jwgh | Knitted stegosaurus instructions

Revised 27 December 2012 to add line numbers and make other minor adjustments. This pattern is now also online at http://music.jwgh.org/knitting/stegosaurus.html, to protect against Livejournal outages.

Finished Measurements

length: approx. 14 inches
height: approx. 9 1/2 inches
width: approx. 6 inches

Materials

130 yards worsted (for this one I used Knit Picks Panache, about a skein and a half of the green and a half-skein of the blue)
a couple of hanks of yarn for the mouth and eyes

#6 straight needles (a few sizes smaller than recommended for the yarn)
a pair of #6 DPNs (to make icord)
embroidery needle
10 large heavy green guitar picks (optional, to stiffen back plates)
polyfill fiber

Pattern notes:

I've put up lots of pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwgh/sets/72157603888991257/ People making knitted stegosauri of their own might find them useful. Ravelry users can find the pattern here.

The instructions and photos show Stegosauruses made using worsted yarn, but I've also had pleasing results using bulky yarn with the same size needles. Or use size 1s and sock yarn for a mini Stegosaurus!

The pictures all show the Stegosaurus being sewn together knit side out, but you can also do it purl side out to get a different texture, which I find in some ways preferable. An example of what this looks like can be found here.

When you encounter 'w&t' in the instructions, use whatever technique you prefer to wrap and turn the yarn. One method is described here.

Body

The body is worked in stockinette stitch.

Cast on 5 stitches, leaving long (24 inch or so) tail for sewing shut.
Rows 1-6: Work 6 rows
Row 7: K1, Kfb, K1, Kfb, K1 (7 st)
Rows 8-12: Work 5 rows
Row 13: K1, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K1 (9 st)
Rows 14-18: Work 5 rows
Row 19: K1, Kfb, K5, Kfb, K1 (11 st)
Rows 20-24: Work 5 rows
Row 25: K2, Kfb, K5, Kfb, K2 (13 st)
Rows 26-30: Work 5 rows
Row 31: K2, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K2 (15 st)
Rows 32-36: Work 5 rows
Row 37: K3, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K3 (17 st)
Rows 38-40: Work 3 rows
Row 41: K3, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K3 (20 st)
Rows 42-44: Work 3 rows
Row 45: K4, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K5, Kfb, K4 (23 st)
Row 46: Work 1 row
Row 47: K4, Kfb, K6, Kfb, K6, Kfb, K4 (26 st)
Row 48: Work 1 row
Row 49: K5, Kfb, K6, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K5 (29 st)
Row 50: P18, w&t, K7, w&t, P to end
Row 51: K7, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K5, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K7 (33 st)
Row 52: Work 1 row
Row 53: K8, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K8 (37 st)
Row 54: P22, w&t, K7, w&t, P22
Row 55: K8, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K5, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K8 (43 st)
Row 56: P26, w&t, K9, w&t, P26
Row 57: K8, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K8 (49 st)
Row 58: P30, w&t, K11, w&t, P30
Row 59: K10, (Kfb, K2)x3, Kfb, K9, (Kfb, K2)x3, Kfb, K10 (57 st)
Row 60: P35, w&t, K13, w&t, P35
Row 61: K13, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K11, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K3, Kfb, K13 (63 st)
Row 62: P38, w&t, K13, w&t, P38
Row 63: K15, Kfb, K9, Kfb, K11, Kfb, K9, Kfb, K15 (67 st)
Row 64: P41, w&t, K15, w&t, P41
Row 65: K14, Kfb, K11, Kfb, K13, Kfb, K11, Kfb, K14 (71 st)
Row 66: P43, w&t, K15, w&t, P43
Rows 67-69: Work 3 rows
Row 70: P43, w&t, K15, w&t, P43
Row 71: K14, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K15, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K14 (67 st)
Row 72: P41, w&t, K15, w&t, P41
Row 73: K15, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K13, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K15 (63 st)
Row 74: P38, w&t, K13, w&t, P38
Row 75: K13, (K2tog,K3)x2, K2tog, K13, (K2tog, K3)x2, K2tog, K13 (57 st)
Row 76: P35, w&t, K13, w&t, P35
Row 77: K10, (K2tog, K2)x3, K2tog, K9, (K2tog, K2)x3, K2tog, K10 (49 st)
Row 78: P30, w&t, K11, w&t, P30
Row 79: K8, (K2tog, K3)x2, K2tog, K9, (K2tog, K3)x2, K2tog, K8 (43 st)
Row 80: Work 1 row
Row 81: K8, K2tog, (K2, K2tog)x2, K7, (K2tog, K2)x2, K2tog, K8 (37 st)
Row 82: P22, w&t, K7, w&t, P22
Row 83: K8, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K8 (33 st)
Row 84: Work 1 row
Row 85: K7, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K7 (29 st)
Row 86: P18, w&t, K7, w&t, P to end
Row 87: K5, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K5 (26 st)
Rows 88-92: Work 5 rows
Continuing directly on from row 92, finish knitting the head as follows:
- K1, K2tog, K21, w&t
- P2tog, P19, w&t
- K2tog, K17, w&t
- P2tog, P15, w&t
- K2tog, K13, w&t
- P2tog, P11, w&t
- K2tog, K9, w&t
- P2tog, P7, w&t
- K2tog, K5, w&t
- P2tog, P3, w&t
- K2tog, K2tog, turn
- P to end
- K2 tog to end
- P2tog, P3tog, P2tog
- Break yarn, leaving long (24 inch or so) tail to sew shut
- Thread yarn through remaining three stitches.

