Hello readers, today im talking about crochet dragons. Anyone who follows me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram will know I’m a bit of a crochet queen.
I use crochet as a means of dealing with my anxious mind and as such always have three or four projects on the go.
Part of the fun of crochet for me is making new things and I am lucky that my friends and customers are always coming up with fantastic ideas to challenge my crochet skills. Most of the softie I am asked to create are completely unique so often my creations are made from patterns I have designed myself.
In the ‘Off The Hook’ blog series I shall introduce some of the items I have made, share some of my patterns and give tips on how to create the different stitches I use in them.
Crochet Dragon
Given my blog name it was inevitable that one of the first crochet softies I would make when I started crocheting would be a dragon. However when I looked for crochet dragon patterns, I found many dragon motifs and Chinese dragons, but very few traditional dragons, and none in the size I wanted. Hence my first foray into designing my own pattern for a softie.
I knew I wanted my crochet dragon to have a squidgy round body, thick tail, flapable wings and fierce horns.
My first attempt was the rainbow dragon.
The basic pattern was there, but I don’t think the patchwork of colours really worked. Since then I have modified the pattern slightly and come up with the ‘Welsh Dragon’.
and the ‘Goth Dragon’
Crochet Dragon, Free Pattern
4mm hook
Chunky wool(1x100g black, 2x100g coloured)
Dragon size – 12″ high from bottom to top of head.
Sc = single crochet US style.
Hdc = half double crochet US style.
Dc = double crochet US style.
2sc = 2 single crochet into same stitch.
2 tog = crochet next 2 stitches together.
Pic = picot stitch. Chain 3 slip stitch into back of first chain.
All pieces are worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a new row.
Head
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 6 sc into ring.
(2) 2sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 6 times.
(4) *Sc in next 2 stitches , 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(5) *Sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(6) *Sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(7-10) Sc in each stitch.
(11) *Sc in next 4 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(12-14) Sc in each stitch.
(15) *Sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(16) *Sc in next 5 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(17) Sc in each stitch.
(18) *Sc in next 6 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(19) *Sc in next 7 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(20-21) Sc in each stitch.
(22) *Sc in next 7 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(23) *Sc in next 6 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(24) Sc in each stitch.
(25) *Sc in next 5, 2 tog* 6 times.
(26) *Sc in next 4 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(27) sc in each stitch.
(28) *Sc in next 3 stitch, 2 tog* STUFF.
(29)* Sc in next 2 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(30) *sc in next stitch, 2 tog * 6 times.
(31) *2 tog * 6 times.
Embroider the eyes on just above the snout.
Body
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 6 sc into ring.
(2) 2sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 6 times.
(4) *Sc in next 2 stitches , 2sc in next st* 6 times.
(5)*Sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(6) *sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in next stitch * 6 times.
(7) *sc in next 5 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(8) *sc in next 6 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(9-10) sc in each stitch.
(11) *sc in next 7 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(12) sc in each stitch.
(13) *sc in next 8 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* 6 times.
(14-23) sc in each stitch.
(24) *sc in next 8 stitches, 2tog* 6 times.
(25) sc in each stitch.
(26) *sc in next 7 stitches, 2tog* 6 times.
(27) sc in each stitch.
(28) *sc in next 6 stitches, 2tog* 6 times.
(29) sc in each stitch.
(30) *sc in next 5 stitches, 2tog* 6 times.
(31) sc in each stitch.
(32) *sc in next 4 stitches, 2tog* 6 times.
(33) sc in each stitch.
(34)*sc next 3 stitches , 2 tog* 6 times.
(35-37) sc in each stitch. STUFF
Attach to head, 12 rows below top of head.
Ears – make 2
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 6 sc into ring.
(2) sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 3 times.
(4) *Sc in next 2 stitches , 2sc in next st* 3 times.
(5- 6) sc in each stitch.
(7)* Sc in next 2 stitches, 2 tog* 3 times.
(8) sc in each stitch.
(9) *sc in next stitch, 2 tog * 3 times.
Ears sewn 1 row below horns.
Horns – Make 2
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 4 sc into ring.
