Is that the roar of a lion I hear? That’s Leon, our crochet lion stuffed animal, making an appearance in the crochet animals communities. Let’s get started crocheting a lion so you, too, can make this adorable amigurumi lion with a bushy mane. For more information, read on!
Inspired by all the fantastic positive responses from all of you on my recent free amigurumi patterns and tutorials, I now have more courage to try out and share with you more free crochet animal designs. So, feel free to check out my next few patterns for a series of stuffed animal crochet patterns joining the Craft Passion family. The first wild animal to come in is … Leon, the Amigurumi Lion.
Leon is the first to join the new Animal and Wildlife Amigurumi gang. He is versatile enough to stand and sit. Standing, he is about 13.5” tall and sitting at 10.5”.
While crocheting him, he got more and more adorable and huggable that I ended up making a band of 4 amigurumi lions.
Crochet Lion Stuffed Animal
Leon
scroll ⬇️ to get the free amigurumi pattern & tutorial
This stuffed lion is crocheted from DK lightweight acrylic yarn using a 2.5mm hook. With these, Leon ended up being a nice huggable lion stuffed animal and is a perfect size for young children.
Of course, you can alter the sizes by using different types and weights of yarn – a thicker yarn with a larger hook (such as medium yarn with a 3.0mm hook) will give you a bigger stuffed lion.
In comparison, a lighter yarn with a smaller hook (such as a light baby yarn with a 2.0mm hook) will yield a smaller-sized lion amigurumi.
Your crochet tension will also affect its size; the tighter the yarn, the smaller the crochet toy.
My tension is quite snug, so my amigurumi lion may be a little smaller than yours.
So, even if you’re using the same weight of yarn and hook as I am, our crochet lion stuffed animal may not be the same size.
First, choose the yarn color you want your crochet lion to be in to start your amigurumi project. Creativity is at play here, so feel free to pick any color you wish your lion stuffed animal to be in, so your creation will be as unique as you are!
Use the free crochet pattern here, and follow the instructions on how to crochet and stuff the necessary parts. Separate parts will be sewn on (instructions on how to sew below too).
The lion’s mane is an extra that can make your lion look more eye-catching. It is, however, quite time-consuming but, to me, definitely worth the time.
It is made from fastening on yarn strips, and for Leon the lion amigurumi, it took me a whole day to fasten it on.
But in the end, it made this soft lion so much softer and cozier to cuddle, so the time spent was worth it.
Leon, the amigurumi lion, can stand better on its own with some beads or stuffing pellets in the bottom part of his feet and body. They make him a little heavier and more stable when in his standing position. To find out more about this, check out MooMoo, the amigurumi cow.
Bend his legs, and Leon will sit prettily in your craft room, looking really cute while you do your crafts.
Sit him down with his crochet lion brothers in a row by the window so they can tell each other roaring good stories of their days.
If you wish, you can make him lie on his back and loll around on the ground with the other Leons. That looks like a lot of fun.
Lions are also called the King among the animals. Leon, the amigurumi lion, is very proud of his heritage and likes to make sure that other animals are happy in his neighborhood. To make sure everything is fine, he bands together with his lion brothers to care for their fellow craft animals.
When they need help, all they need to do is look for their cousins, the sock lion, Lexi, and Shimba. They are always all too ready to help out whenever they can.
For a different type of lion craft, try out Lumba, the fun circus lion, which is made of felt. Each pattern has a free sewing tutorial to help you out every step of the way.
WHAT’S NEXT:
- Start crocheting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for a future To-Crochet List
- Share with your crochet groups for a crochet-along event.
- If you are new to crochet amigurumi, we have a comprehensive amigurumi guide for beginners.
- Browse more free crochet patterns to make, particularly the crochet animal amigurumi patterns.
Happy crochet!
Leon, Lion Amigurumi Pattern
Leon is the first to join the new Animal and Wildlife Amigurumi gang. He is versatile enough to stand and sit. Standing, he is about 13.5” tall and sitting at 10.5”. It is crocheted from DK lightweight acrylic yarn using a 2.5mm hook. The lion’s mane is made from fastening on yarn strips,
Get the free crochet pattern to make this cute and huggable-size Lion Amigurumi. An absolutely perfect gift for anyone who loves lions or wildlife.
Happy Crochet!
Materials
- 2.5mm hook
- Acrylic yarn in Yellow, Light Khaki, Dark Brown, Beige and Black colors
- Polyester fiberfill
- 10mm Dome-Button Eye, 1 pair
- 18mm Safety Nose, 1 pc.
