About the pattern

Crochet Lion

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to publish Zsuzsi Széll’s patterns. I’m starting the series with her lion, this little lion will be about 25 cm tall. I hope you all will fall in love with this charming little figure!

Material:

• Yarn: in yellow, brown, and white colors

• Crochet hook suitable for the yarn

• Large-eyed needle for sewing

• Stuffing

Abbreviations:

• sc – single crochet
• ch – chain stitch
• inc – increase
• dec – decrease

Crochet Lion pattern

HEAD AND BODY

Start with yellow yarn.

1. Into a magic ring, 6 sc (6)
2. inc in every sc (12)
3. (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18)
4. (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24)
5. (3 sc, 1 inc) x6 (30)
6. (4 sc, 1 inc) x6 (36)
7. (5 sc, 1 inc) x6 (42)
8. (6 sc, 1 inc) x6 (48)
9. (7 sc, 1 inc) x6 (54)
   10-12. sc in each stitch (54) 3 rows
   13. (7 sc, 1 dec) x6 (48)
   14-16. sc in each stitch (48) 3 rows
   17. (6 sc, 1 dec) x6 (42)
   18-20. sc in each stitch (42) 3 rows
   21. (5 sc, 1 dec) x6 (36)
   22-24. sc in each stitch (30) 3 rows
   25. (4 sc, 1 dec) x6 (30)
   26. (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24) start stuffing to shape
   27. (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18)
   28-29. sc in each stitch (18) 2 rows – continue with the head part
   30. (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24)
   31. (3 sc, 1 inc) x6 (30)
   32. (4 sc, 1 inc) x6 (36)
   33. (5 sc, 1 inc) x6 (42)
   34. (6 sc, 1 inc) x6 (48)
   35. (7 sc, 1 inc) x6 (54)
   36-42. sc in each stitch (54) 7 rows
   43. (7 sc, 1 dec) x6 (48)
   44. (6 sc, 1 dec) x6 (42)
   45. (5 sc, 1 dec) x6 (36)
   46. (4 sc, 1 dec) x6 (30) start stuffing to shape, reach back to the neck
   47. (3 sc, 1 dec) x6 (24)
   48. (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18) stuff to final shape
   49. (sc, dec) x6 (12)
   50. dec throughout (6) pull the threads tight, close and weave in the end.

MANE

Crochet with a hook half size bigger.

1. 6 sc into a magic ring (6)
2. inc in every sc (12)
3. (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18)
4. (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24)
5. (3 sc, 1 inc) x6 (30)
6. (4 sc, 1 inc) x6 (36)
7. (5 sc, 1 inc) x6 (42)
8. (6 sc, 1 inc) x6 (48)
9-11. sc in each stitch (48) 3 rows
12. 16 sc, 6 chains, 4 sc, 6 chains, 16 sc (48) Adjust to the ears while crocheting (this is how the row turned out for me)
13. sc in every stitch, but only in one loop of the chain stitches (48)
14. slip stitch in each stitch, don’t make it too tight, leave a long tail for sewing.

LOOPS

After trying on the crocheted hat, remove it, then, going around (2-3, or all rows), crochet 12-16 chain loops into it, adjust it back to the ears, and sew onto the head.

PAW (2 pieces)

Start with brown yarn.

1. Into a magic ring, 6 sc (6)
2. inc in every sc (12)
3. (1 sc, 1 inc) x6 (18)
4. (2 sc, 1 inc) x6 (24)
5-7. sc in each stitch (24)
8. (2 sc, 1 dec) x6 (18)
9. (sc, dec) x6 (12) Change color, stuff only the brown part
10-22. sc in each stitch (12) 13 rows – no need to stuff
23. (1 sc, dec) x4 (8)
Flatten from the side and crochet together.

LEGS (2 pieces)

1. Into a magic ring, 6 sc (6)
2. inc in every sc (12)
3. (1 sc, inc) x6 (18)
4. (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
5. (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
6. sc in each stitch (30)
7. 8 sc, 7 dec, 8 sc (23)
8. 6 sc, 5 dec, 6 sc, 1 dec (17)
9. 5 sc, 4 dec, 5 sc (14) change color, stuff 10-28. sc in each stitch (14) 18 rows – continuously stuff the leg, but the top just lightly.
29. after every sc, dec (10) – flatten sideways and crochet together.

CHEEKS

Crochet flat, start with 16 chains, turn and from the 2nd stitch continue with single crochet, with row increases.
Measure it against the head, as the size depends on the tightness of your crochet. I needed 10 rows, decrease in the last 2 rows both at the front and back, then crochet around it loosely. The bottom shouldn’t be angular. Sew it onto the head. Embroider a nose, mouth, and dots or whiskers for it.

TAIL

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZY-i-cgEHI. Sew a brown pom-pom at the end of it.
Now comes the hard part, sew on the limbs and tail tip, give it bangs, or shape its cheeks to your liking.

This pattern is free. If you crochet it, please respect my work enough to mention my name alongside it!

Happy crocheting!

Széll Zsuzsi