The Stegosaurus is one of the most recognisable dinosaurs, due to the distinctive plates running along its spine. About the size of a bus, the Stegosaurus was a gentle herbivore and often considered to be a little unsophisticated due to its small brain, no larger than a dog’s. Because a fossil was found there, the Stegosaurus is the state dinosaur of Colorado. The Stegosaurus has featured in many films, including King Kong, and is an integral part of the plot in The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle.
An impressive and simple dinosaur to knit, the Stegosaurus needs lots of stuffing.
Length: 33cm (13in)
Height to centre back (including plates): 25cm (10in)
Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
Double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
45g (1¾oz) of Rowan Tweed in Bedale 581 (be)
10g (¼oz) of Rowan Felted Tweed in Celadon 184 (ce)
10g (¼oz) of Rowan Felted Tweed in Ginger 154 (gn)
2 tiny black beads for eyes and sewing needle and black thread for sewing on
2 pipecleaners for legs
See here.
With be, cast on 15 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k4, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k4, inc. (15 sts)
Row 4: P5, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p5. (13 sts)
Row 5: K4, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k4. (11 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 11: Inc, k9, inc. (13 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 15: Inc, k11, inc. (15 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 19: K6, inc, k1, inc, k6. (17 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.*
Row 25: Cast (bind) off 8 sts, k to end (hold 9 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body and Head).
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 25: K9, cast (bind) off 8 sts (hold 9 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body and Head).
With be, cast on 13 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k3, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3, inc. (13 sts)
Row 4: P4, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p4. (11 sts)
Row 5: K3, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3. (9 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 11: Inc, k7, inc. (11 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 15: Inc, k9, inc. (13 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.**
Row 21: Cast (bind) off 6 sts, k to end (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to **.
Row 21: K7, cast (bind) off 6 sts (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body and Head).
Row 1: With be, cast on 1 st, with RS facing k7 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (16 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Inc, k15, cast on 5 sts, with RS facing p1, k3, inc, k4 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 1 st. (33 sts)
Row 4: P11, k1, p21.
Row 5: Inc, k20, p1, k4, inc, k4, p1, inc. (36 sts)
Row 6: P2, k1, p10, k1, p22, cast on 8 sts. (44 sts)
Row 7: K30, p1, k5, inc, k4, p1, k2, cast on 24 sts. (69 sts)
Row 8: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, p24 icos, k1, p11, k1, p30, cast on 4 sts. (71 sts)
Row 9: K34, p1, k12, p1, k23.
Row 10: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p20 icos, k1, p12, k1, p34. (68 sts)
Row 11: K34, p1, k12, p1, k20.
Row 12: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, p17 icos, k1, p13, k1, p27, cast (bind) off 2 sts, p to end. (59 sts and 5 sts)
Row 13: Working on 5 sts for head only, k2tog, k3. (4 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Row 13: Rejoin be to rem 59 sts, k28, p1, k12, p1, k15, k2tog. (58 sts)
Row 14: P2tog, p14, k1, p12, k1, p26, p2tog. (56 sts)
Row 15: K2tog, k25, p1, k13, p1, k12, k2tog. (54 sts)
Row 16: P2tog, p11, k1, p13, k1, p24, p2tog. (52 sts)
Row 17: K2tog, k23, p1, k13, p1, k12. (51 sts)
Row 18: P2tog, p9, k1, p14, k1, p22, p2tog. (49 sts)
Row 19: K24, p1, k13, p1, k10.
Row 20: P2tog, p8, k1, p13, k1, p22, p2tog. (47 sts)
Row 21: K23, p1, k13, p1, k9.
Row 22: P2tog, p20, k1, p22, p2tog. (45 sts)
Row 23: K23, p1, k21.
Row 24: P2tog, p18, k1, p22, p2tog. (43 sts)
Row 25: K23, p1, k19.
Row 26: P2tog, p16, k1, p22, p2tog. (41 sts)
Row 27: K2tog, k21, p1, k17. (40 sts)
Row 28: P2tog, p14, k1, p21, p2tog. (38 sts)
Row 29: K2tog, k21, p1, k14. (37 sts)
Row 30: P2tog, p33, p2tog. (35 sts)
Row 31: K2tog, k33. (34 sts)
Row 32: P2tog, p30, p2tog. (32 sts)
Row 34: P2tog, p27, p2tog. (29 sts)
Row 35: K2tog, k27. (28 sts)
Row 36: P2tog, p24, p2tog. (26 sts)
Row 37: K2tog, k24. (25 sts)
Row 38: P2tog, p21, p2tog. (23 sts)
Row 39: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k18 icos, k2tog. (19 sts)
Row 40: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, p to end. (17 sts)
Row 41: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end. (14 sts)
Row 42: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p to end. (11 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Row 1: With be, cast on 1 st, with WS facing p7 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (16 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Inc, p15, cast on 5 sts, with WS facing k1, p3, inc, p4 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 1 st. (33 sts)
Row 4: K11, p1, k21.