Tools
- Darning needle (Long)
- Fabric marker (water erasable)
- Cardboard, 4"
- Scissors
- Pins
Instructions
Abbreviations
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
inv dec: invisible decrease
ps3: puff stitch (hdc3tog)
AMIGURUMI LION CROCHET PATTERN
Body
With Yellow yarn:
Round 1: ch5, Inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch. {14}
Round 2: Inc, sc 4, [Inc] 3 times, sc 4, [Inc] 2 times. {20}
Round 3: Inc, sc 6, [Inc] 2 times, sc, Inc, sc 6, [Inc] 2 times, sc. {26}
Round 4: Inc, sc 8, [Inc, sc] 2 times, Inc, sc 8, [Inc, sc] 2 times. {32}
Round 5: Inc, sc 10, Inc, sc 2, Inc, sc, Inc, sc 10, Inc, sc 2, Inc, sc. {38}
Round 6: Inc. sc 12, [Inc, sc 2] 2 times, Inc, sc 12, [Inc, sc 2] 2 times. {44}
Round 7: Inc, sc 14, Inc, sc 3, Inc, sc 2, Inc, sc 14, Inc, sc 3, Inc, sc 2. {50}
Round 8: Inc, sc 16, [Inc, sc 3] 2 times, Inc, sc 16, [Inc, sc 3] 2 times. {56}
Round 9: sc around. {56}
Round 10: sc 25, Inc, sc 27, Inc, sc 2. {58}
Round 11: sc 26, Inc, sc 28, Inc, sc 2. {60}
Round 12: sc 27, Inc, sc 29, Inc, sc 2. {62}
Round 13: sc 28, Inc, sc 30, Inc, sc 2. {64}
Round 14 – 23: sc around. {64}
Round 24: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 14] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 8. {60}
Round 25: sc around. {60}
Round 26: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 13] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 7. {56}
Round 27: sc around. {56}
Round 28: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 12] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 6. {52}
Round 29: sc around. {52}
Round 30: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 11] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 5. {48}
Round 31: sc around. {48}
Round 32: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 10] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 4. {44}
Round 33: sc around. {44}
Round 34: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 9] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 3. {40}
Round 35: sc around. {40}
Round 36: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 8] 3 times, Inv dec, sc 2. {36}
Round 37: sc around. {36}
Round 38: [sc 4, Inv dec] around. {30}
Stuff the body firmly with polyester fiberfill.
Round 39: sc around. {30}
Round 40: sc 2, [Inv dec, sc 3] 5 times, inv dec, sc. {24}
Round 41: [sc 2, Inv dec] around. {18}
Round 42: [Inv dec, sc] around. {12}
Round 43: [Inv dec] around. {6}
Fasten and leave a long tail for sewing.
Head
With Yellow yarn:
Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring. {6}
Round 2: [inc] around. {12}
Round 3: [inc, sc] around. {18}
Round 4: [sc 2. inc] around. {24}
Round 5: [inc, sc 3] around. {30}
Round 6: sc 2, [inc, sc 4] 5 times, inc, sc 2. {36}
Round 7: [inc, sc 5] around. {42}
Round 8: sc around. {42}
Round 9: sc 3, [inc, sc 6] 5 times, inc, sc 3. {48}
Round 10: sc around. {48}
Round 11: [inc, sc 7] around. {54}
Round 12 - 13: sc around. {54}
Round 14: sc 4, [inc, sc 8] 5 times, inc, sc 4. {60}
Round 15 - 16: sc around. {60}
Round 17: [inc, sc 9] around. {66}
Round 18 - 24: sc around. {66}
Round 25: [inv dec, sc 9] around. {60}
Round 26: sc around. {60}
Round 27: sc 4, [inv dec, sc 8] 5 times, inv dec, sc 4. {54}
Round 28: sc around. {54}
Round 29: [inv dec, sc 7] around. {48}
Round 30: sc 3, [inv dec, sc 6] 5 times, inv dec, sc 3. {42}
Round 31: [inv dec, sc 5] around. {36}
Round 32: sc 2, [inv dec, sc 4] 5 times, inv dec, sc 2. {30}
Round 33: [inv dec, sc 3] around. {24}
Stuff with polyester fillings, sew muzzle. Remove stuffing to install safety nose. Re-stuff again and continue to complete the head.
Round 34: sc, [inv dec, sc 2] 5 times, inv dec, sc. {18}
Round 35: [inv dec, sc 1] around. {12}
Round 36: [inv dec] around. {6}
Fasten and hide yarn end.
