Easy Free T-rex Dinosaur Crochet Pattern & Tutorial

Welcome crochet enthusiasts!  It’s week 2 of the Crochetasaurus Rex crochet along where I’m sharing my free crochet pattern to make a cute t-rex toy.  

In this post you’ll find detailed instructions to make the head / body and eyelids for our t-rex crochet pattern as well as a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions for each part.

This t-rex crochet amigurumi pattern is great for dinosaur lovers of all ages.  It’s made using basic stitches and is accessible for beginner crocheters with a couple of small crochet projects under their belt.  

Want the full pattern right now? Keep reading because there is an option for that as well. 

Check out the Crochetasaurus Rex CAL homepage which has the pattern release schedule, links to all the parts of the pattern plus helpful tutorials to prepare you to get started and more.

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.*

Where Can I Get a Printable Copy of the Pattern?

By purchasing the ad-free pattern, you’ll have instant access to all the goodness. No need to wait for weekly releases – you can start crocheting whenever the mood strikes!

What Materials Do I Need?

​The full material list is listed below but to get started you’ll need worsted weight yarn, toy stuffing, 3.25mm crochet hook, a st marker and some safety eyes.

​The yarn I used was supplied by Keenan Hand Dyed Yarn and they have created some great yarn kits to go with this delightful pattern.  Check out the yarn kits here.

How Big Is This Amigurumi Design?

This free crochet dinosaur pattern creates a toy that is approximately 7.5″ tall when crocheted to gauge.  

While gauge isn’t vital to amigurumi projects, by not matching the gauge, it just means that your end result may be a different size.  It also means that the amount of yarn you use may be different than what is listed.  

I get not wanting to match gauge but knowing how it will affect your project is important to avoid surprises. 

If you do want to match gauge, I build my gauge swatches right into the pattern so you can just keep on crocheting and use that swatch as part of your toy.

How Can I Resize this Crochet Dinosaur Amigurumi Pattern?

If you want to make your own dinosaur bigger or smaller than 7.5″, you’ll need to use a different hook size and yarn weight to do this.

To make a bigger dinosaur, use a bigger crochet hook and heavier weight yarn (like a chunky yarn or super bulky weight yarn).

To make a very small dinosaur, use smaller crochet hooks and a lighter weight yarn (like a dk, sport or fingering weight).

Keep in mind that by changing the size of the toy, you will need to adjust the size of your safety eyes as well and that how much yarn you use will change.

Where is the Rest of This Dino Pattern?

This pattern is part of a crochet along and has been broken down into weekly parts to make it easier for folks to crochet together.

If you’re looking for the Week 1 release of this delightful pattern, you can find that in the CAL Week 1 post here where we make the Arms, Legs and Tail for our cute dinosaur.

The next part of this pattern will release April 19th.

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this free pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form (including video tutorials), or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.

Pin This to Your Pinterest Boards to Save It For Later SAVE IT

Skill Level: 

• Easy

Terminology: 

• U.S. Terminology

Materials: 

• D / 3.25 mm Crochet Hook <– I used these lovely ergonomic hooks
  
  
• Keenan Hand Dyed Yarn (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, Worsted-Weight Yarn (4), 218yds/199m, 100g/3.5oz), 1 skein each of:
  • Colour A: Irish Girl at North Ave. Beach / Natural (approx. 24 yds / 11g)
  • Colour B: St. Brigid/ Green (approx. 107 yds / 49g)
  • Colour C: You’re Golden / Yellow (approx. 35 yds / 16g)
    
    
• 20 mm Safety Eyes – I used Silver Glitter Eyes from Chateau Bornais Crochet
  
  
• Polyester Toy Stuffing (also available at Michaels)
  
  
• Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Multiple Stitch Markers and/or Scrap Pieces of Yarn
  
  
  
• Sewing Pins (optional) – I recommend 1.5″ sewing pins or 2″ corsage pins for amigurumi

Abbreviations:
(Click links to view a tutorial for that stitch/technique)

• BLO = Back Loop Only
  
  
• BOB = Bobble (see Special Stitches & Techniques)
  
  
• CH(s) = Chain(s)
  
  
• FLO = Front Loop Only
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
  
  
• MC = Magic Circle / Magic Ring
  
  
• PM = Place Marker
  
  
• RS = Right Side
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet 
  
  
• SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
  
  
• SCINC = Single Crochet Increase / 2 Single Crochet stitches worked in the same stitch
  
  
• SLST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• ST(S) = Stitch(es)
  
  
• YO = Yarn Over

Special Stitches & Techniques:  

• Bobble (BOB): YO and insert hook into indicated ST. *YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through first 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook). Repeat from 3 more times (5 loops on hook). YO and pull through all 5 loops on hook.
  
  
• Invisible Finish/Join: FO leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.  Place the tapestry needle through the top of the 2^nd ST from front to back and pull through.  Place tip of needle into top of the last ST of the round, under the back loop of the stitch, and pull through to the back of the work.  Weave in the end. Find a step-by-step tutorial invisible finish tutorial here.
  
  
• Yarn Under Single Crochet: Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn under hook and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), yarn over hook and pull through both loops on your hook.

Finished Product Size: 

• Finished T-Rex is approx. 7.5” tall once assembled, when crocheted to gauge

 Gauge: 

• Rounds 1 – 4 of Legs = 1.25 inches across widest section

NOTES:            

• Instructions within the brackets () are to be repeated the number of times specified next to the brackets.
  
