Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern

This funny, friendly dinosaur jumper knitting pattern lets you add real character to a classic stocking stitch sweater. Knit him for a dino fan today! Our pattern caters for newborns all the way up to 5 year olds. Novelty knits are a great way to help kids stay cosy when the last thing they want 
to do is put a jumper on! They’ll
 be begging you to cast on this
 cute knit from Jane Burns, which features a prehistoric pal sporting a 3D tongue, arm and spikes – perfect for little hands to fiddle with. Knit the jumper in stocking stitch, with the dinosaur in intarsia and cute striped sleeves for a fun finish, You can knit the
s sleeve stripes 
in different shades for a fun rainbow effect.

The eyes on the dinosaur jumper knitting pattern are worked in duplicate stitch (swiss darning) after the dinosaur motif is finished. For a more in depth look at this technique, check out our swiss darning guide. This is a great technique for new knitters to discover as it lets you addle kinds of detail to your project without having to manage yarn changes while it is on the needle.

This technique also uses stocking stitch, simple Intarsia, and decreases. For a general beginners guide, take a look at our knitting for beginners article. To explore the specific techniques, use our stocking stitch article, Intarsia knitting focus and our how to decrease in knitting tutorial.

The dinosaur jumper knitting pattern has a close fitting neck, so don’t cast off too tightly – use larger needles if needed. Take a look at out how to cast off knitting tutorial for different cast off to try. The sewn cast off, originally created by Elizabeth Zimmerman is a good choice for this projects as it has some stretch to it.

We've used Stylecraft special DK yarn for the dinosaur jumper knitting pattern knitting pattern. It is 100 100% acrylic
 and machine washable at 40°C, making it a great choice for children's knits as it is hardwearing and easy care. But you can use any DK yarn you choose in this pattern.

The dinosaur jumper knitting pattern was designed by Jane Burns and originally published in Love Knitting for Baby magazine issue 37.

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern chart

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern sizes

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern materials

• Stylecraft Special DK, 100g in: Silver (shade 1203) x 1 (1: 2: 2: 2: 3) balls – A Denim (shade 1302) x 1 (1: 1: 1: 1: 1) balls – B Meadow (shade 1065) x 1 (1: 1: 1: 1: 1) ball – C Oddments of Lipstick (shade 1246) –D Oddments of Black (shade 1002) – E Buy Stylecraft Special DK yarn from Lovecrafts
• 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) and 4mm (UK 8, US 6) knitting needles
• 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) double-pointed needles
• 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) circular needles
• Darning needle
• Stitch markers

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern measurements

To fit 0-6 months (6-12 months: 12-18 months: 18-24 months: 2-3 years: 4-5 years)

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern tension

22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch using 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles. To find out more about tension and why it is important, see our article on knitting tension squares.

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern abbreviations

This pattern uses standard UK knitting pattern abbreviations. For a full list, see our article on knitting abbreviations.

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern

Dinosaur jumper back Using 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles and yarn A, cast on 52 (56: 64: 68: 72: 76) sts. Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Repeat row 1 a further 7 (7: 9: 11: 13: 13) times. Change to 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles. 
Row 1: Knit. 
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat rows 1-2 until piece measures 16 (18: 19.5: 20: 20: 21.5)cm or 61⁄4 (7: 71⁄2: 73⁄4: 73⁄4: 81⁄2)in from cast-on edge, place markers at
 beg and end of row to mark sleeve placement. Continue to work in stocking stitch as set until piece measures 27 (29: 32: 35: 37: 39)cm or 101⁄2 (111⁄2: 121⁄2: 133⁄4: 141⁄2: 151⁄4)in from cast-on edge, ending with a RS row. Shape dinosaur jumper shoulders 
Next row: P15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24), PM, p22 (22: 26: 28: 28: 28), PM, p15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24). Cast off, keeping markers in place

Dinosaur jumper front Using 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles and yarn A, cast on 52 (56: 64: 68: 72: 76) sts.
Work 8 (8: 10: 12: 14: 14) rows as follows: *(k2, p2); rep from * to end. Change to 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles. 
Row 1: Knit. Row 2: Purl.
Repeat these two rows 2 (4: 6: 8: 9: 11) times in total. Commence working from chart: Row 1: K6 (8: 12: 14: 16: 18), work row one from chart, knit to end. Row 2: P6 (8: 12: 14: 16: 18), work row two from chart, purl to end. Continue working chart as set to end AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PIECE MEASURES
 16 (18: 19.5: 20: 20: 21.5)cm or 61⁄4 (7: 71⁄2: 73⁄4: 73⁄4: 81⁄2)in from cast-on edge, place markers at beg and end of row to mark sleeve placement. Continue knitting until piece measures
 21 (23: 26: 27.5: 29: 31)cm or 81⁄4 (9: 101⁄4: 103⁄4: 111⁄2: 121⁄4)in from cast-on edge, ending with
a WS row. Begin dinosaur jumper neck shaping Next row: K20 (22: 25: 27: 28: 30), turn, leave rem 32 (34: 39: 41: 44: 46) sts on holder. Next row: Purl.
Working on these 20 (22: 25: 27: 28: 30) sts only, continue as follows:
Decrease one stitch at neck edge every row 5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 5) times. 15 (17: 20: 22: 23: 25) sts. Continue working in stocking stitch until piece measures 27 (29: 32: 35, 37: 39)cm or 101⁄2 (111⁄2: 121⁄2: 133⁄4: 141⁄2: 151⁄4)in, ending after a WS row. Cast off. With RS facing, and working on rem 32 (34: 39: 41: 44: 46) sts, slip next 12 (12: 14: 14: 16: 16) sts onto stitch holder, rejoin yarn A to rem 20 (22: 25: 27: 28: 30) sts and knit to end. Next row: Purl Working on these 20 (22: 25: 27: 28: 30) sts only continue as follows:
Decrease one stitch as neck edge every row
5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 5) times. 15 (17: 20: 22: 23: 25) sts. Continue working in stocking stitch until piece measures 27 (29: 32: 35: 37: 39)cm
 or 101⁄2 (111⁄2: 121⁄2: 133⁄4: 141⁄2: 151⁄4)in,
ending after a WS row. Cast off.

