Free crochet pattern
Lion Amigurumi Pattern
This free lion amigurumi pattern is worked in continuous rounds of single crochet, with increases and decreases for the shaping. In worsted yarn with a 3.5 mm hook it makes a toy about 4½ in tall, and it takes about 5½-8 hours at an everyday pace, sewing included. There are 21 pieces to crochet and sew together.
- Level
- Challenging
- Size
- About 4½ in
- Time
- 5½-8 hours
- Pieces
- 21
- Yarn
- Worsted
- Hook
- 3.5 mm
The app counts your stitches round by round, reminds you when to add the eyes, and can resize the pattern for other yarns. Free, no account.
What you need
- Gold yarn, worsted weight: about 70 yd (65 m)
- Rust yarn, worsted weight: about 35 yd (35 m)
- Cream yarn, worsted weight: about 10 yd (10 m)
- 2 safety eyes, 8 mm
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
Yarn amounts are estimates with a little extra for tails and sewing.
Stitches and techniques
Magic ring · Single crochet · Increase · Invisible decrease · Stuffing · Safety eyes · Sewing pieces on
Abbreviations (US terms): MR = magic ring, sc = single crochet, inc = 2 sc in the same stitch, dec = crochet 2 stitches together (an invisible decrease looks neatest). The number in brackets is the stitch count at the end of the round.
The pattern
Work in continuous rounds. Move the stitch marker up each round.
Head · make 1 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 6 sc in MR | 6 |
| R2 | inc x6 | 12 |
| R3 | (sc, inc) x6 | 18 |
| R4 | sc, (inc, 2 sc) x5, inc, sc | 24 |
| R5 | (3 sc, inc) x6 | 30 |
| R6 | 2 sc, (inc, 4 sc) x5, inc, 2 sc | 36 |
| R7-8 | sc around | 36 |
| R9 | (5 sc, inc) x6 | 42 |
| R10-11 | sc around | 42 |
| R12 | 2 sc, (dec, 5 sc) x5, dec, 3 sc | 36 |
| R13-14 | sc around | 36 |
| R15 | (4 sc, dec) x6 | 30 |
| R16 | sc, (dec, 3 sc) x5, dec, 2 sc | 24 |
| R17 | (2 sc, dec) x6 | 18 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R18 | (sc, dec) x6 | 12 |
| R19 | dec x6 | 6 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 6 stitches closed. | ||
Eyes: Put the safety eyes in now, between R8 and R9, about 4 stitches apart. Once the piece is closed you can't add them.
Stuff firmly and sew to the top of the body.
Body · make 1 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 6 sc in MR | 6 |
| R2 | inc x6 | 12 |
| R3 | (sc, inc) x6 | 18 |
| R4 | sc, (inc, 2 sc) x5, inc, sc | 24 |
| R5 | (3 sc, inc) x6 | 30 |
| R6 | 2 sc, (inc, 4 sc) x5, inc, 2 sc | 36 |
| R7 | (5 sc, inc) x6 | 42 |
| R8-9 | sc around | 42 |
| R10 | 3 sc, (inc, 6 sc) x5, inc, 3 sc | 48 |
| R11-15 | sc around | 48 |
| R16 | 3 sc, (dec, 6 sc) x5, dec, 3 sc | 42 |
| R17 | sc around | 42 |
| R18 | 2 sc, (dec, 5 sc) x5, dec, 3 sc | 36 |
| R19 | sc around | 36 |
| R20 | 2 sc, (dec, 4 sc) x5, dec, 2 sc | 30 |
| R21 | (3 sc, dec) x6 | 24 |
| R22 | sc, (dec, 2 sc) x5, dec, sc | 18 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R23 | (sc, dec) x6 | 12 |
| R24 | dec x6 | 6 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 6 stitches closed. | ||
Stuff firmly.
