Dippy the Dinosaur

Dippy the Dinosaur Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry

What is Being Made

Dippy the Dinosaur is a huggable stuffed toy knitted in the round, inspired by a Diplodocus and a T-Rex hybrid design. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a soft, cuddly dinosaur companion suitable for children and collectors. The finished toy is constructed using the knit-and-stuff method, combining knitted fabric pieces with toy filling to achieve a three-dimensional plush form.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to bring Dippy to life. The design incorporates intarsia color-work, allowing crafters to knit multiple colors into the fabric for detailed patterning and visual interest. The pattern uses increases to shape the dinosaur's body and features, creating dimensional forms from flat knitted pieces. Seaming is a key finishing technique, requiring a darning or tapestry needle to join knitted sections together securely. The combination of these methods results in a well-constructed, durable toy.

Stitches and Construction Methods

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches, with knit stitches forming the primary fabric structure. The abbreviation key references k for knit and foll for following, indicating standard written pattern instructions. Increases are strategically placed throughout the pattern to shape the dinosaur's body, limbs, and distinctive features. The intarsia technique requires the use of bobbins to manage separate yarn colors within the same row, enabling the creation of colorwork details without carrying yarn across large sections.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 100% acrylic DK weight yarn (double knitting, light worsted weight, 8 ply). A 100g skein each in two shades: Blue and Lilac. The sample was photographed in Hayfield Bonus DK, though any similar DK acrylic yarn is recommended as a suitable substitute.
• Needles: A pair of 3.5mm (US 4) single pointed needles with a minimum length of 20cm for comfortable knitting.
• Notions and Embellishments: A 200g bag of toy filling for stuffing, two 5mm black beads for the eyes, a scrap of white felt fabric for eye backing, a sewing needle and thread for attaching beads and felt, and four 10mm diameter blue buttons for faux button joints.
• Additional Tools: Bobbins for managing intarsia color-work, and a darning or tapestry needle for seaming knitted pieces together.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic garter and stockinette stitch. The inclusion of intarsia color-work and shaping techniques requires familiarity with reading patterns and managing multiple techniques simultaneously. Crafters comfortable with increases, seaming, and color-work will find this project manageable and rewarding.