mycrochetchums

#lockdownamichallenge - No 2 Lion

Yarn

Aldi So Crafty Knit & Purl Amigurumi Yarn - described on the box as "Light" - Equivalent to DK.

30g approx Bright Yellow (MC) for Body, Head, Arms, Legs and Tail.
20g approx Cream (CC1) for Belly Patch, Head, Arms, Legs and embroidered Mane detail.
10g approx Orange (CC2) for Mane, Tail and embroidered Belly Patch detail.
Small amount Brown (CC3) for Nose, facial features and claws
Small amount Black (CC4) for Eyes

100% Cotton 25g = 57.5m

A cotton yarn works well for Ami as it gives good stitch definition and creates a firm structure so
body parts hold their shape well. Any cotton/cotton mix DK should give similar results.

© Pia Simpson 2021 1 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Hook
3 mm

Other Supplies

Yarn needle, toy stuffing, stitch marker/waste yarn.

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project but stitches should be tight enough to avoid stuffing
showing through.

Size

21 cm (8.5 in) approx from top of mane to bottom of feet

Pattern Notes
Unless otherwise specified this pattern is worked in the amigurumi style, in a continuous spiral
without slip stitching or turning chains.

Use a stitch marker or waste yarn to keep track of the first stitch of each round.

If you do not want to make a Magic Ring you can start each piece by making a chain of 2 and
then work the first round into the second chain from the hook.

If you would like to start with a Magic Ring but don’t know how, you can find a Photo Tutorial at:
https://mycrochetchums.weebly.com/magic-ring-photo-tutorial.html

The Lion is made of multiple separate pieces sewn together. Unless otherwise stated, finish
each piece by pulling the yarn through the last loop and leave a long tail for sewing. Any loose
tails at the end can be easily woven in.

Starting chains do not count in the total stitch count.

Change colour on the last yrh on last stitch of previous round.

Increasing and decreasing

The “invisible” techniques below are recommended to give your amigurumi a neat finish:

Invisible Increase: Work 1 dc in FLO of next st and 1 dc in both loops of same st.

Invisible decrease: Insert hook in FLO of the two stitches to be decreased, yrh, pull through
both front loops, yrh, draw through two loops on hook.

© Pia Simpson 2021 2 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

UK Crochet Terms - Abbreviations

If any of the abbreviations used in this pattern are unfamiliar, you can find a chart of UK Terms at
https://mycrochetchums.weebly.com/uk-abbreviations.html

If you are used to working in US Crochet Terms you can find a conversion chart at:
https://mycrochetchums.weebly.com/ukus-crochet-terms.html

Body

Rnd 1: With MC and working in a magic ring, 6 dc. 6 sts

Rnd 2: 2 dc in each st around. 12 sts
Rnd 3: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 18 sts
Rnd 4: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 24 sts
Rnd 5: [3 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 30 sts
Rnd 6: Dc around.
Rnd 7: [4dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 36 sts
Rnds 8-11: Dc around.
Rnd 12: [4 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 30 sts
Rnds 13-15: Dc around.
Rnd 16: [3 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 24 sts
Rnds 17-19: Dc around.
Rnd 20: [2 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 18 sts
Rnd 21: Dc around.

Fasten off leaving a long tail. Stuff body.

Belly Patch
Rnd 1: With CC1 and working in a magic ring, 6 dc. 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 dc in each st around. 12 sts
Rnd 3: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 18 sts
Rnd 4: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 24 sts
Rnd 5: [3 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 30 sts
Rnd 6: Dc around.

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

© Pia Simpson 2021 3 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Head
Stuff the head as you go.

Rnd 1:With CC1 and working in a magic ring, 6dc. 6sts

Rnd 2: 2 dc in each st around. 12 sts
Rnd 3: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 18 sts
Rnd 4: Dc around.
Rnd 5: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 6 times. 24sts
Rnd 6-7: Dc around.
Change colour to MC
Rnds 8-9: Dc around.
Rnd 10: [3 dc, 2 dc in next st] 2 times, [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 3 times, 3 dc, 2 dc in next st, 3 dc.
30 sts
Rnd 11: Dc around.
Rnd 12: 4 dc, 2 dc in next st, [3dc, 2 dc in next st] 2 times, 4 dc, 2 dc in next st, [3 dc, 2 dc in
next st] 2 times, 4 dc. 36 sts
Rnd 13: 5 dc, 2 dc in next st, [4 dc, 2 dc in next st] 5 times, 5 dc. 42 sts
Rnds 14-15: Dc around.
Rnd 16: [5 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 36 sts
Rnds 17-20: Dc around.
Rnd 21: [4 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 30 sts
Rnd 22: Dc around.
Rnd 23: [3 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 24 sts
Rnd 24: [2 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 18 sts
Rnd 25: [1 dc, 1 dc2tog] 6 times. 12 sts
Rnd 26: 6 dc2tog. 6 sts

Fasten off, weave in end.

Mane - make 2
With CC2, chain 41.
Rnd 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 40 dc. Do not turn. 40 sts
Rnd 2: Working in first dc of prev rnd, 1 dc (to join), 39 dc. 40sts
Rnd 3: *1 sl st, [1 dc,1 htr] in next st, 2 tr in next st, [1htr, 1 dc] in next st; rep from * 9 more
times. 70 sts
Fasten off, weave in ends.

© Pia Simpson 2021 4 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Take one of the Mane pieces and, using the photo as a guide, embroider the decorative detail
round the mane using lengths of MC and CC1 with a yarn needle. Fasten off and weave in
ends.
Stitch the two yarn pieces together round the outside and inside edges. Fasten off and weave
in ends.

