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Dragon graph crochet pattern

Intermediate · 3 colors

PDF · US Letter · 9 pages · Change paper

Size
About 17¾ × 15¼ in (45 × 39 cm)With its border. The panel alone: about 17¼ × 14¾ in (44 × 37 cm)
Skill
IntermediateSingle crochet throughout, 3 yarns, a graph of 56 by 55 units, at most 8 color changes in a row, 8 ends to weave in

Paper for the PDF

US Letter8½ × 11 inA4210 × 297 mm

Go to the instructions

A dragon in green and orange on a cream ground, worked in single crochet from the bottom row up, one stitch for each square of the graph. The yarn not in use is carried along the row inside the stitches, so the piece has 8 ends to weave in.

The whole pillow front: 17¾ × 15¼ in (45 × 39 cm)

Graph

56 squares wide and 55 tall. One square is 1 single crochet in 1 row. Row 1 is the bottom row. Right-side rows are read right to left, wrong-side rows left to right: each row's number stands at the end it begins from.

  • A cream, no symbol 1,965 squares
  • B green, cross 787 squares
  • C orange, dot 328 squares
555453525150494847464544434241403938373635343332313029282726252423222120191817161514131211109876543211020304050

Drag the graph to move around it. The whole graph is printed in the PDF.

Gauge

13 stitches and 15 rows to 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, with the idle yarn carried.

How to measure it

How to measure your gauge

The pattern also stops you to measure after row 12.

Work a test square first (23 rows)

A test piece to measure and pull out. It is not the start of the pattern.

Gauge is counted over 4 in (10 cm), so make the swatch bigger than that: about 6 in (15 cm) each way, and count in the middle of it. Work it as the piece is worked: in yarn A, with one of the other yarns carried along the row and worked over.

  1. Swatch foundationCh 21.
  2. Swatch row 1 (RS)Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across(20 sc)
  3. Swatch rows 2 to 23Ch 1, turn; sc in each st across(20 sc)
The same graph in other yarn weights

The picture fixes the number of stitches, so a graph is resized by yarn and hook, not by counting. Each line is the same graph at a single crochet gauge inside the standard range for that yarn weight; the height follows the same proportion of stitch to row. Every size is about. The yarn amounts of this pattern are for its own gauge only. Each size is the panel without its border.

YarnSingle crochet to 4 in (10 cm)HookPanel alone, about
Light (3)154.5 to 5.5 mm15 × 12¾ in (38 × 32 cm)
Bulky (5)106.5 to 9 mm22½ × 19 in (57 × 48 cm)

No yarn amount has been worked out for these, so they are not a choice on this page.

Before you start

  • Each square of the graph is one single crochet. Every row is 56 stitches.
  • Row 1 is the bottom row of the graph and is a right-side row. The colors of every row are written in the order you work them. The direction in a row's label says where that row lies on the graph: a right-side row lies on the graph from right to left, a wrong-side row from left to right.
  • Ch 1 and turn at the end of every row but the last. The chain 1 does not count as a stitch.
  • To change color, work the last yarn-over of the stitch before in the new color.
  • Carry the yarn you are not using along the top of the row below and work over it, so that it is hidden inside the stitches. Carry each yarn across every whole row, edge to edge, from the first row it appears in to the last row it appears in: join it at the start of that first row, and cut it at the end of that last row.
  • Work firmly. A carried yarn can show between loose stitches, a dark yarn inside light stitches most of all. If it shows in your swatch, change to a smaller hook and measure again: the piece will then be smaller than the size given.
  • Rows 1 to 2 and 54 to 55 have nothing carried inside, so they are a little thinner than the rows between.
  • Worked flat only. In joined or spiral rounds the picture slants.
  • In a row, "12 A" is 1 single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches with yarn A.
  • The border is part of the piece: the first size given is with the border, the second is the panel alone.
  • Leave a tail of about 6 in (15 cm) when you begin a yarn, and weave it in at the end with the others.
  • This pattern makes the front of a pillow only: the back and the seam are not written here.
  • Left-handed. Worked left-handed, these rows give a mirror image of the picture. To get the picture as drawn, read each row's runs in reverse order.

Instructions

US termsUK terms

  • A row lists its colors in the order you work them, each with its number of stitches.
  • The count at the end is what the row leaves.
  • Tick a row when it is done. Your place is kept in this browser.
How to read these rows

Never read a row’s list backwards. On the graph a right-side (RS) row runs right to left and a wrong-side (WS) row left to right. In UK terms sc is double crochet and sl st is slip stitch.

