A tiny dinosaur can have an enormous amount of personality. A curved neck, a bright frill, a row of soft plates, or a cheerful stripe can turn a small crochet project into a memorable character. These 13 crochet dinosaur patterns bring together different shapes and constructions, from seated amigurumi to a lightly stuffed flat toy.
Every idea links to the original designer or publisher. The images are styling and color inspiration, not photographs of the designers’ samples; proportions, stitches, facial details, and decorations can differ. Use the linked original photos and instructions for exact construction. Read the complete pattern before buying yarn. Finished sizes depend on materials and gauge. For toys intended for children under three, use embroidered eyes rather than plastic safety eyes, avoid loose embellishments, and secure every seam and small part carefully.
1.) Tanner the Triceratops
Tanner’s broad frill and three soft horns give this triceratops an immediately recognizable outline. A teal-and-gray palette feels cheerful, while cream horns provide a useful point of contrast. Nicole’s design includes separate pieces and assembly, so leave time for finishing rather than judging the project only by the body. Lay out the limbs before attaching them and check the pose from the front and side. The illustration uses raised toe details; the pattern specifies embroidered nails. Follow the designer’s photographs for exact frill shaping and proportions, and use the image here primarily as a color suggestion.
Original pattern: Tanner the Triceratops by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
2.) Toby the Tarbosaurus
Toby brings a friendly upright dinosaur silhouette to the collection, with a substantial head, small arms, and a balancing tail. Moss green with a lighter accent is a natural-looking palette, but an unexpected blue or rust could make the same project feel more personal. Read the assembly notes before closing each stuffed piece so attachment points remain easy to find. The illustrated pale belly panel is a styling addition rather than a promise of the written pattern. Back-spike placement and head proportions also vary in the image. Nicole’s original sample and instructions are the construction reference throughout the make.
Original pattern: Toby the Tarbosaurus by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
3.) Stevie the Stygimoloch
Stevie is a good choice when the head detail is the part of an amigurumi project you enjoy most. The domed top and crown of horns create a different character from a familiar triceratops. Golden yellow and orange emphasize the layered shape, with a pale accent keeping the horns visible. Keep the small pieces together in a labeled project tray as you work. The illustration exaggerates the number of facial horns and adds decorative back detail; use Nicole’s specified pieces and placement for the actual project. Photograph the loose arrangement before sewing if that helps you maintain symmetry.
Original pattern: Stevie the Stygimoloch by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
4.) Andy the Apatosaurus
A long-neck dinosaur introduces height to a collection of round seated toys. Andy’s head, neck, body, and limbs need to feel balanced together, so the finishing deserves as much attention as the stitch work. A single lavender shade with quieter feet accents creates a gentle mood without hiding the texture. Fill and shape the pieces gradually, checking the overall pose rather than simply adding more stuffing everywhere. The illustrated neck is especially elongated and its feet details differ from the designer’s sample. Use Nicole’s photos for the intended proportions. A different yarn weight will also change the finished scale.
Original pattern: Andy the Apatosaurus by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
5.) Parker the Parasaurolophus
Parker’s backward-sweeping crest is the feature to celebrate in this project. Pink and peach create a soft contrast, but teal with a deeper blue crest would be equally striking. Before attaching the crest, check the head from several angles so it reads clearly in profile. Keep the rest of the palette restrained if you want that shape to remain the focal point. The illustration adds a contrasting chest and muzzle treatment; these are styling variations, not exact construction details supplied by the linked pattern. Follow Nicole’s assembly photographs for the actual silhouette, foot accents, and crest attachment.
Original pattern: Parker the Parasaurolophus by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
6.) Archie the Ankylosaurus
Archie adds armor and a clubbed tail to the dinosaur lineup. Choosing related blue shades for the body and plates gives the small details a clear hierarchy without making the whole toy visually busy. This is a project where organizing repeated parts can make the finishing stage feel more manageable. Check the designer’s placement photographs before sewing the plates and spikes down permanently. The illustration uses a more elaborate face and additional raised spikes, including a forehead detail, compared with the pattern’s intended arrangement. Use those as decorative inspiration only. The original instructions determine the pieces to make and attach.
Original pattern: Archie the Ankylosaurus by Nicole Chase. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid printable PDF. No subscription is required to read the pattern.
7.) Brodie the Stegosaurus
Brodie has a compact horizontal body that makes a pleasing contrast with upright seated dinosaurs. The little legs, paired back plates, and tail details keep the silhouette lively even when the palette uses only two colors. Mariska offers both written instructions and a video, which is useful when you want another view of a shaping step. Her samples demonstrate that yarn choice changes the scale substantially. The illustration is a color and staging suggestion, with plate shapes and spacing that can differ from the original. Compare it with the designer’s photos before deciding on your finished arrangement.
Original pattern: Brodie the Stegosaurus by Mariska Vos-Bolman / DIY Fluffies. Access: Free complete written pattern and video; optional paid PDF. Sport-cotton and super-bulky examples have different finished sizes.
