Knitting Tutorial: Sunny Dinosaur Garden Helper in Green Overalls – Free Knitting Pattern.

Knitting Tutorial: Sunny Dinosaur Garden Helper in Green Overalls – Free Knitting Pattern.

This cheerful knitted dinosaur garden helper has a large sunny yellow head, soft yellow body, green back spikes, blue and white striped shirt, green speckled overalls, sandals, a blue crossbody pouch, and tiny garden accessories. The finished set also includes a blue sun hat with a bee, a small watering can, a trowel, a flower, and ladybug details.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size

  • Dinosaur doll: about 12 inches tall from feet to top of head when knitted with DK yarn and 2.75 mm needles.
  • Head: about 4.75 inches long from snout to back of head.
  • Body with overalls: about 5 inches tall, not including head.
  • Sun hat: about 4.25 inches wide across the brim.
  • Watering can: about 2 inches tall.
  • Trowel: about 3 inches long.

Materials

  • DK weight yarn in sunny yellow for the dinosaur head, body, arms, legs, toes, and tail.
  • DK weight yarn in light green for spikes, overall cuffs, hat leaf accent, and small trim.
  • DK weight yarn in medium green for overalls.
  • Small amounts of teal, darker green, and mustard yarn for speckled overall stitches.
  • DK weight yarn in sky blue for shirt stripes, pouch, hat, and crossbody strap.
  • DK weight yarn in white for shirt stripes and flower petals.
  • Small amounts of red, black, brown, tan, gray, pale blue, lavender, and pink yarn for details.
  • 2.75 mm double-pointed needles or circular needles for magic loop.
  • 2.5 mm needles for small accessories and firmer pieces.
  • Two 8 mm black safety eyes or black buttons for the eyes.
  • Fiberfill stuffing.
  • Tapestry needle.
  • Two small tan buttons for the overall straps.
  • One small button or embroidered circle for the pouch flap if desired.
  • Stitch markers.
  • Black embroidery thread for ladybug spots and bee stripes.

Gauge

Work at a firm toy gauge so the stuffing does not show through. The sample uses about 26 stitches and 34 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on 2.75 mm needles. Exact gauge is less important than firm fabric, but all pieces must be knitted with consistent tension.

Abbreviations

  • CO: cast on.
  • BO: bind off.
  • k: knit.
  • p: purl.
  • st / sts: stitch / stitches.
  • rnd / rnds: round / rounds.
  • RS: right side.
  • WS: wrong side.
  • kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch, increasing 1 stitch.
  • m1: make 1 stitch by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting through the back loop.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together, decreasing 1 stitch.
  • ssk: slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops.
  • p2tog: purl 2 stitches together.
  • st st: stockinette stitch, knit every round when working in the round or knit RS rows and purl WS rows when working flat.

Construction Notes

The dinosaur is knitted mostly in the round from the bottom up. The head is shaped separately as a long oval snout and rounded back head, then sewn onto the neck at a slight upward angle. The overalls are built directly over the body shape, with separate bib, straps, shorts cuffs, and speckled embroidery.

Small details make this doll match the garden-helper style: a blue pouch crossing the chest, a red ladybug patch on the pouch, a daisy and ladybug on the head, a soft blue sun hat with a bee, and tiny tools placed beside the doll. Keep seams neat and stuff the pieces gradually for a smooth rounded look.

Body and Green Overalls Base

The body is worked from the lower body upward. The yellow dinosaur body is mostly hidden by green overalls, but a yellow neck and side edges should still show. Use medium green for most of the body section so the overalls appear fitted over the belly.

