As with our other minis his legs, body and head are all in one piece so the only sewing involved will be the arms and ears. His mane just might have been my favorite part but let me warn you it does take some time. I promise it's worth it in the end!

I've been working on using up yarn in my stash this year and had fun mixing brands for this pattern. For his paws I used Yarn Bee Forever Plush in Ivory and I Love This Yarn in Brown for his mane. The body was made from Red Heart Soft in Honey. Any worsted weight yarn will work perfectly for this project so feel free to use your favorites or work from your stash too!

Pattern

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You may make and sell items made from this pattern but please do not sell, share or reproduce the actual pattern. If you sell finished items online (Etsy, etc) please provide a link to the pattern and credit to me as the designer, thank you. I hope you enjoy this pattern!

Materials -

• Size 4 worsted weight yarn (75 yards of yellow; small amount dark brown and white)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook (these are the hooks I use and love!)
• 12mm safety eyes
• Black crochet/embroidery thread for eyelashes/eyebrows
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle (bent tips work great for amigurumi)
• Stuffing
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations - US terminology

MC- Magic circle

SC- Single crochet

SC INC- Single crochet increase

INV DEC- Invisible decrease

Sl st – Slip stitch

St(s)- Stitch(es)

Ch – Chain

NOTES -

- Slowly stuff as you go, you want it to be firm but not stretched. You will be working in the round; I like to use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round.

- The legs, body and head will be made as one piece.

- Finished mini lion measures approximately 8 inches tall.  

Nose –

With white

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 4: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 5: SC in the first 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (27)

Round 6: SC around (27)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing onto the head. With a small piece of dark brown yarn and tapestry needle, pass through 4 sts between the 3rd and 4th rounds approximately 5 times. Create a straight line down 3 rows from the center to complete.

 

Legs - Make 2

With white

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Rounds 4-5: SC around (18)

Change to yellow

Rounds 6-12: SC around (18)

Fasten off on the first leg. When you complete the 2nd leg continue to round 13 to join the legs.

Round 13: SC in the next 7 sts (this will align our color changes to be at the back when our join is complete). Chain 3 and attach to the first leg with a SC. SC in the remaining stitches around the leg. When you reach the chain make a SC across each of the 3 chains. SC in the remaining stitches of the next leg and SC across each of the 3 chains again. You will have crocheted on each side of the chain. (42 SC) This completes your join and is where your next round will start.

 
   

Rounds 14-24: SC around (42)

Round 25: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 26: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 27: SC around (30)

Round 28: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 29: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Here is where we will start the head.

Round 30: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 31: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 32: SC in the first 4 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 33: SC in the first 5 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (42)

Round 34: SC in the first 6 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (48)

Round 35: SC in the first 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (54)

Rounds 36-43: SC around (54)



NOTE: Here is where we will attach the facial features. Place the safety eyes 9 stitches apart between rounds 40 and 41. Add eyebrows/eyelashes to your liking before securing the backs of your safety eyes.

Nose - Sew the nose centered between the eyes adding stuffing as you go.

 

Round 44: SC in the first 7 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (48)

Round 45: SC in the first 6 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (42)

Round 46: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 47: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 48: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

*Continue to stuff the head and neck firmly to avoid a wobbly head*

Round 49: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 50: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)

Round 51: INV DEC around (6)

Fasten off and sew remaining hole closed, weave in your end.



Ears- Make 2

With yellow

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (15)

Rounds 4-6: SC around (15)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

 

Arms- Make 2 stuffing lightly at the bottom

With white

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (15)

Round 4: SC around (15)

Round 5: SC in the first stitch, INV DEC in the next, rep around (10)

Change to yellow

Rounds 6-14: SC around (10)

At the end of round 14 pinch the arm flat and make 5 SC across the top to close, fasten off and leave a long tail to sew onto the body.

 

Assembly –

- Sew the ears onto the head starting at the 5th round from the top and ending at the 10th.

- Sew the arms onto the body centered with the head at round 27.

- For the mane, create a slip knot and slip stitch into a stitch near the bottom back of the head as pictured below.

o Chain 10, skip a stitch and slip stitch into the next stitch.

o Continue this process around the head until you circle back to your starting point. For this first go around you will create the mane in front of the ears as well. Continue filling in the circle until complete and full.

 
 

- Lastly, cut 1 strand of each yarn color approximately 8 inches long to make the tail. Using your crochet hook, pull the strands through a center stitch on the back of your lion and secure with a knot. Trim to desired length.

 

Your mini lion is complete! I hope you have enjoyed making this pattern.
Thanks so much for stopping by,
Stephanie