Free Crochet Lion Pattern- Mix & Make, Chubby Standing Version

This free crochet lion pattern is extra cuddly and a great size! Standing on four legs, this lion works up surprisingly quickly with the plush yarn.

Free Crochet Lion Pattern Notes

This free crochet lion pattern is extra cuddly but works up so quickly compared to “traditional” yarn. It stands about 8 inches tall! This is a fun shape, standing on all fours. If the legs intimadate you, dont worry! 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 more traditional Long-Legged Stuffy 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 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!

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Free Crochet Lion Pattern Materials

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

Notes:

This lion body is made from the feet up. You will make two feet, fastening off one and then attaching them together from the second one. Then once you have two pairs of feet, you will attach those to create the standing chubby body.

The head will be sewn on at the end. I highly recommend using “ami sticks” or even a knitting needle to help you position the head.

When made with the recommended yarn, this chubby standing lion is about 8 inches tall.

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.

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.

Mix & Make Plush Lion Chubby Body Pattern

Legs (make 4 in total):

Make 2 of these. These are Legs “A”
Round 1: 8 SC in a magic circle.
Round 2: INC in each around. (16)
Round 3-6: SC in each around. (16)
Fasten off and set aside.

Make 2 of these. These are Legs “B”
Round 1: 8 SC in a magic circle.
Round 2: INC in each around. (16)
Round 3-6: SC in each around. (16)
Round 7: SC in the next 8. Take off your stitch marker. Chain 2 and attach to one of the finished legs “A.” SC in each stitch around the Leg A (16). SC in each chain across. (2) SC in each stitch around the Leg B. (16) SC on the other side of the chains (2). (36) Put stitch marker on here.
Round 8: SC in each stitch around both legs. (36) SC in the next 6 and fasten off. Move on to the next pair.

You can see the entire process here!

(Body cont’d):
2nd Set of Legs:
You can find a video tutorial for this part here.
Follow the same steps as the first pair of legs, but do not fasten off.
Chain 1 and turn. SC in the next 14. This is the “belly” between the sets of legs.
Line up the legs so that each side of 14 touch. Chain one. SC through both sets of stitches to connect them.
It can be helpful to use stitch markers on both pairs of legs. Count 14 stitches back from where you fastened off on the first pair. There should be 14 stitches on one side, and 22 around the front.

(Body cont’d):
Round 9: Chain 1. SC 3x in the gap between the sets of legs. SC in the 22 stitches around the legs until you reach the next gap. SC 3x in the gap. SC in the remaining 22 stitches. (50)

(Body cont’d):
Round 10: SC in each around. (50)
Round 11: SC in the first 3. INV DEC in the next. Repeat this pattern all the way around. (40)
Round 12: SC in the first 2. INV DEC in the next. Repeat this pattern all the way around. (30)
Begin to stuff here, making sure you get the feet well. Then continue to stuff the body as you close.
Round 13: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat this pattern all the way around. (20)
Round 14: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat this pattern all the way around. (15)
Fasten off leaving a piece long enough to sew the top hole closed and attach the head.
Pinch the hole closed so that you can sew it closed in a line. Make sure you stuff before you completely sew it shut, so you can get the top “gaps.”

Attaching the Head to the Body

When you attach the head, you will angle it on the edge. The tip of the nose will hang over the edge and you will attach it by using the long end from sewing the remaining hole closed. You will use about 4 rows of the head to be flat on the top edge of the body.

I used knitting needles with silicone beads on the ends to keep the head in place. You could also use Ami Stix. You can see a video tutorial here!

Tail

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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