Hello, hi! I recently added Pippa the Plesiosaurus into my dino pattern gang and you know what? I’ve got dino fever, so I’m back with a new companion pattern. Except this time, I can’t tell you what kind of dinosaur it is because he hasn’t hatched yet! He’s working on it though.
This pattern is so fun but also so simple! Just two panels and a few spots; throw in some embellishments for the crack in the eggshell, and you’re done! I’ll also just put it out there – this pattern would work great at Easter time if you use pastel colours and stitch a little beak on the face!
If you have dino fever too, you can check out my other dino patterns: Phoebe the Parasaurolophus, Brian the Brachiosaurus, Stan the Steggy, Timothee the T-Rex, and Trish the Triceratops!
The Details
This pattern is made up of two separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together. The finished measurements are approximately 12cm/4.5″ from top to bottom.
Notes:
- The panels are worked flat from the bottom up. The front panel uses the tapestry crochet technique to work the colour-work for the face. Please read the “Colour-Work” section below.
- The top stitching that delineates the shell from the face is done using the surface slipstitch technique on the front panel.
- The spots are worked in the round into a magic ring. They are stitched onto the front panel before assembly.
- The facial features and eggshell “cracks” are then stitched onto the front panel.
- The body panels are assembled by placing one on top of the other and crocheting around the edges of the panels. The piece is then stuffed.
- Ch 1 at end of each row does not count as a stitch.
Colour-Work
Due to the colour changes on the front panel, you will have two balls of yarn attached (one MC for the shell and one CC for the face). When changing colours, carry the yarn across the back of the panel and carry the yarn upwards for the next row. Do not crochet the unused yarn inside the stitch as this can show through on the front and alter the size of the stitch; always carry it on the back.
When changing colours, insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour X and pull up a loop. Then, with Colour Y, yarn over and complete the stitch by pulling through both loops with Colour Y. Drop your working yarn in Colour X and continue with Colour Y. You will pick your Colour X working yarn back up again when you need it.
Make sure to always drop your yarn on the WRONG side of your panel! This will be different depending on whether you’re working an odd or even row. For the front panel, when you are working an odd-numbered row (row 1, 3, 5, etc), the right side of your panel will be facing you. When you’re working an even-numbered row, the wrong side will be facing you. This will be opposite for the back panel.
Let’s get started! (Or Pin/Shop for later!)
If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased the following ways:
Materials:
(Affiliate links coming at you!)
- 2.25mm hook;
- Hobbii Rainbow 8/6 Cotton (or any fine weight yarn of choice) in the following:
- Main Colour (MC) for shell, 50g – Color 03 (Nude);
- Blue for spots, 25g – Color 27 (Light Blue);
- Friends 8/6 Cotton (or any fine weight yarn of choice) in the following:
- Contrasting Colour (CC) for face, 50g – Color 108 (Pistachio);
- 8mm Safety eyes;
- Black crochet thread, size 5, for mouth;
- Stuffing;
- Tapestry needle.
Terms and Stitches:
MR = Magic ring
Slst = Slip stitch
Ch = Chain
Sc = Single crochet
Inc = Sc increase
Inc twice = Work one sc increase into each of the next two stitches.
Dec = Sc decrease
Dec twice = Work one sc decrease across the next two stitches and then work another sc decrease across the next two stitches.
Fasten off invisibly = Cut the yarn and pull the yarn end up through the stitch. With a tapestry needle, weave the yarn end underneath both loops of the next stitch from back to front. Then weave the yarn end through the centre of the previous stitch. Weave end.