Mane · make 8 · Rust
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 8 sc in MR | 8 |
| R2 | inc x2, (sc, inc) x3 | 13 |
| R3 | (2 sc, inc) x3, (3 sc, inc) x1 | 17 |
| R4 | 16 sc, inc | 18 |
| R5 | (7 sc, dec) x2 | 16 |
| R6 | (3 sc, dec) x2, (4 sc, dec) x1 | 13 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R7 | dec x5, (sc, dec) x1 | 7 |
| R8 | dec x2, (sc, dec) x1 | 4 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 4 stitches closed. | ||
Stuff lightly. Sew in a ring around the head, behind the face, touching each other.
Muzzle · make 1 · Cream
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2 | inc x3, (sc, inc) x2 | 12 |
| R3 | (3 sc, inc) x3 | 15 |
| R4 | (6 sc, inc) x1, (7 sc, inc) x1 | 17 |
| R5 | 16 sc, inc | 18 |
| R6 | 16 sc, dec | 17 |
| R7 | (6 sc, dec) x1, (7 sc, dec) x1 | 15 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R8 | sc, (dec, 3 sc) x2, dec, 2 sc | 12 |
| R9 | dec x3, (sc, dec) x2 | 7 |
| R10 | dec x2, (sc, dec) x1 | 4 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 4 stitches closed. | ||
Stuff lightly and sew to the lower face.
Nose · make 1 · Rust
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 6 sc in MR | 6 |
| R2 | 5 sc, inc | 7 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R3 | dec x2, (sc, dec) x1 | 4 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 4 stitches closed. | ||
Sew to the top of the muzzle.
Ear · make 2 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2 | inc x1, (sc, inc) x3 | 11 |
| R3 | 10 sc, inc | 12 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R4 | sc, (dec, 2 sc) x2, dec, sc | 9 |
| R5 | dec x3, (sc, dec) x1 | 5 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 5 stitches closed. | ||
Flatten and sew in front of the mane on top.
Belly · make 1 · Cream
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2 | inc x5, (sc, inc) x1 | 13 |
| R3 | (sc, inc) x5, (2 sc, inc) x1 | 19 |
| R4 | (2 sc, inc) x5, (3 sc, inc) x1 | 25 |
| Fasten off. Leave a long tail for sewing. | ||
Sew flat onto the front.
Arm · make 2 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 8 sc in MR | 8 |
| R2 | inc x2, (sc, inc) x3 | 13 |
| R3-8 | sc around | 13 |
| Fasten off. Leave a long tail for sewing. | ||
Stuff lightly and sew the open ends to the sides of the body, just below the head.
Leg · make 2 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2 | inc x5, (sc, inc) x1 | 13 |
| R3 | (3 sc, inc) x2, (4 sc, inc) x1 | 16 |
| R4-8 | sc around | 16 |
| Fasten off. Leave a long tail for sewing. | ||
Stuff firmly and sew to the lower front of the body so it sits.
Tail · make 1 · Gold
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2-11 | sc around | 7 |
| Fasten off. Leave a long tail for sewing. | ||
Sew to the lower back.
Tail tuft · make 1 · Rust
| Round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 7 sc in MR | 7 |
| R2 | inc x3, (sc, inc) x2 | 12 |
| R3 | 11 sc, inc | 13 |
| Stuff firmly. | ||
| R4 | 11 sc, dec | 12 |
| R5 | dec x3, (sc, dec) x2 | 7 |
| R6 | dec x2, (sc, dec) x1 | 4 |
| Fasten off, then gather the last 4 stitches closed. | ||
Sew to the end of the tail.
Putting it together
- Fit the safety eyes before closing the head.
- Stuff the head and body firmly.
- Sew the muzzle and nose on, then the head to the body.
- Sew the eight mane balls around the head, then the ears.
- Sew on the belly, arms, legs, and the tail with its tuft.
Make it round by round
Open the lion in the free Crochet Shelf app to count stitches as you go, see the toy in 3D, and rate the pattern when you finish.
