Knit your own dinosaur: velociraptor

A carnivore, the small velociraptor has strong claws for grabbing prey. A gang of aggressive velociraptors attack and kill the gamekeeper, Robert Muldoon, in the first Jurassic Park film. Toronto named their baseball team the Raptors, and in Australia the garage band velociraptors consists of 12 raptors.

Slightly fiddly but worth the effort, the velociraptor is a rewarding knit.

Measurements

Length: 17cm (63⁄4in)
Height to top of head: 16cm (61⁄4in)

Materials

• Pair of 23⁄4mm (US 2) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 23⁄4mm (US 2) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
• Small amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for claws and eyes
• 15g (1⁄2oz) of Rowan Felted Tweed in Avocado 161 (av)
• 5g (1⁄8oz) of Rowan Felted Tweed in Treacle 145 (te)
• 5g (1⁄8oz) of Rowan Felted Tweed in Stone 190 (st)
• Small amount of Rowan Felted Tweed in Rage 150 (ra) for mouth
• Small amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Snow 412 (sn) for teeth
• 3 pipecleaners for legs and tail

Abbreviations

alt - alternate
approx - approximately
beg - begin(ning)
cm - centimetres
cont - continue
foll(s) - follow(s)(ing)
g - grams
icos - including cast (bound) off stitch. After casting (binding) off the stated number of stitches, one stitch remains on the right-hand needle. This stitch is included in the number of the following group of stitches
in - inches
inc - work into front and back of next stitch to increase by one stitch
k - knit
k2(3)tog - knit next two (three) stitches together
oz - ounces
p - purl
p2(3)tog - purl next two (three) stitches together
rem - remain(ing)
rep - repeat
RS - right side
st(s) - stitch(es)
st st - stocking (stockinette) stitch
w&t - wrap and turn. See Wrap and Turn Method, below.
WS - wrong side
[ ] - work instructions within square brackets as directed
* - work instructions after asterisk(s) as directed

Colour knitting

There are two main techniques for working with more than one colour in the same row of knitting: the intarsia technique and the Fair Isle technique. Most of the dinosaurs in Knit Your Own Dinosaur use either Fair Isle or intarsia.

Wrap and turn method

Knit the number of stitches in the first short row. Slip the next stitch purlwise from the left-hand to the right-hand needle. Bring the yarn forward then slip the stitch back onto the left-hand needle. Return the yarn to the back. On a purl row use the same method, taking the yarn back then forward.

How to make

Right back leg

Claws (make 3)
With bl, cast on 1 st.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Cast (bind) off 1 st, p1 icos, p2tog (hold 2 sts on spare needle for working leg).
Rep from beg twice more. (6 sts on spare needle in total)
Shape leg
Row 7: With av, cast on 2 sts, with RS facing k6 from spare needle of Claws, cast on 2 sts. (10 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2. (8 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 17: K2, [inc] twice, k2. (8 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 21: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K4, [inc] twice, k4. (12 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: Inc, k4, [inc] twice, k4, inc. (16 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 29: Inc, k6, [inc] twice, k6, inc. (20 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.*
Row 33: Cast (bind) off 10 sts, k to end (hold 10 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).

Left back leg

Work as for right back leg to *.
Row 33: K10, cast (bind) off 10 sts (hold 10 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).

Front legs (make 2 the same)

Claws (make 2 for each leg)
With bl, cast on 1 st.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Cast (bind) off 1 st, p1 icos, p2tog (hold 2 sts on spare needle for working leg).
Rep from beg once more. (4 sts on spare needle in total)
Shape leg
Row 7: With av, cast on 1 st, with RS facing k4 from spare needle of Claws, cast on 1 st. (6 sts)
Work 11 rows st st.
Row 19: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.

Right side of body

With av, cast on 11 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Cast (bind) off 7 sts, p4 icos, cast on 5 sts. (9 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, p5 icos, cast on 3 sts. (8 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: P2tog, p6, cast on 2 sts. (9 sts)
Row 7: K7, k2tog. (8 sts)
Row 8: P2tog, p6, cast on 2 sts. (9 sts)
Join in te.
Row 9: K7av, k2togte. (8 sts)
Row 10: P2togte, p6av, cast on 2av sts. (9 sts)
Row 11: K5av, k1te, k1av, k2togte. (8 sts)
Row 12: P2togte, p1av, p1te, p4av, cast on 2av sts. (9 sts)
Row 13: K6av, k1te, k1av, k1te.
Row 14: P2togte, p1te, p1av, p1te, p4av, cast on 2av sts. (10 sts)
Row 15: K6av, k1te, k2av, k1te.
Row 16: P2togte, p1av, p1te, p6av, with WS facing p10 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2av sts. (21 sts)
Row 17: K15av, k1te, k3av, k2te.
Row 18: P2togte, p4av, p1te, p2av, p1te, p11av, cast on 2av sts. (22 sts)
Row 19: K12av, k1te, k3av, k1te, k3av, k2togte. (21 sts)
Row 20: P2togte, p2av, p1te, p3av, p1te, p12av, cast on 3av sts. (23 sts)
Row 21: K11av, k1te, k2av, k2te, k2av, k2te, k1av, k2togte. (22 sts)
Row 22: Cast (bind) off 3te sts, p1te icos, p2av, p2te, p2av, p2te, p3av, p1te, p6av. (19 sts)
Row 23: Incav, k4av, k1te, k4av, k2te, k2av, k2te, k1av, k2togte. (19 sts)
Row 24: Cast (bind) off 3te sts, p1te icos, p2av, p2te, p4av, p2te, p5av. (16 sts)
Row 25: Incav, k4av, k2te, k3av, k2te, k2av, k2togte. (16 sts)
Row 26: Cast (bind) off 4te sts, p1te icos, p3av, p2te, p6av. (12 sts)
Row 27: K7av, k1te, k2av, k2togte. (11 sts)
Row 28: Cast (bind) off 4te, 3av sts, p4av icos (hold 4 sts on spare needle for neck and head).

