Amigurumi Dragon Crochet Pattern: Step-by-Step Guide

ByLina Morgen

Amigurumi Dragon Crochet Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your New Scaly Friend

Are you looking for a whimsical, slightly grumpy, but absolutely adorable crochet project? Look no further! This Amigurumi Dragon is the perfect companion for a nursery shelf, a quirky desk buddy, or a unique gift for a dragon lover. With its vibrant red scales, bright orange belly, and expressive eyes, this little creature is bursting with personality.

This tutorial is designed to be beginner-friendly, though you should be comfortable with basic amigurumi techniques like working in the round and making increases and decreases. We will guide you through every scale, spike, and wing to ensure your dragon turns out just as charming as the one pictured!

Materials & Abbreviations

Before we pick up the hook, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Using cotton yarn is highly recommended for amigurumi as it provides excellent stitch definition and helps the toy hold its shape.

Materials Needed

  • Yarn: 100% Cotton yarn (approximately 137 yards per 50g ball) in the following colors:
    • Red (Main body color)
    • Orange (Belly and wing details)
    • Dark Grey (Horns, spikes, and wing frame)
    • White (Eyes)
  • Crochet Hook: 3mm (approximately 1/8 inch)
  • Safety Eyes: 9mm (approximately 3/8 inch)
  • Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill
  • Weight: Small stones or glass beads (to help the dragon sit upright)
  • Notions: Sewing needle, stitch markers, pins, and scissors

US Crochet Abbreviations

  • MR: Magic Ring
  • ch: Chain
  • sc: Single crochet
  • inc: Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
  • dec: Decrease (sc 2 together)
  • sl st: Slip stitch
  • BLO: Back loops only
  • FLO: Front loops only
  • st(s): Stitch(es)

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Mouth & Head

The head and mouth are worked together to create that iconic snout. Start with the Mouth using red yarn.

Mouth (Red Yarn):

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
  • Round 2: 6 inc (12)
  • Round 3: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  • Round 4: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  • Rounds 5-8: 24 sc
  • Round 9: (2 sc, dec) * 6 (18)
  • Fasten off and weave in ends.

Head (Red Yarn):

  • Round 1: Ch 9, work in both sides of the chain starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 7 sc, 3 sc in the last ch, then work down the other side of the chain: 6 sc, 1 inc (18)
  • Round 2: inc, 6 sc, 3 inc, 6 sc, 2 inc (24)
  • Round 3: (1 sc, inc), 6 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 3, 6 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 2 (30)
  • Round 4: (2 sc, inc), 6 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 3, 6 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 2 (36)
  • Round 5: (3 sc, inc), 6 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 3, 6 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 2 (42)
  • Round 6: (4 sc, inc), 6 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 3, 6 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 2 (48)
  • Rounds 7-14: 48 sc
  • Round 15: (6 sc, dec) * 6 (42)
  • Round 16: 42 sc
  • Round 17: (5 sc, dec) * 6 (36)
  • Round 18: 36 sc
  • Round 19: (4 sc, dec) * 6 (30)
  • Round 20: (3 sc, dec) * 6 (24)

Note: In the next round, you will join the mouth to the head.

  • Round 21: 9 sc through the mouth stitches and head stitches, then 15 sc through the head stitches (24)
  • Round 22: 9 sc through mouth and head, 15 sc through head (24)
  • Round 23: (3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)
  • Rounds 24-31: 30 sc
  • Round 32: (3 sc, dec) * 6 (24)
  • Stuff the head firmly.
  • Round 33: (2 sc, dec) * 6 (18)
  • Round 34: (1 sc, dec) * 6 (12)
  • Round 35: 6 dec (6)
  • Fasten off and close the opening.

Eyes & Eyelids

To give your dragon its personality, we will make white eyes and red eyelids.

