Crochet Dinosaur Free Pattern – T-Rex Backpack Buddy

Introducing my latest crochet dinosaur free pattern: the Crochet T-Rex Backpack Buddy. This mini tyrannosaurus rex is made all in one piece (yay for no seaming) and then a teeny tiny (but functional) backpack is made separately and added to the dinosaur.

Whether you plan to use it as a keychain or a purse or backpack buddy, this delightful pattern is perfect for dinosaur lovers of all ages.


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t-rex backpack buddy made with this crochet dinosaur free pattern from theloopylamb.com

Why Does This Amigurumi Dinosaur Have a Backpack?

The reason I added a backpack to this mini dinosaur is to enable parents/caregivers to send little notes to school with their little ones.  

This was his first year back to in-person school since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and he was anxious about his return to school. I wanted to create a friend that would help him feel like he wasn’t so alone during those first few days of school and I wanted to be able to send notes with words of encouragement for him.

So I thought a little backpack would be a great place to hide little notes and his dino friend would be a great little messenger.

My son has a T-Rex Backpack Buddy on his bag and I fold up little notes for him to read at school and place them in the dino’s backpack.  

My son loves this so much that he has been inspired to write me his own notes that he gives to me when I pick him up from school.

This is a fabulous project to make as a gift (it’s perfect for stocking stuffers or back-to-school time).  

But be warned… once your child takes it to school, they may come home with requests from friends for their very own crochet t-rex friends.  I’m still working on fulfilling requests from his friends.

How Is this Free Crochet Dinosaur Pattern Worked?

The Crochet T-Rex Backpack buddy is made from the top down, in a single piece. It’s a relatively easy project but you do need to keep track of where you’re placing your increases to ensure that the necessary shaping and elements like the eyes and arms end up where they are supposed to be.

I recommend using a locking stitch marker with amigurumi crochet patterns since they are used to mark the beginning of each round of the project and moved up after each subsequent round is completed.

Locking Stitch Marker Substitutes: If you don’t have a locking stitch marker, other substitutes that you may have handy could be a piece of yarn in a contrasting colour, a bobby pin, or a safety pin.

After we make our T-Rex, we work on crocheting our mini, functional backpack for them. As I mentioned above, I created this in order to be able to send notes to school with my son.

Some Notes About The Backpack

In order for the backpack to be functional, you’ll need to have a 10mm button, sewing thread and a needle .I got my button from this package of buttons that I found at Michaels (but they are relatively simple to find in pacakages on their own).

When we’re crocheting the flap of the backpack, we will create a chain space that will act as a button hole for our button, then secure the flap and keep the notes we place inside the backpack safe.

After completing the backpack, we’ll add some straps to the backpack (because, t-rex backpacks need straps too, obviously lol). After we’re done adding our straps, we’ll sew the backpack to the back of our dinosaur to secure it.

What Kind Of Yarn Can I Use for This Dino Pattern? 

I used Brava Worsted Weight yarn for this crochet dinosaur free pattern and it has created a really durable toy for my son’s bag.  His T-Rex has seen some abuse in the time since school started and it still looks amazing.  

I love Brava Worsted for projects like this and if you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it.  It’s my favourite acrylic yarn and I use it regularly.  It comes in a ton of colours and you can even get giant 500g balls of it (which are super reasonably priced).  You can check Brava Worsted yarn on the WeCrochet Website.

You can substitute your favourite worsted weight yarn if you don’t have Brava. Alternatively, you can use any yarn weight you’d like as long as you substitute an appropriate hook size for that yarn.

Ultimately, the best yarn is one that you can afford that is durable.

