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Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern
4.0★ Rating
2-3 Hours Time Needed
2.5K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Bite-Sized Project

Finishes in 2-4 hours—perfect for an afternoon of creative relaxation.

🧸

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern creates small keychain dinos and a larger plush Dino using the same shaping principles. It includes complete round-by-round instructions for tail, head, legs, body, spikes, eyes and tummy. You can make a tiny cotton keychain or a soft plush using super-bulky yarn.

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Clear photos and notes help with placement of spikes and eyes, plus tips for stuffing and finishing. The pattern is ideal for gift making and small customizations.

Why You'll Love This Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it turns simple crochet rounds into a characterful Dino with minimal finishing. I enjoy how small changes in yarn and hook give you a keychain or a plush toy from the same instructions. I find the spike placement and sewn-on tummy add so much personality with very little extra work. Working this pattern always gives me quick satisfaction and a sweet handmade gift to share.

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love to change colors when I make these dinos; you can alternate body and spike colors to create contrasting or tone-on-tone looks.

I often switch yarn weight and hooks to make a range of sizes — try fingering yarn with a 1.25 mm hook for a tiny keychain and super-bulky yarn with a 3.5 mm hook for a plush companion.

I sometimes embroider tiny mouths or freckles to give each Dino a unique expression — a few small stitches change the personality completely.

To create a posable version, I add thin wire to the neck before stuffing and secure it inside so the head can be bent slightly for different poses.

Swap the eye type: half beads give a glossy look, while safety eyes or embroidered pupils create a softer finish appropriate for very small children.

Try making spikes in gradient colors along the back for a fun ombre effect; change the order of spike sizes to create playful silhouettes.

I also like adding tiny crocheted accessories—hats, scarves or a small backpack—so each Dino becomes a little character with a story.

For gifts, attach a small tag with the recipient's name and a loop to the keychain for easy hanging on backpacks or purses.

If you want matching sets, use the same main color and vary spike and tummy colors to keep them cohesive while offering variety.

When experimenting, make a test swatch to ensure your gauge produces a suitably firm fabric; adjust hook size slightly for a tighter or looser finish depending on how squishy you want the toy.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch markers for the body rounds causes the increases and decreases to drift; place a marker at the beginning of each round and move it as instructed to keep shaping centered. ✗ Not stuffing as you go leads to lumps or difficulty closing openings neatly; stuff gradually during shaping, especially when working the neck and body transitions. ✗ Placing eyes without checking symmetry can make the Dino look lopsided; pin the eyes and compare from above and front before sewing to ensure even placement. ✗ Leaving very short yarn tails when finishing small pieces makes sewing them on harder; leave longer tails for sewing and weave them in neatly after attaching. ✗ Sewing spikes through both loops instead of the front loops hides the spike edge; stitch spikes through the front loops with over-the-edge stitches to get the intended look.

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

Make a charming Dino keychain or a plush dino with this friendly amigurumi pattern. You will find step-by-step rounds, spike and eye pieces, and clear assembly instructions so you can finish a delightful handmade gift. The pattern works with fingering cotton for small dinos and super-bulky plush yarn for a larger cuddly version.

Intermediate 2-3 Hours

Materials Needed for Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Fingering/2 ply yarn Alize Bella (50 g / 180 m, 100% cotton) - small consumption: main color for dinosaur body, additional colors for spikes and tummy, white for eyes
  • 02
    Color A (Main) - approximately small amount per keychain (small consumption)
  • 03
    Color B (Spikes/Tummy) - small amount per keychain
  • 04
    White - small amount for eye circles
  • 05
    Super Bulky/14 ply yarn (Himalaya Dolphin Baby or YarnArt Dolce, 100% Micropolyester, 100 g / 120 m) for plush Dino - approx. 40 g main color and 15 g secondary with a little white

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 1.25 mm (used for fingering cotton keychains)
  • 02
    Crochet hook size 3.5 mm (used for plush Dino with super-bulky yarn)
  • 03
    6 mm half beads (eyes for small keychain)
  • 04
    14 mm half beads (eyes for plush Dino)
  • 05
    Scissors
  • 06
    Yarn needle for sewing pieces and weaving in ends
  • 07
    Stitch markers
  • 08
    Polyester stuffing / fiberfill
  • 09
    Transparent glue for pupils
  • 10
    Pins to position pieces before sewing
  • 11
    Keychain fastener (loop, carabiner, cord) - optional

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Materials & Notes :

Infos :

Yarn: Fingering/2ply yarn Alize Bella (50 g/180 m, 100% cotton): main - for a dinosaur body; additional - for spikes and tummy; white - for eyes. Small consumption of each color. Hook: I used 1,25 mm. Any toy filling. Eyes: 6 mm half beads. Transparent glue, scissors, needle, markers. To crochet this toys, you must have basic crochet skills. Difficulty: intermediate. You can crochet the plush dinosaur according to the same pattern. Information on the materials on the last page.

