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An Introduction from Patricia to Your Night Fury Pal
Hello, my dear crocheters! It's Patricia Poltera, and I'm just so delighted to share this Amigurumi Night Fury pattern with you all, completely free! As a fiber artist, few things bring me as much joy as seeing beloved characters transform into cuddly, stitchable friends. Toothless, with his mischievous eyes and loyal heart, is truly a character woven into the fabric of many imaginations, and I've poured all my love for him into this design. It's your wonderful enthusiasm, your shared creations, and the ways you choose to support my work – whether through kind words, sharing my patterns, or visiting my little Pattern Parlour – that keep my crochet hooks merrily clicking away, allowing me to share these detailed guides. So, thank you, from the very bottom of my yarn stash!
Materials You'll Need for Your Night Fury Pal
Gathering your materials is half the fun, isn't it? For Toothless, we'll want yarns that give him that smooth, sleek look.
Yarn
- Worsted Weight Yarn (Aran/10-ply):
- Approx. 200-250 yards of Black (for body, head, limbs, main wings, tail)
- Approx. 20 yards of Red or Deep Burgundy (for prosthetic tail fin)
- Small amount of Black embroidery floss (for nostrils, mouth, pupils)
- Small amount of White embroidery floss (for eye gleam)
- Crochet Cotton (or thin yarn):
- Small amount of Bright Chartreuse Green (for eye highlights)
Hooks & Notions
- The Absolute Essentials:
- 3.5mm (E/4) Crochet Hook: This is my go-to for worsted weight amigurumi; it creates a nice tight fabric to keep your stuffing hidden.
- Tapestry Needle: For seamless seaming and weaving in ends.
- Scissors: Of course!
- Stitch Markers: Absolutely vital for keeping track of your rounds in amigurumi!
- Polyester Fiberfill: Plenty of good quality stuffing to give your Toothless a nice, firm shape.
- My 'Game Changer' Recommendations (Optional, but oh-so-helpful!):
- Safety Eyes (15mm, black or clear with green backing): While I've included embroidery instructions, safety eyes can give a wonderful depth to his gaze.
- Wire (16-18 gauge floral or craft wire, coated): For poseable wings and tail fins. This truly elevates the finished piece! Just be sure to bend the ends securely into a loop and tape for safety.
- Pliers (for wire): If using wire, for bending and cutting.
- Sewing Pins: Invaluable for holding pieces in place before you stitch them, ensuring perfect alignment.
Skills Required & Techniques Demystified for Your Night Fury Pal
Don't fret if some of these sound new; I'll explain the basics, and with a little practice, you'll be a pro!
- Magic Ring (MR): The perfect start for seamless amigurumi.
- Chain (ch): The foundation stitch.
- Slip Stitch (sl st): For joining and finishing.
- Single Crochet (sc): The most common stitch in amigurumi, creating a dense fabric.
- Increase (inc): Working two single crochet stitches into one stitch to expand your piece.
- Invisible Decrease (inv dec): A neat way to decrease, making your amigurumi transitions smooth.
- Working in Continuous Rounds: Amigurumi is usually worked in a spiral, without joining rounds. This helps avoid seams.
- Basic Seaming: Joining pieces using your tapestry needle.
A Note on Photos & Your Unique Night Fury Pal
Remember, each handmade amigurumi has its own special charm, just like each of us has our unique quirks! While my pattern provides precise instructions, the way you tension your yarn or stuff your pieces will make your Toothless truly one-of-a-kind. Don't be afraid if he's not an exact clone of the one in my photos; that's the beauty of handmade!
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Ready to fill your hooks with magic? The Woodland Whimsy Friends are 8 adorable forest-inspired animal dolls that are just waiting to come to life in your hands!
The Night Fury Pal Amigurumi Pattern
Oh, I just know you’re going to love stitching up this darling Toothless amigurumi! If you enjoy this free pattern, do pop over to Patricia Poltera’s Amigurumi Pattern Parlour for more exclusive PDF patterns, where you can find even more detailed guides and support my continued work. Now, let’s get to crocheting!
Important Notes Before You Start:
- This pattern is worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning of each round.
- Stuff firmly as you go, especially for smaller parts.
- Instructions are given in US crochet terms.
Pattern Instructions:
Body and Head (made as one piece in black yarn):
- Start with a magic ring.
- R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
- R2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).