Crochet t-rex backpack buddy with text overlay that says Crochet Dinosaur Free Pattern
This post may contain affiliate links #commissionsearned. This post has been sponsored by WeCrochet. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this free crochet pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to The Loopy Lamb Blog.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

Skill Level:

  • Easy


Terminology:

  • US Terms

Supplies:

Abbreviations:
(Click links in abbreviations to view a photo and step-by-step video tutorial for that stitch / technique)

  • CH(s) = Chain(s)

  • FLO = Front Loops Only

  • FO = Finish Off

  • MC = Magic Circle / Magic Ring

  • PM = Place Marker

  • SC = Single Crochet

  • SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease

  • SCINC = Single Crochet Increase / 2 Single Crochet Stitches Worked in the Same Stitch

  • SK = Skip

  • SL ST = Slip Stitch

  • ST(s) = Stitch(es)


Finished Size:

  • Approximately 3.75” tall (not including carabiner clip)

Gauge:

  • Rounds 1 – 4 = 1.5” across

Notes:

  • Gauge is not vital to the project but it may affect the amount of yarn needed for the project and the size of your finished toy. 

  • Maintain a consistent tension throughout the project to ensure the pieces fit together as expected. 

  • A 3.5mm crochet hook is recommended for this pattern but I suggest using whatever hook size needed to create a tight, closed fabric free of holes, or whatever hook size needed to match the given gauge.

    • If you find that you have holes in your fabric using the recommended hook size, try going down a hook size until you create a tight fabric with no holes in it and no stuffing is showing through.

  • Reading the Pattern: Instructions in brackets: I.e.: (SC, SCINC) x 6, this means you’ll work 1 SC stitch in the first stitch and then SCINC in the next stitch and you’ll repeat that pattern a total of 6 times.


    • Numbers indicated in () at the end of a Round/Row indicate the stitch count / number of stitches you should have at the end of the Round/Row. I recommend counting your stitches at the end of each Round/Row before moving on to the next.


    • Where SC followed by a number (i.e. SC 14), you’ll work 1 SC stitch in the next 14 stitches or chains, unless the pattern specifies to work those stitches into the same stitch or chain.

  • The pieces in this pattern are worked in continuous Rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the Round, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the Round.

  • For a cleaner SCDEC, do your SCDEC under the front loops only of each stitch rather than under both loops (except when indicated to work your ST in a different location i.e. back loops only (BLO)).  This is often referred to as an invisible decrease. Check out my Invisible Decrease Tutorial here.

  • Place scrap pieces of yarn or stitch markers into the stitches indicated for safety eye placement until you have crocheted past that point far enough to insert the safety eyes with the back on them without them getting in the way of your crocheting.

  • This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the row, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.

Video Tutorials You May Find Helpful for this Pattern:

YouTube video
YouTube video

Grab an inexpensive printable ad-free PDF pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops.

Head:

Round 1: Using Avocado, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)


Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)


Round 3: (SCINC, SC) x 6. (18)


Round 4: SC, (SCINC, SC 2) x 5, SCINC, SC. (24)


Gauge Check: Piece should measure 1.5” across at the end of Round 4.


Rounds 5 – 9: SC around. (24) – Place eyes in STs 1 and 13 of Round 6.


Round 10: (SC, SCDEC) x 6, SC 6. (18)


Round 11: (SCDEC) x 6, SC 6. (12) – Start adding stuffing, continuing to add stuffing as you work.


Round 12: (SCDEC) x 3, SC 6. (9)

Round 13: SC around. (9)

Round 14: (SCINC) x 3, SC 6. (12)


Round 15: (SC, SCINC) x 3, SC 6. (15)


Round 16: SC 2, CH 4, SC in the 2nd CH from the hook and the next 2 CHs (first arm created), SC in the next 6 STs of Round 15, CH 4, SC in the 2nd CH from the hook and the next 2 CHs (second arm created), SC 7. (15)


Round 17: SC 2, SK first arm, SC, SCINC, SC 2, SCINC, SC, SK second arm, SC 7. (17)

Rounds 18 – 21: SC around. (17)

hand holding an amigurumi t-rex in a flat lay with a crochet hook and yarn


Leg 1:

Round 22: SC 8, CH 1. Leave the rest of the STs unworked.  PM in 9th ST of Round 21. (8)


Round 23: Starting in the 1st ST of Round 22, SC 8, SC in the CH 1. (9)


Round 24:  SC around. (9)

Round 25: SC, (SCDEC) x 4. (5)


FO leaving a long yarn tail.  Weave end through FLO of last round and cinch hole closed. Insert your tapestry needle through center of the last round and out through the other side of the body and gently pull the last round tight. 

