If you're looking for that quick, easy, NO-SEW amigurumi to crochet in just 30 minutes, you've come to the right place. This one's a real crowd pleaser as it's an adorable instant-gratification project that can be great for gifting or as a craft fair product. You're going to want to make one of each color!
Links
- Make it with my free, step-by-step video tutorial
- Download the PDF pattern in my store, Ravelry, or Etsy
- Save it on Pinterest
Tiny-Rex the Pocket Dino is the cutest little T-Rex you’ll ever meet! This mini dinosaur doll is a quick, easy, and no-sew amigurumi, meaning it’s made in one piece. A full video tutorial is included, making this a very beginner-friendly project.
No sewing involved?!
Yep, you heard right. It's a no-sew project, meaning this dinosaur is crocheted entirely in one piece. While I have a whole blog post on tips for sewing amigurumi pieces together, I'll be honest and say that I definitely still prefer NOT having to sew!
This T-Rex is worked from top-down, starting at the top of the head to the bottom. You'll then crochet the arms, legs, and spikes directly onto the dinosaur without any sewing needed.
How can they be used?
This squishy plushie can also be used for therapy as a sensory fidget or stress relief object. Its arms and legs are stumpy nubs that you can rub or twiddle with. Soft “spikes” on its back provide tactile stimulation. This pocket sized plush makes a great friend, especially for people with anxiety, ADHD/ADD, or autism. Tiny-Rex makes a great friend!
Makes a great unisex gift & craft fair product!
This mini dino can also serve as fun kids toys, party favors, or nursery decor, and are hot and trendy craft fair or crochet market products. Who wouldn't want to stock up for markets with quick, 30-minute makes?!
This unisex and gender neutral toy will appeal to all: boys, girls, children, adults, and everyone in-between! It’s a great last-minute birthday gift and Christmas holiday gift.
Making them as Valentine Gifts?
If you're making these for Valentine's Day, you can also grab my set of FREE printable gift tags to attach to your dino! It'll make such a sweet present.
How can you customize them?
Size: The recommended yarn for this pattern is a super bulky weight velvet yarn with a 5mm hook, which results in a 3.5" tall dino. If you want to go even bigger, you can do so by holding super bulky weight yarn doubled with an even larger hook! To make a tinier keychain size (2" in height), you can use worsted weight and a 2.75mm hook.
Texture: You can use any yarn fiber, from cotton to chenille velvet, to create different textures. Cotton, acrylic, and wool yarn generally have better stitch definition, so you would see your stitches more clearly. However, if you use blanket yarn or velvet yarn, the stitches will appear less visible and the end result will look more like a plush toy!
Color: This project looks great in all different yarn colors, including solids, ombre, self-striping, and variegated yarn. To make stripes, you can alternate yarn colors as you work on the rounds from top to bottom. You can even hold two different yarn colors together as you crochet your dino to create a multi-colored effect!
Extras: Customization is easy by adding crocheted appliques, bows, beads, buttons, eyes/facial features, and more.
For those of you who want to use these sparkly, cartoon (or anime) inspired eyes, you can get them on Amazon here:
Yarn used
To make your Tiny-Rex squishy like mine, try going with some soft chunky yarn and a large (5mm) hook. I would say that it looks great with blanket yarn, polyester, chenille, or velvet yarn, though you can use other types of fibers too! The exact yarn I used is Hobbii's Baby Snuggle Yarn, perfect for a soft and cuddly toy. I'm a big fan of this yarn after having worked with a variety of similar yarns from different brands, and can safely say that it's my new favorite yarn for amigurumi. If you'd like, check out my Baby Snuggle Yarn Review for more information!
Of course, you can also use "regular" worsted weight yarn as well, to create a small baby for your Tiny-Rex. They would make fantastic keychains! The little, blue one above is made with medium weight "4" yarn and a 2.75mm crochet hook.
PDF Pattern
The PDF pattern is printable, ad-free, easy to read, includes photo references, and helps support Sweet Softies! (If you enjoy my free patterns, you can consider it as a donation to me when you buy one of my pattern PDFs! It allows me to maintain my blog and continue sharing more free patterns.)
Bonus: The Tiny-Rex PDF pattern includes over 56 exclusive, step-by-step photo references to guide you through the crochet process.