8.) A Round Spotted Stegosaurus
A round stegosaurus is a playful option if you prefer a low, chunky body to a tall toy. White with pink spots gives this idea a gentle look, while a bright body with darker plates could feel bolder. StringyDingDing’s pattern includes several spike sizes, stubby legs, spots, and optional cheeks, so read the complete sequence before beginning assembly. Keep the contrast colors consistent across the smaller pieces. The illustration’s plate outline and overall proportions may differ; the original photos show how the designer intends the components to sit. Take particular care to secure every small decorative piece thoroughly.
Original pattern: A Round Spotted Stegosaurus by StringyDingDing. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid PDF and optional paid membership, neither required for the written instructions.
9.) A Long-Neck Brontosaurus
This brontosaurus offers a different construction challenge from the seated long-neck dinosaur earlier in the list. StringyDingDing builds the back and head-neck sections before joining them into the body, with further details added afterward. Read that overview before starting so the sequence makes sense. Turquoise with a creamy chest and contrasting spots is a cheerful color direction. The illustration may simplify the face shaping and change the neck curve. Use the designer’s original views for those details and the limb placement. The pattern is labeled intermediate, making it a useful choice for someone comfortable following a longer assembly process.
Original pattern: A Long-Neck Brontosaurus by StringyDingDing. Access: Free complete written blog pattern; optional paid PDF and optional paid membership, neither required for the written instructions.
10.) Bob the Dinosaur
Bob is a compact project with an interesting nose-to-tail construction and a seam underneath the body. Forest green and olive give it a classic dinosaur palette, while embroidered black eyes keep the face simple. DROPS supplies a full written pattern and finishing explanation, so study the short overview before following the individual sections. The sample is approximately seven inches in height and length at the stated gauge. The illustration is a styling interpretation and may change the posture and spine spacing. Check the original photographs for the intended outline, and use the pattern measurements when planning its place in a collection. The illustration also adds a contrasting belly treatment not specified as a separate panel in the original.
Original pattern: Bob the Dinosaur by DROPS Design. Access: Free complete written pattern and print option; no purchase or account required. One size at the stated gauge.
11.) Bernat Dino Buddy
Dino Buddy has a rounded upright body and a narrow neck that lets the face stand out. The original uses bulky Bernat Maker, which creates a different surface from a fine cotton amigurumi. Chartreuse and teal make the spots and spine easy to see, but a quieter two-color palette would also work. The downloadable PDF provides the complete project and a finished height of approximately nine inches at gauge. Keep the yarn’s structure in mind if substituting. The illustration is a color and styling guide; its spot sizes, ridge, and body proportions can differ from the publisher’s sample.
Original pattern: Bernat Dino Buddy by Bernat / Yarnspirations. Access: Free complete PDF, no sign-up or yarn purchase required. One size, approximately 9 inches tall.
12.) A Flat Baby Dinosaur Toy
This flat dinosaur offers a welcome change from fully rounded amigurumi. Cassandra Bibler’s design uses two shaped body panels, a border, and four small legs, with embroidered facial details. It could appeal to a maker who enjoys watching an outline emerge while working in rows. The original blue palette keeps the silhouette easy to read, although a muted green would suit the same mood. The published size is roughly eleven and a half inches across and eight inches tall. The illustration may alter the scallops or facial expression. Follow the original panel shape and finishing instructions for the actual make.
Original pattern: A Flat Baby Dinosaur Toy by Cassandra Bibler for Red Heart / Yarnspirations. Access: Free complete PDF, no sign-up or yarn purchase required. One size, approximately 11½ inches across and 8 inches tall.
13.) A Striped Dinosaur Pair
A striped pair can make a small dinosaur project feel like a coordinated collection. The actual download currently linked from this product page uses Red Heart Super Saver O’Go and provides color directions for two toys, each approximately six inches tall. Check that PDF rather than assuming the older product description names the same yarn version. Separate the colors before starting if you want more control over the stripe sequence. The illustration’s stripes and proportions are styling suggestions. Use the publisher’s photographs and instructions for the intended neck, spine, and small limbs, especially when choosing a replacement yarn.
Original pattern: A Striped Dinosaur Pair by Red Heart / Yarnspirations. Access: Free complete PDF, no sign-up or yarn purchase required. The current download is the Super Saver O’Go version, approximately 6 inches tall; original kit availability can vary.
Choosing Your Next Crochet Dinosaur
Start with the silhouette that makes you smile, then choose a construction you would enjoy working through. A compact stegosaurus, a seated horned dinosaur, and a flat two-panel toy offer different making experiences even when they share a similar palette. Keep the original pattern open while working, organize the repeated pieces, and leave enough time for careful assembly. A simple color change can make a dinosaur feel personal without adding extra decorations. Before gifting, inspect the seams, attachments, and suitability of all materials for the recipient.
