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Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern
4.4★ Rating
2-3 Hours Time Needed
1.3K 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 a sweet little dinosaur keychain (approx. 10 cm / 4") and includes instructions to adapt the same design into a plush version. You will crochet the tail, legs, body and head in rounds, then add eyes, spikes and a tummy. The pattern contains photo references and finishing tips to help you assemble and personalise your Dino.

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

Designed for intermediate crocheters, the instructions include detailed round-by-round steps and small tips for shaping. A separate section explains materials for a plush version if you want a larger toy.

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

I absolutely love this pattern because it turns simple crochet stitches into a character full of personality. I enjoy how quickly the little Dino comes together, making it a perfect project for an afternoon. The design is versatile so you can play with colors and yarn types to create different looks. Sewing the spikes and eyes in place brings the toy to life, and I always smile when I see the finished face.

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 customizing the Dino by changing color palettes; try contrasting spikes and body for a bold look or soft pastels for a baby-friendly version.

I often swap yarn weight and hook size to make different sizes — a bulky plush Dino becomes a cuddly toy while a tiny one makes a cute zipper pull.

I add embroidered details like a tiny smile or nostrils to personalize each face and give unique expressions.

For a more tactile toy, use boucle or plush yarn for the body and a smooth cotton for spikes so they stand out in texture and color.

Try using safety eyes for a sturdier finish on toys for older kids, and glue half-beads for keychains and decorative pieces.

If you want a poseable Dino, add thin wire into the neck or limbs before stuffing to allow gentle bending and display.

I like to create outfit accessories — a tiny scarf or hat — to turn the Dino into a seasonal gift or themed character.

Mix yarns by using a speckled or variegated yarn for the body and a solid for details to add depth without complicated colorwork.

Play with spike placement: move them slightly closer or farther apart to change the silhouette and personality of your Dino.

When making multiples, stitch one complete Dino and then assembly-line the rest — it speeds up sewing and creates a consistent family of toys.

I recommend experimenting with eye sizes and positions to see how they affect expression; small adjustments make a big difference.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch markers while working rounds can cause your neck and head to shift out of alignment; place a marker at the beginning of each round and move it as you work to keep your shaping centered. ✗ Forgetting to stuff as you go results in lumps or distorted shaping at joins; stuff gradually and evenly, especially before finishing the head and body seams. ✗ Cutting yarn too short when finishing a piece makes sewing difficult and messy; leave long yarn tails for sewing and weaving in to secure parts neatly. ✗ Not checking spike placement before sewing causes uneven spacing and an unbalanced look; pin spikes in place first, check symmetry, then sew through the front loops as instructed.

Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

Make a charming little dinosaur keychain with this detailed amigurumi pattern. You'll find clear step-by-step rounds, photos references and finishing tips to help you through each stage. This pattern includes both a small cotton keychain version and notes for a plush version using bulky yarn. Perfect for gifting or creating a sweet personal project you can carry everywhere.

Intermediate 2-3 Hours

Materials Needed for Dino's Family Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Fingering/2ply yarn Alize Bella (50 g / 180 m, 100% cotton) - main color for a dinosaur body (small keychain version) - small consumption of each color
  • 02
    Alize Bella - additional color(s) for spikes and tummy (small consumption)
  • 03
    Alize Bella - white for eyes (small amount)
  • 04
    Super Bulky / 14 ply yarn (Himalaya Dolphin Baby or YarnArt Dolce) (100% Micropolyester, 100 g / 120 m) - for plush dinosaur version
  • 05
    Plush version consumption approx: 40 g main color, 15 g secondary color, small amount of white for eyes

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 1.25 mm (for fingering/Alize Bella keychain version)
  • 02
    Crochet hook size 3.5 mm (for plush version with Super Bulky yarn)
  • 03
    Polyester stuffing / toy filling
  • 04
    6 mm half bead eyes (2) for small version
  • 05
    14 mm half bead eyes (2) for plush version
  • 06
    Transparent glue
  • 07
    Scissors
  • 08
    Yarn needle for sewing and weaving in ends
  • 09
    Stitch markers
  • 10
    Pins for placement (optional)
  • 11
    Keychain fastener (loop, carabiner, cord) to attach between upper spikes (optional)

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— 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.

Info :

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 (continued) :

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.

Item Name (P1) :

BIGGER SPIKES (1 pcs.)

Round 1 :

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.

Item Name (P1) :

SMALLER SPIKES (4 pcs.)

Round 1 :

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 the one side sew after round 7, on the other side after round 8 to maintain symmetry; fix with pins before sewing and check placement from above and in front.
  • Sew the spikes through the front loops using 'over the edge' stitches; sew the largest spike on the tail after round 4, then place 3 spikes along the back and the final spike at the top edge of the head.
  • Sew the tummy immediately above the front leg in the center using the same method as for the eyes; leave yarn tails for neat sewing and weave in ends.
  • Attach a keychain fastener (loop, carabiner, cord) between the upper spikes so your Dino becomes a functional keychain or bag charm.
  • Insert sewing needle under both loops when attaching flat pieces like eyes and tummy, catch the head thread and sew in a circle for a neat finish.
  • Glue half-bead pupils into the center of the crochet white eye circles after sewing them in place to finish the facial details.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of rounds and important reference stitches to keep increases and decreases aligned.
  • 💡Stuff firmly but gradually and evenly, especially before closing the head and body, to avoid lumps and preserve shape.
  • 💡Leave long yarn tails when finishing pieces so you have enough length to sew parts together securely and weave in ends.
  • 💡Pin spikes and eyes in place first to check symmetry before sewing them down permanently.
  • 💡If your rounds shift, move the marker of the beginning of the round to maintain consistent shaping.

Thanks for choosing this Dino pattern — I hope your keychain brings a smile every time you see it! 🧶 Make one for yourself or gift a small handmade friend to someone special. 🐾 Have fun with colors and textures, and enjoy every stitch as your little Dino comes to life. ✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished keychain measures approximately 10 cm / 4" when made with fingering Alize Bella yarn and a 1.25 mm hook; the plush version 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; using a bulkier yarn and larger hook will create a larger plush Dino, while thinner yarn and a smaller hook make a tiny keychain. Adjust eye size and stuffing accordingly.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

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

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters finish the small keychain Dino in about 2-3 hours, while the plush version will take longer depending on yarn size and finishing details.