There is something utterly endearing about these crochet toys. For a dino-loving wee pal’s second birthday, I made a stegosaurus because of course I did. I used the Puff the Magic Stegosaurus (Ravelry link) pattern from Heidi Bears (Etsy link). All of her patterns are magical and I’ve also made her Smaug the African Flower Dragon (link to my Ravelry project). My very first post on The Crafty Yarnster was a similar project, though by a different designer – a lovely wee octopus!
These projects are great for using up stash (I used DK again, making a nice big steggie), are good for pick up/put down crochet, and can be very portable depending how many colours you’re using. I used a 3.5mm hook (honestly just because cos I couldn’t find my 3mm one and was keen to get cracking) and a variety of colours – though I did want to stick with the green for joining the shapes, and purple for spines, as per the pattern.
First, you make the many shapes, mainly pentagons and hexagons but a few others get a look in. Then you attach them as per the pattern – the feats of geometry never fail to impress me. It’s like a 3D jigsaw, I suppose – but I can’t really conceptualise how I’d get started on planning it all out. In between those two steps, I tucked in the loose ends on all the shapes – not my favourite but at least it doesn’t need to look neat. I had good success in tucking them behind some long stitches in the back. I did not do this step when I made the dragon, and I can tell you that loose ends poking out are Definitely a Thing even after stuffing, and especially after years of love from two toddlers (but do I love getting pictures of the raggedy dragon being played with? Yes, yes I do).
The shapes are combined using the ‘join as you go’ method – it looks daunting but it’s not at all, once you read the instructions and have a go at it. Heidi’s patterns are full of pictures and super clear. It didn’t stop me making mistakes here and there, and having to un-join and rejoin a few shapes that I’d put in wrongly, but I can’t fault the pattern quality at all. It’s as clear as it’s possible to be and, like any other plan, only goes wrong when humans are introduced to the equation.
Just when you think you’re done sewing in ends, you’re absolutely not. Once the shapes are joined up there are plenty more to be tucked in so they don’t end up on the outside. I mean, some odds and ends will still poke through, but he’ll start off looking pristine, this way.
I didn’t 100% follow the pattern, which suggests making the body, stuffing, then adding the head shapes one at a time. I made the head up separately to be sewn on – partly because he was going through the wash and I didn’t want the loose shapes in there. I feared the washing machine monster would spot them and eat them instead of their usual diet of odd socks.
As I usually do, I soaked it in warm water and hair conditioner (apple scented, FYI), then spun through the washing machine. He came out softer and smelling quite lovely. One thing about giving these as gifts for children is that you can’t throw them in the washing machine when they inevitably get chocolate on them, but the acrylic will stand up to a sponging here and there I’m quite sure.
And then, just like that… you have a dinosaur! He needed less than a kilo of stuffing, and he came out pleasantly chunky and huggable. His little head rests on your shoulder when you hug him, it’s the best.
I made a chain of black yarn to sew in for his eyes. On its own, it was a bit ‘thousand yard stare’, so I added some eyelashes. I’m not a great sewer but, as we know, they are unique and made with love. And also charming, if I say so myself.
And here are his plates – a wee bit wobbly, I’ll grant you, but soft and squishy in their own right. This was the hardest part for me, figuring out where to put them and trying to get them somewhat upright. They’re too far out to the sides, for sure, but then again who can say, with a dinosaur? Also when you move him about they shoogle from side to side, and the tail swishes, and it’s all very cute.
So there you have it! I highly recommend Heidi Bears’ patterns, as you will have gathered. I’m also making another Octopus (not a Heidi pattern though) in a chunkier yarn with a lot of fuzz. They’re satisfying and quite short projects – the steggie had almost twice as many shapes to make as the octpopus does so took a little longer, but you can see your progress mounting up as you go along which is very encouraging. So I say go forth, and dinosaur!
The Crafty Yarnster 