Dolphin Amigurumi

Marley the Dolphin Amigurumi

What Is Being Made

Marley the Dolphin is a crocheted amigurumi toy designed by Sabrina Somers. This is a stuffed fabric toy crafted using the amigurumi technique, which involves crocheting small three-dimensional figures in the round and stuffing them with fiber fill to create a soft, huggable plush toy. The dolphin design features a light blue body with black accents for details.

Craft and Technique

Primary Craft: Crochet

Marley the Dolphin is created using fundamental amigurumi construction methods. The pattern begins with a magic ring, a common technique in amigurumi that allows crafters to start working in the round without a visible hole in the center. The piece is worked continuously in rounds, with strategic increases placed at specific intervals to create the three-dimensional shape of the dolphin's head and body. The structured increase pattern—progressing from increases every 2nd stitch through increases every 18th stitch—creates smooth, evenly-distributed shaping that results in a properly proportioned toy.

Stitches Used

• Single Crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the pattern, forming the foundation of the entire piece
• Magic Ring: The starting technique used to begin the head and body section
• Increase (2 sc in same stitch): Strategic stitch increases placed at calculated intervals to expand the piece and create shaping
• Slipstitch (sl.st): Used to join rounds
• Half Double Crochet (hdc): Listed in abbreviations for potential use in additional pattern sections
• Double Crochet (dc): Listed in abbreviations for potential use in additional pattern sections
• Decrease (dec): Used to reduce stitches and shape the piece

Materials and Tools

Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm hook, sized appropriately for the yarn weight used

Yarn: The pattern is worked in 3-ply yarn weight. The designer specifies Scheepjes Catona yarn for the best results:

• Light blue yarn (Scheepjes Catona - Bluebell 173) for the main body and head
• Black yarn (Scheepjes Catona - Jet Black 110) for details such as eyes and other facial features

Stuffing: Fiber fill is required to stuff the completed crocheted pieces, giving Marley the Dolphin its soft, three-dimensional form

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for those new to amigurumi or crochet in general. The pattern relies primarily on single crochet stitches and basic increases, avoiding complex stitch combinations or advanced techniques. The straightforward round-by-round construction provides clear progression and is easy to follow for crafters building their skills.

Pattern Format

Marley the Dolphin is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, allowing immediate access to the complete instructions. The pattern uses standard US crochet abbreviations and provides detailed round-by-round guidance for constructing the head and body section.