Lion with Babies - Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

Lion with Babies – Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

Print this pattern out – purchase the PDF version here!

Supplies:
• Yarn 4/Medium Weight Yarn in…
Main color (such as light brown), darker main color (such as dark brown), furry yarn for mane, white for muzzle.
•4mm Crochet Hook
•Tapestry needle to weave in ends
•Black embroidery thread for baby lion’s nose
•Scissors
•Stuffing
•Hot glue (optional)
•14mm safety eyes for big lion
•8mm safety eyes for baby lions

Additional Information:
•Difficulty: Intermediate | Big lion size: 10.5″ tall | Baby lion size: 5″ long
This lion is so cute by itself, but paired with lion babies makes this pattern irresistible! This pattern makes a great play set for kids. This pattern features one big lion and a pattern for the baby lion. The baby lions can look different by using different colors, or making their arms stand up or lay down when sewn to their body. Let’s get started!
(P.S. I liked using fuzzy yarn for the mane, but you can use regular yarn if you simply make loop stitches where “fuzzy yarn” is used in the pattern. You can cut loop stitches in half for more of a “mane” look.

Head:

In Main Color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4: *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 5: *Inc, Sc in the next 3 st* all around (30)
Round 6: *Inc, Sc in the next 4 st* all around (36)
Round 7: *Inc, Sc in the next 5 st* all around (42)
Round 8: *Inc, Sc in the next 6 st* all around (48)
Round 9: *Inc, Sc in the next 7 st* all around (54)
Round 10-14: *Sc* all around (54)
In the next round we start making the mane. We will make the peak of the mane by working in previous rounds, which forms a longer stitch.
Round 15: Change to furry yarn or make loop stitches where a single crochet is called for.
Sc in the next 30 st. Working into the previous round’s stitch, Sc in the next st (Pic 1-2). Working 2 rounds below, make a Dc in the next st (Pic 3-4). Working 3 rounds below, make a Trc in the next st (Pic 5-6). Working 2 rounds below, make a Dc in the next st (Pic 7-8). Working 1 round below, make a Sc in the next st (Pic 9-10). You have made the peak of the mane (Pic 11). Working on our current round as normal, Sc in the next 19 st (54)

Round 16-22: *Sc* all around (54)
Now we will place the safety eyes. Add the eyes between Round 6 and 7, 11 stitches apart. The peak of the lion mane should be in the middle between the eyes.
Round 23: *Dec, Sc in the next7 st* all around (48)
Round 24: *Dec, Sc in the next 6 st* all around (42)
Round 25: *Dec, Sc in the next 5 st* all around (36)
Round 26: *Dec, Sc in the next 4 st* all around (30)
Round 27: *Dec, Sc in the next 3 st* all around (24)
Round 28: *Dec, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (18)
Round 29: *Dec, Sc in the next st* all around (12)
Round 30: *Dec* all around (6)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the remaining stitches closed and weave in ends.

Muzzle:

In White

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4: *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 5: *Inc, Sc in the next 3 st* all around (30)
Round 7-10: *Sc* all around (30)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Pin the muzzle on as shown and sew on, making sure to add stuffing before fully sewing closed. Once sewn on, weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Nose:

In Darker Main Color

Row 1: Ch 2. Inc in the 2nd Ch from the hook (2)
Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Inc in the next 2 st (4)
Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Inc in the next st, Sc in the next 2 st, Inc in the next st (6)
Row 4: Ch 1 and turn. Inc in the next st, Sc in the next 4 st, Inc in the next st (8)
Row 5-6: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in the next 8 st (8)
Row 7: Sc around the edges of the nose to smooth the edges out, making sure to place 2 single crochets into the tip of the nose.
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Pin the nose on as shown and sew or hot glue on. Weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Ears: (Make 2)

In Main Color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4: *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 5: *Inc, Sc in the next 3 st* all around (30)
Round 6: Fold the circle in half so the stitches align with one another. Going through BOTH stitches, SlSt each pair of stitches together. This will close the ear and form a half-circle shape. Once you’ve SlSt the stitches together, finish off and leave a long tail for sewing. Pin the ears on as shown and sew on. Once done, weave in the ends and cut any excess yarn.

3.4.5.6.

Body:

In Main Color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4: *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 5: *Inc, Sc in the next 3 st* all around (30)
Round 6: *Inc, Sc in the next 4 st* all around (36)
Round 7: *Inc, Sc in the next 5 st* all around (42)
Round 8: *Inc, Sc in the next 6 st* all around (48)
Round 9: *Inc, Sc in the next 7 st* all around (54)
Round 10-23: *Sc* all around (54)
Round 24: *Dec, Sc in the next 7 st* all around (48)
Round 25-30: *Sc* all around (48)
Round 31: *Dec, Sc in the next 6 st* all around (42)
Round 32-33: *Sc* all around (42)
Round 34: *Dec, Sc in the next 5 st* all around (36)
Round 35: *Dec, Sc in the next 4 st* all around (30)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the body firmly now.

