Free Crochet Dinosaur Pattern- The Friendly Dino

The Friendly Dino is the essence of little paleontologists dreams. While not exactly accurate or recognizable as any specific dinosaur, my boys quickly recognized him as one and began fighting each other with it immediately. (which is apparently the seal of approval in my home!) Dino is about 8 inches sitting down, and about 12 inches from foot to spike. He is a good size for cuddles and, like I said, play. Customize with stripes or circles! Change the colors for a more realistic look or choose a favorite color! Make the Friendly Dino your own!

You will need:
Approx 120 g size 4 yarn in main color, approx 50g in accent
Crochet Hook in Size 3.75
Tapestry Needle
Polyfil
10mm safety eyes
stitch marker
Embroidery thread for eye brows

Abbreviations (Written in US Terms)
SC– single crochet

SC INC– single crochet increase (2 SC in each stitch)

INV DEC– Invisible decrease (put hook through the FRONT LOOP ONLY of two consecutive stitches [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through both loops. [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through two loops)

Magic Circle– Make a loop, leaving a long tail to work with. Insert hook in center of loop, yarn over and draw up a loop. Yarn over, pull through to make the first chain (this does not count as a stitch!). Continue to crochet over the loop and tail with the number of stitches called for. (If you need 6 SC, then crochet 6 SC inside the ring.) Pull the tail to close the circle.

Make sure to read my best tips and tricks for amigurumi before you get started! The way this pattern is written assumes you have.

*Stuff as you go*
Body
With main color:
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC in first 2, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC in first 3, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 6: SC in first 4, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 7: SC in first 5, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 8: SC in first 6, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (48)
Round 9: SC in first 7, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (54)
Rounds 10-18: SC in each around. (54)
Round 19: SC in first 7, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (48)
Rounds 20: SC in each around. (48)
Round 21: SC in the first 6, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 22: SC in each around. (42)
Round 23: SC in the first 5, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 24: SC in each around. (36)
Round 25:  SC in the first 4, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 26: SC in each around. (30)
Round 27: SC in the first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 28: SC in each around. (24)
Round 29 : SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 30-34: SC in each around (18)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on the head.

Before you make the rest of these pieces, be sure to watch this video on how to change color in amigurumi. It will make a lot of difference!
Head
(This will be the front of the nose. Begin with your choice of accent color.)
Chain 5. In the second chain from the hook SC. SC in the next 2. Place 3 SC in the last stitch on the row. On the other side of the chain, Sc in the next 2. Then 2 SC in the end stitch (the first stitch you SC on the chain). Place stitch marker (10)
HINT: It should look like this (every comma represents a stitch)
SC, SC, SC, 3 SC, SC, SC, 2 SC.
There will be 3 SC on the chain, with 3 SC on the end, 3 SC on the opposite side of the chain, and 3 SC total (first SC and then the 2 SC as you come back around) on the other end.
From here on we will be working in the round.

Round 2: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (15)
Round 3: SC in first 2, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (20)
Round 4: SC in first 3, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (25)
Round 5: SC in first 4, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 6: SC in first 5, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (35)
Round 7: SC in first 6, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (40)
Rounds 8-10: SC in each around. (40)
Switch to body color. For round 11, crochet in the back loops to make a neat color change on the nose. Resume a regular SC for Row 12 and on.
Round 11: IN BACK LOOP ONLY SC in each around. (40)
Rounds 12-20: SC in each around. (40)
Place eyes between rows 13 and 14. Sew on eyelashes or eyebrows here with the embroidery thread. Begin stuffing here.
Round 21: SC in the first 6, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (35)
Round 22: SC in the first 5, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 23: SC in the first 4, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (25)
Round 24:  SC in the first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (20)
Round 25: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (15)
Round 26: SC in the first 1, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (10)
Round 27: INV DEC in each around. (5)
Using a needle sew up the remaining hole. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Legs (make 2)
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC in first 2, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC in first 3, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Rounds 6-10: SC in each around. (30)
Round 11: SC in the first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 12: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 13: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
CHANGE COLOR
Rounds 14-30: SC in each around (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail  to sew onto the body. Attach them in the middle, about 2 rows from the very center.

Arms (make 2)
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 4-6: SC in each around. (18)
Round 7: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
CHANGE COLOR
Rounds 8-23: SC in each around (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail  to sew onto the body. Attach them at an angle at around row 28 going down.

Tail
Round 1: 6 SC in a magic circle
Round 2: SC in each around (6)
Round 3: SC INC in each around (12)
Round 4-6: SC in each around (12)
Round 7: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 8-10: SC in each around. (18)
Round 11: SC in first two, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 12-13: SC in each around. (24)
Round 14: SC in first 3, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Rounds 15-22: SC in each around. (30)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew onto the body. Stuff the tail before sewing. To sew it on, sit the Dino on a flat surface. Lay the tail so that it is connected to the body and able to lay flat. Pin it in place and sew around.

Spikes (make 5)
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC in each around. (6)
Round 3: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 4: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 5-8: SC in each around. (18)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on.
To attach, place all of the spikes on the Dino to ensure even spacing. I used pins.

Then sew them on. Take the pins out as you go.