Amigurumi Dinosaur (Stegosaurus with Back Plates)

Instructions

Tap a section when you finish it.

1. 1Body: tail tipThe body is worked in one piece in spiral rounds from the tail tip to the neck. Stuff the tail little by little as you go. Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR (4) Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 2 (6) Rnd 3: 6 sc (6) Rnd 4: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9) Rnd 5: 9 sc (9) Rnd 6: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12) Rnd 7: 12 sc (12) Rnd 8: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18) Rnd 9: 18 sc (18) Rnd 10: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24) Rnd 11: 24 sc (24)
2. 2Body: belly and neckRnd 12: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30) Rnd 13: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36) Rnd 14: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42) Rnd 15: (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48) Rnds 16-25: 48 sc (48) Rnd 26: (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42) Rnd 27: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36) Rnd 28: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30) Rnd 29: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24) Rnd 30: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18) Stuff the body firmly.
3. 3Raised neckTaller stitches on the belly side lift the neck. If the round marker is not at the exact center of the belly, work a few extra sc after round 30 to shift the start of round to the belly center and move the marker there. Rnds 31-33: 9 hdc, 9 sc (18) Rnds 34-35: 18 sc (18) Because the hdc on the belly side are taller than the sc on the back, the neck curves upward. Stuff the neck firmly, sl st to finish and leave a long tail for sewing.
4. 4HeadStart at the tip of the snout. Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6) Rnd 2: inc x 6 (12) Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18) Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24) Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30) Rnds 6-10: 30 sc (30) Rnd 11: 10 sc, dec x 5, 10 sc (25) Rnd 12: 25 sc (25) Hold the head so the group of decreases is on top; insert the eyes on either side of this group between rounds 8 and 9 with 12 stitches between them. Embroider two small nostrils above round 2 with black yarn. Rnd 13: (3 sc, dec) x 5 (20) Rnd 14: 20 sc (20) Stuff the head. Rnd 15: (2 sc, dec) x 5 (15) Rnd 16: (1 sc, dec) x 5 (10) Rnd 17: dec x 5 (5) Gather closed.
5. 5Legs (make 4)Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6) Rnd 2: inc x 6 (12) Rnd 3: BLO 12 sc (12) Rnds 4-8: 12 sc (12) The back loop round 3 forms a flat sole. Stuff the legs very firmly so the dinosaur can stand; sl st to finish and leave a long tail.
6. 6Back plates and tail spikesWork in yellow; do not stuff any of these except the tail spikes. Large plate (make 5): Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR (4) Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 2 (6) Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9) Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12) Rnds 5-6: 12 sc (12) Flatten and close with 6 sc through both layers (6). Small plate (make 4): work rounds 1-3 of the large plate (9), Rnd 4: 9 sc (9); flatten and sew closed. Tail spike (make 4): Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR (4) Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 2 (6) Rnd 3: 6 sc (6) Stuff very lightly.
7. 7AssemblyPlace the head on the open end of the neck with the snout facing forward and slightly down; sew the neck opening all around to the lower back of the head between rounds 13 and 16. Pin the front legs at belly rounds 23-26 and the back legs at rounds 14-17, with about 8 stitches between the two legs of each pair. Stand the dinosaur on a table and check that all four legs touch the ground, then sew the leg openings all around. Sew the plates along the center of the back in a slight zigzag from the base of the neck to the tail in the order small, small, large, large, large, large, large, small, small. Sew the four spikes to tail rounds 5-9 in pairs, pointing left and right.
8. 8FinishingIf you didn't use safety eyes, embroider them with black yarn and mark the mouth with a long smile line starting beside the snout. Weave the ends into the body. Extra stuffing added before sewing keeps the legs stable over time; after washing, reshape by hand and dry flat.