Eyes (Make 2, White Yarn):

  • Round 1: Ch 4, work in both sides starting from 2nd ch from hook: 2 sc, 3 sc in last ch, then 1 sc, 1 inc (8)
  • Round 2: inc, 1 sc, 3 inc, 1 sc, 2 inc (14)
  • Round 3: (1 sc, inc), 1 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 3, 1 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 2 (20)
  • Round 4: 20 sc
  • Round 5: (1 sc, dec), 1 sc, (1 sc, dec) * 3, 1 sc, (1 sc, dec) * 2 (14)
  • Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Insert safety eyes into the eyeballs and stuff the eyes before sewing them to the head.

Eyelids (Make 2, Red Yarn):

Set 1:

  • Row 1: Ch 11, work in both sides starting from 2nd ch: 10 sc
  • Row 2: 10 sc, ch, turn
  • Row 3: dec, 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, ch, turn (7)
  • Row 4: 3 sc, sl st, do not turn. Sl st around the edge. Fasten off.

Set 2:

  • Row 1: Ch 9, work in both sides: 8 sc
  • Row 2: 8 sc, ch, turn
  • Row 3: 4 dec (4)
  • Sl st around the edge. Fasten off.

Sew the eyelids onto the eyes to create that “sleepy” look.

The Body & Belly

The body is the largest part of the dragon. For stability, we will add weight to the bottom.

Body (Red Yarn):

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
  • Round 2: (1 sc, inc) * 3 (9)
  • Rounds 3-6: 9 sc
  • Round 7: (2 sc, inc) * 3 (12)
  • Rounds 8-10: 12 sc
  • Round 11: 2 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 2, 2 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 2 (16)
  • Rounds 12-15: 16 sc
  • Round 16: 2 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 2, 2 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 2 (20)
  • Round 17: 9 sc, 7 sc BLO, 4 sc (20)
  • Round 18: 9 sc, 7 sc with R16 FLO, 4 sc (20)
  • Round 19: 9 sc, 7 sc BLO, 4 sc (20)
  • Round 20: 9 sc, 7 sc with R18 FLO, 4 sc (20)
  • Round 21: 4 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 2, 4 sc, (2 sc, inc) * 2 (24)
  • Round 22: 10 sc, 9 sc BLO, 5 sc (24)
  • Round 23: 10 sc, 9 sc with R21 FLO, 5 sc (24)
  • Round 24: 10 sc, 9 sc BLO, 5 sc (24)
  • Round 25: 10 sc, 9 sc with R23 FLO, 5 sc (24)
  • Round 26: 4 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 2, 4 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 2 (28)
  • Rounds 27-29: 28 sc
  • Round 30: 6 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 2, 6 sc, (3 sc, inc) * 2 (32)
  • Round 31: 15 sc, 10 sc BLO, 7 sc (32)
  • Round 32: 15 sc, 10 sc with R30 FLO, 7 sc (32)
  • Round 33: 6 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 2, 6 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 2 (36)
  • Round 34: 15 sc, 15 sc BLO, 6 sc (36)
  • Round 35: 15 sc, 15 sc with R33 FLO, 6 sc (36)
  • Round 36: 15 sc, 15 sc BLO, 6 sc (36)
  • Round 37: 15 sc, 15 sc with R35 FLO, 6 sc (36)
  • Round 38: 8 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 2, 8 sc, (4 sc, inc) * 2 (40)
  • Round 39: 18 sc, 15 sc BLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Round 40: 18 sc, 15 sc with R38 FLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Round 41: 18 sc, 15 sc BLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Round 42: 18 sc, 15 sc with R40 FLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Rounds 43-45: 40 sc
  • Round 46: 18 sc, 15 sc BLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Round 47: 18 sc, 15 sc with R45 FLO, 7 sc (40)
  • Round 48: 40 sc

Crucial Step: Place your small stones in the bottom of the body before continuing to stuff with fiberfill. This gives your dragon a nice, heavy base.