At this point it looks something like this:

Sew bottom edge together from each end, leaving hole for stuffing (and with stockinette side out).

Stuff, then finish sewing shut.

Legs (make 4)

Row 1: Cast on 16 stitches, leaving 8-inch tail to attach leg to body
Rows 2-10: Work in stockenette 8 rows.
Row 11: Cast off 12 stitches, finish row.
Rows 12-15: Work remaining stitches in stockinette (starting on the wrong side) for 4 rows (ending with knit row).
Cast off remaining stitches purlwise, leaving 8-inch tail to sew together.

Sew together, using these photos as a guide:

Stuff, attach to body.

Back plates (make 10)

Make two of the following, leaving a 18 inch tail on the second.

Cast on 4 stitches. Work the following in garter stitch.
Rows 1-2: Knit two rows.
Row 3: Kfb, K2, Kfb
Rows 4-5: Knit two rows.
Row 6: Kfb, K4, Kfb
Row 7: Knit one row.
Row 8: K2tog, K4, K2tog
Cast off.

After you've made both, sew the two together around the edge, leaving the cast-off edge unsewn, using these photos as a guide:

Then sew to the back of the Stegosaurus:

If you want to make the backplates extra stiff you can insert a guitar pick point-first before attaching each back plate. This is not really necessary, though.

Spikes (make 4)

On two DP needles, cast on 3 stitches and work as i-cord for 6 rows. Cast off. Attach to tail:

Face

Embroider face.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From: (Anonymous)

OMG so cute!!!! I will be making one for my son.

From:

jwgh

Great! If you have time to let me know how it turns out I'd love to hear it!

Re: cute dinosaur

From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2008-03-02 04:23 pm (UTC) - Expand

Re: cute dinosaur

From:

jwgh - Date: 2008-03-02 06:50 pm (UTC) - Expand

From: (Anonymous)

I loved knitting this!! It was a blast and my son loves his Steggie. I can't believe that more people on Ravelry have not made this pattern.

From:

jwgh

Thanks for the kind comments! I'm glad you enjoyed making it, and it is very cool seeing your completed stegosaurus. :-)

From: (Anonymous)

This was so much fun to knit. My nephew loved it :-)

From:

jwgh

Thanks! I'm glad your nephew enjoyed the dinosaur. :-)

From: (Anonymous)

Thank you for posting this pattern. I am hearting it to make for my son's upcoming birthday!!!!

From:

jwgh

You're welcome! I hope that he likes it!

From: (Anonymous)

I'd love to make this! What is the Kfb in the instructions? Thanks.

From:

jwgh

Whoops, I didn't see this question sooner -- sorry! It stands for 'knit front and back' and is a way to add a stitch. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/increases has instructions and video on how to do this (and I would expect most knitting books to have at least a brief explanation also).

From: (Anonymous)

for the wrap and turn part, when its time to turn, am i supposed to turn the whole project or flip the yarn back to the back of it?

From:

jwgh

You turn the entire piece and start knitting (or purling) back in the other direction, just as if you had reached the end of a row.

From: (Anonymous)

My little dinosaur turned out really well--wish I knew how to post a photo. Anyway, I made the bony plates out of assorted colors instead of all blue and stiffened them with shapes cut from a Cool Whip container instead of buying guitar picks. (A cheap plastic place mat would work, too.) I used small black buttons for eyes, which wouldn't be safe for a really small child. Anyway, he's beautiful and I know our four-year-old grandson will be thrilled!

From:

jwgh

That sounds like an excellent stegosaurus! Man, I wish I could see it. I'm glad you like my pattern!

From: (Anonymous)

My dino turned out sooo good!My kids want me to make other kinds of dinosaurs. Do you have more patterns to match this one! Thank You!!!

From:

jwgh

That's great to hear! I don't have any other dinosaur patterns designed, but perhaps I should try one ... thanks for the kind comments!

Another designer has a for-pay pattern called 'Prehistoric Pals' that seems to have some really cute dinosaurs, so maybe you'd be interested in that: http://www.KnittingAtKNoon.com/FSprehistoricpals.html

From: (Anonymous)

At the 4th line from the end of the pattern, it says:
K2tog, K2tog, turn
Should that "turn" be W&T? I can't figure how to just turn and then do the next purling. Thanks.

From:

jwgh

Just turn as if you were at the end of a row and start purling as if you're at the beginning of a row.

Re: Help!

From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2008-07-04 03:48 pm (UTC) - Expand

Re: Help!

From:

jwgh - Date: 2008-07-04 03:59 pm (UTC) - Expand

From:

p-bug.livejournal.com

This is awesome!