Do not weave in ends.  Save tail until after Leg 2 is completed.


Leg 2:

Round 1: Attach yarn to 9th ST of Round 21, SC in the first ST and the remaining 8 STs of Round 21.  PM in first SC to mark first ST of the round and move it up with each subsequent round. (9)


Round 2: SC around. (9)


Round 3: SC, (SCDEC) x 4. (5)

FO leaving a long tail.  Weave end through FLO of last round and cinch hole closed. Insert your tapestry needle through the center of the last round and out through the other side of the body. 

Pull the yarn tails on both legs tight until the legs appear to be the same length.  Use one of the yarn tails to sew up the hole between the legs.  Weave in ends.


Tail

Round 1: Using Avocado, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6).


Rounds 2 – 3: SC around. (6)


Round 4: (SCINC, SC 2) x 2. (8)


Round 5: (SC 3, SCINC) x 2. (10)


Rounds 6 – 8: SC around. (10)

FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the body. 

Stuff tail with stuffing and sew tail onto the body.



back view of the backpack on the t-rex backpack buddy made with this crochet dinosaur free pattern

Backpack

Round 1: Using Caution, CH 6, SCINC in the 2nd CH from the hook, SC 3, 4 SC in the last CH, working on the other side of the CH, SC 3, SCINC in the last CH. (14)


Rounds 2 – 6: SC around. (14)


Row 7: SC in the first ST, CH 1 and turn.  We are now going to be working back and forth in rows. SC in the ST just made and the next 6 STs. (7)


Rows 8 – 9: CH 1 and turn.  SC across. (7)


Row 10: CH 1 and turn.  SC 3, CH 3, SK 1, SC 3. (6)


FO and weave in ends.  Do not stuff.

Sew button on to the front of the backpack and use CH 3 space from Row 10 as a buttonhole loop.


Backpack Straps

With the back of the Backpack facing you, join your yarn to Round 5 of the backpack with a SL ST.  CH 10 and SL ST into the back of the bag into Round 2, CH 1 and turn. Working back up the CH, SC in each CH.  FO and leave a long end.  Use the yarn tail to secure the top of the strap to the bag with your tapestry needle.  Weave in ends.  Repeat with the second strap on the other side of the back of the backpack.

Assembly:

Use a long yarn tail of yarn in Caution to sew the backpack to the back of the dinosaur.  Insert the carabiner through the top of the head.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed this crochet dinosaur free pattern for my T-Rex Backpack Buddy.

Other Free Dinosaur Crochet Patterns You’ll Love

Looking for some other crochet dinosaur patterns? Check out my other Backpack Buddy, the Backpack Bronto patternTrevor Triceratops and Crochetasaurus Rex.

I’d love to see your finished items made with this free dinosaur crochet pattern!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram or using #theloopylamb on social media. I love to feature your makes in my Instagram stories.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

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5 thoughts on “Crochet Dinosaur Free Pattern – T-Rex Backpack Buddy”

  1. I am enjoying making some of your dinosaurs. I was wondering if you have a video on your bookbag buddy. I can figure out how to work the leg rounds.

    Reply
    • Hi Tina,
      I’m so glad you’re enjoying making the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, I don’t have a video tutorial for this pattern yet. For the leg 1, you decrease from the body until you finish off. To start leg 2, you’ll attach your yarn to the 9th stitch of Round 21 with a slip stitch, with the right side facing you. SC in the same stitch as the join and then in each unworked stitch left from Round 21 of the Body. then you’ll decrease the number of stitches you have in each round until the 2nd leg is finished off.

      I hope this helps.

      Ashley

      Reply
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