This cute little lion is part of my baby zoo collection with a total of 14 zoo animals. The pattern is also available to purchase as an ad free PDF here for £2.00.

Written in US terms with abbreviations for UK

sc=single crochet (double crochet in UK)

inc=increase by 2sc in next stitch

dec=decrease by sc next 2 stitches together

ch=chain

Materials 

40g Dk yellow yarn for main colour I used Paintbox simply dk in mustard yellow from Love Crafts

20g brown yarn I used Paintbox simply dk in coffee bean from Love Crafts

20g white yarn I used Paintbox simply dk in paper white from Love Crafts

2mm hook I use this set from Amazon*

10mm Safety eyes

Polyester toy stuffing

Needle 

Stitch marker

All parts are made going round in a spiral, attaching arms and legs as we go to make less sewing.

Lion will measure approximately 11 inches from head to toe when finished (8 inches when sat) Head

Head

Start in white 

Rnd1 6 sc in magic circle. (6)

Rnd2 *inc* x 6. (12)

Rnd3 *sc 1, inc* x 6. (18)

Rnd4 sc all. (18)

Rnd5 *sc 2, inc* x 6. (24)

Rnd6 sc all. (24)

Rnd7 *sc 3, inc* x 6. (30)

Change to yellow

Rnd8 sc 7, inc, sc 14, inc, sc 7. (32)

Rnd9 *sc 15, inc* x 2. (34)

Rnd10 sc 8, inc, sc 16, inc, sc 8. (36)

Rnd11 *sc 11, inc* x 3. (39)

Rnd12 sc 6, inc *sc 12, inc* x 2, sc 6. (42)

Place markers between rounds 11 and 12 for safety eyes.

Rnd13 sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* x 5, sc 3. (48)

Rnd14-19 sc all. (48)

Rnd20 *sc 6, dec* x 6. (42)

Place safety eyes between rounds 11 and 12, around 10 stitches apart

Start to stuff and continue throughout

Rnd21 *sc 5, dec* x 6. (36)

Rnd22 *sc 4, dec* x 6. (30)

Rnd23 *sc 3, dec* x 6. (24)

Rnd24 *sc 2, dec* x 6. (18)

Rnd25 *sc 1, dec* x 6. (12)

Rnd26 *dec* x 6. (6)

Fasten off and sew in ends.

Ears 

Using yellow

Rnd1 4 sc in magic circle. (4)

Rnd2 *sc 1, inc* x 2. (6)

Rnd3 *sc 2, inc* x 2. (8)

Rnd4 sc all. (8)

Rnd5 *sc 3, inc* x 2. (10)

Rnd6-8 sc all. (10)

Sew on without stuffing.

Sew on the 16th round of the head above the eyes.

Arms 

Make 2 starting in white

Rnd1 6 sc in magic circle. (6)

Rnd2 *inc* x 6. (12)

Rnd3 *sc 1, inc* x 6. (18)

Rnd4-5 sc all. (18)

Rnd6 *sc 7, dec* x 2. (16)

Rnd7 sc all. (16)

Change to yellow

Rnd8 *sc 6, dec* x 2. (14)

Rnd9 sc all. (14)

Rnd10 *sc 5, dec* x 2. (12)

Rnd11-12 sc all. (12)

Rnd13 *sc 4, dec* x 2. (10)

Rnd14-20 sc all. (10)

Fasten off and stuff

Legs 

Make 2 starting in white

Rnd1 6 sc in magic circle. (6)

Rnd2 *inc* x 6. (12)

Rnd3 *sc 1, inc* x 6. (18)

Rnd4 *sc 2, inc* x 6. (24)

Rnd5-6 sc all. (24)

Rnd7 *sc 10, dec* x 2. (22)

Rnd8 sc all. (22)

Change to yellow

Rnd9 *sc 9, dec* x 2. (20)

Rnd10 sc all. (20)

Rnd11 *sc 8, dec* x 2. (18)

Rnd12 sc all. (18)

Rnd13 *sc 7, dec* x 2. (16)

Rnd14 sc all. (16)

Rnd15 *sc 6, dec* x 2. (14)

Rnd16 sc all. (14)

Rnd17 *sc 5, dec* x 2. (12)

Rnd18-21 sc all. (12)

Fasten off and stuff.

Body 

Using yellow

Rnd1 6 sc in magic circle. (6)

Rnd2 *inc* x 6. (12)

Rnd3 *1 sc, inc* x 6. (18)

Rnd4 *2 sc, inc* x 6. (24)

Rnd5 *3 sc, inc* x 6. (30)

Rnd6 sc all. (30)

Over the next two rounds we will attach the legs

Rnd7 sc 6 through leg and body, sc 3, sc 6 through leg and body, sc 15. (30)

Rnd8 sc 6 through unused stitches of leg, sc 3, sc 6 through unused stitches of leg, sc 15. (30)

Rnd9 *sc 4, inc* x 6. (36)

Rnd10-16 sc in all (36)

Rnd17 *sc 4, dec* x 6. (30)

Rnd18 sc all. (24)

Rnd19 *sc 3, dec* x 6. (24)

Rnd20 sc all. (24)

Rnd21 *sc 2, dec* x 6. (18)
Rnd22 sc up to the center back, ready for the next round. (18)

The next round we will attach arms, fold in half and sc through front and back of arms

Rnd23 Sc 4, sc 5 through arm and body, sc 1, sc 5 through arm and body, sc 3. (18)

Rnd24-25 sc all. (18)

Fasten off and finish stuffing.

Pin the head in place and sew when  happy with position, adding more stuffing before closing up to ensure firm.

Mane

Mane cut lots of 4 inch strands of brown yarn

Fold a strand of yarn in half and pull the center part way through a stitch so its about an inch through forming a loop, then pull the tail ends of yarn through the loop and tighten.

Do the mane 33 stitches around the front of the head and all the way round the back.

When finished trim mane so it’s around 2cm long.

Sew nose and mouth with brown yarn.

Tail 

Cut 2 strands of yarn in yellow around 12 inches, then insert a 3mm hook through 2 stitches where you want the tail to be.

Pull through yarn and ch6, fasten off and sew in the ends. 

Cut 5, 6 inch strands of black yarn.

Fold the strands of yarn in half and pull the center part way through the end of the tail,  so it's about an inch through forming a loop, then pull the tail ends of yarn through the loop and tighten, snip ends to around 2cm for the tassel.

That's it completed. I hope you enjoyed making my pattern!

I would love to see your makes feel free to share @babycrochetdesigns Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. 

*COPYRIGHT 2021 This pattern is made for personal use only. You may not copy, share or sell this pattern, you may make and sell items made from my patterns but please credit me @BabyCrochetDesigns as the designer many thanks*