(2) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(3) *Sc next 2 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(4) sc in each stitch.
(5) *Sc next 3 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(6-7) sc in each stitch.
(8) *Sc next 4 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(9) sc in each stitch.
Sew horns on row 24.
Tail
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 4 sc into ring.
(2) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(3) *Sc next 2 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(4) sc in each stitch.
(5) *Sc next 3 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(6-7) sc in each stitch.
(8) *Sc next 4 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(9) sc in each stitch.
(10) *Sc next 5 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(11) Sc in each stitch.
(12) *Sc next 6 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(13-15) Sc in each stitch.
(16) *Sc next 7 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(17 – 19) sc in each stitch.
(20) *Sc next 8 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(21) sc in each stitch.
(22) *Sc next 9 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(23 – 25) sc in each stitch.
(26) *Sc next 10 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(27) sc in each stitch.
(28) *Sc next 11 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(29-30) sc in each stitch.
Sew on 10 rows from base.
Nostrils – make 2
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 8 sc into ring.
(2) 2dc into each stitch.
(3) fold in half and joing edges using slip stitch. Sew above row 6.
Bottom Legs
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 6 sc into ring.
(2) 2sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 6 times.
(4) *sc into next 2 stitches, 2sc into next stitch* 6 times.
(5) *Hdc in next 2 stitches, 2hdc. In next stitch* 6 times.
(6-9) Sc in each stitch. CHANGE COLOUR
(10-12) Sc in each stitch.
(13)*Sc in next 6 stitches, sc 2 tog* 4 times.
(14) Sc in each stitch.
(15) *sc in next 5 stitches , sc 2 tog* 4 times.
(16-18) sc in each stitch.
(19)*Sc in next 2 stitches, 2 tog* 6 times.
(20) sc in each stitch.
Sew Lower legs between rows 10 and 15.
Top Legs
(1) Ch 4, join into ring. Make 5 sc into ring.
(2) 2sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next stitch, 2sc into next stitch* 5 times.
(4) * sc next 2 stitches, 2sc into next stitch * 5 times.
(5) *Sc next 4 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 4 times.
(6 – 9) sc in each stitch. CHANGE COLOUR.
(10) *Sc in next 6 stitches, 2 tog* 3 times.
(11) sc in each stitch.
(12) *Sc in next 5 stitches, 2 tog* 3 times.
(13-15) sc in each stitch.
(16) *Sc in next 4 stitches, 2 tog* 3 times.
(17-18) sc in each stitch.
Sew top legs 4 rows below the head.
Wings
(1) chain 8, join to make a ring.
(2) sc in each stitch.
(3) *Sc next 3 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(4) sc in each stitch.
(5)*Sc next 4 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(6)sc in each stitch.
(7)*Sc next 5 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(8) sc in each stitch.
(9)*Sc next 6 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(10) *Sc next 7 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(11) *Sc next 8 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(12) *Sc next 9 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(13) *Sc next 10 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(14) *Sc next 11 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(15) *Sc next 12 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(16) *Sc next 13 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(17) *Sc next 14 stitchs, 2sc into next stitch* 2 times.
(18-21) sc in each stitch. Slip st to join.
(22) *skip 1 stitch, 2dc, 2tc, 2dc into 2nd stitch to make a shell, skip 1 stich , slip stitch into next stitch* 8 times.
(23) Hold the wing flat and line the shells up so you have four humps at the top of the wing. For each stitch in this row insert the hook through the stitchs of the matching front and back shell (in effect you are using this row to stitch the top of the wing together. * In the first pair of shells sc the first two stitches, dc into next stitch chain 3 and slip stitch into the back of the 1st chain (picot stitch) dc into next stitch, sc into next 2 stitches* repeat for all four pairs of shells.
Sew the ends of the two wings together to make a single piece. Attatch four rows down from where the head and body are joined. Join to body along the edge of the middle 18 rows of the top and bottom of the wings. Fold the remaining wings on each side back on themselves and sew the wings to the body along the edge you have made. To make the wings stay back, sew 3 or 4 stitches along the top and bottom edges of the fold.
