Amigurumi Lion Free Crochet Pattern

This free crochet pattern for my amigurumi lion is a great project for intermediate as well as seasoned crocheters! It comes with a video tutorial on my YouTube channel, in case you need visual guidance!

The little lion measures about 2 inches / 5cm in length and is about 3 inches / 7.5cm tall from paws to head if using the recommended yarn weight and hook size.

I would love to see your little amigurumi lion! Share your creation on Instagram and tag me @stellasyarnuniverse for the monthly chance to win a pdf pattern of your choice from my Etsy shop! Winners are announced on my Instagram page @stellasyarnuniverse every 1st of the month!

You can find the free written pattern in US terms below. I also recorded a video tutorial for this amigurumi lion crochet pattern. Hope you’ll enjoy it!

If you’re used to UK terms, simply replace sc (single crochet) with dc (double crochet), hdc (half double crochet) with htr (half treble crochet), and dc (double crochet) with tr (treble crochet). You’ll need the two latter only for the ears.

All you need to know to crochet this little amigurumi lion is how to single crochet (double crochet in British terms), make a magic ring, and invisible decreases with single crochet (British double crochet).

It will also be helpful to know:

How to fasten off closed projects

Materials and tools you need for the amigurumi lion

DK / light worsted weight cotton yarn (I used Rico Creative Ricorumi in Caramel (053) for the head and body and Paintbox Cotton DK in Soft Fudge (410) and Coffee Bean (411) for the mane.

2.5mm / C-2 or B-1 crochet hook

5mm / 0.2″ safety eyes

Fiberfill

Darning needle / tapestry needle

Black embroidery floss

Large eyed sewing needle

Stitch marker

Pins

Scissors

Abbreviations

St = stitch

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet (double crochet in British terms)

Inc = sc increase: single crochet 2 in same st

Dec = invisible sc decrease: Insert hook in front loops of next 2 sts, yarn over, pull through both front loops, yarn over, pull through 2 remaining loops

Hdc = half double crochet (half treble crochet in British terms)

Dc = double crochet (treble crochet in British terms)

BLO = back loops

(…) = stitches that are repeated in the rd

*… = number of repetitions

Instructions for the amigurumi lion

Crochet the forelegs (make 2)

Rnd 1: Sc 8 in magic ring (8)

Rnd 2: In BLO: [sc 2, dec]*2 (6)

Rnd 3: Sc 6 (6)

Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc 1]*2 (8)

Rnd 5: [sc 2, dec]*2 (6)

Rnd 6: Sc 6 (6)

Crochet the hind legs (make 2)

Rnd 1: Sc 8 in magic ring (8)

Rnd 2: In BLO: [sc 2, dec]*2 (6)

Rnd 3: Sc 6 (6)

Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc 1]*2 (8)

Rnd 5: [sc 2, dec]*2 (6)

Rnd 6: Sc 6 (6)

Rnd 7: [sc 2, inc 1]*2 (8)

Crochet the belly

Ch 4

Rnd 1: Sc 2 (starting in 2nd ch), sc 4 in last ch, sc 1 in other side of ch, sc 3 in last ch (10)

Rnd 2: Sc 8 around hind leg, sc 3, sc 6 around foreleg, sc 2, sc 6 around foreleg, sc 3, sc 8 around hind leg, sc 2 (38)

Rnd 3: Dec, sc 5, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 4, dec 2, sc 4, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 5, dec 1, sc 2 (30)

Rnd 4 and 5: Sc 30 (30)

Rnd 6: Sc 10, ch 4, sk 10, sc 10 (24)

Continue with the back

Rnd 7: [sc 2, dec]*6 (18)

Fill with fiberfill.

Rnd 8: [sc 1, dec]*6 (12)

Rnd 9: Dec 6 (6)

Crochet the neck

Join the yarn at the left corner of the neck opening.

Rnd 7: Sc 10, sc 4 out of other side of ch stitches (14)

Rnd 8: Sc 4, dec, sc 5, dec, sc 1 (12)

Rnd 9: [sc 1, dec]*4 (8)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Crochet the head

Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: Inc 6 (12)

Rnd 3: Sc 12 (12)

Rnd 4: Sc 8, inc 4 (16)

Rnd 5: Sc 9, inc 5, sc 2 (21)

Rnd 6 and 7: Sc 21 (21)

Embroider the nose with black embroidery floss.

Insert the safety eyes.

Rnd 8: [sc 5, dec]*3 (18)

Start filling the head.

Rnd 9: [sc 4, dec]*3 (15)

Rnd 10: [sc 3, dec]*3 (12)

Fill the head more if necessary.

Rnd 11: Dec 6 times (6)

Crochet the ears in (make 2)

Ch 4, Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Crochet the tail

Ch 12, sc 11 (start in 2nd ch) (11)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Cut 4 x 7cm/3” pieces of brown yarn and attach then to the end of the tail. Cut them to the desired length. Assembly Sew the ears on rnd 8 of the head with about 4 stitches space in between.

Sew the head on the neck opening.

Sew the tail on, centered at the back.

Attach the mane

Cut about 30 x 10cm/4” pieces of yarn in brown and 120 x 10cm/4” pieces of yarn in caramel. Attach them to the front of the body in rounds around the neck, starting with the brown yarn. Once 2 rounds of brown yarn are attached, attach the caramel yarn pieces in rounds, working your way up the neck and head. Trim the mane and fluff up the fibres to give it more volume.

Your little lion is now complete!

Thank you so much for visiting! And thank you for using my pattern! I hope you enjoyed it!

You can pin this little amigurumi lion pattern here for later.

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You are welcome to create products to sell on a small scale using this pattern. If you wish to do so, please refer back to my blog stellasyarnuniverse.com for the pattern.

Happy creating!