Muzzle
Make 2 with Beige yarn:
Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring. {6}
Round 2: [inc] around. {12}
Round 3: [inc, sc] around. {18}
Round 4: [sc 2. inc] around. {24}
Round 5: [inc, sc 3] around. {30}
Fasten and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew 2 circles alongside together (about 4 stitches) to form the muzzle.
Ears
Make 2 with Yellow yarn:
Round 1: Sc 4 in magic ring. {4}
Round 2: sc around. {4}
Round 3: [inc] around. {8}
Round 4: sc around. {8}
Round 5: [inc, sc] around. {12}
Round 6: [inc, sc 2] around. {16}
Round 7: [inc, sc 3] around. {20}
Round 8: sc around. {20}
Round 9: [inc, sc 4] around. {24}
Round 10 - 15: sc around {24}
Fasten and leave a long tail for sewing.
Fold the ear and sew the bottom to give it a scooped appearance.
Arms
Make 2 starting with Light Khaki yarn:
Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring. {6}
Round 2: [inc] around. {12}
Round 3: [inc, sc] around. {18}
Round 4: [sc 2. inc] around. {24}
Round 5: [inc, sc 3] around. {30}
Change yarn color to Yellow.
Round 6 – 10: sc around. {30}
Round 11: [sc 8, Inv dec] around. {27}
Round 12 - 13: sc around. {27}
Round 14: [sc 7, Inv dec] around. {24}
Round 15 – 16: sc around. {24}
Round 17: [sc 6, Inv dec] around. {21}
Round 18 – 19: sc around. {21}
Round 20: [sc 5, Inv dec] around. {18}
Round 21 – 22: sc around {18}.
Round 23: [sc 4, Inv dec] around. {15}
Round 24 – 35: sc around. {15}
Fasten and leave a long tail for sewing.
Fill the bottom 2/3 of the arms firmly with polyester fiberfill.
Legs
Make 2 starting with Light Khaki yarn:
Round 1: ch5, Inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch. {14}
Round 2: Inc, sc 4, [Inc] 3 times, sc 4, [Inc] 2 times. {20}
Round 3: Inc, sc 6, [Inc] 2 times, sc, Inc, sc 6, [Inc] 2 times, sc. {26}
Round 4: Inc, sc 8, [Inc, sc] 2 times, Inc, sc 8, [Inc, sc] 2 times. {32}
Round 5: Inc, sc 10, Inc, sc 2, Inc, sc, Inc, sc 10, Inc, sc 2, Inc, sc. {38}
Round 6: Inc. sc 12, [Inc, sc 2] 2 times, Inc, sc 12, [Inc, sc 2] 2 times. {44}
Change yarn color to Yellow.
Round 7 – 10: sc around. {44}
Round 11: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 12, Inv dec, sc 14. {42}
Round 12: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 10, Inv dec, sc 14. {40}
Round 13: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 8, Inv dec, sc 14. {38}
Round 14: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 6, Inv dec, sc 14. {36}
Round 15: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 4, Inv dec, sc 14. {34}
Round 16: sc 14, Inv dec, sc 2, Inv dec, sc 14. {32}
Round 17: sc 14, Inv dec, Inv dec, sc 14. {30}
Round 18: sc around. {30}
Round 19: [sc 6, Inv dec] 3 times, sc 6. {27}
Round 20 – 21: sc around. {27}
Round 22: sc 6, [Inv dec, sc 5] 3 times. {24}
Round 23 – 24: sc around. {24}
Round 25: sc 5, Inv dec, sc 10, Inv dec, sc 5. {22}
Round 26 – 27: sc around. {22}
Round 28: sc 5, Inv dec, sc 9, Inv dec, sc 4. {20}
Round 29 – 30: sc around. {20}
Round 31: sc 4, Inv dec, sc 8, Inv dec, sc 4. {18}
Fasten and leave a long tail for sewing.
Fill the bottom 2/3 of the legs firmly with polyester fiberfill.
Tail
With Yellow yarn:
ch 4, slst to form a ring.
ch1, sc 4 into the ring. sc around until the tail is 4″ long, slst.
Change yarn color to Light Khaki.
ch3, ps3 in each st, slst. Hide both Yellow and Light Khaki yarn end into the tail.
ch, Inv dec around, slst, ch
Fasten off. Trim near the knot. Apply tiny craft glue to the end and shape it pointy.
MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO ASSEMBLY AMIGURUMI LION, LEON
- Crochet the body, muzzle, ears, arms, legs, and tail of Amigurumi Lion and stuffed them as instructed in the crochet pattern.
