Have you even searched the internet for a quick and cute baby gift you could crochet for a friend or a coworker without spending a lot of time and money? Well, stop searching, dear crochet friend, I’ve designed just that for you.
Leopold the Lion
Materials:
1 skein of size 2 cotton yarn in the main color
1 skein of size 2 cotton yarn in the contrast color
A small piece of black cotton yarn for the face
Polyfil
Crochet hook (size depends on the yarn you use)
Yarn needle
Scissors
Stitch marker (optional)
Yarn used in this pattern: Schachenmayr Catania (137 yards/1.8 oz) – alternatives might be Yarn and Colors Must-Have or Scheepjes Catona. If you use a different yarn, the size of the finished project may vary. With the yarn mentioned and a 3 mm hook the lion is about 4,7” high.
Abbreviations:
*written in US crochet terms*
R – round(s)
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – Slip stitch
FO – fasten off
inc – increase (2 SC in each stitch)
dec – decrease (2 stitches together)
MC – Main color
CC – Contrast color
[ ] – work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
Head/Body (MC)
Ch 11
R01: From the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 9 stitches, 3 sc in last stitch. Turn project around and continue working on the other side of the chain to form a round.
8 sc in next 8 stitches, inc (22)
From here, work in spiral rounds. Use a stitch marker or a small piece of yarn to mark the beginning of the round.
R02: inc, 9 sc, 3 sc in next stitch, 11 sc (25)
R03: inc, inc, 10 sc, inc, inc, 11 SC (29)
R04-R31 (28 rounds): 29 sc (29)
Stuff firmly and keep stuffing as you go.
R32: 13 sc, now count 15 stitches back and sc in 15th stitch to form the first leg (15)
R33-R35 (3 rounds): 15 sc (15)
R34: [sc, dec]*3 (10)
R35: [dec]*5 (5)
Break yarn, FO.
For the second leg, sc in one of the unused stitches of R32 closest to the first leg, 14 sc (15)
Make sure the yarn tail is on the outside of the project, so you can use it to close the gap between the legs.
Repeat R33-R35.
Break yarn, FO.
Close the gap between the legs.
Sew in all ends.
Ears (2x MC)
In a magic ring, 3 sc, 1 dc, 3 sc, close ring, sl st in the first sc, break yarn, use tail to sew the ears to the head.
Mane (CC)
Ch 101
From 2nd ch from the hook, 3 dc in every ch. Break yarn. Use tail to sew the mane to the back of the head. Sew in all ends.
Face (black)
Embroider the face with a piece of black yarn.
The eyes are 2 stitches high and 1 stitch wide. 8 stitches between the eyes.
The nose is a triangle 4 stitches high and 6 stitches wide.
Congrats, you finished Leopold the lion!
About the author:
Susi Haekelt is the designer and creative mind behind susi-haekelt. She’s a mum of two and passionate yarn lover living in Austria. If you want to learn more, head over to her blog https://susi-haekelt.at/ or connect on Instagram (@susi_haekelt).
Great ✌️ little Lion 👍