About This Mr. Pistachio the Dinosaur Amigurumi Pattern
Mr. Pistachio makes a fantastic desk buddy or a sweet nursery gift. His small size means he fits perfectly in a pocket, ready for whatever adventures come his way.
Ideal for those with basic crocheting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.
Fits nicely into a free afternoon — 2 to 5 hours of focused, enjoyable crocheting.
Playful characters full of personality, designed to spark imagination and become cherished playtime favorites.
Mr. Pistachio makes a fantastic desk buddy or a sweet nursery gift. His small size means he fits perfectly in a pocket, ready for whatever adventures come his way.
I honestly fell in love with the way his body is constructed. Joining the legs with a chain is such a satisfying technique to master, and picking out the colors for those seven little spikes is like playing with a box of crayons!
I have to admit, the first time I saw Mr. Pistachio, I laughed because he really does look like a giant nut! That’s the beauty of amigurumi—you can take a simple shape and turn it into something with so much heart. When I was making mine, I spent way too much time deciding which order to put the spikes in. I eventually went with a rainbow fade, but I think he’d look just as cool with all-green spikes for a more traditional dino look.
One thing I discovered while working on this pattern is that the 12-chain bridge between the legs is the secret to his chunky, adorable posture. If you’re new to joining legs this way, take your time! It feels a bit fiddly for one round, but once you get past that, it’s smooth sailing all the way up to the head. I also found that using a slightly smaller hook than the yarn recommends helps keep the stuffing from peeking through, which is always a win in my book. He’s such a quick make that I ended up making a second one in blue just for fun!
Meet Mr. Pistachio, the dinosaur who looks suspiciously like a giant nut! He’s a quirky little fellow who didn't quite fit in with the other dinos, so he decided to head out on his own adventure. You'll love crafting his unique pear-shaped body and adding that row of vibrant, colorful spikes. He’s a wonderful project for anyone who enjoys a bit of character in their crochet and wants a companion that’s as sweet as he is strange.
Start with your lime green yarn and create a mr, then work 6 sc into the center (6)
Work 1 inc into every stitch around (12)
Work 1 sc into each stitch across (12)
Finish the work and leave a long thread for sewing later.
Using lime green, create a mr and work 6 sc inside (6)
Work 1 inc into every stitch around (12)
Work 1 sc into each stitch across (12)
Keep your yarn attached this time as we will be connecting the legs now.
After the last stitch of the second leg, ch 12 and join to the first leg with a sl st. Work 1 sc in that same stitch, then continue around: 12 sc on the first leg, 12 sc along one side of the ch, 12 sc on the second leg, and 12 sc along the other side of the ch (48)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around for the next 23 rounds (48)
Begin stuffing the legs and continue adding fiberfill to the body as you work upwards.
Work a sequence of 6 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (42)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (42)
Work a sequence of 5 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (36)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (36)
Insert the 7mm safety eyes between rounds 34 and 35. Make sure they are centered, then embroider the mouth and cheeks as shown in the photos.
Work a sequence of 4 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (30)
Work a sequence of 3 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (24)
Work a sequence of 2 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (18)
Work a sequence of 1 sc followed by 1 dec, repeating 6 times total (12)
Work 1 dec into every stitch around (6)
Cut the yarn leaving a tail, pull it through the remaining stitches to close, and weave in the end.
With lime green, work 6 sc into a mr (6)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (6)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 1 sc, repeating 3 times (9)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (9)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 2 sc, repeating 3 times (12)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (12)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 3 sc, repeating 3 times (15)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (15)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 4 sc, repeating 3 times (18)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (18)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 5 sc, repeating 3 times (21)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (21)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 6 sc, repeating 3 times (24)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (24)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 7 sc, repeating 3 times (27)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (27)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 8 sc, repeating 3 times (30)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (30)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 9 sc, repeating 3 times (33)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (33)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 10 sc, repeating 3 times (36)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (36)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 11 sc, repeating 3 times (39)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (39)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 12 sc, repeating 3 times (42)
Work a sequence of 1 inc and 13 sc, repeating 3 times (45)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for attaching to the body later.
Create a mr and work 8 sc into it (8)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (8)
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Use your various contrast colors to make 7 individual spikes.
Create a mr and work 5 sc into it (5)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (5)
Work 1 inc into every stitch around (10)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (10)
Work a sequence of 1 sc and 1 inc, repeating 5 times (15)
Work 1 sc into every stitch around (15)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Using slate green, work 6 sc into a mr and join with a sl st.
Using slate green, work 8 hdc into a mr and join with a sl st.
Using slate green, work 10 hdc into a mr and join with a sl st.
I hope you have as much fun making Mr. Pistachio as I did! He's such a quirky little character, and there's something so rewarding about seeing all those bright colors come together. Whether he's sitting on your shelf or being gifted to a friend, he's sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. Don't forget to give him a little squeeze when you're done—he's the perfect size for it! Happy crocheting, and I can't wait to see your version of this pistachio-shaped dino. 🧶✨
You definitely can! Just be aware that cotton gives a more defined stitch look and holds the shape better, while acrylic might make him a bit fuzzier and softer.
Check your stuffing! Make sure the legs and the very bottom of the body are stuffed quite firmly to create a flat, heavy base.
No worries! You can easily embroider the eyes with some black yarn or use small black beads instead, though safety eyes are best for toys intended for children.
I recommend pinning all seven spikes in place first before you start sewing. This helps you get the spacing even along the back and tail.