Crochet a Cute Dinosaur Puppet

This dinosaur puppet pattern is my original design and the PDF is available to download from Ravelry.com. Please not that this instructable gives an overview of the creation and assembly of the pieces. To get the crochet instructions with stitch counts, please visit my Ravelry Pattern shop.

To see more of my work or get copies of other patterns I've written, please visit my blog or Ravelry Pattern Shop . I also sell finished amigurumi in my Etsy shop .

Thanks for checking out my instructable and happy crocheting!
Karla (The Itsy Bitsy Spider)

To make my dinosaur, I used the following materials:

• 3 oz acrylic yarn in main color. Small amount (<1 oz) of acrylic yarn in complimentary color.
  Scrap amounts of black and white (optional).

All of the yarns were purchased at Jo-Ann Stores, but you can find them at almost any craft store. By the way, you can use any colors of yarn you like for this project, so have fun with it!

The tools you will need include:

• Size G crochet hook (see my workshop on hooks for tips on selecting one)
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Copy of the Dinosaur Puppet Pattern

The upper muzzle makes up the top/front of the puppet (where your fingers go). This piece is worked in a continuous spiral, so remember to use a stitch marker to keep track of the round you are on. The finished piece looks like a bucket.

Note: For exact stitch counts, please download a copy of the pattern.

The lower muzzle piece forms the chin and lower jaw (where your thumb goes in the puppet). This
piece is started with a chain that is worked on both sides to create an oval-shaped round. The round continues in a spiral and the finished piece ends up looking like an oval-shaped bucket.

With the upper muzzle on top, join the two pieces starting on the left side with a SC. Hold
the two pieces together as you SC in the next 14 STS (see below).

Place stitch marker in next ST and continue to SC along the upper muzzle only. When you reach the place where you joined the upper and lower muzzle, skip down to the lower muzzle and work another across the bottom of this piece. By the time you reach the stitch marker, you should have a large circle that goes all the way around the outside of the head.

Continue working around the circle you created when you attached the top and bottom muzzle pieces until you have a good length for a snout. In my dinosaur, I went about 4-5 more rounds.

When you're ready to start working on your dinosaur's eyebrows, fold your dinosaur's head in half (so the fold line runs right up the center of the nose) and use a little yarn or a stitch marker to identify where the eyes will go. The idea is to add in some increases to form little bumps on the top of the head where the eyes will go.

For example, here's what I did:

Brow Round 1: SC in each of the first 14 STS. *2 SC in next ST, then 1 SC. Repeat from * 2 more times. SC in next 3 STS. **2 SC in next ST, then 1 SC. Repeat from ** 2 more times. 1 SC in each of the remaining 35 STS. MM.

Brow Round 2: SC in each of the first 15 STS. *2 SC in next ST, then 1 SC. Repeat from * 3 more times. SC in next 3 STS. **2 SC in next ST, then 1 SC. Repeat from ** 3 more times. 1 SC in each of the remaining 36 STS. MM.

Brow Round 3: SC in each of the first 15 STS. *DECR over next 2 STS, then 1 SC. Repeat from * 3 more times. SC in next 3 STS. **DECR over next 2 STS, then 1 SC. Repeat from ** 3 more times. 1 SC in each of the next 15 STS. CH 17 and skip the remaining 21 STS.

To close up the head, decrease evenly in a spiral. When you get down to the last round of 6 (or so) stitches, break your yarn and use a yarn needle to gather the stitches and sew the head shut.

The hole for the neck should be the only opening now to the head area.

With the lower muzzle facing you, join yarn with SC at the left side of the gap left for the neck. SC across lower muzzle. When you reach the underside of the chain made the back of the head (see step 4), continue to make 1 SC in each of the free loops (see below).

Continue to SC in each ST around until desired length is achieved. For the project shown, the neck length was roughly 6-7 inches.

The spikes run down the back of the dinosaur’s neck. You can make them all the same color or mix things up for a more fantastic look.

My spikes were small cones made in a spiral round. I left long tails to sew them to the dinosaur's head. Again, for exact stitch counts, you can download a copy of the pattern.

Using the same color as the spikes (or another if you prefer), make two small spiral circles for the nostrils.

I made my eyes as ovals to give them a little more height and stitched a long pupil with black yarn (see below).

1. Using tails left for sewing, attach the nostrils to the top of the upper muzzle.

2. Attach eyes just below the top of the brow line.

3. Starting at the top of the brow line, stitch spikes next to each other, going down the dinosaur’s back.

4. Weave in loose ends and enjoy!