- R3: (Sc, inc) around (18 sts).
- R4: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) around (24 sts).
- R5: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) around (30 sts).
- R6-14: Sc in each st around (30 sts).
- R15: (Sc in next 3 sts, dec) around (24 sts).
- R16: Sc in each st around (24 sts).
- R17: (Sc in next 2 sts, dec) around (18 sts).
- R18: Sc in each st around (18 sts), begin to stuff body, continue stuffing as work progresses.
- R19: (Sc, dec) around (12 sts).
- R20-28: Sc in each st around (12 sts). Now you are working up to the head.
- R29: (Sc, inc) around (18 sts).
- R30: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) around (24 sts).
- R31: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) around (30 sts).
- R32: (Sc in next 4 sts, inc) around (36 sts).
- R33-41: Sc in each st around (36 sts). Place safety eyes between R39 and R40, about 7 sts apart.
- R42: (Sc in next 4 sts, dec) around (30 sts).
- R43: (Sc in next 3 sts, dec) around (24 sts).
- R44: (Sc in next 2 sts, dec) around (18 sts). Finish stuffing head.
- R45: (Sc, dec) around (12 sts).
- R46: Dec around (6 sts).
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing closed.
Ears (Make 2 in black yarn):
- Start with a magic ring.
- R1: 4 sc in magic ring (4 sts).
- R2: (Sc, inc) twice (6 sts).
- R3: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) twice (8 sts).
- R4: Sc in each st around (8 sts).
- R5: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) twice (10 sts).
- R6-8: Sc in each st around (10 sts).
- Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew ears to the head between R37 and R40.
Wings (Make 2, in purple yarn):
- Start with a magic ring.
- R1: Ch 2 (counts as first dc), 7 dc in ring, sl st to top of beginning ch-2 (8 dc).
- R2: Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st to top of beginning ch-2 (16 dc).
- R3: Ch 2, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * to * around, sl st to top of beginning ch-2 (24 dc).
- R4: Ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * to * around, sl st to top of beginning ch-2 (32 dc).
- R5: Ch 2, dc in each st around, sl st to top of beginning ch-2.
- R6: Ch 3 (counts as first tc), tc in same st, 2 tc in each st around, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 (64 tc).
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Limbs (Make 4 in black yarn):
- Start with a magic ring.
- R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
- R2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).
- R3-10: Sc in each st around (12 sts).
- Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff lightly before sewing to the body.
Belly (in purple yarn):
- Chain a length that covers the bottom of the body from the back of the head to the lower body.
- Work in rows of sc back and forth until you have a piece that fits the body. End with a sl st and leave a long tail for sewing.
Eyes (in lime green yarn, optional):
- Start with a magic ring.
- R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts).
- R2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).
- Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew onto the face and then add a small white glint with white yarn on each eye.
Assembly Instructions for Your Night Fury Pal
Now comes the truly magical part – bringing all these pieces together! Take your time, use plenty of pins, and enjoy watching your Toothless emerge.
- Attach the Head to the Body: Pin the head to the top of the body, ensuring it's centered. Use your tapestry needle and the long tail from the head to neatly stitch it to the body. Aim for a secure, seamless join, picking up stitches from both pieces.
- Attach the Legs: Pin the four legs evenly spaced on the underside of the body. The front legs should be just below the neck seam, and the back legs towards the tail end. Stitch them firmly in place, ensuring they provide a stable base for your Toothless to sit or stand.
- Position the Ear Appendages: Place the shorter ear appendages first, slightly behind the eyes on either side of the head, with the wider end towards the center. Then, position the longer ear appendages behind the shorter ones, angled slightly outwards. Pin them carefully and stitch securely.
- Place the Wings: Pin the wings to the upper back of the body, just behind the neck seam. Position them symmetrically. Stitch them down firmly along the inner edge of the wing. If you used wire, ensure the wire is well-hidden and secure within the seam.
- Attach the Tail: Pin the main tail to the back of the body, ensuring it tapers nicely. Stitch it securely.
- Add the Caudal Fins: This is the iconic part!
- Pin the Right Caudal Fin (black) to the right side of the tail's flat end.
- Pin the Left Caudal Fin (red, prosthetic) to the left side of the tail's flat end. Ensure they are symmetrical and angled correctly, giving him that classic Toothless silhouette. Stitch securely.