Lower Body

  1. With medium green yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 12 sts. Join in the round, placing a marker at the beginning of the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 12 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 24 sts.
  4. Rnd 3: k all sts. 24 sts.
  5. Rnd 4: repeat k1, kfb around. 36 sts.
  6. Rnd 5: k all sts. 36 sts.
  7. Rnd 6: repeat k2, kfb around. 48 sts.
  8. Rnds 7 to 14: k all sts for 8 rnds. 48 sts.
  9. Rnd 15: repeat k6, k2tog around. 42 sts.
  10. Rnds 16 to 23: k all sts for 8 rnds. 42 sts.
  11. Rnd 24: repeat k5, k2tog around. 36 sts.
  12. Rnds 25 to 30: k all sts for 6 rnds. 36 sts.
  13. Rnd 31: change to sunny yellow yarn and k all sts. This begins the upper chest and neck area above the overalls.
  14. Rnd 32: repeat k4, k2tog around. 30 sts.
  15. Rnds 33 to 37: k all sts for 5 rnds. 30 sts.
  16. Rnd 38: repeat k3, k2tog around. 24 sts.
  17. Rnds 39 to 42: k all sts for 4 rnds. 24 sts.
  18. Stuff the body firmly, shaping the lower green section into a rounded pear shape.
  19. Rnd 43: repeat k2, k2tog around. 18 sts.
  20. Rnds 44 to 47: k all sts for 4 rnds to form a short neck. 18 sts.
  21. BO, leaving a long tail for sewing the head in place later.

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Overall Bib

The overalls in the photo have a green front bib rising over the striped shirt. This bib is knitted flat and sewn to the front upper body after the shirt section is added.

  1. With medium green yarn, CO 18 sts.
  2. Row 1, RS: k all sts.
  3. Row 2, WS: p all sts.
  4. Rows 3 to 8: continue in st st.
  5. Row 9: k2tog, k14, ssk. 16 sts.
  6. Row 10: p all sts.
  7. Row 11: k2tog, k12, ssk. 14 sts.
  8. Row 12: p all sts.
  9. Rows 13 to 16: continue in st st. 14 sts.
  10. BO loosely.
  11. Using teal and darker green yarn, embroider tiny V-shaped stitches randomly over the bib and lower overalls. Keep the stitches short so they look like small garden speckles.

Overall Shorts Cuffs

  1. Make 2 cuffs. With light green yarn, CO 30 sts.
  2. Rows 1 to 4: k all sts to create garter stitch ridges.
  3. BO, leaving a sewing tail.
  4. Wrap one cuff around each upper leg opening after the legs are attached. Sew the short ends together and stitch the cuff to the lower green body.

Overall Straps

  1. Make 2 straps. With medium green yarn, CO 5 sts.
  2. Rows 1 to 32: k all sts.
  3. BO, leaving a tail.
  4. Cross the straps over the shoulders from the top corners of the bib to the upper back of the overalls.
  5. Sew one small tan button to each front strap end, exactly where the strap meets the bib.

Striped Shirt Sleeves and Chest Bands

The blue and white striped shirt is visible on the chest and arms. Add a knitted striped chest band around the upper body before attaching the bib. The stripes should be narrow and even, with blue as the stronger color.

Chest Shirt Band

  1. With sky blue yarn, CO 38 sts.
  2. Row 1, RS: k all sts.
  3. Row 2, WS: p all sts.
  4. Rows 3 and 4: change to white and work in st st.
  5. Rows 5 and 6: change to sky blue and work in st st.
  6. Rows 7 and 8: change to white and work in st st.
  7. Rows 9 and 10: change to sky blue and work in st st.
  8. BO.
  9. Wrap the band around the upper yellow body below the neck. Sew the back seam and secure the top and bottom edges with small hidden stitches.

Sleeves

  1. Make 2 sleeves. With sky blue yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 18 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 and 2: k with sky blue. 18 sts.
  3. Rnds 3 and 4: k with white. 18 sts.
  4. Rnds 5 and 6: k with sky blue. 18 sts.
  5. Rnds 7 and 8: k with white. 18 sts.
  6. Rnds 9 and 10: k with sky blue. 18 sts.
  7. Rnd 11: repeat k4, k2tog around. 15 sts.
  8. Rnd 12: k all sts with sky blue. 15 sts.
  9. BO loosely.
  10. Slide each sleeve over the top of one yellow arm before sewing the arm to the body.