Pin the head to the body. The head should learn a bit forward on the body as shown. Sew on. Once done, weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Front Arms: (Make 2)

In Darker Main Color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4: *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 5-6: *Sc* all around (24))
Round 7-19: Change to light brown. *Sc* all around (24)
Stuff the arms now
Round 20: *Dec, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 21-24: *Sc* all around (24)
Round 25: *Dec, Sc in the next st* (18)
Round 26: *Sc* all around (18)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the rest of the arm now. Pin the arms on as shown and sew on. Once done, weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Legs: (Make 2)

In Main Color

Feet: (Make 2)

In Main Color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Round 2: *Inc* all around (12)
Round 3: *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 4-7: *Sc* all around (18)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Pin the feet on as shown and sew on, making sure to add stuffing before fully sewing closed. Once done, weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Tail:

In Main Color

Row 1: Ch 34. Skip the next 2 ch, then Dc in the 3rd Ch. Dc in each of the next 31 ch (32)
Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Hdc in the next 32 st (32)
Row 3: Change to furry yarn or make loop stitches where a Sc is called for. When cutting the old main color yarn, leave a very long tail of yarn because we will use this yarn to sew the tail to the body. Working with your fuzzy yarn, work on the edge of the tail, Sc in the next 4 st.
Row 4-5: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in the next 4 st (4)
Finish off. Tie the furry yarn and main color yarn together to form a knot. This will secure the yarn. Cut the excess furry yarn. Weave the main color yarn to the very first Dc made in Row 1. Pin the tail onto the butt area of the lion and sew on. Once done, weave in ends and cut any excess yarn.

Baby Lion:

In Main Color

Round 1: 8 Sc into a Magic Ring (8)
Round 2-3: *Sc* all around (8)
Round 4: Change to main color of the lion. Working in the FLO (front loop only), Sc in the next 3 st, Inc in the next 4 st, Sc in the next st (12)
Now we will mark where to place the safety eyes. Add a different colored stitch marker into the 5th and 10th stitch in Round 4. Later we will replace these markers with safety eyes.
Round 5: Working in BOTH loops, repeat *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 6: Repeat *Inc, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (24)
Round 7: *Sc* all around (24)
Round 8-11: Change to fur color now or make loop stitches in place of the single crochets if using regular yarn. *Sc* all around (24)
Round 12: *Dec, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (18)
Round 13: *Dec, Sc in the next st* all around (12)
Round 14: Change to brown non-fur yarn. *Inc, Sc in the next st* all around (18)
Round 15: *Sc* all around (18)
Round 16: Sc in the next 2 st, Inc in the next 6 st, Sc in the next 10 st (25)
Stuff the head firmly now.
Round 17-23: *Sc* all around (25)
Round 24: *Dec, Sc in the next 2 st* all around (18)
The head will tilt the entire baby lion forward (Pic 1), so we have to add a little extra weight into the body. Add stuffing into about half of the body. Insert a small rock or Poly-fil’s small plastic pellets into the body (Pic 4). If you are using small plastic pellets, be sure to contain them in something (like a cloth sack) so the pellets won’t leak out of the stitches. After you’ve added your weight, continue stuffing the baby lion (Pic 6). Now the body will stand (Pic 6).

2.3.4.5.6.

Round 25: *Dec, Sc in the next st* all around (12)
Add the remaining stuffing into the baby lion’s body now.
Round 26: *Dec* all around (6)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the remaining stitches closed and weave in ends. Cut any excess yarn.

Baby lion’s arms (make 4):

In main color

Round 1: 6 Sc into a Magic Ring (6)
Lightly stuff the arms as you complete the following rounds
Round 2-7: *Sc* all around (6)
Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pin the arms on as you desire. If you want a standing lion, pin them on as shown. Make sure the front and back legs are pinned on at the same height, or else your lion won’t stand correctly. Once pinned on to your liking, sew on. After that, weave in the ends and cut any excess yarn.

If you want your lion to lay down, pin the arms and legs on as shown and sew on. Once sewn on, weave in the ends and cut any excess yarn.

Tail:

In Main Color

Attach your hook to the butt of the lion as shown. In your main color, yarn over and chain 10. Finish off. Tie a firm knot twice at the end of the tail new the last chain made to secure. Cut the excess yarn above the knot.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Smile:

In Black Embroidery Thread

Insert needle with thread into the middle of the nose and pull needle out where shown (Pic 1). Reinsert needle into the middle area and pull out where shown (Pic 2). Reinsert needle into the middle and pull out at the lower left (Pic 3). Reinsert into the middle and pull out at the middle bottom (Pic 4). Now take this thread off your needle and place the other thread onto your needle. Insert your needle into the bottom right and pull needle out where the other end of thread is (Pic 5). Tie ends of thread into a firm knot and bring the knot inside the toy to hide, cutting any excess yarn. Done! (Pic 6).

1.2.3.4.5.6.