By Cross Stitch Library · July 16, 2026
A free cross stitch pattern of a blue dolphin leaping in profile, with a pale belly and a navy outline. Rated Beginner: 642 full cross stitches in 10 DMC colors, finishing at 2.9" x 2.6" on 14-count Aida.
Your pattern is at the end of this page, right after the stitching guide below.
The dolphin arcs upward mid-leap, its body in two blues with a lighter belly and a dark navy edge. It’s drawn in flat blocks of color rather than gradients, so it looks crisp and graphic even at this small size.
It suits a child’s room, a beach-house bathroom or anywhere you want a coastal motif that isn’t twee. Pair it with the Crowned Seahorse for a matching ocean pair; the small and mini patterns include more. Our beginner guide suggests it as a second project. It is also in our summer cross stitch patterns.
It’s rated Beginner and makes an ideal first pattern. 518 Wedgwood – Light alone is 317 of the 642 stitches, so once that one color is in, you’ve done half the piece. Expect roughly 6 to 11 hours at a steady 60 to 100 stitches an hour, about a weekend.
On 14-count Aida the finished design measures 2.9“ x 2.6“ (7.4 x 6.6 cm). On 16-count it comes out at 2.5“ x 2.2“, and on 18-count at 2.2“ x 2.0“. For the 14-count version, a 5“ x 7“ frame leaves room for a mat.
It’s small enough for a 4-inch hoop, a card or a bookmark.
Choose your paper size and color or black & white, then download the Leaping Dolphin PDF chart and thread list — free, no sign-up.
This pattern is rated Beginner, using Full cross stitch.
Any cross-stitch fabric you like works — pick the Aida or evenweave, count and color you have or prefer. You'll also need 10 DMC thread colors, with the full color legend included in the PDF download.
The finished design measures 2.9" x 2.6" on a 40 x 36 stitch count chart.
Yes — the full PDF chart, thread legend, and instructions are free to download with no sign-up required.
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