— Tail :

Round 1 :

4 sc in MR (4)

Round 2 :

(inc, sc)*2 (6)

Round 3 :

6 sc (6)

Round 4 :

inc, 4 sc, inc (8)

Round 5 :

8 sc (8)

Round 6 :

inc, 6 sc , inc (10)

Round 7 :

10 sc (10)

Round 8 :

inc, 8 sc, inc (12)

Round 9 :

inc, 4 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc (15), sl st

Info :

Cut the yarn, fasten off. Add fiberfill Photo 1.

— Head :

Round 1 :

ch8, from the second chain on the hook: inc, 5 sc, inc, on the other side of the chain: inc, 5 sc, inc (18) - photo 2

Round 2 :

(sc, inc, 5 sc, inc, sc)*2 (22) - photo 3

Round 3-5 :

3 rounds of 22 sc (22)

Info :

Further decreases should go from one side - this will be the bottom.

Round 6 :

dec, 20 sc (21)

Round 7 :

21 sc (21)

Round 8 :

dec, 19 sc (20)

Round 9 :

20 sc (20)

Round 10 :

dec, 18 sc (19)

Round 11 :

19 sc (19)

Round 12 :

dec, 17 sc (18)

Round 13-14 :

2 rounds of 18 sc (18), sl st

Info :

Cut the yarn, fasten off. Add fiberfill. Photo 4.

— Legs :

Info :

Make 2. Photo 1. Stuff if desired.

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2-3 :

2 rounds of 6 sc (6)

Info :

On the first leg make sl st. Fasten off and cut the yarn. Continue crocheting the body from the second leg, join the first leg and tail.

— Body :

Round 1 :

ch4, (from the next sc mark the new beginning of the round), on the first leg 3 sc, starting from any stitch (photo 2), on the tail, starting from sl st on it (photo 3): 7 sc, inc, 7 sc, on the first leg 3 sc, along the chain 4 sc, on the second leg 6 sc, on the other side of the chain 4 sc (36) - photo 4

Info :

Further, the increases should be centered on the back, and the decreases on the sides and from round 12 in the front in the center. If you have a strong shifting, move the marker of the beginning of the round. Stuff as you go.

Round 2 :

2 sc, dec, 14 sc, dec, 16 sc (34)

Round 3 :

2 sc, dec, 6 sc, inc, 5 sc, dec, 16 sc (33)

Round 4 :

dec*2, 5 sc, inc, 5 sc, dec*2, 14 sc (30)

Round 5 :

dec, 6 sc, inc, 5 sc, dec, 14 sc (29)

Round 6 :

dec, 5 sc, inc, 5 sc, dec*2, 10 sc, dec (26)

Round 7 :

dec, 5 sc, inc, 4 sc, dec*2, 8 sc, dec (23)

Round 8 :

dec, 4 sc, inc, 4 sc, dec, 10 sc (22)

Round 9 :

dec, 4 sc, inc, 3 sc, dec, 10 sc (21)

Round 10 :

dec, 3 sc, inc*2, 2 sc, dec*2, 6 sc, dec (19)

Round 11 :

dec, 3 sc, inc*2, 3 sc, dec, 7 sc (19) - photo 1

Round 12 :

dec, 4 sc, inc, 3 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec, 2 sc (17)

Round 13 :

5 sc, inc, 6 sc, dec*2, sc (16)

Round 14 :

6 sc, inc, 6 sc, dec, sc (16)

Round 15 :

7 sc, inc, 6 sc, dec (16)

Round 16 :

dec, 5 sc, inc*2, 5 sc, dec (16)

Round 17 :

16 sc (16)

Round 18 :

dec, 5 sc, inc*2, 5 sc, dec (16)

Round 19 :

dec, 6 sc, inc, 5 sc, dec (15)

Round 20 :

15 sc (15)

Round 21 :

dec, 5 sc, inc*2, 3 sc, short round - photo 2

Info :

Finish the round so that when you fold your neck in half, there are 3 sc left to the front fold, since we will crochet the head in front in the center (markers mark six central stitches in front - photos 3-4). We also fold the head in half and mark 3 stitches to the sides from the bottom fold (where the end of the round is) - photos 5-6.