Legs, Feet, and Toes

The dinosaur has long yellow legs extending below the green overall shorts. The feet are rounded and open-toed because the sandals show three yellow toes on each foot. Work both legs the same way.

Legs

  1. Make 2 legs. With sunny yellow yarn, CO 18 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 to 12: k all sts. 18 sts.
  3. Rnd 13: repeat k5, kfb around. 21 sts.
  4. Rnds 14 to 20: k all sts. 21 sts.
  5. Begin foot shaping. Rnd 21: k7, kfb 7 times, k7. 28 sts.
  6. Rnds 22 to 25: k all sts. 28 sts.
  7. Rnd 26: k8, repeat k2tog 6 times, k8. 22 sts.
  8. Rnd 27: k all sts. 22 sts.
  9. Stuff the leg and foot firmly, shaping the foot forward and slightly flattened underneath.
  10. Rnd 28: repeat k2tog around. 11 sts.
  11. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.

Toes

  1. Make 6 toes. With sunny yellow yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 to 5: k all sts. 8 sts.
  3. Rnd 6: k2tog around. 4 sts.
  4. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and lightly stuff if needed.
  5. Sew 3 toes to the front of each foot. Place the center toe slightly forward and the side toes slightly angled outward.

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Sandals

The sandals are tan with a light sole edge and crossover straps. The photo shows open sandals sitting under the toes with a small flower on one strap. Keep the sandals snug so the yellow toes remain visible.

Sandal Soles

  1. Make 2 soles. With tan yarn and 2.5 mm needles, CO 8 sts.
  2. Row 1: k all sts.
  3. Row 2: kfb, k6, kfb. 10 sts.
  4. Rows 3 to 6: k all sts.
  5. Row 7: kfb, k8, kfb. 12 sts.
  6. Rows 8 to 18: k all sts.
  7. Row 19: k2tog, k8, ssk. 10 sts.
  8. Row 20: k all sts.
  9. Row 21: k2tog, k6, ssk. 8 sts.
  10. BO.
  11. With pale cream yarn, sew a blanket-style running stitch around the outside edge of each sole.

Sandal Straps

  1. For each sandal, make 2 short straps. With tan yarn, CO 4 sts.
  2. Rows 1 to 14: k all sts.
  3. BO.
  4. Sew one strap diagonally from the inner side of the sole to the outer top side across the toes.
  5. Sew the second strap diagonally in the opposite direction to make a soft X over the front foot.
  6. For the ankle strap, CO 4 sts and knit 22 rows. BO and wrap around the ankle.
  7. Sew a tiny lavender flower on the outer side of one sandal strap. Make the flower with 5 straight stitches around a yellow center knot.

Arms and Hands

The arms are yellow with small mitten-like hands. They sit under the striped sleeves and point slightly downward, matching the relaxed sitting pose in the photo.

  1. Make 2 arms. With sunny yellow yarn, CO 10 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 10 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: repeat k1, kfb around. 15 sts.
  4. Rnds 3 to 8: k all sts. 15 sts.
  5. Rnd 9: repeat k3, k2tog around. 12 sts.
  6. Rnds 10 to 22: k all sts. 12 sts.
  7. Stuff the hand firmly and the upper arm lightly.
  8. Rnd 23: k2tog around. 6 sts.
  9. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.
  10. Place each sleeve over the upper arm. Sew the arms to the body sides just below the shoulders, angled slightly forward.

Tail

The tail is yellow and tapers from a soft base to a rounded point. It sits behind the body and curves slightly outward. The green spikes will later continue down the tail.

  1. With sunny yellow yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 8 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: repeat k1, kfb around. 12 sts.
  4. Rnd 3: k all sts. 12 sts.
  5. Rnd 4: repeat k2, kfb around. 16 sts.
  6. Rnds 5 to 8: k all sts. 16 sts.
  7. Rnd 9: repeat k3, kfb around. 20 sts.
  8. Rnds 10 to 16: k all sts. 20 sts.
  9. Rnd 17: repeat k3, k2tog around. 16 sts.
  10. Rnds 18 to 20: k all sts. 16 sts.
  11. Stuff the tail, keeping the tip softer than the base.
  12. Rnd 21: repeat k2, k2tog around. 12 sts.
  13. Rnd 22: k2tog around. 6 sts.
  14. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.
  15. Sew the wider end of the tail to the back lower body, centered below the overalls.

