purlJam

# BABY DRAGON KNITTING PATTERN

**Designed for beginner knitters | Finished size: approximately 10-12" long**

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn (sample uses approximately 150 yards total)
- Main Color (MC): 100 yards (body, head, legs, tail)
- Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 30 yards (wings, belly)
- Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 20 yards (spines, horns)

**Needles**: US 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (set of 4 or 5) OR 32" circular needle for Magic Loop method

**Notions**:
- Stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Fiberfill stuffing (approximately 3-4 oz)
- Pair of 12mm safety eyes OR black yarn for embroidering eyes
- Scissors

## GAUGE

20 stitches × 26 rounds = 4" in stockinette stitch in the round

*Gauge is not critical for this project, but will affect finished size.*

## ABBREVIATIONS

- k: knit
- p: purl
- kfb: knit into front and back of same stitch (1 stitch increased)
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- MC: main color
- CC1: contrast color 1
- CC2: contrast color 2

## NOTES

- All pieces are worked in the round using DPNs or Magic Loop method.
- Use stitch marker to indicate beginning of round; move marker up as you work.
- Stuff pieces firmly as you go, especially before closing final decreases.
- Stitch counts are provided in [brackets] at the end of rounds where shaping occurs.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### BODY

With MC, cast on 8 sts. Divide evenly onto 3 or 4 DPNs (or use Magic Loop). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of round.

**Increase Section:**
- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 8 times. [16 sts]
- Rnd 2: Knit.
- Rnd 3: [Kfb, k1] 8 times. [24 sts]
- Rnd 4: Knit.
- Rnd 5: [Kfb, k2] 8 times. [32 sts]
- Rnds 6-31: Knit (26 rounds even).

**Decrease Section:**
- Rnd 32: [K2tog, k2] 8 times. [24 sts]
- Rnd 33: Knit.
- Rnd 34: [K2tog, k1] 8 times. [16 sts]
- Rnd 35: Knit.

*Begin stuffing body firmly.*

- Rnd 36: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail. Thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close. Weave in end inside body.

### HEAD

With MC, cast on 8 sts. Divide onto DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Increase Section:**
- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 8 times. [16 sts]
- Rnd 2: Knit.
- Rnd 3: [Kfb, k1] 8 times. [24 sts]
- Rnd 4: Knit.
- Rnd 5: [Kfb, k5] 4 times. [28 sts]
- Rnds 6-23: Knit (18 rounds even).

*If using safety eyes, insert them now between rnds 15-16, approximately 8 sts apart.*

**Decrease Section:**
- Rnd 24: [K2tog, k5] 4 times. [24 sts]
- Rnd 25: Knit.
- Rnd 26: [K2tog, k1] 8 times. [16 sts]
- Rnd 27: Knit.

*Begin stuffing head firmly.*

- Rnd 28: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving 12" tail. Thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close. Leave tail for attaching to body.

### SNOUT

With MC, cast on 6 sts. Divide onto DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 6 times. [12 sts]
- Rnds 2-6: Knit (5 rounds).
- Rnd 7: [K2tog] 6 times. [6 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving 10" tail. Thread tail through remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close. Leave tail for attaching to head.

### LEGS (make 4)

With MC, cast on 8 sts. Divide onto DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 8 times. [16 sts]
- Rnds 2-6: Knit (5 rounds).
- Rnd 7: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 sts]

*Stuff foot portion.*

- Rnds 8-20: Knit (13 rounds).

Cut yarn, leaving 10" tail. Thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close. Leave tail for attaching to body. Stuff leg lightly, leaving top 1" unstuffed for easier attachment.

### TAIL

With MC, cast on 6 sts. Divide onto DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 6 times. [12 sts]
- Rnd 2: Knit.
- Rnd 3: [Kfb, k1] 6 times. [18 sts]
- Rnds 4-18: Knit (15 rounds).
- Rnd 19: [K2tog, k1] 6 times. [12 sts]
- Rnds 20-22: Knit (3 rounds).

*Begin stuffing tail.*

- Rnd 23: [K2tog] 6 times. [6 sts]
- Rnds 24-25: Knit (2 rounds).

Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail. Thread tail through remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close. Weave in end.

### WINGS (make 2)

With CC1, cast on 4 sts. Divide onto DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnd 1: [Kfb] 4 times. [8 sts]
- Rnd 2: Knit.
- Rnd 3: [Kfb, k1] 4 times. [12 sts]
- Rnd 4: Knit.
- Rnd 5: [Kfb, k2] 4 times. [16 sts]
- Rnds 6-10: Knit (5 rounds).
- Rnd 11: [K2tog, k2] 4 times. [12 sts]
- Rnd 12: Knit.
- Rnd 13: [K2tog, k1] 4 times. [8 sts]

*Do NOT stuff wings.*

- Rnd 14: [K2tog] 4 times. [4 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving 10" tail. Thread tail through remaining 4 sts, pull tight to close. Flatten wing and leave tail for attaching to body.

### HORNS (make 2)

With CC2, cast on 4 sts. Divide onto DPNs (or make as i-cord). Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnds 1-3: Knit (3 rounds).
- Rnd 4: [K2tog] 2 times. [2 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail. Thread tail through remaining 2 sts, pull tight to close. Leave tail for attaching to head.

### SPINES (make 4-5)

With CC2, cast on 3 sts. Divide onto DPNs (or make as i-cord). Join to work in the round. Place marker.

- Rnds 1-2: Knit (2 rounds).

Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail. Thread tail through remaining 3 sts, pull tight to close. Leave tail for attaching to back/tail.

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## ASSEMBLY

**Step 1**: If embroidering eyes, do so now before attaching head to body. Work small circles or French knots with black yarn where safety eyes would be placed (between rnds 15-16 of head, approximately 8 sts apart).

**Step 2**: Stuff snout lightly. Position snout centered on front of head, below eyes. Whipstitch in place using tapestry needle and yarn tail.

**Step 3**: Position head on top-front of body, slightly tilted forward. Whipstitch securely all around neck area using long tail from head.

**Step 4**: Attach legs to body. Position front legs approximately 1" from head attachment. Position back legs approximately 2" behind front legs. Whipstitch securely, using photo or diagram as guide for angled placement.

**Step 5**: Attach tail to back center of body. Tail should extend straight back. Whipstitch securely around base.

**Step 6**: Attach wings to sides of body, positioned just behind where front legs attach. Flatten wings and whipstitch along the base edge, allowing wings to extend outward and upward.

**Step 7**: Attach horns to top of head, one on each side, slightly angled outward.

**Step 8**: Attach spines along back from head to tail, spacing evenly. Whipstitch base of each spine along the center back line.

**Step 9**: Weave in all remaining ends securely.

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## FINISHING

**Optional Embellishments**:
- Embroider nostrils on snout with CC2 or black yarn (2 small stitches)
- Embroider mouth with black yarn (small smile or neutral line)
- Add small "claws" to feet with black yarn embroidery

**Care Instructions**: Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent. Reshape and lay flat to dry. Do not machine wash or dry.

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**STITCH COUNT VERIFICATION**:
- Body: 8→16→24→32 (hold)→24→16→8 ✓
- Head: 8→16→24→28 (hold)→24→16→8 ✓
- Snout: 6→12 (hold)→6 ✓
- Legs: 8→16 (hold)→8 (hold) ✓
- Tail: 6→12→18 (hold)→12 (hold)→6 (hold) ✓
- Wings: 4→8→12→16 (hold)→12→8→4 ✓
- Horns: 4 (hold)→2 ✓
- Spines: 3 (hold) ✓

**Pattern complete and verified.**