Bearded dragons are not dragons, and they are not bearded, but they can puff out the skin on their neck and darken it to make it look like a beard. When a bearded dragon recognizes a member of its own species, it will stand on three legs and slowly wave one forelimb in a circular motion, a little like a member of our royal family. Daniel Gough’s Bearded Dragon, Caspar, grew to an enormous size on a diet of crickets and not very much exercise.
The Bearded Dragon has claws and a ruff made with tufts of yarn.
Length (including tail): 35cm (13¾in)
Height: 5cm (2in)
Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
30g (1¼oz) of Felted Tweed Aran in Pebble 720 (pe)
3 pipecleaners for legs and tail
Crochet hook (for claws)
Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes
See here.
See for Scarf Fringe Method.
(make 2 the same)
With pe, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 8 rows st st.
Row 9: K1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1. (7 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 19: K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1. (5 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Work 6 rows garter st.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With pe, cast on 7 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 6 rows st st.
Row 7: K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1. (5 sts)
Work 11 rows st st.
Work 6 rows garter st.
Cast (bind) off.
With pe, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 14 rows st st.
Row 15: Inc, k1. (3 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 25: K1, inc, k1. (4 sts)
Work 15 rows st st.
Row 41: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 49: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 53: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Row 54: Purl.
Row 55: Inc, k8, inc. (12 sts)
Row 56: Purl.
Row 57: Inc, k10, inc. (14 sts)
Work 25 rows st st.
Row 83: K1, [k1, k2tog] 4 times, k1. (10 sts)
Row 84: P1, [p2tog] 4 times, p1. (6 sts)
Cont in rev st st to start head.
Row 85: Inc, p4, inc. (8 sts)
Row 86: Inc, k1, inc, k2, inc, k1, inc. (12 sts)
Row 87: Inc, p10, inc. (14 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 93: P1, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p1. (10 sts)
Row 94: Knit.
Row 95: [P1, p2tog] 3 times, p1. (7 sts)
Row 96: Knit.
Row 97: P3tog, p1, p3tog. (3 sts)
Row 98: K3tog and fasten off.
With pe, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 13: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 17: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: Inc, k8, inc. (12 sts)
Work 27 rows st st.
Row 47: [K1, k2tog] 4 times. (8 sts)
Row 48: P1, [p2tog, p1] twice, p1. (6 sts)
Row 49: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Row 50: P1, [inc purlwise] twice, p1. (6 sts)
Row 51: K1, inc into next 4 sts, k1. (10 sts)
Row 52: Inc, p8, inc. (12 sts)
Work 4 rows st st.
Row 57: K1, k2tog, k1, [k2tog] twice, k1, k2tog, k1. (8 sts)
Row 58: Purl.
Row 59: K1, [k2tog] 3 times, k1. (5 sts)
Row 60: Purl.
Row 61: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Row 61: P3tog and fasten off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together, sew up seam on outside, leaving 6 garter sts unsewn for foot. Cut a pipecleaner to fit approximately the length of both front legs, including where they pass through the body, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends, then fold over 2.5cm (1in) each end. With a little stuffing wrapped around, push the folded end of pipecleaner into each leg. Leave top of leg open and an end of yarn for sewing leg to body. Cut 12 x 4cm (1½in) lengths of pe, and with a crochet hook attach 3 tufts to each foot using the Scarf Fringe Method. Trim.
BODY Sew top of body to underside around head using whip stitch.
ATTACHING LEGS Using the long end of yarn, attach the front legs about 1cm (½in) from neck on the side seam. Attach the back legs in the same way, approx 7cm (2¾in) from front legs.
BODY CONT. Continue sewing down side of bearded dragon, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap in side. Attach top to underside across end of body.
STUFFING Starting at the head, stuff the body firmly, then sew up the gap.
TAIL Sew up tail with pipecleaner (with both ends folded over) inserted approx 7cm (2¾in) into tail and with approx 5cm (2in) sticking into body at tail end.
RUFF Cut 7 x 4cm (1½in) lengths of pe, and with a crochet hook attach tufts around where rev st st head meets body.
EYES With bl, sew 2-loop French knots positioned as in photograph.
