There is something so special about crafting a whole family of toys, and these long-necked dinosaurs are the perfect project to sink your hook into. Using chunky plush yarn makes the process surprisingly fast while creating the softest, most huggable texture imaginable. You will love how the legs and tail are joined as you go, saving you from a mountain of sewing at the end. Whether you choose earthy greens or bright pastels, this duo is bound to become a favorite in any toy collection.
Progress Tracker
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— 1. Big Dino - Tail :
Round 2-3 :
2 rounds of 6 sc
Round 4 :
2 sc, 2 inc, 2 sc (8)
Round 5 :
dec, 1 sc, 2 inc, 1 sc, dec (8)
Round 6 :
3 sc, 2 inc, 3 sc (10)
Round 7 :
dec, 2 sc, 2 inc, 2 sc, dec (10)
Round 8 :
4 sc, 2 inc, 4 sc (12)
Round 9 :
dec, 3 sc, 2 inc, 3 sc, dec (12)
Round 10 :
3 sc, (1 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc (15)
Round 12 :
3 sc, (2 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc (18)
Info :
If the round start shifts, work a shifting stitch to keep the marker centered.
Round 14 :
3 sc, (3 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc (21)
Round 16 :
3 sc, (4 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc (24)
Info :
Fasten off and cut the yarn.
— 2. Big Dino - Legs (Make 4) :
Info :
Start with light green yarn.
Round 3 :
(1 sc, inc)*7 (21)
Colour Change :
Switch to dark green yarn.
Round 4 :
BLO: 7 sc, (switch to white, PS, switch to dark green, 2 sc)*3, 5 sc (21)
Round 5 :
5 sc, (dec, 2 sc)*2, dec, 6 sc (18)
Round 6-8 :
3 rounds of 18 sc
Info :
Fasten off and cut the yarn.
— 3. Big Dino - Body :
Info :
Start with light green yarn. This section creates the tummy oval.
Round 1 :
Starting in 2nd ch from hook: 21 sc, 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate to work on other side of chain: 20 sc, inc (46)
Round 2 :
inc, 20 sc, 3 inc, 20 sc, 2 inc (52)
Round 3 :
1 sc, inc, 20 sc, (1 sc, inc)*3, 20 sc, (1 sc, inc)*2 (58)
Round 4 :
3 sc, 6 sc joining first leg, 11 sc, 6 sc joining second leg, 6 sc, 6 sc joining third leg, 11 sc, 6 sc joining fourth leg, 3 sc (58)
Colour Change :
Switch to dark green yarn.
Round 5 :
3 sc, 12 sc around the outer edge of the first leg, 11 sc, 12 sc around the second leg, 6 sc, 12 sc around the third leg, 11 sc, 12 sc around the fourth leg, 3 sc (82)
Round 6-8 :
3 rounds of 82 sc
Round 9 :
76 sc, 6 sc joining the tail (82)
Round 10 :
76 sc, 18 sc around the outer edge of the tail (94)
Round 11-12 :
2 rounds of 94 sc
Round 13 :
76 sc, (dec, 6 sc)*2, dec (91)
Round 15 :
76 sc, dec, 5 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec (88)
Round 17 :
76 sc, (dec, 3 sc)*2, dec (85)
Round 19 :
76 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc, dec (82)
Round 20 :
6 sc, dec, 24 sc, ch 6, skip 18 st (this creates the neck hole), 22 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec (61 plus 6 ch)
Round 21 :
5 sc, dec, 24 sc, 6 sc along the chain, 21 sc, dec, 5 sc, dec (64)
Round 22 :
5 sc, dec, 11 sc, (5 sc, dec)*3, 11 sc, (5 sc, dec)*2 (58)
Round 23 :
4 sc, dec, 11 sc, (4 sc, dec)*3, 11 sc, (4 sc, dec)*2 (52)
Round 24 :
3 sc, dec, 11 sc, (3 sc, dec)*3, 11 sc, (3 sc, dec)*2 (46)
Round 25 :
2 sc, dec, 11 sc, (2 sc, dec)*3, 11 sc, (2 sc, dec)*2 (40)
Round 26 :
1 sc, dec, 11 sc, (1 sc, dec)*3, 11 sc, (1 sc, dec)*2 (34)
Round 28 :
8 dec, skip the final stitch (9)
Info :
Stuff the body firmly, close the hole, and weave in the end.
— 4. Big Dino - Neck :
Info :
Attach dark green yarn to the left stitch marker of the neck opening from Round 19.
Round 20 :
18 sc on body, 1 sc in transition loop, 6 sc on chain, 1 sc in transition loop (26)
Round 21 :
16 sc, 5 dec (21)
Round 22-33 :
12 rounds of 21 sc
Info :
If making a girl dino, work only 11 rounds for a slightly shorter neck.