— Head (joined to body) :

Round 22 :

6 sc with the head (starting from the stitch with the blue marker - photos 1-3), next mark the beginning of the round from the first dec - on the neck: dec, 6 sc, dec, on the head 12 sc (20) - photo 4

Round 23 :

dec, 2 sc, inc, sc, dec*2, 8 sc, dec (17)

Round 24 :

dec, 3 sc, dec, 10 sc (15)

Round 25 :

(3 sc, dec)*3 (12)

Round 26 :

dec*6 (6)

Info :

Tighten the hole through front loops. Fasten off, weave in the ends.

— Eyes :

Info :

Make 2 circles in white color. Photo 1.

Round 1 :

9 sc in MR (9), fasten off with sl st

Info :

Leave the yarn tail for sewing.

— Spikes :

Info :

Make 4 spikes of smaller size and 1 tail spike larger. Photo 2.

— Bigger Spikes (1 pcs.) :

1r. 4 sc in MR (4)

Round 2 :

(inc, sc)*2 (6)

Round 3 :

(inc, 2 sc)*2 (8)

Round 4 :

(inc, 3 sc)*2 (10)

Round 5 :

(inc, 4 sc)*2 (12)

Round 6 :

(inc, 5 sc)*2 (14), sl st

Info :

Leave the yarn tail for sewing.

— Smaller Spikes (4 pcs.) :

1r. 4 sc in MR (4)

Round 2 :

(inc, sc)*2 (6)

Round 3 :

(inc, 2 sc)*2 (8)

Round 4 :

(inc, 3 sc)*2 (10)

Round 5 :

(inc, 4 sc)*2 (12), sl st

Info :

Leave the yarn tail for sewing.

— Tummy :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

((3 sc inc)*2, sc)*2 (14)

Round 3 :

(2 sc, inc*2, 3 sc)*2 (18), sl st

Info :

Leave the yarn tail for sewing. To make the end of the round less noticeable, bring the thread to the wrong side under the loops of the next stitch. Photos 3-4.

— Assembly :

Info :

Sew the eyes on the sides slightly shifting down - on the one side, I sewed after round 7, on the other side - after round 8 to maintain symmetry: before sewing, fix with pins and check from above and in front.

Info :

Insert the needle under both loops (photo 1), then grab the thread on the head (photo 2) and again under both loops of the same stitch in the opposite direction (photo 3), etc. sew in a circle.

Info :

Glue the pupils in the center.

Info :

Sew the spikes through the front loops with "over the edge" stitches (photo 1).

Info :

After round 4, sew the largest spike on the tail. Further along the back, after round 1, sew 3 spikes and the last one on the top of the head at the very edge.

Info :

Sew the tummy immediately above the front leg in the center in the same way as the eyes were sewn.

Info :

Attach a keychain fastener (loop, carabiner, cord) between the upper spikes, and your little Dino is ready!

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the eyes on the sides slightly shifting down—on one side after round 7 and on the other after round 8, fix with pins and check from above and in front before sewing.
  • Insert the needle under both loops, pick up the thread on the head, then sew again under both loops of the same stitch in the opposite direction to form a neat circular sewn-on eye; glue the pupil in the center.
  • Sew the spikes through the front loops using over-the-edge stitches; sew the largest spike to the tail after round 4, then place the remaining spikes along the back and the last spike on top of the head at the very edge.
  • Sew the tummy above the front leg in the center in the same way as the eyes were sewn, leaving tails for sewing and weaving in ends.
  • Attach a keychain fastener (loop, carabiner, cord) between the upper spikes for a ready-to-hang Dino.
  • When making the plush Dino, use the larger hook and sew larger spikes and bigger eyes (14 mm) as described on the plush materials page.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of rounds and the central front stitches to keep decreases and increases symmetrical.
  • 💡Stuff the toy gradually while shaping; stuff the neck and head as you go to avoid lumps and ensure proper shaping.
  • 💡Leave yarn tails long enough for sewing spikes, eyes and tummy and weave in ends after attaching pieces for a neat finish.
  • 💡Pin pieces in place and check symmetry from above and in front before final sewing to preserve a balanced appearance.

This Dino's Family pattern gives you pocket-sized dinos and a plush version using the same shaping ideas. Perfect for gifts, keychains, or cuddly pals—make one in bright colors or soft pastels. 🧶 Happy crocheting and enjoy creating your Dino family! 🐾

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The small keychain Dino measures approximately 10 cm / 4" long using fingering yarn and a 1.25 mm hook; the plush Dino measures about 21 cm / 8" using super-bulky yarn and a 3.5 mm hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can change yarn weight and hook size to change the final size; use appropriate eye sizes and adjust stuffing amounts when switching yarn types.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so basic crochet skills like working in rounds, increases, decreases and sewing pieces are recommended for best results.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crafters finish the small keychain Dino in 2-3 hours; the plush version will take longer depending on yarn and detailing, often a few hours more.