Dinosaur jumper knitting pattern eyes Using chart as a guide, swiss darn the eyes in Black.

Dinosaur jumper spikes (make five) Using yarn B and double-pointed needles, cast on 22 sts, join into the round taking care not to twist. Rounds 1-3: Knit Round 4: (K1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1) twice. 18 sts. Round 5: Knit. Round 6: (K1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1) twice. 14 sts. Round 7: Knit. Round 8: (K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1) twice. 10 sts. Round 9: Knit. 
Round 10: (Ssk, k1, k2tog) twice. 6 sts. Round 11: (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) twice. 2 sts. Leave a long tail, thread through rem 2 sts and pull tight to close. Darn in ends, sew spikes into position using image as a guide.

Dinosaur jumper tongue Using yarn D and 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles, cast on 8 sts. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: Purl. Repeat rows 1-2 three times in total. Row 7: (K2tog) four times. 4 sts. Row 8: Purl.
Leave a long tail, thread through rem 4 sts and pull tight to close. Sew side edges together and place seam to back of piece. Sew tongue into position using image as a guide. Embroider the mouth using image as a guide.

Dinosaur jumper arm Using yarn C and 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles, cast on 10 sts. 
Row 1: Knit. Row 2: Purl. Repeat rows 1-2 four times in total. Row 7: (K2tog) five times. 5 sts. Row 8: Purl.
Leave a long tail, thread through rem 5 sts and pull tight to close. Sew side edges together and place seam to back of piece. Sew arm into position using image as a guide.

Dinosaur jumper sleeves (make two) Stripe pattern for sleeves: *Change to yarn A. Row 1: Knit. 
Row 2: Purl. Change to yarn B/C Row 3: Knit. 
Row 4: Purl. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: Purl.* Using yarn A and 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles, cast on 32 (32: 36: 36: 36: 36) sts.
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Work 2x2 rib as set. 8 (8: 8: 10: 10: 10) rows in total. Place markers for fold line at each end of last row. Work 2x2 rib as set. 8 (8: 8: 10: 10: 10) rows in total. Change to 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles.
Work in st-st and stripe pattern above. One sleeve is worked in silver and denim, the other silver and meadow, throughout. Next row (RS): Inc 3 (3: 3: 3: 3: 3) sts evenly across the row. 35 (35: 39: 39: 39: 39) sts.
Work in st-st throughout, inc one st at each end of 5th and every foll 4th (5th: 4th: 3rd: 3rd: 3rd) row until 49 (49: 55: 61: 61: 67) sts.
Continue in st-st and stripe pattern as set, without shaping, until piece measures 15 (17: 18: 19: 19: 20)cm or 6 (63⁄4: 7: 71⁄2: 71⁄2: 8)in from fold line markers, ending after a WS row. Cast off.

Dinosaur jumper neck band Join right shoulder seam.
With RS facing, using 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles and yarn A, pick up and knit 13 (13: 13: 18: 19: 19) sts evenly along left side of neck, pick up and knit 5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 5) sts along shaping, work across 12 (12: 14: 14: 16: 16) sts left on holder at front of neck, pick up and knit 5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 5) sts along shaping, pick up and knit 13 (13: 13: 18:
19: 19) sts evenly along right side of neck, pick up and knit 22 (22: 26: 28: 28: 28) from cast off stitches at back of neck. 70 (70: 76: 88: 92: 92) sts. Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 (2: 0: 0: 0:
0) sts, k2.
Work 2x2 rib as set for 6 (6: 6: 6: 8: 10) rows
in total. Cast off using stretchy bind off or
EZ sewn bind off.

Making up the dinosaur jumper knitting pattern Join left shoulder and neck band seams.
Hold sleeves in half lengthwise and place stitch marker. Use this stitch marker to line the centre of the sleeve cap with the shoulder seam, then pin sleeve into place. Once happy, sew into position. Join side and sleeve seams. Block, to finish.

Download the dinosaur jumper knitting pattern

We know many of our visitors will like to have a printer-friendly version of the dinosaur knitting pattern, so we have prepare this PDF. It is an a4 PDF of 3 pages containing the dinosaur knitting pattern and accompanying images. Click to download the dinosaur jumper knitting pattern.

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