Head and Snout

The head is the main feature of the doll. It is large, oval, and slightly longer toward the snout. The neck joins under the back half of the head so the dinosaur looks gently upward and friendly.

  1. With sunny yellow yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 12 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 24 sts.
  4. Rnd 3: k all sts. 24 sts.
  5. Rnd 4: repeat k1, kfb around. 36 sts.
  6. Rnd 5: k all sts. 36 sts.
  7. Rnd 6: repeat k2, kfb around. 48 sts.
  8. Rnd 7: k all sts. 48 sts.
  9. Rnd 8: repeat k3, kfb around. 60 sts.
  10. Rnds 9 to 22: k all sts for 14 rnds. 60 sts.
  11. Begin snout fullness. Rnd 23: k20, kfb 12 times, k28. 72 sts.
  12. Rnds 24 to 34: k all sts. 72 sts.
  13. Rnd 35: k20, repeat k4, k2tog 4 times, k28. 68 sts.
  14. Rnd 36: k all sts. 68 sts.
  15. Rnd 37: k18, repeat k3, k2tog 5 times, k25. 63 sts.
  16. Rnd 38: k all sts. 63 sts.
  17. Rnd 39: repeat k7, k2tog around. 56 sts.
  18. Rnd 40: k all sts. 56 sts.
  19. Rnd 41: repeat k6, k2tog around. 49 sts.
  20. Rnd 42: k all sts. 49 sts.
  21. Rnd 43: repeat k5, k2tog around. 42 sts.
  22. Rnd 44: k all sts. 42 sts.
  23. Insert the safety eyes between Rnds 26 and 27, spaced about 18 sts apart across the upper front sides of the head. Place them slightly high and back from the snout.
  24. Start stuffing firmly. Add more stuffing to the snout area so it becomes rounded and long, not flat.
  25. Rnd 45: repeat k4, k2tog around. 35 sts.
  26. Rnd 46: repeat k3, k2tog around. 28 sts.
  27. Rnd 47: repeat k2, k2tog around. 21 sts.
  28. Rnd 48: repeat k1, k2tog around. 14 sts.
  29. Rnd 49: k2tog around. 7 sts.
  30. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.

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Nostrils

  1. With sunny yellow yarn, make 2 small bobbles. CO 5 sts.
  2. Row 1: k all sts.
  3. Row 2: p all sts.
  4. Row 3: k2tog, k1, ssk. 3 sts.
  5. Cut yarn, thread through the 3 sts, pull tight, and form a tiny bump.
  6. Sew the nostril bumps onto the front snout, about 1 inch apart and slightly lower than the eyes.

Green Head and Back Spikes

The dinosaur has soft green triangular spikes running from the top of the head down the back and onto the tail. The spikes are rounded rather than sharp, so stuff them very lightly or leave them flat for a soft toy finish.

  1. Make 8 spikes total. Make 2 larger head spikes, 4 back spikes, and 2 tail spikes.
  2. For a large head spike, with light green yarn CO 14 sts.
  3. Row 1, WS: p all sts.
  4. Row 2, RS: k all sts.
  5. Row 3: p all sts.
  6. Row 4: k2tog, k10, ssk. 12 sts.
  7. Row 5: p all sts.
  8. Row 6: k2tog, k8, ssk. 10 sts.
  9. Row 7: p all sts.
  10. Row 8: k2tog, k6, ssk. 8 sts.
  11. Row 9: p all sts.
  12. Row 10: k2tog, k4, ssk. 6 sts.
  13. Row 11: p all sts.
  14. Row 12: k2tog, k2, ssk. 4 sts.
  15. Row 13: p all sts.
  16. Row 14: k2tog twice. 2 sts.
  17. Row 15: p2tog. 1 st.
  18. Cut yarn and pull through.
  19. For each smaller spike, CO 10 sts and work the same decrease method until 1 st remains.
  20. Sew 2 larger spikes on the top of the head, one near the crown and one slightly behind it.
  21. Sew 4 smaller spikes down the center back, beginning behind the neck and ending above the tail.
  22. Sew 2 small spikes along the top of the tail.

