Size: 8 inches tall x 6 inches wide
Materials:
- Caron One Pound worsted (100% acrylic; 812 yards (742 m) / 454 g) in Yellow
- Caron One Pound in Grass Green
- Caron One Pound in Rose (just a small amount for the nose)
- Caron One Pound in Black (just a small amount for whiskers)
- US 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook
- 14 mm black safety eyes
- Polyester fiberfill
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
Stitches Used:
- Magic ring
- Single crochet (sc)
- Increase (inc)
- Invisible decrease (dec)
- Lark’s head knot
Head and Body
Make 1
Make a magic ring in Yellow.
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring. [6 sts]
Round 2: Inc in each st around. [12 sts]
Round 3: *Sc in the next st, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [18 sts]
Round 4: *Sc in the next 2 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [24 sts]
Round 5: *Sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [30 sts]
Round 6: *Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [36 sts]
Round 7: *Sc in the next 5 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [42 sts]
Rounds 8–15: Sc in each st around. [8 rounds @ 42 sts]
Insert 14 mm safety eyes between Rounds 11 and 12, 8 sts apart.
Round 16: *Sc in the next 5 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [36 sts]
Round 17: *Sc in the next 4 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [30 sts]
Round 18: *Sc in the next 3 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [24 sts]
On the last st of Round 18, change to Grass Green. You’ve now finished the head and will begin increasing to make the body.
Round 19: *Sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [30 sts]
Round 20: *Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [36 sts]
Rounds 21–24: Sc in each st around. [4 rounds @ 36 sts]
Round 25: *Sc in the next 5 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. [42 sts]
Rounds 26–30: Sc in each st around. [5 rounds @ 42 sts]
Stuff the head fully and begin stuffing the shoulders; continue stuffing as you work the remaining rounds.
Round 31: *Sc in the next 5 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [36 sts]
Round 32: *Sc in the next 4 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [30 sts]
Round 33: *Sc in the next 3 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [24 sts]
Round 34: *Sc in the next 2 sts, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [18 sts]
Round 35: *Sc in the next st, dec; rep from * 5 more times. [12 sts]
Finish stuffing the body before working the last round.
Round 36: Dec in each pair of st around. [6 sts]
Fasten off the yarn, leaving a short tail of 6 to 8 inches for closing the body. Add any extra stuffing before using a tapestry needle to weave the tail through the front loops of the last round. Pull the tail tight to close the body and weave in the end, then set aside.
Ears
Make 2 in Yellow
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring. [6 sts]
Round 2: *Sc in the next 2 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [8 sts]
Round 3: *Sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [10 sts]
Round 4: *Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [12 sts]
Round 5: Sc in each st around. [12 sts]
Fasten off the yarn, leaving a medium tail of 14 to 16 inches for closing the ear and attaching it to the body. Press the ear flat and stitch it closed, then set aside.
Arms and Legs
Make 4 in Grass Green
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring. [6 sts]
Round 2: Inc in each st around. [12 sts]
Rounds 3–7: Sc in each st around. [5 rounds @ 12 sts]
Round 8: *Sc in the next 4 sts, dec; rep from * 1 more time. [10 sts]
Fasten off the yarn, leaving a medium tail. Using the handle end of your hook, add a small amount of stuffing to the bottom half of the limb. Press the top of the limb flat and stitch it closed, leaving the tail for attaching to the body, then set aside.
Tail
Make 1 in Grass Green
Make a magic ring.
Round 1: Sc 6 in magic ring. [6 sts]
Round 2: *Sc in the next 2 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [8 sts]
Round 3: *Sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [10 sts]
Round 4: *Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next st; rep from * 1 more time. [12 sts]
Round 5: Sc in each st around. [12 sts]
Round 6: Dec in each pair of st around. [6 sts]
Rounds 7–14: Sc in each st around. [8 rounds @ 6 sts]
Fasten off the yarn, leaving a medium tail for attaching to the body, then set aside. The tail is not stuffed.
Assembly
To assemble your Dandy-Lion:
- Attach Ears: Sew both ears evenly on top of the head between Rounds 2 and 3.
- Embroider Details: Use rose yarn to stitch a small T-shaped nose and black yarn to embroider three fanned whiskers on each cheek.
- Join Limbs: Sew the arms just below the neck with a slight forward angle. Attach the legs on a flat surface, angled outward like wedges.
- Add Tail: Position the tail at the center back while the lion is sitting and sew it in place.
- Make the Mane: Cut yellow yarn into 5″ strands. Use lark’s head knots to secure them around the head, leaving the face area clear. Trim the mane to about 1″ for a neat, fluffy finish.