Red dragon

By Spotlight

Project supplied by one of our favourite Creative Teachers, Jenny King, a beautiful little character

Final Result

Materials

• 2 x 100g balls Tekapo for 2 coloured Dragon one ball of each colour)
• 1 x 50g ball fluffy yarn
• 5.50mm crochet hook
• Hobby fill
• For eyes 2m Shiny & 1m dark wool
• 4 large doll chenille sticks
• 1 tapestry needle
• 2 safety pins
• optional: 1½ cups clear pellets & knee high stocking

Step 1

Tail spike
Using Tekapo, make 12ch, 1tr in 4th ch from hook, 1tr in ea ch to end (10tr).
Row 2- Row 5: 3ch (counts as 1 tr), 1tr in ea st to end. Turn (10 tr).
Fasten off leaving a 30cm tail for sewing up and attaching to the dragon.

Step 2

Dragon
Beginning at the snout and working the dragon in one piece to the end using Tekapo.

Make 16ch, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in ea st to end. Turn (15dc).
Row 2: 1ch (this is a going up st and is not counted), 1dc in ea st to end. Turn (15 dc).
Rep row 2 until 12 rows have been worked.
Row 13: 1ch, 2dc in 1st st (inc), 1dc in ea st to end. Turn (16 dc).
Row 14: As row 13 (17 dc).
Row 15 - Row 21: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as 3 ch (inc), 1tr in ea st to end. Turn (row 21 = 24 tr).
Row 22 - Row 34: 3ch, 1tr in ea st to end. Turn (24 tr).
Row 35 - Row 48: 1ch, 1dc in 2nd st (dec), 1 tr in each st to end (Row 48 =10 tr). Fasten off.

Step 3

Wings
These are worked in one piece beginning at the bottom of the wings using 1 strand of Tekapo and 1 strand of Fluffy worked together as one.
Make 32ch, 1tr in 4th ch from hook, 1tr in ea of next 9 ch, 1dc in ea of next 10 ch, 1tr in ea of last 10 ch.
Row 2: Sl st over the first 3 st, 3ch, 1tr in ea of next 6 st, 1dc in ea of next 10 dc, 1tr in ea of next 7 st, turn (leaving 3 sts unworked).
Row 3: Sl st over first 3 st, 3ch, 1tr in ea of next 3 st, 1dc in ea of next 10 dc, 1tr in ea of next 4 st, turn (leaving 3 sts unworked).
Row 4: 3ch, 1tr in ea of next 3 st, (2dc tog) 5 times, 1tr in ea of next 4 st. Fasten off.

Matching centre back of wings and centre back of dragon’s body, stitch firmly in place using Tekapo and a running stitch in a square about 3cm x 3cm. Fasten off.

Step 4

Back legs - make 2
These are worked sideways using Tekapo.
Make 17ch, 1tr in 4th ch from hook, 1tr in ea st to end (15 tr).
Row 2: 1ch, 1dc in first 5 st, 1tr in ea st to end.
Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in ea st to end.
Row 4: As row 2.
Row 5: As row 3. Row 6: As row 2. Fasten off leaving a 30cm tail to sew up the side of the leg and the top of the leg (this is the narrowest part).

Step 5

Front legs - make 2
These are worked sideways using Tekapo.
Make 12ch, 1tr in 4th ch from hook, 1tr in ea st to end (10 tr).
Row 2: 1ch, 1dc in first 5 st, 1tr in ea st to end.
Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in ea st to end.
Row 4: As row 2.
Row 5: As row 3.
Row 6: As row 2. Fasten off leaving a 30cm tail to sew up the side of the leg and the top of the leg (this is the narrowest part).

Step 6

Ears
These are worked directly into the head of the dragon in the 12th row.
Work 1dc, 2tr, 2dtr into the one spot on the side of the head. Fasten off.
Rep for 2nd ear. Fasten off.

Step 7

Back spikes
These have been worked in fluffy but they could be made with either yarn. Fold the dragon body in half lengthwise. Place 2 safety pins in the middle to help to hold it in place. This helps to identify the centre back. Work directly into the centre back through 2 thicknesses.
1dc near the tail, 1 shell into the work, work 5dc evenly along the spine, *shell, 5 dc evenly along the spine, rep from * until you reach the head (row14). Fasten off.
Leave the pins in to hold the work in place while sewing some of the tail seam using Tekapo.

Step 8

To make the head
Thread a 40cm length of Tekapo through a needle and then thread the needle through the sts in row 14 like a drawstring. Pull it up tight.

Cut off the thread near the needle and tie the 4 ends in a knot. Use the tails to sew a small section of the jaw closed leaving an opening for stuffing after felting.

Fold the foundation chains at the beginning into the centre and sew in place flat for the snout. Using Tekapo sew ½ of the back tail seam.

Step 9

Washing instructions
This dragon is made in PURE HAND WASH ONLY WOOL.

Place it in a lingerie bag (so that excess fibres don’t clog the machine) and put it in the washing machine for 20 minutes (maybe more). Use a hot wash cycle and lowest water level. Add washing powder. If your machine is gentle please add a pair of old jeans to help the agitation.

The warmth, soap and agitation will felt the wool and make it shrink to size. It is a good idea to check it after 15 minutes.

Rinse in cold water and roll up in a towel to remove excess moisture. While your dragon is wet he will need to be stuffed as desired and the final openings sewn shut with Tekapo. The seams can be disguised with the needle felting tool if desired after he is dry. Stitch eyes and legs in place and add trims and leave him in the sun to dry. Chenille stems bent into shape for claws can be added and slipped into the leg openings before stitching.

Place him in the position you would like him to stay while he dries (24hours).

Abbreviation

ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
tr = treble
dc = double crochet
sp = space
rep = repeat
st = stitch
beg = beginning
ea = each
dtr = double treble
yoh = yarn over hook
2dc tog = work 1dc until there are 2 loops on hook, then work 1dc into the next st until there are 3 loops on hook. YOH and draw through all loops on hook.
shell = 5tr into the same sp