  • Round 49: 8 sc, (4 sc, dec) * 2, 8 sc, (4 sc, dec) * 2 (36)
  • Round 50: 36 sc
  • Round 51: 6 sc, (4 sc, dec) * 2, 6 sc, (4 sc, dec) * 2 (32)
  • Round 52: 32 sc
  • Round 53: 6 sc, (3 sc, dec) * 2, 6 sc, (3 sc, dec) * 2 (28)
  • Round 54: 13 sc, 12 sc BLO, 3 sc (28)
  • Round 55: 13 sc, 12 sc with R53 FLO, 3 sc (28)
  • Round 56: 4 sc, (3 sc, dec) * 2, 4 sc, (3 sc, dec) * 2 (24)
  • Round 57: 13 sc, 10 sc BLO, 1 sc (24)
  • Round 58: 13 sc, 10 sc with R56 FLO, 1 sc (24)
  • Round 59: (4 sc, dec) * 4 (20)
  • Round 60: 12 sc, 8 sc BLO (20)
  • Round 61: 12 sc, 8 sc with R59 FLO (20)
  • Rounds 62-66: 20 sc
  • Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Belly (Orange Yarn):

This is worked in rows.

  • Row 1: Ch 3, work in both sides starting from 2nd ch: 2 sc
  • Row 2: 2 sc, ch, turn (2)
  • Rows 3-6: 2 sc, ch, turn (2)
  • Row 7: 2 inc, ch, turn (4)
  • Rows 8-12: 4 sc, ch, turn (4)
  • Row 13: inc, 2 sc, inc, ch, turn (6)
  • Rows 14-20: 6 sc, ch, turn (6)
  • Row 21: inc, 4 sc, inc, ch, turn (6)
  • Rows 22-31: 8 sc, ch, turn (8)
  • Row 32: (1 sc, inc) * 4, ch, turn (12)
  • Rows 33-35: 12 sc, ch, turn (12)
  • Row 36: (2 sc, inc) * 4, ch, turn (16)
  • Rows 37-42: 16 sc, ch, turn (16)
  • Row 43: (2 sc, dec) * 4, ch, turn (12)
  • Rows 44-46: 12 sc, ch, turn (12)
  • Row 47: dec, 8 sc, dec, ch, turn (10)
  • Row 48: 10 sc, ch, turn (10)
  • Row 49: dec, 6 sc, dec, ch, turn (8)
  • Rows 50-52: 8 sc, ch, turn (8)
  • Row 53: dec, 4 sc, dec, ch, turn (6)
  • Rows 54-60: 6 sc, ch, turn (6)
  • Row 61: 6 sc, do not turn. Sl st around. Fasten off.

Legs & Feet

Legs (Make 2, Red Yarn):

  • Round 1: Ch 9, work in both sides starting from 2nd ch: 7 sc, 3 sc in the last ch, then work down the other side: 6 sc, 1 inc (18)
  • Round 2: inc, 6 sc, 3 inc, 6 sc, 2 inc (24)
  • Round 3: (1 sc, inc), 6 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 3, 6 sc, (1 sc, inc) * 2 (30)
  • Rounds 4-9: 30 sc
  • Round 10: (1 sc, dec), 6 sc, (1 sc, dec) * 3, 6 sc, (1 sc, dec) * 2 (24)
  • Round 11: dec, 6 sc, 3 dec, 6 sc, 2 dec (18)
  • Round 12: 18 sc
  • Round 13: (1 sc, dec) * 6 (12)
  • Rounds 14-16: 12 sc
  • Round 17: (1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)
  • Round 18: (2 sc, inc) * 6 (24)
  • Fasten off and stuff.

Feet (Make 2 sets, Orange and Red Yarn):

Big Toe (Make 2 per leg):

  • Round 1: 3 sc in MR
  • Round 2: 3 sc
  • Switch to Red yarn.
  • Round 3: 3 inc (6)
  • Round 4: (1 sc, inc) * 3 (9)
  • Round 5: (2 sc, inc) * 3 (12)
  • Rounds 6-8: 12 sc. Fasten off.