Head Daisy and Ladybug Decoration

The small decoration on the head has a white daisy under a red ladybug. It sits near one top side of the head, close to the green head spike.

Daisy

  1. With white yarn and 2.5 mm needles, CO 5 sts for one petal.
  2. Row 1: k all sts.
  3. Row 2: p all sts.
  4. Row 3: k2tog, k1, ssk. 3 sts.
  5. Row 4: p all sts.
  6. Row 5: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped st over. 1 st.
  7. Cut yarn and pull through.
  8. Make 5 petals.
  9. Sew the petal bases in a circle. Use yellow yarn to make 3 small center stitches.

Tiny Ladybug for Head

  1. With red yarn, CO 6 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 6 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb around. 12 sts.
  4. Rnds 3 and 4: k all sts. 12 sts.
  5. Rnd 5: k2tog around. 6 sts.
  6. Cut yarn, thread through sts, and lightly stuff.
  7. Use black thread to embroider a center line and 4 tiny spots.
  8. Sew the ladybug onto the daisy, then sew the daisy to the top side of the head.

Blue Crossbody Pouch

The pouch is sky blue with a rounded bottom and a long strap crossing from shoulder to opposite hip. A red ladybug patch sits on the front flap. This gives the dinosaur the garden-helper look shown in the photo.

Pouch Bag

  1. With sky blue yarn, CO 16 sts.
  2. Row 1, RS: k all sts.
  3. Row 2, WS: p all sts.
  4. Rows 3 to 12: continue in st st.
  5. Row 13: k2tog, k12, ssk. 14 sts.
  6. Row 14: p all sts.
  7. Row 15: k2tog, k10, ssk. 12 sts.
  8. Row 16: p all sts.
  9. Rows 17 to 20: continue in st st. 12 sts.
  10. BO.
  11. Fold the bottom third slightly upward and sew the side edges to create a shallow pouch pocket. Keep the top flap visible.

Pouch Strap

  1. With sky blue yarn, CO 5 sts.
  2. Rows 1 to 78: k all sts.
  3. BO.
  4. Sew one end of the strap to the back top of the pouch.
  5. Place the pouch on the dinosaur’s lower front right side. Wrap the strap across the chest to the opposite shoulder and sew securely at the back.

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Ladybug Patch for Pouch

  1. With red yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 8 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb around. 16 sts.
  4. Rnds 3 and 4: k all sts. 16 sts.
  5. Rnd 5: k2tog around. 8 sts.
  6. Cut yarn and gather closed.
  7. Flatten slightly. Embroider a black center line, black head, and 6 tiny spots.
  8. Sew the patch to the lower right front of the pouch.

Blue Sun Hat with Bee

The hat is knitted separately and placed beside the dinosaur, as shown in the image. It has a rounded blue crown, wide brim, simple stitch accents, and a tiny bee on the brim.

Hat Crown

  1. With sky blue yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 12 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb around. 24 sts.
  4. Rnd 3: k all sts. 24 sts.
  5. Rnd 4: repeat k1, kfb around. 36 sts.
  6. Rnd 5: k all sts. 36 sts.
  7. Rnd 6: repeat k2, kfb around. 48 sts.
  8. Rnds 7 to 17: k all sts. 48 sts.
  9. Rnd 18: repeat k6, k2tog around. 42 sts.
  10. Rnds 19 to 21: k all sts. 42 sts.
  11. BO loosely.
  12. Stuff the crown very lightly or leave it hollow if you want it to sit naturally on the table.