Left side of body

With av, cast on 11 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Cast (bind) off 7 sts, k4 icos, cast on 5 sts. (9 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, k5 icos, cast on 3 sts. (8 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K2tog, k6, cast on 2 sts. (9 sts)
Row 7: P7, p2tog. (8 sts)
Row 8: K2tog, k6, cast on 2 sts. (9 sts)
Join in te.
Row 9: P7av, p2togte. (8 sts)
Row 10: K2togte, k6av, cast on 2av sts. (9 sts)
Row 11: P5av, p1te, p1av, p2togte. (8 sts)
Row 12: K2togte, k1av, k1te, k4av, cast on 2av sts. (9 sts)
Row 13: P6av, p1te, p1av, p1te.
Row 14: K2togte, k1te, k1av, k1te, k4av, cast on 2av sts. (10 sts)
Row 15: P6av, p1te, p2av, p1te.
Row 16: K2togte, k1av, k1te, k6av, with RS facing k10 from spare needle of left back leg, cast on 2av sts. (21 sts)
Row 17: P15av, p1te, p3av, p2te.
Row 18: K2togte, k4av, k1te, k2av, k1te, k11av, cast on 2av sts. (22 sts)
Row 19: P12av, p1te, p3av, p1te, p3av, p2togte. (21 sts)
Row 20: K2togte, k2av, k1te, k3av, k1te, k12av, cast on 3av sts. (23 sts)
Row 21: P11av, p1te, p2av, p2te, p2av, p2te, p1av, p2togte. (22 sts)
Row 22: Cast (bind) off 3te sts, k1te icos, k2av, k2te, k2av, k2te, k3av, k1te, k6av. (19 sts)
Row 23: Incav, p4av, p1te, p4av, p2te, p2av, p2te, p1av, p2togte. (19 sts)
Row 24: Cast (bind) off 3te sts, k1te icos, k2av, k2te, k4av, k2te, k5av. (16 sts)
Row 25: Incav, p4av, p2te, p3av, p2te, p2av, p2togte. (16 sts)
Row 26: Cast (bind) off 4te sts, k1te icos, k3av, k2te, k6av. (12 sts)
Row 27: P7av, p1te, p2av, p2togte. (11 sts)
Row 28: Cast (bind) off 4te, 3av sts, k4av icos (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).

Neck and head

Row 1: With av and RS facing, k2, k2tog from spare needle of Right Side of Body, then k2tog, k2 from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 5: K2, [inc] twice, k2. (8 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K7, w&t (leave 1 st on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 8: Working top of head on centre 6 sts only, p6, w&t.
Row 9: K6, w&t.
Row 10: P6, w&t.
Rep rows 9–10 once more.
Row 13: K7. (8 sts in total)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 21: K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. (4 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Cast (bind) off.

Tummy

With st, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K2, [inc] twice, k2. (8 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K3, [inc] twice, k3. (10 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 19: K3, [k2tog] twice, k3. (8 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 23: K2, [k2tog] twice, k2. (6 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 29: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. (4 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 37: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 45: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 46: Purl.
Row 47: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 53: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. (4 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 57: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Work 2 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.

Jaws

With ra, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Work 12 rows st st.
Row 16: Knit.
Beg with a k row, work 13 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.

To make up

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. Sew up each claw and then main leg on RS.

HEAD AND BODY With WS together, sew along back and around tail to 2cm (3⁄4in) from back of back legs.

TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to top of tail 2cm (3⁄4in) from back of back legs, and sew along tummy to head, leaving 4cm (11⁄2in) unsewn at head for jaws. Ease and sew tummy to fit body, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.

JAWS With RS of head (st st side) and WS of jaws (reverse st st side) together, sew together with cast on row to bottom flap of jaws, cast (bound) off row to top of jaws and the knit fold line at the back of the jaws.

STUFFING Pipecleaners are used to stiffen the legs and help bend them into shape. Fold a pipecleaner into a ‘U’ shape and measure against back 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 body, one end down each back leg. Cut a 13cm (5in) pipecleaner, fold one end over, roll in stuffing and slip into tail. Slip a little stuffing into top of head and a tiny amount into lower jaw. Stuff the body of the Velociraptor, using the end of a knitting needle to ease the stuffing into tail and neck, then sew up the gap. Mould body and back legs into shape.

FRONT LEGS Cut a pipecleaner to fit each front leg, with one end folded over and 2cm (3⁄4in) extra to stick into body. Roll in stuffing and slip into front leg. Push end of pipecleaner into body at seam, 2.5cm (1in) from front of back leg. Sew to body and bend into shape.

EYES With bl, sew 2-loop French knots positioned as in photograph.

TEETH With sn, make approx 17 2-loop French knots on edge of jaws.

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