Crochet Dinosaur Stegosaurus

Create your very own handmade Stegosaurus dinosaur with the art of crocheting! This fun and creative project will allow you to bring a prehistoric creature to life using just yarn and a crochet hook. By following a pattern or using your own imagination, you can customize the colors and size of your dinosaur to make it truly unique. Crocheting a Stegosaurus is a great way to practice your crochet skills while also creating a cute and cuddly toy for yourself or a loved one. The intricate details of the Stegosaurus, such as its spiky tail and distinctive plates, can be easily replicated through the art of crocheting. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crocheter, making a crochet Stegosaurus is a fun and enjoyable project that will result in a one-of-a-kind toy that is sure to impress.

MATERIALS

Hooks
4.5 mm
7 mm (or hook to obtain gauge)

Yarn
Color A (Head, body, and legs) #6 Super Bulky • Approx 75 yds
Color B (Spikes) #6 Super Bulky • Approx 5 yds
Color C (White spikes, and toenails) #6 Super Bulky • Approx 2 yds

Notions
Scissors, stitch marker, darning needle, poly-fil, 10 mm safety eyes, hot glue to secure safety eyes, and embroidery floss

Gauge
(4″x 4″), 7 mm hook with color A
10 sts x 8 rows sc in ea st

Final Size

4″W x 14″L x 7″H

Yarn Used
Head, body, and legs: -Big Twist Plush color: Sage
Spikes: -Mainstays Cozy Chenille color: Grey
Spikes: -Bernat Blanket Yarn color: White

ABBREVIATIONS

ch chain
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
st stitch
ea each
sp space
sk skip stitch
sl st slip stitch
mc magic circle
inc 2 single crochet in same stitch
hdc-inc 2 half double crochet into stitch
dec single crochet 2 together
hdc-dec half double crochet 2 together
sp space
** repeat instructions inside asterisk

SPECIAL STITCHES
sc2tog
** Insert hook, yarn over pull through,** repeat in next st, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

HEAD
Using color A, 7 mm hook:
*Note* You will be working in the round.

Rnd 1: Make a MC and sc 6 into the ring. (6)

Rnd 2: Sc in ea st. (6)

Rnd 3: Sc 2, inc x2, sc 2. (8)

Rnd 4: Sc 2, *inc, sc,* x2, sc 2. (10)

Rnds 5-6: Sc in ea st. (2 rnds) (10)

Rnd: 7: Sc 3, dec x2, sc 3. (8)

Rnd 8: Sc 2, dec x2, sc 2. (6)

*Note* At this point you’ll weave in your tails, and add the eyes on rnd 4, 4-5 sts apart. I use hot glue on the backs for security. Stuff head with poly-fil.

Do NOT tie off, continue to the body.

BODY
Using color A, 7mm hook:

Rnd 1: Sc in ea st. (6)

Rnd 2: *Inc, sc* x3. (9)

Rnd 3: *Inc, sc,* x4, inc. (14)

Rnd 4: *Inc, sc,* x7. (21)

Rnd 5: Sc 10, *inc, sc,* x5, inc. (27)

Rnds 6-10: Sc in ea st. (5 rnds) (27)

Rnd 11: Sc 13, *dec, sc,* x4, dec. (22)

*Note* At this point, add stuffing to desired firmness.

Rnd 12: Sc 11, *dec, sc,* x3, dec. (18)

Rnd 13: Sc in ea st. (18)

Rnd 14: *dec, sc,* x6. (12)

Rnds 15-16: Hdc 1, sc 6, hdc 5. (2 rnds) (12)

Rnd 17: Hdc-dec, hdc, *dec, sc,* x2, hdc-dec, hdc. (8)

Rnds 18-19: Hdc 2, sc 4, hdc 2. (2 rnds) (8)

*Note* At this point, add stuffing to desired firmness.

Rnd 20: Dec, sc, dec, hdc, hdc-dec. (5)

Rnd 21: Hdc 2, sc 2, hdc. (5)

Rnd 22: Dec, sc, dec. (3)

Rnd 23: Dec x2, sl st. (1)

Tie off and weave in ends!

LEGS
Using color A, 7mm hook:
You are going to make the legs and then attach them to the body.

Back Legs (make 2)

Rnd 1: Make a MC and sc 8 into ring. (8)

*Note* At this point I weave in my tail for the magic circle.

Rnd 2: *Dec, sc,* x2, dec. (5)

Rnds 3-4: Sc in ea st. (2 rnds) (5)

Rnd 5: *Inc, sc,* x2, sc. (7)

Rnds 6-7: Sc in ea st. (2 rnds) (7)

On right leg, TURN before rnd 8.

Rnd 8: Sc in first 4 sts. (4)

Rnd 9: Ch 1, TURN, sc 4. (4)

Tie off, leaving a long tail to sew leg onto body, then stuff legs. The front of the back legs goes on Rnd 10, 5 sts apart across the bottom. *Note* The hip “bulge” should be on the outer edge (see pic).

Front Legs (make 2)

Rnd 1: Make a MC and sc 8 into ring. (8)

*Note* At this point I weave in my tail for the magic circle.

Rnd 2: *Dec, sc,* x2, dec. (5)

Rnd 3: Sc in ea st. (5)

Rnd 4: *Inc, sc,* x2, sc. (7)

Rnds 5: Sc in ea st. (7)

On right leg sc 4 after Rnd 5.

Tie off, leaving long tail to sew onto body.

Stuff the legs The front part of the front leg goes on Rnd 6, 3 sts apart. Once again, the higher side of the front leg should be on the outer edge.

SPIKES
Using color B, 7mm hook, repeat on each side:
*Note* You will crochet each spike onto the body to make it as low-sew as possible. On left side, start at Rnd 8. On right side, start on Rnd 1 of Body. Do the same thing on both sides, you will just be 1 rnd ahead on the left side (see pic). The spikes on the right and left side are 1 stitch apart, and each spike will be on the next row.
You will repeat the same thing on each side starting at the neck, tie off after each dec:
*Pattern Note* Some of my testers preferred to not tie off after each spike, and instead sl st between them.

Ch 1,sc2tog. Ch 1, hdc2tog. Ch 2, dc2tog. Ch 3, tc3tog x2. Ch 2, dc2tog x2. Ch 1, hdc2tog. Ch 1, sc2tog.

Tie off, weave in all tails, I prefer to bring the tail at the top down, make a knot, and then pull the tail through body to hide it.

TAIL SPIKES
Using color C, 4.5mm hook:

*Note* For each of these spikes you will insert your hook around a stitch on the body continuing as instructed. Also, some of my testers preferred to sl st between each spike.

Mini Spike:

Row 1:Insert hook into TIP of tail, Ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook

Tie off and weave in ends.

Small Spike (make 2):

Row 1: Insert hook into Rnd 22, ch 3, sl st in next 2 chs. (2)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Large Spike (make 2):

Row 1: Insert hook into Rnd 20, Ch 4, sl st in next 3 chs. (3)

Tie off and weave in ends.

TOE NAILS
Using 1 strand color C:
Cut 12″ strand of yarn and wrap around the center of the of foot, going 1 rnd up, then wrap on each side of the center nail for a total of 3 nails.

MOUTH
Using 2 strands of embroidery floss:
Cut 12″ strand of yarn, fold it in half, and then and start on Rnd 3, going across the MC, to Rnd 3 on the other side, (see pic).

EYEBROW
Using color B, repeat on each side:
Cut a 8″ long tail, and add a little “eyebrow” right above the eye on each side.