TINY-REX
Free Crochet Pattern
Terms of Use & Copyright Notice © 2022 Sweet Softies (www.sweetsofties.com). You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but you must credit Sweet Softies as the owner/creator of this pattern by linking to my website (www.sweetsofties.com). No wholesale. You may not translate, copy, alter, or sell my patterns in part or in whole in any way. My patterns may not be used in video tutorials or teaching online classes. My patterns may be used in teaching in-person classes ONLY with written consent from me. You may link to this pattern but you may not copy any part of the pattern instructions on other websites.
Crochet Pattern Information
Size:
Height: 3.5 inches (9 cm)Level of Difficulty:
★★☆☆☆ Beginner/Easy. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).
Stitches/Terms Used:
- FO = fasten off
- YO = yarn over
- sk = skip (a stitch)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = increase (insert 2 sc in same st)
- dec = decrease (sc 2 sts together)
Materials:
- Hobbii Baby Snuggle Yarn (super bulky “6”) in desired colors
- 5mm crochet hook
- 8mm plastic safety eyes (x2)
- Stuffing
- Scissors
Crochet Instructions
Notes:
- Remember to scroll down to the Video Tutorial section below if you'd like to crochet along with me!
- A comprehensive photo tutorial is also available in the PDF pattern in my shop. Thanks in advance for supporting Sweet Softies!
HEAD & BODY
Ch 6 to begin.R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc 3. Insert 3 sc in last ch. You will now work on the other side of the ch. Sc 3. Inc in last st. (12)
R2: Inc, sc 3, inc 3, sc 3, inc 2. (18)
R3: Sc around. (18)
R4: Sc 6, dec 3, sc 6. (15)
R5: Sc 4, dec 3, sc 5. (12)
Attach plastic safety eyes between R2-R3, 9 sts apart. Stuff the head, and continue stuffing the body as you work along.
R6: Sc around. (12)
R7: (Sc 3, inc) x 3. (15)
R8: (Sc 4, inc) x 3. (18)
R9: (Sc 2, inc) x 6. (24)
R10: Sc around. (24)
Get ready to make the tail! Make sure you’re at the center-back of the dinosaur. If you are not, add or take out single crochets until you are right at the middle of the back.
R11: Ch 5 to make the tail. Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc 3. Now, you’ll work back in the regular round, starting with a decrease st combining the starting st where you began the ch-5 and with the first empty sc of the round. Sc 7, dec 4, sc 8. (20)
R12: On the tail chain: sc 2, dec 2, sc 2. Now, work back on the regular round. Sc 6, dec 4, sc 6. (16)
R13: On the tail: dec 3. Now, work back on the regular round. (Sc 2, dec) x 4. (12)
Make sure you stuff the body well and continue stuffing until the end.
R14: Starting from the tail, dec 7.
R15: (Sk a st, sl st) x 4.
FO with a yarn tail to sew the hole shut.
ARMS (x2)
Small Puff Stitch (SPS): YO, pull through loop. (YO, insert hook into same st, YO, and pull through loop) x 2. You should have 5 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 5 loops. Ch to secure the st.
- SPS underneath a st in Body’s R7.
- FO and weave in the ends.
- Repeat on the other side.
LEGS (x2)
Big Puff Stitch (BPS): YO, pull through loop. (YO, insert hook into same st, YO, and pull through loop) x 3. You should have 7 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 7 loops. Ch to secure the st.- BPS underneath a st in Body’s R11.
- FO and weave in the ends.
- Repeat on the other side.
SPIKES
Note: Work from the top of the head, down the back, and to the tip of the tail. Use the SPS instructions from the "Arms" section.- SPS underneath a st in the top-center of the head.
- Sl st in next st.
- (SPS, sl st) across, going down to the tip of the tail.
- FO and weave in the ends.
Happy crocheting!
Video Tutorial
Ready to crochet along with me? Let's make Tiny-Rex together!
Thank you for reading, and hope you had a fun time crocheting this project! If you'd like to help out my blog, feel free to check out my post, "5 Ways to Support my Blog!"
You might like my other designs if you enjoyed this one! Simply click on the image below for the pattern, or check out all my free patterns here.
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Best wishes,
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