Plush Lion Crochet Pattern- Mix & Make, Long Legged Version

This plush lion crochet pattern is extra cuddly and a great size! The plush yarn helps it work up quickly, while still being extra snuggly.

Plush Lion Crochet Pattern Notes

This plush lion crochet pattern is extra cuddly but works up so quickly compared to “traditional” yarn. It stands about 10 inches tall and the arms and legs are movable! I have A LOT of videos to help you out with making it.

This is one of my Mix & Make patterns, because you can mix up the body and make something completely different! There are three different bodies for one head, so if you don’t love this stuffy version you can also make it in a Big Footed Snuggler Version, or in the fun Chubby Standing Body!

I used Premier Basix Chenille in Mustard or Sand for the body and Rust or Caramel for the mane. You can also use Bernat Blanket in Mustard and Terracota. I also made an adorable smaller version in Big Twist Posh (discontinued) using the colors Croissant and Brown Butter.

You can choose to work with different yarn, just keep in mind that although many yarns are classified the same, they can work up much differently.

The head for each pattern is the same. Then you will have the Chubby Standing body, the Long Legged Stuffy with movable arms and legs, and the Big Footed Snuggler. The Big Footed Snuggler has a super cool trick to keep the feet “stuffed” but it doesn’t use traditional stuffing. This way you can get the shape but also keep the cuddly snuggler feel and not have the stuffing move into the body!

Ad-free, Printable PDF Full Pattern

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Mix & Make Lion Bundle

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Squishy Platypus Pattern

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Mix & Make Unicorn Bundle

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Free Plush Lion Pattern Materials

To get started making this free Plush Lion crochet pattern, you’ll want to gather all your materials first.

Notes:

This lion is the more traditional stuffy, with a defined body and adorably long arms and legs. This is a good sized stuffy, when sitting it is about 10 inches tall. You will attach the body to the head, and add the mane after that.

If you attach the arms and legs this way, you can have movable limbs!

You can use safety eyes or try out embroidered eyes so it would be safe for a baby/toddler.

I have a collection of embroidery videos here.

Substitute yarns could be regular Bernat Blanket, Premier Basix Chenille yarn or Big Twist from Joann’s. You may need to change the hook size if you change the yarn.  

Mix & Make Plush Lion Head Pattern

Head

Starting in Winter White
Round 1: SC 8 in a magic ring (8)
Round 2: INC in each around. (16)
Round 3: INC in the first 4. SC in the next 4. INC in the next 4. SC in the final 4. (24)
Round 4: SC in each around. (24)
Change to Mustard
Round 5: SC in each around. (24)
Round 6: SC in the first 16. SC INC in the remaining 8. (32)
Round 7: SC in the first 16. SC in the first, INC 8x. (40)
Rounds 8: SC in each around. (40)
SC in the BLO from rounds 9-14. Change to Mane Color.
Rounds 9-10: SC in each around. (40)
Insert eyes on round 6, using the 8 INC of row 6 to help center them. There should be about 6 stitches between the eyes.
Round 11: SC in the first 16. *SC, INV DEC in the next* for a total of 8x. (32)
Start stuffing here.
Round 12: SC in the first 2, INV DEC. Repeat around. (24)
Round 13: SC in the first, INV DEC. Repeat around. (16)
Round 14: INV DEC around. (8)
Fasten off and weave in the end.

Optional: I lightly shaped the front of the nose by using a piece of the body colored yarn. Going from the bottom of the head gently “pinching” the top of the nose, I went up and down through each stitch on round 4. It helps if you do not pull the yarn too tightly, because that makes the shaping more visible. You can check out the the video here!

Ears (make 2)

In Mustard:
Row 1: Sc 8 in a magic circle.
Row 2: Chain 1 and turn. SC in each around. (8)
Note: If you are not getting the “curve” on the second row, tighten your tension or use a size smaller hook.
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on.
Attach them after you do the mane, behind the first row of the mane (between rounds 9 and 10), right above the eyes.

Embroidering the Nose

Watch my nose embroidery tutorial video for this lion here.

Body

In Mustard:
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 8.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 3: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 4: SC in the first 2, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (32)
Round 5-8: SC in each around. (32) *4 rounds*
Round 9: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Rounds 10-13: SC in each around. (24) *4 rounds*
Start stuffing here. Stuff as you go.
Round 14: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (16)
Round 15: SC in each around. (16)
Round 16: INV DEC in each around. (8)
From here, you will increase out to make the disc that you will attach to the head.
Round 17: In the front loop only, SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 18: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to attach the head with.

Arms (make 2)

In Mustard:
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 6.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 4-5: SC in each around. (18)
Round 6: SC in the next 6. INV DEC 6x (12)
Begin to stuff here, and then continue to stuff as you go. I usually only stuff the bottom half.
Rounds 7-16: SC in each around. (12) *10 rounds*
Fasten off. Flatten the top and whipstitch across to sew the remaining hole closed.
Attach using my favorite method around rounds 15-16 of the body. Watch a tutorial here!

Legs (make 2)

In Mustard:
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 8.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (16)
Round 3: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 4: SC in the first two, SC INC in the next. Repeat around (32)
Rounds 5: SC in each around. (32)
Round 6: SC in the first two, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 7: SC in the first 8, then INV DEC 8x. (16)
Round 8: SC in the first 8, then INV DEC 4X. (12)
Begin to stuff here, and then continue to stuff as you go. I usually only stuff the bottom half.
Rounds 9-18: SC in each around. (12) *10 rounds*
Fasten off. Flatten the top and whipstitch across to sew the remaining hole closed.
Attach using my favorite method around round 6 of the body. Watch a tutorial here!

Attaching the Head to the Body

Watch the video tutorial here.
Once you are ready to attach the head to the body, pin the flat disc that is at the top of the body where you want it on the head. Try to center it as best you can. I prefer mine to be slightly close to the nose so that the head flops forward more than backwards.

As you sew, go through the front loop on the SC at the top of the disc. Pull tightly each time. Try to pull the disc out as you go, so that it lies as flat to the head as you can.

Mane

Note: If you are interested in using fuzzy yarn for the mane, you will attach the yarn and follow the same directions. However, instead of chaining 7, I do a simple DC. Everything else is the same. It took about 35g of Lion Brand Go for Faux yarn.

Watch the full video tutorial on creating the mane.

Tail (optional)

In Mustard:
Chain 8. Turn and SC in each stitch back (7)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on.
Using Mane Color
Attach the yarn to the top of the tail. *Chain 6 and slip stitch through the same stitch.* Repeat for a total of three loops. Fasten off, tie off and weave in the end through the loops.

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