Rainbow Lion Amigurumi Free Crochet Pattern
We share amigurumi animals free patterns with you every day. In this article, we shared the amigurumi rainbow lion pattern.
Materials
340g of Kauni Effectgarten EQ Rainbow pure wool 4ply / fingering weight yarn (or similar feltable yarn)
2 x Oddments of White pure wool yarn
2 x Oddments of Black pure wool yarn
Polyfill (or similar) stuffing
1 x 5mm (USA ‘H’) crochet hook
1 x Amigurumi stitch/row marker
A sharp pair of sciccors
1 x reel of sewing thread in medium grey & sharp sewing needle
1 x Darning needle
(Optional) Few handfuls of plastic pellet filling.
N.B. Plastic pellet filling is not to be used if toy is being made for small child due to nature of
small parts.
Felted Crochet Amigurumi Lion
Size
Seated height to top of head (not including mane) is around 27.5cms (11 inches)
A few important notes before you start…
This pattern is designed to be felted after crocheting so you must use a feltable yarn…
Ideally use any hand wash 100% pure wool, shetlandwool or lamsbswool.
Or 100% pure angora, angora/wool mix, 100% pure cashmere or cashmere/wool mix yarn. You can use 100% pure alpaca or alpaca/wool mixes but they do not felt as sucessfully.
Pure or mixture yarns containing cotton, silk, linen, acrylic, any other yarns that are synthetic or machine washable will not felt. If you are not sure whether your yarn will felt I recommend you test it by crocheting a small 20dc x 20row swatch & machine wash at 60 degrees with your next load of washing (put a dye catching sheet in the wash if you’re doing whites and your swatch isn’t!). If your swatch shrinks & ‘matts’ it has definitely felted in some way & the more it shrinks the better the resulting felted fabric.
Also when you crochet this Amigurumi lion the tension will be quite loose/open. This is unusual for Amigurumi but absolutely correct for this pattern so do not change to a smaller hook. The slightly open texture of the fabric is needed to help the felting process happen properly and make it a really soft and fuzzy texture.
Lastly as with all Amigurumi patterns this Lion is worked in continuous rounds with no slip stitches between rounds.
Tension
N.B. Felted tension will vary according to the yarn & temperature during washing cycle used.
Before felting 17dc x 28rows to 10cm & after felting roughly 30dc x 51rows to 10cm over plain dc
fabric. Mane chain loops are about 13cms long when stretched out before felting & about 7cms long
after felting.
Abbreviations
This pattern is written using British crochet abbreviations.
dc Double Crochet (US Single Crochet – sc)
htr Half Treble (US Half Double Crochet – hdc)
tr Treble (US Double Crochet – dc)
ch Chain
ch-sp Chain space
psm Place stitch marker
msm Move stitch marker
rsm Remove stitch marker
RS Right side
WS Wrong side
ss Slip stitch
yrh yarn round hook
dc2tog (US sc2tog) – (insert hook in next st, yrh, draw through loop) x 2, yrh, draw loop through all 3 loops on hook.
dc3tog (US sc3tog) – (insert hook in next st, yrh, draw through loop) x 3, yrh, draw loop through all 4 loops on hook.
dc4tog (US sc4tog) – (insert hook in next st, yrh, draw through loop) x 4, yrh, draw loop through all 5 loops on hook.
ss2tog (US ss2tog) – (insert hook in next st, yrh, draw through loop) x twice, draw last loop through all loops on hook.
PATTERN
Foot Base (make 4)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or work 3ch & ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in rounds with RS facing & the use of a stitch marker will be helpful.
ROUND1 8dc into ring, psm, 8sts.
ROUND2 2dc in each of 8dc, msm, 16sts.
ROUND3 (2dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, *(1dc,1ch,1dc) in next st, 2dc in next st*, rept from *to* twice more , 2dc, 2dc in next st, 1dc, msm, 28sts.
ROUND4 2dc, (2dc in next st, 2dc) x 2, 1dc, (6dc in ch-sp, dc4tog) x 2, 6dc in ch-sp, 1dc, (2dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 1dc, msm, 41sts.
