Circus Lion Free Crochet Pattern

Hello my fellow crocheters! Are you ready for a new fun Free Crochet project?

This cute Lion is part of a Circus Amigurumi series I've been working on in the past weeks. I've designed this collection having in mind a cute and colorful mobile for a baby nursery. A fun bear, a bunny in a hat and a beautiful seal are the characters that complete the collection and I literally cannot wait to show you all the entire gang!

For now you can enjoy this little gift..hope you'll like it!

***You can purchase an AD-FREE PDF of this pattern with step-by-step pictures on Etsy HERE.

The finished doll is approximately 6" tall.

Here's the FREE pattern! Have fun!

SKILL LEVEL: Beginner

YARN: Medium Weight Cotton Yarn (Lace 4) in Yellow, Light Brown, Red, Black and White

OTHER MATERIALS: Polyester Fiber Filling; Yarn Needle

HOOK SIZES: E/3.25 mm

STITCHES USED and ABBREVIATIONS: magic ring (mr), chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), decrease (dec), increase (inc), fasten off (F/O).

INSTRUCTIONS: work in rounds (join with a sl st and ch1 at the end of each round) otherwise instructed.

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LEGS AND BODY (yellow, black and red yarn)

Make two:

1) starting off with yellow yarn, 8 sc in a mr (8)

2) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (12)

3-4) sc even (12)

5) switch to black yarn, sc even (12)

6) sc even (12); F/O, hide the yarn and stuff the leg

Do no cut the yarn once you have completed the 2nd leg, CH 3 INSTEAD

Merge the two legs together:

7) join the yarn with a sl st to the 1st leg, ch1 and sc in the same st, 11 sc, 1 hdc in each st between the two legs, keep working on the 2nd leg, 12 sc, 1 hdc in each st between the two legs (30)

8) sc even (30)

9) switch to red yarn, sc even (30)

10-17) sc even (30); keep stuffing the body

18) *8 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (27)

19) *7 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (24)

20) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (18); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to attach the body to the head. Finish stuffing the body firmly.

Embroider the JACKET DECORATIONS with yellow yarn (between rnds #14-15 / 16-17 / 18-19).

Make a 4 stitches long line and two knots at the ends.

HEAD (yellow yarn)

1) 8 sc in a mr (8)

2) sc inc around (16)

3) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (24)

4) *2 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (32)

5) *3 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (40)

6-7) sc even (40)

8) *4 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (48)

9-11) sc even (48)

12) *5 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (54)

13-16) sc even (54)

17) *5 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (48)

18) sc even (48)

19) *4 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (40)

20) *3 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (32)

21) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (24)

22) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (18); F/O and cut the yarn.

Stuff the head firmly.

MANE (light brown yarn)

1) work 120 ch, 3 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, 3 sc inc into the next 118 stitches (357); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to secure the mane to the head.

Embroider the EYES with black yarn (between rnds #9-10; 6 sts apart).

Embroider the NOSE (between rnds #12-13) and the MOUTH (between rnds #17-18) with light brown yarn.

Embroider the CHEEK LINES below the eyes with red yarn (between rnds #12-13).

EARS (yellow yarn; make two)

1) 6 sc in a mr (6)

2) *2 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** twice (8)

3) sc even (8)

4) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** twice (6)

F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to sew the ear on top of the head.

Attach the ears between rounds #7-8.

ARMS (yellow and red yarn; make two)

1) starting off with yellow yarn, 6 sc in a mr (6)

2) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (9)

3) sc even (9)

4) switch to red yarn, sc even (9)

5-6) sc even (9)

7) *1 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (6); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to sew the arm to the side of the body (between rounds #16-18). Stuff the arm lightly.

TAIL (light brown and yellow yarn)

1) start working with light brown yarn, 4 sc in a mr (4)

2) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** twice (6)

3) sc even (6)

4) *1 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** twice (4)

5) switch to yellow yarn, sc even (4)

6-14) sc even (4); F/O and leave a long string of yarn

to attach the tail to the back of the body (between rnds #8-10). Do not stuff the tail.

BOW TIE (white yarn; work in rows, ch 1 and turn at the end of each row)

1) 4 ch, 1 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, 2 sc (3)

2-8) sc even (3); F/O, cut and hide the yarn.

Cut a long string of yarn, wrap it over and over around the center

of the bow; use the extra yarn to attach the bow tie to the neck of the lion.

I can't wait to see your version of my CIRCUS LION! Feel free to tag me (@elisascrochet) in your photos on Instagram or Facebook if you'd like!

Elisa

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This pattern is an original pattern by Elisa Sartori of Elisa's Crochet.  Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.

You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Elisa Sartori of Elisa's Crochet. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you!