Hat Brim

  1. With sky blue yarn, CO 72 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 to 4: k all sts.
  3. Rnd 5: repeat k10, kfb around, ending with k2. 79 sts.
  4. Rnds 6 to 8: k all sts.
  5. Rnd 9: p all sts to create a soft brim edge.
  6. Rnd 10: k all sts.
  7. BO loosely.
  8. Sew the crown to the center opening of the brim.
  9. With yellow yarn, embroider short running stitches around the front brim edge.

Tiny Bee

  1. With yellow yarn, CO 6 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 to 4: k all sts. 6 sts.
  3. Change to black yarn. Rnd 5: k all sts.
  4. Change to yellow yarn. Rnd 6: k all sts.
  5. Change to black yarn. Rnd 7: k all sts.
  6. Cut yarn and gather both ends to form a tiny oval body.
  7. For each wing, with white yarn CO 4 sts, k 2 rows, then BO.
  8. Sew 2 wings to the top of the bee.
  9. Sew the bee to the blue hat brim.

Watering Can

The watering can is a small gray knitted prop with a round body, curved handle, top opening, and side spout. It should look soft and handmade, not rigid.

Can Body

  1. With gray yarn and 2.5 mm needles, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 12 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: kfb around. 24 sts.
  4. Rnd 3: repeat k1, kfb around. 36 sts.
  5. Rnds 4 to 14: k all sts. 36 sts.
  6. Rnd 15: repeat k4, k2tog around. 30 sts.
  7. Rnd 16: repeat k3, k2tog around. 24 sts.
  8. BO. Stuff lightly so the can keeps a rounded cylinder shape.

Can Base

  1. With gray yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnd 1: kfb around. 16 sts.
  3. Rnd 2: repeat k1, kfb around. 24 sts.
  4. BO.
  5. Sew this circle to the bottom of the can body.

Can Rim, Handle, and Spout

  1. For the top rim, with gray yarn CO 28 sts, knit 3 rows, and BO. Sew around the top opening.
  2. For the handle, CO 5 sts with gray yarn and knit 28 rows. BO. Curve it into a C shape and sew to one side of the can.
  3. For the spout, CO 8 sts, join in the round, and knit 10 rnds.
  4. Rnd 11: k2tog around. 4 sts.
  5. Cut yarn, gather the tip, and sew the open end to the opposite side of the can.
  6. For the pale blue sprinkler rose, CO 6 sts with pale blue yarn, knit 2 rows, BO, gather into a tiny circle, and sew to the spout tip.

Garden Trowel

The trowel sits beside the watering can. It has a brown handle, a gray neck, and a flat light gray shovel blade with a pointed tip.

Handle

  1. With brown yarn and 2.5 mm needles, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
  2. Rnds 1 to 18: k all sts. 8 sts.
  3. Rnd 19: k2tog around. 4 sts.
  4. Cut yarn and gather closed.
  5. Stuff lightly using a narrow tool.

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Blade

  1. With light gray yarn, CO 10 sts.
  2. Row 1, RS: k all sts.
  3. Row 2, WS: p all sts.
  4. Row 3: kfb, k8, kfb. 12 sts.
  5. Row 4: p all sts.
  6. Rows 5 to 12: continue in st st. 12 sts.
  7. Row 13: k2tog, k8, ssk. 10 sts.
  8. Row 14: p all sts.
  9. Row 15: k2tog, k6, ssk. 8 sts.
  10. Row 16: p all sts.
  11. Row 17: k2tog, k4, ssk. 6 sts.
  12. Row 18: p all sts.
  13. Row 19: k2tog, k2, ssk. 4 sts.
  14. Row 20: p all sts.
  15. Row 21: k2tog twice. 2 sts.
  16. Row 22: p2tog. 1 st.
  17. Cut yarn and pull through.
  18. Sew the blade to the handle with a short gray wrap around the join.

Optional Small Side Flower

The photo includes tiny floral accents, including the flower on the head and the sandal flower. You can add one more pink flower near the hat or tool area if you want the display to look fuller.

