Brachioaurus Free Crochet Pattern

Hi, friends!

I’m back with a new pattern for you! Introducing Brian. Brian is a Brachiosaurus and is probably the cutest one you’ll find this side of the Jurassic era! 

Want to know the best part about Brian? There is no colour work involved in his pattern and the panels are worked in one piece, so the only sewing involved is for his three little spots. That’s it! 

As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as my Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. There are only 5 pieces needed to make Brian; the two panels and the three spots. This guy works up quickly, folks!

The finished measurements are approximately 30cm/12″ across and 20cm/8″ tall.

I am hoping to do a couple more dinosaur designs (if all goes well!), so Brian will have some friends really soon.

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 HERE or through the “Shop It” button above!

Materials:

• 3.25mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
• Bernat Super Value in Hot Blue (about 100g);
• Loops & Threads Impeccable in Grass (very small amounts);
• Bernat Handicrafter Crochet Thread in black for eyebrows;
• 10mm safety eyes;
• Stuffing;
• Tapestry needle

Terms and Stitches:

Ch – Chain

Slst – Slip stitch

MR – Magic Ring

Sc – Single Crochet 

Inc – Increase. Work a regular sc increase.

Dec – Decrease. Work a regular sc decrease.

Hdc – Half double crochet

Head:

In Blue, using 3.25mm hook. Chain 1 and turn at the end of each row.

Row 1: Ch 7, sc across (6 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 4, inc (8 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 6, inc (10 sts)

Row 4: Sc across (10 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc 8, inc (12 sts)

Row 6: Sc across (12 sts)

Row 7: Sc 11, inc (13 sts)

Rows 8-10: Sc across (13 sts)

Place a stitch marker in the last st of row 10. Tie off and set aside for later.

Tail:

With Blue yarn and 3.25mm hook. Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row.

Row 1: Ch 14, sc across (13 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 11, inc (15 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 13, inc (17 sts)

In the next row you will only be crocheting part way across the row before stopping and tying off.

Row 4: Inc, sc 7 (9 sts).

Tie off.

Now we will add the tip on the tail. Position the piece so that the starting yarn tail is on the left. Join your yarn in the right most st and continue to row 5.

Row 5: Sc 3 (3 sts)

Row 6: Dec, inc (3 sts)

Row 7: Sc 3 (3 sts)

Row 8: Dec, sc 1 (2 sts)

Row 9: Dec (1 st)

Tie off. Set aside for later.

Legs (make 4): 

With blue yarn and 3.25mm hook. Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row.

Row 1: Ch 5, sc across (4 sts)

Rows 2-4: Sc across (4 sts)

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-4 for remaining three legs.

Body:

Position all four legs next to each other so that the beginning yarn tail for each one is on the left. Position the tail (again with the starting yarn tail on the left) to the right of all four legs, as seen below. In the first row of the body, we will be crocheting across all five pieces.

Join your yarn in the 8th st of the tail.

Row 1: Dec, sc 6 along tail, sc 3 across first leg, inc in last st of leg, join next leg, inc in first st, sc 3, ch 6, join third leg, sc 3, inc in last st of leg, join last leg, inc in first st, sc 1, inc in last 2 sts (35 sts including chs)

Row 2: Inc twice, sc 10, sc 6 across chains, sc 15, dec (36 sts)

Row 3: Dec, sc 32, inc twice (37 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc 34, dec (37 sts)

Row 5: Sc 36, inc (38 sts)

Row 6: Sc 36, dec (37 sts)

Row 7: Dec, sc 34, inc (37 sts)

Row 8: Inc, sc 36 (38 sts)

Row 9: Dec, sc 36 (37 sts)

Row 10: Inc, sc 36 (38 sts)

Row 11: Sc across (38 sts)

Row 12: Sc 36, dec (37 sts)

Row 13: Sc 36, inc (38 sts)

Now we will start the neck. You will only be crocheting part way across the row before chaining and turning.

Row 14: Sc 11 (11 sts)

Row 15: Dec twice, sc 7 (9 sts)

Row 16: Sc 7, dec (8 sts)

Row 17: Sc across (8 sts)

Row 18: Sc 6, dec (7 sts)

Row 19: Dec, sc 5 (6 sts)

Row 20: Sc across (6 sts)

Row 21: Dec, sc 4 (5 sts)

Rows 22-26: Sc across (5 sts)

Row 27: Sc 3, dec (4 sts)

Row 28: Sc 3, inc (5 sts)

Tie off.