Pattern
Front Panel (make 1):
Row 1: With MC, ch 13, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (12 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Inc twice, sc 8, inc twice (16 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Inc, sc 14, inc (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Inc twice, sc 14, inc twice (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Inc, sc 20, inc (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 6: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Rows 7-8: Sc in each st across (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 9: Inc, sc 24, inc (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 10: Sc 11, in CC sc 1, in MC sc 4, in CC sc 1, in MC sc 11 (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 11: Inc, sc 10, in CC sc 2, in MC sc 2, in CC sc 2, in MC sc 10, inc (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 12: Sc 11, in CC sc 8, in MC sc 11 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 13: Sc 9, in CC sc 13, in MC sc 11 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 14: Sc 9, in CC sc 14, in MC sc 7 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 15: Sc 7, in CC sc 14, in MC sc 9 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 16: Sc 9, in CC sc 14, in MC sc 7 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 17: Sc 8, in CC sc 13, in MC sc 9 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 18: Sc 8, in CC sc 15, in MC sc 7 (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 19: Dec, sc 4, in CC sc 2, in MC sc 1, in CC sc 14, in MC sc 5, dec (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 20: Sc 9, in CC sc 7, in MC sc 1, in CC sc 2, in MC sc 9 (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 21: Sc 10, in CC sc 1, in MC sc 2, in CC sc 5, in MC sc 10 (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 22: Sc 10, in CC sc 4, in MC sc 14 (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 23: Dec, sc 15, in CC sc 1, in MC sc 8, dec (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 24: Sc in each st across (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 25: Dec, sc 22, dec (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 26: Sc in each st across (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 27: Dec, sc 20, dec (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 28: Sc in each st across (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 29: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 30: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 31: Dec, sc 14, dec (16 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 32: Dec, sc 12, dec (14 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 33: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 34: Dec twice, sc 4, dec twice (8 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 35: Dec four times (4 sts).
Tie off. Weave ends. Set aside for assembly later.
Back Panel (make 1):
Row 1: With MC, ch 13, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (12 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Inc twice, sc 8, inc twice (16 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Inc, sc 14, inc (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Inc twice, sc 14, inc twice (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Inc, sc 20, inc (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 6: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Rows 7-8: Sc in each st across (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 9: Inc, sc 24, inc (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 10: Sc in each st across (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 11: Inc, 26, inc (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Rows 12-18: Sc in each st across (30 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 19: Dec, sc 26, dec (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Rows 20-22: Sc in each st across (28 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 23: Dec, sc 24, dec (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 24: Sc in each st across (26 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 25: Dec, sc 22, dec (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 26: Sc in each st across (24 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 27: Dec, sc 20, dec (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 28: Sc in each st across (22 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 29: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 30: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 31: Dec, sc 14, dec (16 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 32: Dec, sc 12, dec (14 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 33: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 34: Dec twice, sc 4, dec twice (8 sts), ch 1, turn.
Row 35: Dec four times (4 sts).
Tie off. Weave ends. Set aside for assembly later.
Small Spots (make 5):
Rnd 1: In blue, work 6 sc into a MR (6 sts).
Fasten off invisibly, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Big Spot (make 1):
Rnd 1: In blue, work 6 sc into a MR (6 sts).
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around, slst (13 sts).
Fasten off invisibly, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Move on to assembly below!
Assembly:
Step 1: In MC, use the surface sliptstitch technique to crochet around where the beige of the shell meets the green of the face (shown by the red line in the photo below). To surface slipstitch, insert your hook through a stitch on the front panel, yarn over, and pull up a loop from underneath. Then insert your hook into a nearby stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop and pull through the loop on your hook. Repeat across. Check out this video tutorial for additional help! The tutorial is for a different pattern (my Zombie pattern) but uses the same technique! Don’t worry about the stitching looking perfect; in fact, the craggier it is, the more realistic it will be!
Step 2: Insert 8mm safety eyes into the front panel between rows 16 and 17 with about 5 sts between them.
Step 3: In black crochet thread, stitch on a mouth between the eyes. If desired, add eyelashes, eyebrows, and/or cheeks now.
Step 4: In black crochet thread, make small stitches in a zigzag pattern coming from the face area to create cracks in the shell.
Step 5: Stitch three of the Small Spots onto the top right area and the other two Small Spots and the Big Spot on the bottom left area of the front panel.
Step 6: Place the front and back panels together with the wrong sides facing. On the top left side of the egg, insert your hook through both panels and begin single crocheting around the edges to join them. Continue crocheting down and around the egg and up the other side, stuffing as you go. Once you are satisfied with the stuffing, fasten off invisibly to the beginning stitch. Weave ends.
You’re done!
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