— 5. Big Dino - Head :
Round 34 :
4 sc, 12 inc, 5 sc (33)
Round 35 :
4 sc, (1 sc, inc)*12, 5 sc (45)
Round 36 :
17 sc, (2 sc, inc)*3, 19 sc (48)
Round 37-48 :
12 rounds of 48 sc
Round 49 :
(6 sc, dec)*6 (42)
Round 50 :
(5 sc, dec)*6 (36)
Round 51 :
(4 sc, dec)*6 (30)
Round 52 :
(3 sc, dec)*6 (24)
Round 53 :
(2 sc, dec)*6 (18)
Round 54 :
(1 sc, dec)*6 (12)
Info :
Fasten off and hide the yarn tail inside the head.
— 6. Big Dino - Muzzle :
Round 1 :
Starting in 2nd ch: 4 sc, 3 sc in last ch. On other side: 3 sc, inc (12)
Round 2 :
inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18)
Round 3 :
1 sc, inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc)*2 (24)
Round 4 :
2 sc, inc, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc)*2 (30)
Round 5 :
3 sc, inc, 3 sc, (3 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc, (3 sc, inc)*2 (36)
Round 6-7 :
2 rounds of 36 sc
Info :
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
— 7. Big Dino - Eyes (Make 2) :
Info :
Use black cotton yarn and 2mm hook.
Round 3 :
(1 sc, inc)*6 (18)
Round 4 :
(2 sc, inc)*4, switch to orange, (2 sc, inc)*2 (24)
White Detail :
Attach white yarn to first orange st. Left eye: ch 3, dc in same st, 1 dc, 2 hdc, 4 sc, ss. Right eye: ss, 4 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, ch 3, ss in same st.
Border :
Attach black yarn to last black st from R4. sc around the entire eye, working 3 sc in the bottom corners.
Glare :
White yarn: 6 sc in MR. Sew to the eye.
— 8. Big Dino - Spikes & Spots :
Large Spikes :
ch 2, Row 1: 5 sc in 2nd ch. Row 2: 1 sc, inc, 3 sc in 1 st, inc, 1 sc (9). Row 3: 2 sc, inc, 1 sc, 3 sc in 1 st, 1 sc, inc, 2 sc (12).
Large Spot :
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. Round 2: 6 inc (12).
— 9. Baby Dino - Legs & Tail :
Bottom Legs :
R1: 7 sc in MR. R2: 7 inc (14). Switch to pink. R3: BLO 4 sc, (white PS, pink 1 sc)*3, 4 sc (14). R4: (3 sc, dec)*2, 4 sc (12). R5-10: 12 sc. Fold and sc 6 across.
Upper Legs :
R1: 6 sc in MR. R2: 6 inc (12). Switch to pink. R3: BLO 3 sc, (white PS, pink 1 sc)*3, 3 sc (12). R4: 2 sc, (dec, 3 sc)*2 (10). R5-10: 10 sc. Fold and sc 5 across.
Tail :
R1: 6 sc in MR. R2-3: 6 sc. R4: 3 inc, 3 sc (9). R5: 9 sc. R6: 3 inc, 6 sc (12). R7: (1 sc, inc)*3, 6 sc (15). R8: (2 sc, inc)*3, 6 sc (18). R9: (3 sc, inc)*3, 6 sc (21).
— 10. Baby Dino - Body & Head :
Body Round 1-4 :
R1: 8 sc in MR. R2: 8 inc (16). R3: (1 sc, inc)*8 (24). R4: (2 sc, inc)*8 (32).
Body Round 5 :
5 sc, 6 sc with lower leg, 10 sc, 6 sc with lower leg, 5 sc (32)
Body Round 6-8 :
R6: (6 sc, dec)*4 (28). R7: 28 sc. R8: (5 sc, dec)*4 (24).
Body Round 9 :
5 sc, 5 sc with upper leg, 4 sc, 5 sc with upper leg, 5 sc (24)
Body Round 10-14 :
R10: (4 sc, dec)*4 (20). R11: 20 sc. R12: (3 sc, dec)*4 (16). R13: 16 sc. R14: (2 sc, dec)*4 (12).
Body Round 15-20 :
6 rounds of 12 sc. Fold neck and sc 6 across.
Head Round 1-4 :
ch 6. R1: 4 sc, 3 sc in last ch, 3 sc, inc (12). R2: inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18). R3: 1 sc, inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc)*2 (24). R4: 2 sc, inc, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc)*3, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc)*2 (30).
Head Round 5-14 :
R5-6: 30 sc. Switch to pink. R7: (dec, 13 sc)*2 (28). R8: 28 sc. R9: (dec, 12 sc)*2 (26). R10: 26 sc. R11: (dec, 11 sc)*2 (24). R12: (2 sc, dec)*6 (18). R13: (1 sc, dec)*6 (12). R14: 6 dec (6).
I hope you have the absolute best time bringing this Dino Family to life! There is something so rewarding about seeing the mama and baby together on your shelf. Don't be afraid to play with the colors—a purple or blue dino family would look just as magical. Once you finish, give them a little squeeze for me! I can't wait to see your finished creations and the unique personalities you give them through their embroidered smiles. Happy hooking, and may your stitches always be cozy! 🧶✨🦕