Stitch Tip.
For a tidier look to your work you can use an invisible 2 sc together stitch. Insert the hook in the front loop of the first stitch and then the front loop of the second stitch. Yarn over hook and pull through both front loops, yarn over hook again and through both loops on hook.
I hope you enjoy making your own dragons. If you are not a crocheter or simply do not have the time or inclination to make your own but would still like to own one, this is one of the range of items I have available to make on order. Please contact me if you would like one.
If you like this pattern, check out some of the other patterns I have published.
Sausage Dog
Viking Hat
Princess Peach
Monkey
Unicorn
Scientific Fact* Anxious Dragons feed on blog comments. Please help keep this dragon well fed. Thank you Xxxx
*Possibly not true
hooksanddragon.wordpress.com 
Hi Cindy, yes they are. Thank you for pointing it out, I’ve edited it now to make it clear xx
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On the tail, are rows 11 and 13-15 just sc in each st?
I think so, but want to make sure.
Thanks,
Cindy
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Hi, the wings are a bit different to the rest of the pieces worked. Rather than working into the centre of the ring you need to work into each chain
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Hi! I love this pattern and getting ready to start the wings, and in the first round it says join in ring. How many sc into ring should we do? Thank you!
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Thank you really enjoying making it for my grandbaby
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Its worked in rounds like a cup and then you flatten it when you sew it on x
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So when you work on the wings at the beginning is it to be flat or going up my is looking like a cup
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The picot stitch involves you chaining 3 stitches and then working in the back of the chain make a slip stitch into the 1st of the 3 chains to make a little chain loop. Hope this all helps xx
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Work 2dc, 2tc,2dc all into the 2nd stitch, skip the 3rd stitch and slip stitch into the 4th stitch, skip the 5th stitch, 2dc,2tc,2dc all into the 6th stitch, skip the 7th stitch and slip st into the 8th, and so on until the end.
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Hi Judy. You should have 32 stitches in your last row.
Skip the 1st stitch and work into the 2nd
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Hi, can you explain the wings l am not getting it. So frustrated. I get four shells not eight??? I don’t know how to do the picot stitch?????
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It would have me too if I had been following a pattern. I’m always grateful for people pointing out any errors in the patterns. Sometimes you can read over them again and again before publishing and miss these things xx
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Thanks so much! It was driving me crazy. ☺️
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My apologies, you’re quite right I have missed that row on the pattern. I have amended it now. Thank you for pointing it out xx
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Hi! I noticed that there is no row 4 for the bottom legs. Is it a typo, or is there an actual row missing? I had to frog them a few times to get them to match and look right. Thanks in advance!
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Thank you for posting this pattern I can’t wait to give it a try.
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Thank you my dear 😊
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Just feeding the dragon with love of pattern comment!
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Oh I have never thought of a frog, but yes that would look really cute 😊
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Thank you – I will try and do this patten – will be first pattern I’ve read if I can do it! Would love a frog softie please –
One for your list if and when you get a chance. Thank you for the patten
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Thank you. I would love to see pics of your dragon once you make him xx
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Thank you! Lovelovelove the dragons! Your instructions are very clear. I will have to make one as next project.
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Oh wow these are so cute. I have never tried crocheting anything but I’m really tempted to have a go now. #marvmondays
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Yes, I found that tip on a different pattern but it makes a big difference when your decreasing xx
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Love this! Great tip for keeping things tidy too!! #BigPinkLink x
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Crochet is a good stress buster 😊
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This is amazing! I wish I could crochet 😦 I’ll pin this and see if anyone can make it for me 🙂 #marvmondays
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I do make them for people too if you would like to order one xx
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These are uber cute! I can knit and cross stitch, by every attempt I have made at crochet has epically failed!! You’ve inspired me to try again though! #bigpinklink
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It is funny how so manu people seam to either be able to knit or crochet but not both. I am a hopeless knitter xx
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I’m sure I couldn’t crochet for toffee but you’re fab!! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays
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They look fab-aren’t you clever! #marmondays
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Thank you xx
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What a gorgeous dragon!
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