Panel

  1. FoundationWith A, ch 57. Work row 1 beginning in the 2nd ch from hook.
  2. Row 1RSon the graph this row runs right to left56 Aleaves (56 sts)
  3. Row 2WSon the graph this row runs left to right56 Aleaves (56 sts)
  4. Row 3RSon the graph this row runs right to left12 A7 B6 A7 B24 Aleaves (56 sts)
  5. Row 4WSon the graph this row runs left to right7 A6 B11 A7 B6 A7 B12 Aleaves (56 sts)
  6. Row 5RSon the graph this row runs right to left15 A4 B8 A5 B9 A9 B6 Aleaves (56 sts)
  7. Row 6WSon the graph this row runs left to right5 A11 B8 A5 B8 A4 B15 Aleaves (56 sts)
  8. Row 7RSon the graph this row runs right to left15 A4 B8 A4 B8 A13 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  9. Row 8WSon the graph this row runs left to right4 A14 B7 A5 B7 A5 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  10. Row 9RSon the graph this row runs right to left14 A5 B7 A5 B6 A15 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  11. Row 10WSon the graph this row runs left to right3 A4 B4 A8 B5 A6 B7 A5 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  12. Row 11RSon the graph this row runs right to left14 A5 B8 A6 B3 A8 B5 A4 B3 Aleaves (56 sts)
  13. Row 12WSon the graph this row runs left to right3 A4 B6 A8 B1 A7 B8 A5 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  14. Stop and measure now, after row 12.The width, across the middle of the rows and not along the chain edge: about 17¼ in (44 cm). If it is wider, the whole picture will be larger: start again with a smaller hook, or keep going and expect a larger piece. If it is narrower, a larger hook. If the chain edge pulls in tighter than the rows, make the foundation chain with a larger hook.The height of the 12 rows worked: about 3¼ in (8 cm). If the rows are taller or shorter than this, the finished piece will be taller or shorter than the size given, in the same proportion.
  15. Row 13RSon the graph this row runs right to left14 A5 B8 A16 B7 A2 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  16. Row 14WSon the graph this row runs left to right4 A2 B8 A16 B6 A5 B15 Aleaves (56 sts)
  17. Row 15RSon the graph this row runs right to left15 A5 B2 A20 B8 A2 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  18. Row 16WSon the graph this row runs left to right4 A2 B9 A26 B15 Aleaves (56 sts)
  19. Row 17RSon the graph this row runs right to left15 A26 B9 A2 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  20. Row 18WSon the graph this row runs left to right4 A2 B9 A27 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  21. Row 19RSon the graph this row runs right to left14 A26 B8 A6 B2 Aleaves (56 sts)
  22. Row 20WSon the graph this row runs left to right2 A6 B8 A26 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  23. Row 21RSon the graph this row runs right to left13 A26 B10 A4 B3 Aleaves (56 sts)
  24. Row 22WSon the graph this row runs left to right3 A4 B11 A25 B13 Aleaves (56 sts)
  25. Row 23RSon the graph this row runs right to left12 A25 B13 A2 B4 Aleaves (56 sts)
  26. Row 24WSon the graph this row runs left to right4 A2 B14 A24 B12 Aleaves (56 sts)
  27. Row 25RSon the graph this row runs right to left11 A7 B5 C12 B21 Aleaves (56 sts)
  28. Row 26WSon the graph this row runs left to right23 A10 B5 C7 B11 Aleaves (56 sts)
  29. Row 27RSon the graph this row runs right to left11 A7 B5 C7 B26 Aleaves (56 sts)
  30. Row 28WSon the graph this row runs left to right33 A4 C9 B10 Aleaves (56 sts)
  31. Row 29RSon the graph this row runs right to left10 A9 B4 C33 Aleaves (56 sts)
  32. Row 30WSon the graph this row runs left to right27 A2 C4 A4 C9 B10 Aleaves (56 sts)
  33. Row 31RSon the graph this row runs right to left10 A7 B2 A4 C4 A2 C27 Aleaves (56 sts)
  34. Row 32WSon the graph this row runs left to right27 A2 C4 A4 C2 A7 B10 Aleaves (56 sts)
  35. Row 33RSon the graph this row runs right to left10 A7 B3 A3 C4 A3 C26 Aleaves (56 sts)
  36. Row 34WSon the graph this row runs left to right18 A2 C6 A4 C2 A4 C3 A7 B10 Aleaves (56 sts)
  37. Row 35RSon the graph this row runs right to left11 A6 B3 A11 C5 A2 C18 Aleaves (56 sts)
  38. Row 36WSon the graph this row runs left to right18 A2 C5 A11 C3 A6 B11 Aleaves (56 sts)
  39. Row 37RSon the graph this row runs right to left11 A6 B3 A12 C4 A3 C17 Aleaves (56 sts)
  40. Row 38WSon the graph this row runs left to right17 A4 C2 A12 C4 A6 B11 Aleaves (56 sts)
  41. Row 39RSon the graph this row runs right to left11 A6 B4 A19 C16 Aleaves (56 sts)
  42. Row 40WSon the graph this row runs left to right8 A2 C6 A19 C5 A6 B10 Aleaves (56 sts)
  43. Row 41RSon the graph this row runs right to left10 A6 B5 A20 C3 A4 C8 Aleaves (56 sts)
  44. Row 42WSon the graph this row runs left to right10 A25 C5 A10 B6 Aleaves (56 sts)
  45. Row 43RSon the graph this row runs right to left2 A13 B7 A22 C12 Aleaves (56 sts)
  46. Row 44WSon the graph this row runs left to right14 A20 C7 A13 B2 Aleaves (56 sts)
  47. Row 45RSon the graph this row runs right to left2 A12 B8 A18 C16 Aleaves (56 sts)
  48. Row 46WSon the graph this row runs left to right18 A16 C8 A5 B1 A5 B3 Aleaves (56 sts)
  49. Row 47RSon the graph this row runs right to left5 A9 B8 A14 C20 Aleaves (56 sts)
  50. Row 48WSon the graph this row runs left to right22 A11 C9 A7 B7 Aleaves (56 sts)
  51. Row 49RSon the graph this row runs right to left9 A6 B8 A9 C24 Aleaves (56 sts)
  52. Row 50WSon the graph this row runs left to right26 A7 C7 A4 B12 Aleaves (56 sts)
  53. Row 51RSon the graph this row runs right to left13 A4 B6 A5 C28 Aleaves (56 sts)
  54. Row 52WSon the graph this row runs left to right30 A3 C5 A4 B14 Aleaves (56 sts)
  55. Row 53RSon the graph this row runs right to left16 A2 B38 Aleaves (56 sts)
  56. Row 54WSon the graph this row runs left to right56 Aleaves (56 sts)
  57. Row 55RSon the graph this row runs right to left56 Aleaves (56 sts)
  58. EndFasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.

