A playful pink crochet dragon hanging beneath a dramatic black, hot-pink and white spiral. The dragon has a large round head, tiny horns, side frills, black-and-pink wings and a soft cream belly.
Because the body is small compared with the head, this works best as a decorative hanging rather than a freestanding amigurumi.
Finished total length is about 40 to 48 cm.
What you’ll need
DK or light worsted cotton in bright pink, black and cream or white.
A 2.5 to 3 mm hook, polyester stuffing, 8 to 10 mm safety eyes, tapestry needle, optional fine wire for the wings and spiral, and a small hanging ring.
Head
In pink:
Round 1. 6 sc in MR.
Round 2. Inc around. (12)
Round 3. Sc, inc around. (18)
Round 4. 2 sc, inc around. (24)
Round 5. 3 sc, inc around. (30)
Round 6. 4 sc, inc around. (36)
Rounds 7 to 12. Sc around.
Place eyes between rounds 8 and 9, about 9 stitches apart.
Round 13. 4 sc, dec around. (30)
Round 14. 3 sc, dec around. (24)
Round 15. 2 sc, dec around. (18)
Round 16. Sc, dec around. (12). Stuff firmly.
Round 17. Dec around. Close.
Embroider nostrils and a small smiling mouth.
Horns
Make two in black.
Round 1. 4 sc in MR.
Round 2. Sc around.
Round 3. Sc, inc, sc, inc. (6)
Rounds 4 and 5. Sc around.
Stuff very lightly and sew to the crown.
Side frills
Make six to eight small pink triangles.
Ch 5. Starting in second chain: sc, hdc, dc, tr. Fasten off.
Sew three or four along each side of the head.
Body
In pink:
Round 1. 6 sc in MR.
Round 2. Inc around. (12)
Round 3. Sc, inc around. (18)
Rounds 4 to 10. Sc around.
Round 11. Sc, dec around. (12)
Round 12. Sc around. Stuff.
Round 13. Dec around. Close.
Cream belly panel
Ch 6.
Work back and forth in sc, increasing at both ends for the first two rows, then even for several rows, and decreasing toward the bottom.
Sew flat to the front of the body.
Arms and legs
Make four small limbs.
Round 1. 6 sc in MR.
Rounds 2 to 7. Sc around.
Stuff lightly and close. Sew two as arms and two as legs.
Wings
Make two in black.
Ch 13. Starting in second chain, work sc, hdc, dc, tr, then continue with descending and ascending stitch heights to form a bat-like wing edge.
Work a second row in black for strength. Add hot-pink surface crochet lines from the inner edge toward the points.
If desired, insert fine wire along the top edge before sewing the wings to the body.
Spiral
Make a broad three-colour strip.
Ch 90 in white.
Row 1. Starting in third chain, work 2 dc in every chain.
Row 2. Change to hot pink, sc across.
Row 3. Change to black, sc across.
Row 4. Continue in black for a strong outer border.
For the photograph-like chevron effect, alternate colour sections every 8 to 12 stitches rather than using full rows, carrying or joining yarn cleanly.
Add pearl-style beads around the black edge if desired.
Assembly
Sew the head to the body. Attach wings behind the shoulders, then the arms and legs.
Connect the dragon to the lower end of the spiral with a strong loop or clear ring so it can swivel.
Attach another loop or ring to the top of the spiral for hanging.
Variations
Use purple and turquoise for a fantasy dragon, green and gold for a woodland dragon, or red and black for a more dramatic version.
For a child-safe decoration, embroider the eyes and omit beads, wire and plastic rings.