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I’ve used three different yarn for this pattern, the first two are Stylecraft special DK (camel and gold) and the other is Hayfield Bonus DK (chocolate 947). I think these colours work great but you can experiment with any DK yarn you like. The plastic eyes I’ve used are The Craft Factory Toy Eyes Solid Black (9mm) which are great but if you want to sew on eyes using yarn that will work just as well.
You can find the pattern for this little lion below so go ahead and get started. Once you’re done don’t forget to add it to the Ravelry projects page.
Materials
Beige Yarn: Stylecraft special DK – camel
Yellow Yarn: Stylecraft special DK – gold
Brown Yarn: Hayfield Bonus DK – chocolate
Eyes: The Craft Factory Toy Eyes Solid Black – 9mm (you may use yarn to sew on eyes if you prefer)
Stuffing
Hook
3.5mm (E USA)
Abbreviations
US Terms
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
trc – treble croche
tch – chain
dec – single crochet 2 together
inc – 2 single crochet in one stitch
st/s – stitch/es
lp st – loop stitch
This pattern uses the loop stitch, if you are unfamiliar with this stitch I have included some links to tutorials below.
Body
Round 1: Using beige yarn 6 sc into a magic ring. (6)
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: *1 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (18)
Round 4: *2 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (24)
Round 5: *3 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (30)
Round 6: *4 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (36)
Round 7 – 11: sc to end of round
Round 12: *4 sc, dec* Repeat to end of round (30)
Round 13: *3 sc, dec* Repeat to end of round (24)
Stuff body
Round 14: *2 sc, dec* Repeat to end of round (18)
Round 15: *1 sc, dec* Repeat to end of round (12)
Add more stuffing
Round 16: dec to end of round
Fasten off and sew the hole close.
Head
Round 1: In beige yarn 6 sc into magic ring
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: *1 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (18)
Round 4: *2 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (24)
Round 5-7: sc to end of round (24)
Round 8: *3 sc, inc* Repeat to end of round (30)
Round 9: *4 sc, inc* twice, 10 sc, *4 sc, inc* twice (34)
Round 10: 5 sc, inc, 27 sc, inc (36)
Round 11: 6 sc, inc, 28 sc, inc (38)
Round 12: 7 sc, inc, 29 sc, inc (40)
with yellow yarn, ch1, turn you work. You will now work in the opposite direction.
Round 13-14: sc into the same st, lp st, *sc, lp st* repeat to end of round (40)
Round 15: sc to end of round (40)
Round 16-17: *sc, lp st* repeat to end of round (40)
Round 18: *(sc, lp st) 4 times, dec* repeat to end (36)
Round 19: *lp st (sc, lp st) 3 times, dec* repeat to end (32)
Round 20: *(sc, lp st) 3 times, dec* repeat to end (28)
Round 21: *lp st (sc, lp st) 2 times, dec* repeat to end (24)
Add safety eyes and begin stuffing the head
Round 22: *(sc, lp st) 2 times, dec* repeat to end (20)
Round 23: *lp st, sc, lp st, dec* repeat to end (16)
Add more stuffing
Round 24: *sc, lp st, dec* repeat to end (12)
Round 25: dec to end of round (6)
Fasten off and sew the hole closed.
Legs
Round 1: In beige 6 sc in magic ring
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: 5 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc (14)
Round 4: 6 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc (16)
Round 5: 6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec (14)
Round 6: 5 sc, dec, 5 sc, dec (12)
Round 7 – 16: sc to end of round (12)
Stuff the paw but leave the legs flat then sc across the top of the leg to close as shown in the photos below.
Nose
Row 1: in brown yarn ch 2, inc in the 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn (2)
Row 2: 2 sc, ch 1, turn (2)
Row 3: 2 inc, ch 1, do not turn, sc across edge to end, 2 sc in the tip of the nose then continue sc down the other edge to end. Fasten off, leaving a tail to sew.
Tail
Take 3 strands of beige yarn and braid them together, tie a knot in each end, leaving long tails in one end to sew and short tails in the other as shown in the photo.
Ears
Round 1: In beige yarn 6 sc in magic ring
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: 5 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc (14)
Round 4: sc to end of round
Fold flat and sc across the top to close. Fasten off, leaving a tail to sew.
Assembly
To assemble your lion amigurumi, begin by sewing the legs to the 6th round of the body. Then add the ears to the 15th round of the head (the round of sc). Attach the nose. Finally, attach the head and tail to the body and weave in any loose ends.
All done? Take some pictures and upload them to the Ravelry projects page