From:

jwgh

Thanks!

From: (Anonymous)

what does tog mean? I'm knitting the stegasaurus and i got to that line with no idea what it means
help?

From:

jwgh

k2tog means 'knit two together' -- I think that's what you're asking about, but if not, let me know.

More information, including a video, can be found at http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/decreases .

From:

suse-dol-amroth.livejournal.com

Most excellent pattern, can't wait to caston for him. INproper stone age grey wool :-)

From:

jwgh

Thanks! I look forward to seeing the finished object. :-)

From: (Anonymous)

I just finished your pattern. And the resulting dinosaur is adorable. And I almost don't want to give it up. In any event, thank you so much for this pattern - I may be making it again some time soon :D

From:

jwgh

Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you like the pattern! If you have any pictures I'd love to see them.

From: (Anonymous)

Thanks for the pattern! My stegosaurus is freaking adorable, and here's hoping the one-year-old boy he's going to likes him. :) I made some changes in the pattern: I knit the plates in stockinette stitch. I also varied the size of the plates, to make it a little more stegosaurus-like - made them in three sizes, with shorter ones in front near the head and in back near the tail.

Helen
http://heyhelen.com

From:

jwgh

Cool! Thanks for letting me know.

From: (Anonymous)

Thank you so much for posting this pattern! I've already made three of them and the requests for more just keep coming in. It's fun to knit and pretty easy - just a bit time-consuming. In any event, I'm sure the one I just finished won't be my last. Again, thank you!

From:

jwgh

That's great to hear! Thanks for your kind comments, and it's good to hear that stegosauruses are roaming the planet once again. ;-)

From: (Anonymous)

I'm making stuffed animals as part of xmas gifts...this one is my first venture! I'm using a lighter green and purple backplates and I'm excited to see it come together!

:D

From:

jwgh

Great! Have fun, & let me know if you run into any problems!

From: (Anonymous)

I gotta say, I absolutely LOVE this patter! I have made 4 so far and am working on my 5th right now and still have 5 more to make before Christmas. Everyone I know loves them and I get a lot of people asking me to make one for them. :D thank you so much for this pattern!

From:

jwgh

Thanks for commenting, and I'm glad you like the pattern!

From: (Anonymous)

Made one for my sister for Christmas. Second thing I've made, the other being a hat. Super easy to understand the pattern. Turned out amazing. Thank you so much. :)

From:

jwgh

Great! Thanks for letting me know, and I'm glad you had a good time with the pattern. :-)

From: (Anonymous)

great pattern, thanks a bunch!

From:

jwgh

Thank you! I'm glad you like the pattern.

From:

amarafox.livejournal.com

Here is mine! The pattern was well written, but I suck at short rows and knitting while watching TV so he's lumpy and his back plates are wrong (And his eyes are crooked) :D

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KnittingEwok/knitted-stegosaurus

From:

amarafox.livejournal.com

I plan on making another for someone else when I'm not trying to rush all my Christmas knitting out in a week.

(no subject)

From:

jwgh - Date: 2011-12-19 05:28 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From:

amarafox.livejournal.com - Date: 2011-12-19 11:53 am (UTC) - Expand

From: (Anonymous)

How do you attach the guitar picks with the backplates so that the guitar picks don't show.

Looking forward to knitting this one! Thanks.

From:

jwgh

You knit the two sides of the backplates separately, then sew them together around the edges (or I see on revelry some people have just sewed them in the round). This creates a little pocket which you can slip a guitar pick into.

From: (Anonymous)

Love the pattern, don't love w&t's!
Am planning to lightly stuff the plates w/ thin batting to keep soft. What do you think?

I know my 2 l/2 y/o grandson will be loving his new pet!!

From:

jwgh

Soon you will be in touch with your inner w&t self. ;-)

I think that the thin layer of batting should be fine, though I think you could also leave it out. I guess see what you think after you've sewn together the first backplate.

Thanks for the comment and I hope your grandson enjoys the dinosaur!

From: (Anonymous)

I have begun making the stegosaurus. I completed the knit row that has 37 stitches. However, in the following purl row you are suppose to P22, w&t, K7, w&t, P22. The purl row adds up to more than 37 stitches to work on (53 stitches). I'm confused. What am I missing here? Thanks.

From:

jwgh

You purl 22 stitches, then wrap & turn, then knit 7 stitches in the other direction, then wrap and turn again. This puts you at the 15th stitch in the row. Purl 22 more stitch and takes you to the end at the 37th stitch. It should work exactly the same way as the other previous rows that had a wrap & turn (the purl rows after the ones with 29 and 33 stitches). Does this help?

From:

livejournal.livejournal.com

User

blue_eyed_1987 referenced to your post from Knitting! (http://blue-eyed-1987.livejournal.com/68551.html) saying: [...] !), so I've turned back to knitting. I'm knitting this: http://jwgh.livejournal.com/475358.html [...]

From:

jwgh

Cool! I hope you enjoy the pattern!

From: (Anonymous)

This is the first project I've ever done and I love the way it turned out but it seems that some places have the wrong side facing out ward. What did I do wrong?