Eye - make 2
Rnd 1: With CC4 and working in a magic ring, 4 dc. 4 sts
Join with a slip st into top of first dc.

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Nose
Rnd 1: With CC3 and working in a magic ring, 6 dc. 6 sts
Rnd 2: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] 3 times. 9 sts
Rnd 3: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 3 times. 12 sts

Fasten off.

Ear - make 2
Rnd 1: With MC and working in a magic ring, 6 dc. 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 dc in each st around. 12 sts

Fasten off.

Hand with Arm - make 2

If you're flummoxed by the first two rounds -check out the oval start Photo Tutorial here:
mycrochetchums.weebly.com/oval-start-photo-tutorial.html

Stuff hand before you change colour. Lightly stuff arm.

With CC1, chain 5.

Rnd 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 4 dc, 2 ch, rotating as you go, work in the other side of the
chain, 4 dc, 2 ch. 8 sts
Rnd 2: [4dc, 2 dc in 2 ch sp] 2 times. 12 sts
Rnds 3-4: Dc around.
Rnd 5: [4dc 1 dc2tog] 2 times. 10 sts
Rnd 6: [3 dc, 1 dc2tog] 2 times. 8 sts

Change colour to MC. Stuff hand lightly.

Rnds 7-9: Dc around.

Rnd 10: 1 dc2tog, 6 dc. 7sts
Rnds 11-13: Dc around.
Rnd 14: 1 dc2tog, 5 dc. 6 sts
Rnd 15: Dc around.

Fasten off.

© Pia Simpson 2021 5 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Foot and Leg- make 2
Stuff the leg as you go.

Rnd 1: With MC and working in a magic ring, 6 dc. 6 sts

Rnds 2: 2 dc in each st around. 12 sts
Rnd 3: [2 dc in next st, 2 dc, 2 dc in next st] 3 times. 18 sts
Rnd 4: 5 dc, 1 dc2tog, 4 dc, 1 dc2tog, 5 dc. 16 sts
Rnd 5: [2 dc, 2 dc2tog] 2 times, 4 dc. 12 sts
Rnd 6: 3 dc, 1 dc2tog, 1 dc, 1 dc2tog, 4 dc. 10 sts
Rnd 7: 2 dc, 1 dc2tog, 1 dc, 1 dc2tog, 3 dc. 8 sts

Change colour to MC

Rnds 8-9: Dc around.

Rnd 10: 1 dc2tog, 6 dc. 7 sts
Rnds 11-12: Dc around.

Fasten off.

Tail
Rnd 1: With CC2 and working in a magic ring, 4dc. 4 sts
Rnd 2: Dc around.
Rnd 3: 2 dc in each st around. 8sts
Rnd 4: Dc around.
Rnd 5: [2 dc, 1 dc2tog] 2 times. 6 dc

Change colour to MC

Rnd 6: Dc around.
Rnd 7: 1 dc2tog, 4 dc. 5 sts
Rnds 8-12: Dc around.
Rnd 13: 2 dc in next st, 4 dc. 6 sts
Rnd 14: Dc around.

Fasten off.

Making Up

Using the photographs on the next page as a guide, pin the pieces together first, working in the
following order and using the long yarn tails or a length of yarn with a yarn needle to stitch the
pieces together.

Start with the head. The point on Rnd 8 where the colour changes from CC1 to MC should be
pointing downwards - this is the bottom of the face. Sew the mane into place first - the bottom of
it sits on Rnd 13 approx of the head, the top sits on Rnd 15 so the mane sits at an angle when
you look at the head side on - leaving room behind the mane to attach the body.
Attach the ears just in front of the mane approx 10 stitches apart, followed by the eyes approx 4
rows further forward approx 5 stitches apart.

Fold the nose in half and attach to the snout as shown in the photo.

© Pia Simpson 2021 6 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Attach the body to the head and the belly patch to the front of the body. Stitch the arms in place
as shown in the photo attaching them approx 2 rows down from the neck/head join.

Attach the legs to the body as shown in the photos.

Attach the tail to the back of the body in line with Rnd 8 approx.

Embroidered Details
Using CC3 whip stitch over the ends of the hands and feet, pulling the yarn up tightly to create
the “fingers” and “toes” and use the same yarn to embroider the mouth detail.

Using CC1 embroider the highlight in the eyes.

Using CC2 embroider two “stars” on the belly patch.

© Pia Simpson 2021 7 mycrochetchums.weebly.com

Terms of Use

I am happy for you to donate, gift or sell any of the my crochet chums you make if you are an
individual crafter - please credit mycrochetchums.weebly.com as the designer.

If you do wish to sell your my crochet chums, it is your responsibility to ensure that the finished
item complies with the relevant toy legislation in your country.

Please be sure to use toy grade stuffing and do not add buttons, bells, ribbons etc that could be
a danger to small children.

The patterns are copyright protected and are not for commercial use. They cannot be sold,
transmitted, distributed or reproduced in any form or by any means. I’ve worked hard to create
the designs - please don’t sell my patterns - it’s just plain mean!

About mycrochetchums

I started mycrochetchums at the end of 2020 to give me something to focus on during

lockdown and to make creative use of a box of Aldi Amigurumi Yarn that was an impulse
purchase I was feeling guilty about!

I’m loving creating these cute characters and sharpening my tech skills in the process as I
wrangle with managing a website and social media.

Check out the mycrochetchums Facebook page - drop me a message there if you have any
feedback about the pattern or would like to share a picture of the end result.

You can also find me on Instagram @mycrochetchums.

Happy Crocheting!

Pia x

© Pia Simpson 2021 8 mycrochetchums.weebly.com