Position your piece so that the tail is on the right and the neck is on the left. Take the head piece that you set aside earlier and position it to the right of the neck (with the stitch marker also on the right). In the next row, we will attach the head and neck together. Join your yarn in the stitch with the stitch marker.

Row 1: Dec, sc 11, continue across neck, sc 5 (17 sts)

Row 2: Dec, sc 15 (16 sts)

Row 3: Dec, sc 12, dec (14 sts)

Row 4: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts)

Row 5: Sc 10, dec (11 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc 7, dec (9 sts)

Row 7: Dec twice, sc 1, dec twice (5 sts)

Tie off.

Now we will reattach the yarn to finish the back. Position your panel so that the head/neck is on the left and the tail is on the right. Join your yarn in the right-most stitch of the back.

Row 1: Dec, sc 23 (24 sts)

Row 2: Dec, sc 22 (23 sts)

Row 3: Dec, sc 19, dec (21 sts)

Row 4: Dec, sc 17, dec (19 sts)

Row 5: Dec, sc 15, dec (17 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc 13, dec (15 sts)

Row 7: Dec, sc 9, dec twice (12 sts)

Row 8: Dec twice, sc 4, dec twice (8 sts)

Tie off.

Repeat all of the above for the back panel, but make sure any yarn ends on the back panel are facing the opposite side than they were for the first panel. This ensures all the yarn tails are facing the inside when we match up the panels later (so, the “right side” of the front panel becomes the “wrong side” for the back panel and vice versa).

Spots:

I made three spots; one large and two small. 

Large Spot:

Worked in continuous rounds. With 3.25mm hook and green yarn, you will be working around a base chain to make an oval.

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sc 2, 5 sc in last ch, working on opposite side of chain, sc 1, 2 sc in last ch (10 sts)

Rnd 2: Inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 2, inc, sc (14 sts).

Slst to first st and tie off.

Small spots:

Rnd 1: 6 Hdc into a magic ring.

Slst to first st and tie off.

Move on to assembly below!

Assembly:

Step 1: Face and Spots

First thing’s first! We need to attach the face and spots to the front panel.

Insert 10mm eyes (make sure they are on the same row. Since the head is on a bit of an angle, you may be tempted to position the eyes so that are horizontal with one another but you should line the eyes up on the same row.)

Next, stitch on little eyebrows using black crochet thread.

Finally, stitch on the spots!

Step 2: Body

Okay, here are all the pieces you should now have at this step. The final assembly of this one is super easy because there is no more sewing and no colour-changing! You’re in the home stretch!

Place the two panels together, matching up all sides. Make sure the front is facing you as you crochet around.

Starting on the top on the left side (see photo above), begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels in blue. 

When crocheting around, try to crochet with a looser tension than usual. If this is tricky for you, try sizing up to a 3.5mm or 3.75mm hook. Crocheting loosely, especially around the curved areas, helps keep all the edges curved. 

Crochet down the neck and up and around each leg. [Sc, ch 1, sc] in the corner of each leg to make them square.

Continue crocheting around. 

[Sc 3] into the tip of the tail.

Stop once you reach the top of the tail. Stuff the legs.

From here on out, you will stop to top up stuffing after every 5 stitches. Trust me on this; Brian’s shape is a bit unique so if you crochet too many stitches at once, you will have a really tough time reaching certain spots, like the tail and the top of his back.

So, crochet 5 stitches, stuff the tail, crochet 5 more, stuff the tail some more, crochet 5 more, begin stuffing the body, and so on. Continue doing this all the way up the back, down the other side, and up the neck. Make sure you stuff the neck firmly.

Crochet around the head, continuing to stuff as you go. 

Close with a slst to first st. Tie off. With your tapestry needle, poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.

You’re done!

Keep in touch on the Spin a Yarn Crochet Facebook Page and feel free to post and share pictures of your finished items and/or links to your shops! Be sure to also follow us on Instagram and hashtag your creations using #spinayarncrochet!

The information and photos in this post are the sole copyrighted property of Spin a Yarn Crochet. You may not copy and paste or reproduce any part of the information contained herein electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations.

You may make and sell products from our patterns but we ask that you please link back to this post.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means Spin a Yarn Crochet may receive some compensation if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, but it will help us keep this site up and running and keep the free content coming! Thank you for your support!