  
• 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 3.25mm crochet hook is recommended for this pattern but I suggest using whatever hook size need 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.
    
    
• This pattern can be worked in either regular single crochet or the yarn under single crochet. My sample was done using regular single crochet. Keep in mind that if you use the yarn under single crochet, it may affect the amount of yarn used and the size of your toy.
  
  
• 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 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. BLO).  This is often referred to as an invisible decrease. Find my invisible decrease tutorial here. 
  
  
• Color changes are done using the last YO of the last ST before the color change is indicated. Learn how to change colors in this color change 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.
  
  
• Where it says PM, place a scrap piece of yarn or stitch marker to mark the place to make coming back to this point in the assembly process easier.
  
  
• I recommend using sewing pins to help get the ideal placement of your pieces and to hold the pieces in place while you sew.

Prefer an ad-free experience or want to print this pattern out? Grab a printable ad-free PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shop.

Free T-Rex Dinosaur Crochet Pattern Head & Body Video Tutorial

Head & Body:

Using Colour B, CH 17.

Round 1: SCINC in the 2^nd CH from the hook, SC 14, work 3 SC in the last CH, working on the other side of the chain, SC 15. (34)

Round 2: SC, SCINC, SC 14, SCINC, SC, SCINC, SC 14, SCINC. (38)

Round 3: SC 2, SCINC, SC 15, SCINC, SC 2, SCINC, SC 15, SCINC. (42)

Round 4: SC 3, SCINC, SC 16, SCINC, SC 3, SCINC, SC 16, SCINC. (46)

Round 5: SC 4, SCINC, SC 17, SCINC, SC 4, SCINC, SC 17, SCINC. (50)

Rounds 6 – 14: SC around. (50) – insert safety eyes into STs 11 and 43 of Round 8.

Round 15: SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC, SC 15, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 17. (44)

Round 16: SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 13, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 12, SCDEC, SC. (37)

Round 17: SC 2, SCDEC, SC 11, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 10, SCDEC.  (31) – Start stuffing. Continue to add stuffing as you work. Stuff firmly.

Round 18: SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 6, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 2, (SCDEC) x 2, SC 5, (SCDEC) x 2. (23)

Round 19:  SC 8, (SCDEC) x 5, SC 5. (18)

Round 20: SC 7, (SCDEC) x 4, SC 3. (14)

Round 21: SC around. (14)

Round 22: SCINC, SC 2, SCINC, SC 10. (16)

Round 23: (SC 3, SCINC) x 4. (20) – PM anywhere in this round

Round 24: SC 2, SCINC, (SC 4, SCINC) x 3, SC 2. (24)

Rounds 25 – 29: SC around. (24)

Round 30: (SC 5, SCINC) x 4. (28)

Round 31: SC around. (28)

Round 32: SC 3, SCINC, (SC 6, SCINC) x 3, SC 3. (32)

Round 33: SC around. (32) – PM anywhere in this round

Round 34: (SC 7, SCINC) x 4. (36)

Round 35: SC around. (36)

Round 36: SC 4, SCINC, (SC 8, SCINC) x 3, SC 4. (40)

Round 37: SC around. (40)

Other free dinosaur crochet patterns available on my blog:

• Trevor Triceratops crochet pattern
  
  
• T-Rex Backpack Buddy – minimal sewing!
  
  
• Backpack Bronto

Round 38: SC 4, SCDEC, (SC 8, SCDEC) x 3, SC 4. (36)

Round 39: (SC 4, SCDEC) x 6. (30)

Round 40: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6. (24)

Round 41: SC, SCDEC, (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC. (18)

Round 42: (SC, SCDEC) x 6. (12)

Round 43: (SCDEC) x 6. (6)

FO leaving a long tail. 

Finish stuffing. 

Thread yarn tail onto tapestry needle and weave yarn tail through FLO of last round and pull tight to close up the hole.

Weave in ends. Set aside for assembly.

Free T-Rex Dinosaur Crochet Pattern Eyelid Video Tutorial

Eyelids (Make 2):

(Worked in a row, not rounds)

Using Colour B, CH 9.

Row 1: SL ST in the 2^nd CH from the hook, SC, HDC 4, SC, SL ST. (8)

FO leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.  Set aside for assembly.

We are stopping here for this week. Next week the next part of our dinosaur pattern will be released and we will be working on the dinosaur spikes and assemblng our amigurumi dinosaurs.  

Don’t want to wait to finish crocheting your tyrannosaurus rex? Grab the printable version of this trex crochet pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops and get the full version of the pattern now. 

Crochet Along Live Chat 

The owner of Keenan Hand Dyed Yarn (Deidre) and myself will be going live to answer any questions you have about the pattern working on our crochet t-rex  and chatting with CAL participants.  

Join us at Monday April 15th at 8pm EST on Google Meet (join via the button below):

Join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community Facebook Group to connect with other crafty friends and share your fabulous projects.

Don’t forget to follow me on social media so you always know when crochet product reviews, crochet tutorials, giveaways and new free amigurumi patterns are posted here on the blog. Happy Crocheting friends!
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TheLoopyLamb
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/TheLoopyLamb
YouTube: The Loopy Lamb YouTube Channel
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@theloopylamb
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/theloopylamb
Become a Newsletter Subscriber:Sign Up for the newsletter here.