  1. With pink yarn, CO 4 sts for one petal.
  2. Row 1: k all sts.
  3. Row 2: p all sts.
  4. Row 3: k2tog twice. 2 sts.
  5. Row 4: p2tog. 1 st.
  6. Cut yarn and pull through.
  7. Make 5 petals and sew them in a circle.
  8. Use yellow yarn for the center.

Facial Details

The face should stay simple and sweet. The black eyes are round and glossy, placed high enough to make the large snout look soft. The two small nostril bumps are yellow and subtle, not dark or dramatic.

  • Place the eyes on the upper front sides of the head, not on the very front of the snout.
  • Keep the nostril bumps about halfway down the snout front.
  • Do not add a large mouth. A tiny curved stitch may be added under the snout if desired, but the image keeps the expression very clean.
  • Lightly sculpt the head by passing yellow yarn from the underside of the head to the area behind each eye and pulling gently.

Adding Overall Speckles

The green overalls have a hand-dyed garden look with small teal and darker green marks. Add these after the body is stuffed but before the final accessories are sewn on. Work the speckles randomly, leaving some plain green space.

  1. Thread a tapestry needle with teal yarn.
  2. Make short duplicate-stitch V marks over the lower front body, bib, and shorts legs.
  3. Repeat with darker green yarn, spacing the darker marks farther apart.
  4. Add a few mustard stitches for warmth, especially near the center bib.
  5. Keep all ends hidden inside the body or woven carefully behind the bib.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

  1. Sew the legs to the lower body so the dinosaur sits with feet pointing forward and slightly outward.
  2. Sew the tail to the back lower body. Angle it outward so it supports the seated shape.
  3. Sew the head to the neck using the long yellow tail. Position the head large side forward, with the snout projecting gently to one side.
  4. Add extra stitches at the back of the neck for stability. The large head needs a firm join.
  5. Sew the arms to the body under the sleeves, angled down toward the lap.
  6. Sew the chest shirt band in place, then sew the green bib over it.
  7. Attach both overall straps and sew the tan buttons to the front.
  8. Sew the pouch at the hip and secure the strap across the chest.
  9. Sew the green spikes along the top of the head, back, and tail.
  10. Attach the head daisy and tiny ladybug near the top side of the head.
  11. Place the hat, watering can, and trowel beside the doll for the full garden-helper display.

Care Notes

  • Spot clean only with cool water and mild soap.
  • Do not machine wash if safety eyes, buttons, or small sewn-on accessories are used.
  • Let the doll air dry flat on a towel.
  • Reshape the head, feet, hat brim, and pouch while damp if needed.
  • Keep the small watering can, trowel, bee, and ladybug away from very young children if they are sewn as removable display props.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

  • The head is large, oval, and firmly attached at a slight upward angle.
  • The snout is rounded and longer than the back of the head.
  • Both eyes are evenly placed and securely attached.
  • Green spikes run from the head down the back and onto the tail.
  • The striped shirt shows clearly under the green overalls.
  • The bib has two straps with small tan buttons.
  • The blue pouch crosses the chest and has a red ladybug patch.
  • The sandals show three yellow toes on each foot.
  • The blue hat includes a tiny bee on the brim.
  • The watering can and trowel are small enough to look like doll-sized garden tools.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

To keep the knitted dinosaur fresh, store it in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Strong sunlight may fade the yellow body, blue accessories, and green overalls over time. A breathable cotton bag is better than plastic storage because it helps prevent trapped moisture.

For dust, use a soft dry cloth or a clean makeup brush. Brush gently around the flower, ladybugs, bee, and overall buttons. If the doll needs deeper cleaning, dab the surface with a damp cloth instead of soaking the knitted fabric.

After cleaning, support the head while drying so the neck join does not stretch. Lay the doll flat with the feet and tail arranged naturally. Let the accessories dry separately if they are removable. Once dry, fluff the body lightly with your hands and smooth the pouch strap back into position.

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