Amigurumi Dragon

This post was written for inclusion in the April Families Create! blog carnival hosted by Dionna at Code Name: Mama and Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children. This month's theme is fantasy.

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It took me a while to decide what to make for this month's fantasy theme. I finally settled on this little dragon, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out! If I find the right patterns, I might have to make a few friends (a princess and a knight, perhaps?) to go with it. It might be a while before Daniel wants to play with this critter, but I'll keep it safe for him until then.

I used this free dragon pattern from Heavens Hellcat (though I altered the pattern for the wings a bit). She has lots of other adorable fantasy-inspired amigurumi patterns for sale from her Etsy shop, including a large collection of really cute Star Wars characters.

For fellow crocheters: I found this pattern easier to follow than most, even though it was written differently than others I've seen (it allowed for more variation and decision-making on my part, rather than producing a cookie-cutter version each time). Also, while I found this a bit frustrating at times, the pattern has lots of little details built in to provide realism to the final product. I'm glad I took the time to complete all of the details, because I think they really made the dragon.

I was able to make the dragon out of some leftover yarn scraps and other yarn that I wasn't using for any other projects, so it was a very economical little critter to create. (For instance, you may be able to recognize the eye yarn from Daniel's baby afghan.) I also added a pipe cleaner during the tail construction, so now it's a bit more bendable and pose-able.

I took a lot of photos during the process, so here are a few of those:

Nostrils

Head and neck

Yum, yarn!

Working on the body/belly

Adding some tail dexterity

Tail!

My cuddly helper (I'm working on a leg.)

Almost finished with the wing. (I love the little claws!)

Spikes!

I already attached the ears, now the spikes.

Next, the legs, complete with claws.
(I anchored them to each other through the body for stability,
so they can still pivot but they're securely attached.)

The wings are attached next; I'm almost finished!

Add some eyes, and we've got a whole dragon!

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Fairies, dragons, magic, and more. Childhood is a fascinating time, filled magic around every corner. Check out what Families Create! participants created in April:

• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes shares with us the photographic tourshe went on with her children though the enchanted gardens in Photographic Tour Though the Enchanted Gardens and how her family made their very own Fairy Gardens.
  
• A submarine toothbrush holder was inspiration at Living Peacefully with Children. Mandy's children fantasized about what it would be like under the sea which she then put together with watercolors and framed for this Under the Sea Bathroom.
  
• Brenna at Almost All The Truth shares how her family made Where the Wild Things Are come to life by letting her little wild things make masks and star in their own A Wild Things Masked Rumpus!
  
• Amy at Anktangle created something very special to aide in imaginative fantasy play: a fierce but friendly Amigurumi Dragon!
  
• While Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children doesn't have her fantasy kitchen, she is making her simple kitchen work better. Check out her unused coat closet turned new Small Appliance Closet. Kitchen Shelves finally give a place to house some of the produce her family goes through. Homemade Chalkboards help keep her family organized while giving a place for children to explore their creativity.
  
• Galit Breen blogged about the magic of the tooth fairy and shared some ideas to use when it's time for your child's tooth fairy to make an appearance in What Do You Do When The Tooth Fairy Comes?
  
• Learn how to make some of the Gnome Homes for Rent that Auna at My Sweet Potatoes made for your own backyard and maybe you will soon have a village of Gnomes. Then read as she shares how to make Fairy Butter, a great snack for all the fairies/gnomes in your life.
  
• No set would be complete at Living Peacefully with Children without a Harry Potter themed I-Spy set.