- Facial Features (Eyes, Nostrils, Mouth):
- Eyes: If using safety eyes, insert them between Round 10 and 11 of the head, approximately 5-6 stitches apart. If embroidering, use Chartreuse Green yarn to create large oval shapes for his eyes. Outline them with black embroidery floss for definition.
- Pupils & Gleam: With black embroidery floss, stitch a vertical line for the pupil in the center of each eye. Add a tiny white embroidery floss stitch in the upper corner of each eye for that sparkling gleam.
- Nostrils: Using black embroidery floss, make two small vertical stitches for his nostrils on his snout, just above the mouth line.
- Mouth: With black embroidery floss, stitch a gentle, slightly curved line for his mouth, giving him a characteristic Toothless smile or curious expression.
- Final Touches: Gently reshape and fluff your Toothless. Use any remaining stuffing to fill out any areas that seem a bit soft. Weave in all remaining ends securely.
Tips & Tricks for Your Night Fury Pal
Here are a few nuggets of wisdom from my own crafting journey to help you along the way!
Troubleshooting Common Crochet Challenges
- Stuffing Shows Through? This usually means your tension is a little loose or your hook is too large for your yarn. Try a smaller hook for a tighter fabric, or use a clever trick: put your stuffing inside a piece of nylon stocking before inserting it into your amigurumi!
- Wobbly Head/Limbs? The key is firm, even stuffing and secure seaming. Don't be afraid to take your time stitching and go around twice if needed. A little extra stuffing in the neck can also help.
- Invisible Decreases Aren't Invisible? Practice makes perfect! Make sure you're picking up only the front loops of the next two stitches to create that seamless look.
Customization Corner
- Expressive Eyes: Experiment with different colored felt for his eyes or try embroidering different pupil shapes to give him unique expressions!
- Poseable Fun: If you didn't add wire to the wings and tail, you can always add a stiff felt backing to the wings to help them hold their shape.
- Scale Texture: For a more textured look, try working some rounds in back loop only (BLO) or front loop only (FLO) to create subtle ridges, or experiment with a very fine chenille yarn for a soft, slightly fuzzy finish.
Gifting Your Handmade Masterpiece
- Personal Touch: Add a small embroidered initial or a little tag with a heartfelt message.
- Care Instructions: Include a small note with washing instructions (gentle hand wash, air dry) so your recipient knows how to care for their new friend.
- Display: Toothless loves a good perch! Consider crafting a little rock or log base for him to sit on.
Frequently Asked Pattern & Finishing Questions for Your Night Fury Pal
Q: My Toothless's head seems to flop. What can I do? A: This is a common concern! Ensure you've stuffed both the neck of the body and the base of the head very firmly. When seaming, take extra care to stitch through several layers of crochet fabric to create a strong, stable connection. Some crocheters even insert a small piece of dowel or a pipe cleaner (bent and taped) into the neck and body during stuffing for extra support, but firm stuffing is usually sufficient.
Q: Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern? A: You certainly can, my dear! Just remember that changing the yarn weight will change the final size of your Toothless. You'll also need to adjust your hook size accordingly – always choose a hook that creates a tight fabric with your chosen yarn to prevent stuffing from showing.
Q: I'm struggling with the wire in the wings. Is it really necessary? A: While the wire isn't strictly "necessary" for the pattern to work, it really does add that wonderful poseability that brings Toothless to life! If you're finding it tricky, you can absolutely omit it. Your wings will still have shape, but they might not hold a dramatic pose. Another option is to stiffen the wings with fabric stiffener or by sewing felt cut-outs to the back.
A Final Word & Caring for Your Adorable Night Fury Pal
And there you have it, my dear crocheter! Your very own little piece of the Dragon World, brought to life stitch by stitch. Creating something with your own hands, especially a character as beloved as Toothless, is a truly special experience. Seeing these little characters come to life through your hands is the greatest reward. Remember, your continued engagement and support, whether by sharing your finished Toothless with me, commenting on my blog, or visiting my Pattern Parlour, make it possible for me to keep these detailed patterns freely available for everyone to enjoy. Happy stitching, and may your Toothless bring you endless joy!
To care for your adorable new friend, I recommend a gentle hand wash with mild soap and cool water. Gently squeeze out excess water (don't wring!), reshape him, and then lay him flat on a towel to air dry. This will keep him looking his best for years to come.