Border

  • With the right side facing, the round begins in the corner stitch at the start of the top edge and goes along the last row, down the side, along the foundation edge and up the other side. Row 55 is a right-side row, so that corner stitch is the first stitch you worked in row 55: it is the "first st" of Rnd 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch. A stitch in the end of a row goes into the side of the stitch that ends that row.
  • The border is one round of 212 single crochet. Each corner is 3 single crochet worked into one place (the first and the last stitch of the last row, the first and the last chain of the foundation edge that hold a stitch of row 1: the turning chain is not counted), and those 3 are the only stitches of that corner: the row end beside each corner is skipped. A row of single crochet is shorter than a stitch is wide, so each side takes 46 stitches in its 53 other row ends and 7 of them are skipped, as Rnd 1 says: with the row end beside each corner, that is 9 row ends skipped on each side. So: 12 in the four corners, 54 along the top, 54 along the foundation edge and 46 up each side (12 + 54 + 54 + 46 + 46 = 212).
  1. FoundationA finished panel of 56 sc and 55 rows, RS facing.
  2. Rnd 1RSJoin A with sl st in first st, ch 1, 3 sc in same st, sc in next 54 sts, 3 sc in last st, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 3 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 6 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 6 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 3 rows, sk next row end, 3 sc in first ch of foundation edge, sc in next 54 chs, 3 sc in last ch of foundation edge, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 3 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 6 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 6 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 7 rows, sk next row end, sc in end of each of next 3 rows, sk next row end, sl st in first sc to joinleaves (212 sc)
  3. Stop and measure now, after round 1.If a side ruffles, work it again with fewer stitches along it; if it pulls in, with more.
  4. EndFasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.

Finishing

  • Weave in every end along stitches of its own color.

In all: 55 rows; 3,292 stitches (3,080 in the panel, 212 in the border); 255 color changes, at most 8 in a row; 8 ends to weave in.

New to crochet? How to crochet