Hug Me Triceratops Lovey – Free Crochet Pattern

*** I hope you enjoy this free crochet pattern available here on my blog! An ad-free, formatted PDF version of this crochet pattern is also available for purchase here:

After the overwhelming response that I’ve received to my Tanner the Triceratops pattern, I thought there would be nothing better than to add a triceratops lovey to my Hug Me lovey collection! Loveys are one of my favorite things to make. I love crocheted blankets but I don’t enjoying making them, and loveys allow me to have a taste of blanket making without getting bored.

This pattern was not only fun to design to match Tanner, but I had the pleasure of working with one of WeCrochet’s newest yarn lines, Brava Speckle! The colorway I used is called Snow Day Speckle, but there were so many other fantastic choices. I have a few others in my stash just waiting to be crocheted with, so you can definitely expect to see more of this beautiful yarn very soon!

If you like this pattern, you may be interested in all of my other dinosaur patterns. You can find my dinosaur patterns here.

Don’t forget to save this pattern in your favorites and add it to your project queue to save it for later! View this pattern on Ravelry here.

I would classify this pattern as “advanced beginner”. It would be helpful to have had some experience with amigurumi before creating this project.

I’d love to see what you make with this tutorial! Don’t forget to share a photo of your finished work in your Ravelry projects and my Facebook group!

Hug Me Triceratops Lovey

ABBREVIATIONS

st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
SC = single crochet
SC2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together (invisible decrease is recommended)
DC = double crochet
FSC = foundation single crochet

SPECIAL STITCHES

SC2tog (using invisible decrease method): Insert hook into front loop of the first stitch. Insert hook into front loop of second stitch. Yarn over. Draw through the first two loops on hook. Yarn over. Draw through both loops on hook.

NOTES

• Checking your gauge is not required for this pattern. Use a hook that is smaller than the size recommended for your yarn weight. This will ensure that your stuffing will not show through the stitches.
• Head, horns, and arms are worked in the round. Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of each round.
• Head and arms require stuffing. Stuff each piece as you work to ensure piece is completely filled.
• Blanket: chain 3 at the beginning of each round does not count as a stitch (unless otherwise specified).

PATTERN

Head

Using 4.0mm (G) hook: 

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

R4-6: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

R7: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times. 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (21 sts)

R8: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times. 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (24 sts)

R9: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times. 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (27 sts)

R10: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 5 sts. Repeat from * an additional 2 times. Add a st marker to the last worked st. 1 SC in each of the next 9 sts around. (30 sts)

The added st marker, and the st marker at the beginning of this round helps to indicate the front of the face. The 9 sts between the two st markers sit flat and indicate the bottom of the head. If using safety eyes, insert eyes between R8 and R9, with 7 sts between. You can now remove your second st marker.

R11: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * around. (36 sts)

R12-15: 1 SC in each st around. (36 sts)

R16: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from * around. (30 sts)

R17: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)

R18: 1 SC in each st around. (24 sts)

R19: *SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

R20: *SC2tog, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sts)

Fill head with stuffing.

R21: *SC2tog. Repeat from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand. Weave yarn in and out of remaining sts. Pull tight to close. Tie off and weave in ends.

Small Horn

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R1: Begin with 4 SC in a magic ring. (4 sts)

R2: 1 SC in each st around. (4 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Large Horns (make 2)

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R1: Begin with 4 SC in a magic ring. (4 sts)

R2: 1 SC in each st around. (4 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (6 sts)

R4-5: 1 SC in each st around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Frill Front

Using color B (shown as baby blue):

R1: 18 FSC. (18 sts)

R2: Ch 1, turn. *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st, 2 SC in next st. Repeat from * across. (30 sts)

R3: Ch 1, turn. *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts, 2 SC in next st. Repeat from * across. (42 sts)

Cut yarn and fasten off.

Frill Back

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R1: 18 FSC. (18 sts)

R2: Ch 1, turn. *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st, 2 SC in next st. Repeat from * across. (30 sts)

R3: Ch 1, turn. *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in each of the next 3 sts, 2 SC in next st. Repeat from * across. (42 sts)

R4: Ch 1, turn. Hold the Frill Front against the Frill Back. Working through each layer, around the entire Frill to beginning, working 1 SC in each st, and 3 SC when rounding each of the four corners.

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Arms (make 2)

Using color B (shown as baby blue):

R1: Begin with 6 SC in a magic ring. (6 sts)

R2: 2 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

R3: *2 SC in next st, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sts)

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R4-5: 1 SC in each st around. (18 sts)

R6: *SC2tog, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sts)

R7-13: 1 SC in each st around. (12 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving long strand for sewing. Fasten off.

Blanket

Using 5.0mm (H) hook:

Using color C (shown as speckle):

Ch 6, join with a sl st to form a ring.

R1: Working in the ring, ch 3 (counts as DC), 2 DC, [ch 2, 3 DC] 3 times, ch 2. Join with a sl st to top of ch 3. (12 DC sts and 4 corner ch-2 spaces)

R2: Ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in next 2 sts to first ch-2 space, *[2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in ch-2 space (corner made), DC in each st to next ch-2 space**; rep from * to ** 3 times, [2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in ch-2 space (corner made). Join with a sl st to top of ch 3. (28 DC sts and 4 corner ch-2 spaces)

R3: Ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in each st to first ch-2 space, *[2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in ch-2 space (corner made), DC in each st to next ch-2 space**; rep from * to ** 3 times, [2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC] in ch-2 space (corner made), DC in each st to beginning. Join with a sl st to top of ch 3. (44 DC sts and 4 corner ch-2 spaces)

R4-8: Repeat R3.

Using color A (shown as royal blue):

R9: Repeat R3.

Using color C (shown as speckle):

R10: Repeat R3.

Using color B (shown as baby blue):

R11: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), SC in same st, SC in each st to first ch-2 space, *[2 SC, ch 1, 2 SC] in ch-2 space (corner made), SC in each st to next ch-2 space**; rep from * to ** 3 times, [2 SC, ch 1, 2 SC] in ch-2 space (corner made), SC in each st to beginning. Join with a sl st to top of first SC.

Cut yarn and fasten off. Weave in ends.

ASSEMBLY

Attach small horn over R3-4, on the top middle of snout. Attach large horns between R12-14, on the top of the head.

Attach frill around the head, directly behind the large horns, at approximately R15.

Attach head to middle of the blanket. Be sure to sew to top loops of blanket only to ensure a clean look on the underside of blanket.

Attach arms to head, very close to blanket.

Embroider 3 nails on each arm by weaving yarn around R3-4 of each arm, leaving about 2 stitches between each nail.

*Note: Safety eyes and noses pose a choking risk for babies; therefore, if making this toy for a baby, I recommend using yarn, felt, or embroidered details.

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Thanks for stopping by! Happy crafting!

Nicole

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