This Crochet Dragon Pattern makes a chubby little amigurumi dragon with a round purple body, small curved horns, a row of golden spikes down the back, short bat-style wings, stubby legs, and a long tail with a pointed tip. The head and body are worked in one piece, so there is little sewing. It uses only basic stitches, so it is a fun project for confident beginners. Give it as a gift for a fantasy fan, set it on a bookshelf, or guard your desk with a whole hoard.
Pattern Information
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate, with shaping, embroidery, and sewing.
Terms: US crochet terminology.
Construction: The head and body are worked in one piece in continuous rounds. The horns, spikes, wings, legs, tail, and belly patch are worked separately and sewn on. The face is embroidered.
Estimated size: About 14 cm (5.5 in) tall and 18 cm (7 in) long including the tail, using DK-weight cotton. Actual dimensions depend on yarn, tension, and stuffing.
Pattern note: This is an original design based on the title concept. Stitch counts have been checked, but the pattern has not been physically crocheted or independently tested. Adjust the shaping and feature placement to suit your yarn.
Materials
- DK-weight cotton yarn in purple, approximately 45 g, for the head, body, legs, and tail.
- Gold or mustard yarn, approximately 10 g, for the belly patch and back spikes.
- Cream yarn, approximately 3 g, for the horns.
- Lavender or darker purple yarn, approximately 8 g, for the wings.
- Pink thread for the cheeks, and black thread for the nostrils, mouth, and optional embroidered eyes.
- A 2.5 mm hook as a starting point (use a hook small enough to keep the fabric dense).
- Two 8 mm black safety eyes, or black thread for embroidered eyes.
- Fiberfill, stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and removable pins.
Use embroidered eyes if the dragon is for a baby or young child.
Stitches and Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch |
| dec | invisible single crochet decrease over the next 2 stitches |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Work in a spiral without joining or turning unless directed otherwise. Numbers in brackets give the completed stitch count. Repeat parentheses the stated number of times. Move the marker at the start of every round. When you change color, switch on the final yarn-over of the last stitch of the previous round.
Before You Begin
Crochet tightly so the stuffing does not show through the stitches. Stuff firmly but evenly, adding small pieces rather than large clumps. The dragon should be plump and rounded.
Pin the eyes, horns, and wings before you commit. Eyes set low and wide apart give the dragon a friendly, baby-dragon look.
Head and Body (purple)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Rounds 7–12: Sc in every stitch. [36 per round; 6 rounds]
Insert the safety eyes between Rounds 8 and 9, with about 10 stitches between them. Fit the backs securely.
Round 13: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 14: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
This is the neck. Stuff the head firmly now.
Round 15: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 16: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Rounds 17–22: Sc in every stitch. [36 per round; 6 rounds]
Round 23: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 24: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Stuff the body firmly, pushing the filling into the base.
Round 25: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Round 26: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Round 27: Dec × 6. [6]
Fasten off, thread the tail through the remaining front loops, draw closed, and hide the end. Flatten the bottom slightly so the dragon sits.
Tail (purple)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Round 3: Sc around. [9]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 3. [12]
Rounds 5–8: Sc around. [12 per round; 4 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff firmly, curl it gently, and sew the open end to the lower back of the body.
Tail Tip (gold)
Round 1: 4 sc in MR. [4]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 2. [6]
Round 3: Sc around. [6]
Fasten off with a long tail. Flatten into a small diamond shape and sew to the end of the tail.
Legs (make 2, purple)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: Sc around. [18]
Round 5: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Round 6: Sc around. [12]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff firmly, flatten the foot, and sew to the bottom front of the body, about 6 stitches apart, with the toes pointing forward.
Wings (make 2, lavender)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) × 3. [12]
Round 4: Sc around. [12]
Round 5: (2 sc, dec) × 3. [9]
Fasten off with a long tail. Do not stuff. Flatten each wing, then with lavender yarn sew two short lines from the base toward the edge to look like wing ribs. Sew the base to the upper back at about Rounds 16–17, angled slightly upward and outward.
Horns (make 2, cream)
Round 1: 4 sc in MR. [4]
Rounds 2–4: Sc around. [4 per round; 3 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff with a tiny wisp. Sew to the top of the head, about 6 stitches apart, curving slightly outward.
Back Spikes (make 5, gold)
Make them in graduated sizes.
Large spike (make 1): 5 sc in MR. [5] Sc around for 2 rounds. [5] Sl st in the next stitch and fasten off with a long tail.
Medium spikes (make 2): 4 sc in MR. [4] Sc around for 2 rounds. [4] Sl st and fasten off with a long tail.
Small spikes (make 2): 4 sc in MR. [4] Sc around for 1 round. [4] Sl st and fasten off with a long tail.
Flatten each spike into a small triangle. Sew them in a row down the center back, from the top of the head to the tail, with the large spike in the middle and the small ones at each end.
Belly Patch (gold)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Sl st in the next stitch and fasten off with a long tail. Flatten and sew to the front of the body, on Rounds 16–21.
Face and Assembly
- Horns: Pin the horns, check from the front, then sew on firmly.
- Wings and spikes: Sew them on as described above.
- Tail and legs: Sew them on at the same height, so the dragon sits steadily.
- Belly patch: Sew it to the front of the body.
- Nostrils: With black thread, add two tiny stitches on Round 11, about 3 stitches apart.
- Mouth: Embroider a wide, gentle smile on Round 10, about 6 stitches wide.
- Cheeks: With pink thread, add a small patch of 2 or 3 horizontal stitches below and outside each eye.
Hide every tail and give the horns, wings, spikes, tail, and legs a gentle tug to check they hold.
Practical Tips and Troubleshooting
The tail droops. Stuff it more firmly and sew it on with extra stitches around the base.
The dragon tips over. Flatten the bottom, sew the legs at the same height, and use the tail as a third support.
The wings flop. Sew the whole base with small stitches, or press the wings flat with a damp cloth.
The spikes lean. Sew along the whole base of each spike, not just the center.
The eyes look uneven. Pin the eyes before inserting them, and check the face from the front and from above before fastening the backs.
FAQ
Can I make it bigger? Yes. Use chunky yarn and a 4 mm hook for a dragon about twice the size, and add 2 extra plain rounds to the head and body.
Can I embroider the eyes? Yes. Make two small black satin-stitch ovals between Rounds 8 and 9, with 10 stitches between them, and add a tiny white highlight stitch.
Can I make it breathe fire? Yes. Embroider a small flame in orange and red on the front of the mouth, or sew on a tiny felt flame.
Can I make it in other colors? Absolutely. Try green, red, or blue, and match the spikes to a contrasting shade.
More Free Crochet Patterns
- Crochet Dinosaur Pattern
- Crochet Turtle Pattern
- Crochet Fox Pattern
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