Let’s face it — if dinosaurs could make a comeback, we’d all have some strong opinions on which one should return first. While T. rex gets all the blockbuster glory, I’d go in a different direction… I’d bring back the Triceratops.
🌿 The Gentle Giant with Style
With its three horns, massive frill, and beak-like mouth, the Triceratops is a true icon. But it wasn’t all about looks — this dino was an herbivore, meaning it probably spent its days munching on prehistoric plants and minding its own leafy business. No chasing jeeps or roaring for drama here — just cool, calm, and Cretaceous.
🏡 Imagine a Triceratops Today
Bringing back a Triceratops might sound like science fiction, but picture this:
Eco-friendly lawn mower — powered by plants and prehistoric charm
A new kind of therapy animal — calm, grounded, and great with kids (maybe)
Living history exhibit — no CGI needed when you’ve got the real deal
Farm-sized pet — perfect for dino-sized hugs (if you’re brave enough)
Let’s be honest… who wouldn’t want to see one of these gentle giants up close?
Crochet It Instead!
Okay, so bringing back real dinosaurs might be a stretch (and a scientific headache), but luckily, we can still celebrate them creatively. A crochet Triceratops plushie or wall hanging lets you enjoy the dino fun in soft, handmade form — no time machines required.
Whether you’re a dinosaur lover, a science nerd, or just have a thing for three-horned creatures, the Triceratops totally deserves its moment in the spotlight.
Which dinosaur would YOU bring back? Let me know in the comments — and bonus points if you’ve crocheted it!
Horny toads!! That’s what we call them anyway. Their actual name is the Texas Horned Lizard, and they are in fact lizards, not toads.
When I was little, Grandma would walk us to the school playground in the summertime, and we would hunt for horny toads. They were plentiful then, and we thought nothing of stuffing them into our pockets to take them home with us.
Mary Shelley is the author of the famous novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” commonly known as “Frankenstein.” She wrote this novel, which was first published in 1818 when she was just 20 years old. The novel is considered one of the earliest works of science fiction and has had a significant influence on the genre.
“Frankenstein” tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a creature through an unorthodox scientific experiment. The creature, often referred to as “Frankenstein’s monster,” is a tragic figure, misunderstood and rejected by society. The novel explores themes of ambition, the consequences of playing god, and the isolation and alienation experienced by both the creator and the created.
Mary Shelley’s inspiration for “Frankenstein” came from a dream she had during the summer of 1816, when she was staying at Lord Byron’s villa in Switzerland. This dream and the discussions with Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley (her husband) about the boundaries of science and the ethical implications of scientific experimentation led her to write the novel.
“Frankenstein” has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and other forms of media, and it continues to be a classic work in the realm of literature and a thought-provoking exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding scientific discovery and the human condition.
In the original novel “Frankenstein,” there is no specific mention of the monster’s color. Mary Shelley describes the creature’s appearance as follows:
“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.”
This description does not specify that the monster was green. The notion of a green Frankenstein’s monster is primarily popularized by various film adaptations of the novel, particularly the 1931 Universal Pictures version starring Boris Karloff, in which the monster’s skin has a greenish hue. The green coloration has since become a recognizable and iconic image associated with Frankenstein’s monster in popular culture, even though it differs from the original description in the novel.
The green version of Frankenstein is a very popular design for crafters, too. Today’s free pattern uses the green monster, but you can make it in pale yellow or very pale gray.
Frankenstein Tumbler Boot
Materials:
Sugar & Crème Cotton worsted weight yarn:
30 yards Hot Green
30 yards Black
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Tumbler boot measures approximately 2.25” tall by 3” diameter across bottom. It slightly tapers up to fit tumber and measures 3.5” diameter across top.
Gauge: 5 rows = 1”, 4 sc = 1”
Directions:
Rnd 1: With Hot green yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), sc 6 in second ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: *1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 5: *1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 6: *1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (36 sc). Join with sl st.
Rnd 7: Working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rnd 8: Working in both loops, sc in each sc around.
Rnd 9: *Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat twice (39 sc).
Rnds 10-12: Sc in each st.
Rnd 13: *Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat twice (42 sc).
Rnd 14: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off Hot Green.
Rnds 15-17: With black yarn, sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 17. Fasten off black.
Eyes: (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With Black yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), sc 6 in second ch from hook. Join with sl st. Fasten off Black.
Mouth:
With Black yarn, embroider mouth at Rnd 8 using straight sts.
When I began my journey as a crochet designer 8 years ago, my first published design was the Horny Toad Amigurumi crochet pattern. To this day, it is still my favorite and most popular design. Since today is National Reptile Awareness Day, I decided to create a new horny toad design, a no-sew keychain pattern.
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn:
14 yards MC
1 yards of desired color for mouth
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Fiberfill
Keychain
Finished horny toad measures approximately 3.5” tall by 3.5” wide (including spikes).
Directions:
Rnd 1: With MC yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in second ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: *1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 5: *1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnds 6-7: Sc in each st. Mark beg of Rnd 7.
Rnd 8: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around times (24 sc).
Rnd 9: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 10: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
Rnd 11: Dec around (6 sc). Join with sl st. Close with Ultimate Finish.
Eyes: (Make 2)
Mark Rnd 2 with 4 markers evenly spaced. Insert MC yarn at bottom marker, ch 1, work 3 dc in same sp, pull up lp in 3rd dc, insert hook into top of first dc, pull through lp (small popcorn). Sl st in top marker on same side.
Repeat on marked sts on opposite side of face.
Spikes:
Mark Rnd 7 on both sides even with bottoms of eyes (should be 19 sts). Join cc yarn at first marker with right side facing. *Sc ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch, sk 1 st,* repeat 2 times for a total of 3 small spikes.
*Sc, ch 4, sl st in 2 nd ch, sc in 3rd and 4th chs, sk 1 st on head,* repeat 2 times for a total of 3 large spikes.
*Sc ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch, sk 1 st,* repeat 2 times for 3 more small spikes. Sl st in next sc on head.
Fasten off yarn.
Weave in all ends.
Glue googly eyes in place so they are partially hidden by popcorn sts.
Alternatively, insert safety eyes through center of popcorn sts with eye facing toward outer edge and eye backing hidden by popcorn st.
Use CC yarn to embroider mouth at Rnd 5. Add beaded ch at center of Rnd 7.
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Mark Rnd 2 with 4 markers evenly spaced. Insert MC yarn at bottom marker, ch 1, work 3 dc in same sp, pull up lp in 3rd dc, insert hook into top of first dc, pull through lp (small popcorn). Sl st in top marker on same side.