Small Toe (Make 2 per leg):

  • Round 1: 3 sc in MR
  • Round 2: 3 sc
  • Switch to Red yarn.
  • Round 3: 3 inc (6)
  • Round 4: (1 sc, inc) * 3 (9)
  • Round 5: 8 sc, 1 inc (10)
  • Rounds 6-7: 10 sc. Fasten off.

Assembly: Join the small toes to the big toe using 2 sc to create the foot. Sew the feet to the legs, and then the legs to the body.

Arms & Hands

Arms (Make 2, Red Yarn):

Each arm consists of three fingers joined together.

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR
  • Rounds 2-4: 6 sc
  • Fasten off the first finger.
  • Join the second finger to the first using 1 sc.
  • Do not fasten off the third finger; join it to the other two using 1 sc.
  • Round 5: 5 sc (finger 1), 2 sc (finger 2), 5 sc (finger 3), 2 sc (finger 2) (14)
  • Rounds 6-7: 14 sc
  • Round 8: (5 sc, dec) * 2 (12)
  • Stuff lightly.
  • Round 9: (1 sc, dec) * 4 (9)
  • Rounds 10-23: 8 sc
  • Fasten off and sew to the body.

Horns, Spikes, & Wings

Horns (Dark Grey Yarn):

  • Large Horn: 4 sc in MR, then 4 sc for 3 more rounds. Fasten off.
  • Small Horn: 4 sc in MR, then 4 sc for 1 more round. Fasten off.
  • Sew horns to the snout.

Spikes (Dark Grey Yarn):
Make 11 spikes of varying lengths to decorate the head, back, and tail. The first spike is 13 rounds (4 sc per round), the second is 8 rounds, the third is 6, the fourth is 4, the next seven are 3 rounds each, and the final spike is 2 rounds. Sew them along the center of the dragon’s spine.

Wings (Dark Grey and Orange Yarn):

Wing Frame (Make 4 pieces, Dark Grey):

  • Round 1: 4 sc in MR
  • Rounds 2-19: 4 sc
  • Join the 4 pieces together: Round 20: 4 sc (piece 4), 2 sc (piece 3), 2 sc (piece 2), 4 sc (piece 1), 2 sc (piece 2), 2 sc (piece 3) (16)
  • Round 21: 8 dec (8)
  • Round 22: (2 sc, dec) * 2 (6)
  • Fasten off.

Wing Interior (Make 3 pieces per wing, Orange):
Work in rows to create the orange webbing. Use a chain-based start and gradually increase/decrease to create a tapered shape that fits within the dark grey frame. Once completed, sew the orange pieces to the frame and then attach the full wings to the dragon’s back.

Finishing & Assembly

Now comes the most rewarding part—bringing your dragon to life!

  1. Face Details: Using your dark grey yarn, embroider a subtle line for eyelashes. You can also embroider small stripes on the orange belly for extra texture.
  2. Final Assembly: Ensure all limbs are securely attached. If your dragon feels a bit top-heavy, you can add a tiny bit more stuffing to the base of the body.

Tips for Success

  • Tension is Key: Amigurumi requires tight stitches to prevent stuffing from showing through. If your stitches look loose, try using a smaller hook.
  • Use Stitch Markers: Since you are working in continuous rounds, it is very easy to lose your place. Always use a marker to identify your first stitch.
  • The “Weight” Secret: Adding stones to the bottom of the body (as instructed) is what makes this dragon stand up so cutely. Don’t skip this step!
  • Invisible Decreases: For a smoother look, try using the “invisible decrease” method (inserting your hook into the front loops only of the next two stitches).

Congratulations! You have successfully completed your adorable Amigurumi Dragon! Feel free to share your creation on social media—we would love to see your colorful dragons!

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