- Crochet head and sew Muzzle to the head.
After completed round 33 of the Head, stuff it with polyester filling.
Position the muzzle on the head with the center of the muzzle at the 2nd round of the Head. Pin in on.
Sew around the muzzle, followed by stuffing some polyester filling to the muzzle before finish up.
- Sew a philtrum line with black yarn.
Remove some polyester filling from the head to install a safety nose through the starting round of the head.
Re-stuff the head again after the safety nose has been installed.
Crochet to complete the head.
- Sew eyes at round 13, and 17 stitches apart.
Do not cut the yarn after sewing the first eye, instead, insert it into the head and come out from the position of the second eye. Sew the second eye onto the head.
Pull the yarn a little to sink the eyes to the head, knot securely. You can run the yarn through the head a few times to prevent
the single strand of yarn from snapping in the long run.
- Sew the ears to the head, position at about 6 rounds at the back of the eyes.
The contact area between the base of the ear and the head is in a form of a triangle shape.
Parts are getting ready for the final assembly.
- Sew Head to the Body
Mark the centerline below the head and the top of the body.
Position the head to the body (refer to the picture) below. Sew the head to the body at 1 stitch away from the centerlines, sew about 7 stitches from the center of the body to the front, followed by 2 stitches to the side. Sew about 9 stitches to the back and another 2 stitches to the side followed by 2 stitches to complete the stitching.
The contact area of the head is a rectangle of 9 sts x 2 sts.
The head will tilt a little to the front.
- Sew arms at the side, next to the seam of the head and body.
Followed by sewing legs at round 15 (from the bottom) of the body.
Lastly, sew the tail to the back of the body.
- Sew 3 black lines on each limb as the toe lines of the lion.
- Cut Mane strips by winding yarn on a 4″ cardboard and cut them into 4" strips. The amigurumi lion needs about 1000 of 4″ strips to be tied on the head.
- Install Mane to the head
The front of the lion amigurumi.
Without a mane, Leon, the lion amigurumi doesn’t look happy.
The back of the lion amigurumi.
Starting from the back of the head, fasten the yarn strip as shown in the picture.
Fasten the mane in every stitch to have a full and fluffy hair for the lion.
After a few rounds, the pile starts to show fuller.
It takes time to fasten, please be a little patience.
Continue to fasten until 2 rounds away from the eyes; 4 rounds after the ear.
Fasten more at the chin of the lion by following the shape of the muzzle at a distance of about 4 stitches away.
It takes about a day to fasten the mane but the outcome is flattering. 
The soft and fluffiness of the mane is such a cozy little softie to hug and cuddle.
Notes
Depending on the speed and hours you are spending on the project, the total time needed is only an approximation.
Stuff the parts firmly and densely to give a good shape to amigurumi doll.
Recommended Products
Purchase the exact same material used in this pattern from Craft Passion Shop.
Crystal Bays
Thursday 12th of August 2021
What type of yarn do you use? Brand? Weight? Etc? Thx!!
Angelyn Benjamin
Tuesday 11th of May 2021
Hi, Will definitely try this soooooo adorable leon. Thanks a ton for sharing such patterns. Do you have patterns for Nemo and Dory fishes? Please do share.
LANDAT francoise
Friday 29th of January 2021
bonjour je viens d imprimer le modèle de léon pouvez vous m'aider car dans les abréviations il y a marqué sc crochet simple et ps3 point bouffant à quoi correspond ces points en français car je suis débutante cordialement françoise
Translation (by Google): hello I have just printed the model of leon can you help me because in the abbreviations there is marked sc single crochet and ps3 bouffant point to what these points correspond in French because I am a beginner cordially francoise
Craft Passion
Tuesday 2nd of February 2021
I wish I could help, but I can't read French pattern. Perhaps you can search for a translation in crochet terms in French. Really sorry about this.
Monica
Tuesday 11th of August 2020
Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing pattern, I just finished, and I loved making it, the result is incredibly pretty!!!! I' ll be waiting for your next pattern, you're the best!!!
Lorrie
Monday 2nd of November 2020
Help needed. I am up to crocheting the legs and confused on the steps?? I’m not starting with the magic ring? If I follow the steps as written it doesn’t come out right. Can someone explain this to me or is there a video to show me how to do this?
Susy Ramírez
Friday 15th of May 2020
Gracias por compartir los patrones, acabo de terminar mi león y quedó lindo, gracias mil
Translation (by Google): Thanks for sharing the patterns, I just finished my lion and it was cute, thanks a thousand