Row 5: Inc, p20, k1, p4, inc, p4, k1, inc. (36 sts)
Row 6: K2, p1, k10, p1, k22, cast on 8 sts. (44 sts)
Row 7: P30, k1, p5, inc, p4, k1, p2, cast on 24 sts. (69 sts)
Row 8: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, k24 icos, p1, k11, p1, k30, cast on 4 sts. (71 sts)
Row 9: P34, k1, p12, k1, p23.
Row 10: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k20 icos, p1, k12, p1, k34. (68 sts)
Row 11: P34, k1, p12, k1, p20.
Row 12: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, k17 icos, p1, k13, p1, k27, cast (bind) off 2 sts, k to end. (59 sts and 5 sts)
Row 13: Working on 5 sts for head only, p3, p2tog. (4 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Row 13: Rejoin be to rem 59 sts, p28, k1, p12, k1, p15, p2tog. (58 sts)
Row 14: K2tog, k14, p1, k12, p1, k26, k2tog. (56 sts)
Row 15: P2tog, p25, k1, p13, k1, p12, p2tog. (54 sts)
Row 16: K2tog, k11, p1, k13, p1, k24, k2tog. (52 sts)
Row 17: P2tog, p23, k1, p13, k1, p12. (51 sts)
Row 18: K2tog, k9, p1, k14, p1, k22, k2tog. (49 sts)
Row 19: P24, k1, p13, k1, p10.
Row 20: K2tog, k8, p1, k13, p1, k22, k2tog. (47 sts)
Row 21: P23, k1, p13, k1, p9.
Row 22: K2tog, k20, p1, k22, k2tog. (45 sts)
Row 23: P23, k1, p21.
Row 24: K2tog, k18, p1, k22, k2tog. (43 sts)
Row 25: P23, k1, p19.
Row 26: K2tog, k16, p1, k22, k2tog. (41 sts)
Row 27: P2tog, p21, k1, p17. (40 sts)
Row 28: K2tog, k14, p1, k21, k2tog. (38 sts)
Row 29: P2tog, p21, k1, p14. (37 sts)
Row 30: K2tog, k33, k2tog. (35 sts)
Row 31: P2tog, p33. (34 sts)
Row 32: K2tog, k30, k2tog. (32 sts)
Row 33: P2tog, p30. (31 sts)
Row 34: K2tog, k27, k2tog. (29 sts)
Row 35: P2tog, p27. (28 sts)
Row 36: K2tog, k24, k2tog. (26 sts)
Row 37: P2tog, p24. (25 sts)
Row 38: K2tog, k21, k2tog. (23 sts)
Row 39: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p18 icos, p2tog. (19 sts)
Row 40: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, k to end. (17 sts)
Row 41: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p to end. (14 sts)
Row 42: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end. (11 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With be, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 7: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 11: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 19: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Work 21 rows st st.
Row 41: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Row 42: Purl.
Row 43: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 51: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 57: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 58: Purl.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 4 in ce and 4 in gn)
With ce/gn, cast on 6 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Row 3: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 10: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 13: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 16: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 17: Knit.
Row 18: K2tog and fasten off.
(make 3 in ce and 3 in gn)
With ce/gn, cast on 4 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Row 3: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 10: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 13: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 14: Knit.
Row 15: K2tog and fasten off.
(make 2 in ce and 2 in gn)
With ce/gn, cast on 4 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Row 3: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 8: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: K2tog and fasten off.
(make 1 in ce and 1 in gn)
With ce/gn, cast on 2 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Knit 1 row.
Row 5: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Knit 1 row.
Row 7: K2tog and fasten off.
Plates
The plates are sewn along the spine; the quantity is up to you.
(make 4 the same)
With ce, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together, fold each leg in half and sew up on RS, starting at feet.
HEAD AND BODY With WS together and starting at neck, sew around head, along back and around tail to 3cm (1¼in) from back of back legs.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to back of back legs, and sew cast (bound) off row to front of front legs. Ease and sew tummy to fit body, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.
STUFFING Pipecleaners are used to stiffen the legs and help bend them into shape. Fold a pipecleaner into a ‘U’ shape and measure against the front two legs. Cut to approximately fit, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends. Fold over the ends. Roll a little stuffing around pipecleaner and slip into the body, one end down each front leg. Repeat with second pipecleaner and back legs. Starting at the head, stuff the Stegosaurus firmly, especially at the thighs, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
PLATES Starting in the centre of the back, sew on the large central plates, alternating the colours and staggering the plates one on one side of the backbone and one on the other side. Sew on the medium plates, two on the left of the central plates and two on the right. Continue as in photograph, with the plates getting smaller towards the head and tail.
TAIL SPIKES With WS together, fold each spike in half and sew up, then attach to tail as in photograph.
EYES Sew on black beads positioned as in photograph.