ROUND5 1dc, (2dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 7dc, 4dc in next st, 1dc, dc4tog, 1dc, 3dc in next st, 1dc, dc4tog, 1dc, 4dc in next st, 7dc, 2dc in next st, 2dc, 2dc in next st, 1dc, rsm, ss in top of 1st dc, 47sts, fasten off.
Do not leave long tail.
Body (make 1)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or 3ch, ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 6dc into circle, psm, 6sts.
ROUND 2 2dc in every st, msm, 12sts.
ROUND 3 (1dc, 2dc in next st) x 6, 18sts.
ROUND 4 1dc, (2dc, 2dc in next st) x 5, 2dc, msm, 23sts.
ROUND 5 1dc, (3dc, 2dc in next st) x 5, 2dc, msm, 28sts.
ROUND 6 1dc, (4dc, 2dc in next st) x 5, 3dc, msm, 33sts.
ROUND 7 1dc, (2dc in next st, 5dc) x 2, 2dc in next st, 4dc, 2dc in next st, (5dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 2dc, msm, 39sts.
ROUND 8 2dc, (2dc in next st, 6dc) x 2, 2dc in next st, 5dc, 2dc in next st, (6dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 2dc, msm, 45sts.
ROUND 9 2dc, (2dc in next st, 7dc) x 2, 2dc in next st, 7dc, 2dc in next st, (7dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 2dc, 51sts.
body continued
ROUND 10 2dc, (2dc in next st, 8dc) x 2, 2dc in next st, 9dc, 2dc in next st, (8dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 2dc, msm, 57sts.
ROUND 11 2dc, (2dc in next st, 9dc) x 2, (2dc in next st) x 2, 9dc, (2dc in next st) x 2, (9dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 2dc, msm, 65sts.
ROUND 12 2dc, (10dc, 2dc in next st) x 2, 17dc, (2dc in next st, 10dc) x 2, 2dc, msm, 69sts.
ROUNDS 13 – 20 dc around, msm, 69sts.
ROUND 21 6dc, (dc2tog, 9dc) x 5, dc2tog, 6dc, msm, 63sts.
ROUNDS 22 – 26 dc around, msm, 63sts.
ROUND 27 10dc, (dc2tog, 8dc) x 5, 3dc, msm, 58sts.
ROUNDS 28 & 29 dc around, msm, 58sts.
ROUND 30 10dc, (dc2tog, 7dc) x 5, 3dc, 53sts.
ROUND 31 dc around, msm, 53sts.
ROUND 32 6dc, (dc2tog, 6dc) x 5, dc2tog, 5dc, msm, 47sts.
ROUND 33 5dc, (dc2tog, 5dc) x 5, dc2tog, 5dc, msm, 41sts.
ROUND 34 dc around, msm, 41sts.
ROUND 35 5dc, (dc2tog, 4dc) x 5, dc2tog, 4dc, msm, 35sts.
ROUNDS 36 – 39 dc around, msm, 35sts.
ROUND 40 7dc, (dc2tog, 3dc) x 5, 3dc, msm, 30sts.
ROUNDS 41 – 45 dc around, msm, 30sts.
ROUND 46 5dc, (dc2tog) x 3, 9dc, (dc2tog) x 3, 4dc, msm, 24sts.
ROUND 47 dc around, msm, 24sts.
ROUND 48 4dc, (dc2tog) x 2, 8dc, (dc2tog) x 2, 4dc, ss in top of 1st dc, rsm, 20sts, fasten off.
Do not leave long tail.
Head (make 1)
Starting with muzzle, make either a magic adjustable ring or 3ch, ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 8dc into circle, pull adjustable ring tail tight, psm, 8sts.
ROUND 2 2dc in each dc, msm, 16sts.
ROUND 3 (1dc, 2dc in next st) x 8, msm, 24sts.
ROUND 4 5dc, (3dc in next st) x 2, 10dc, (3dc in next st) x 2, 5dc, msm, 32sts.
ROUND 5 7dc, (2dc in next st) x 2, 14dc, (2dc in next st) x 2, 7dc, msm, 32sts.
ROUND 6 8dc, (2dc in next st) x 2, 16dc, (2dc in next st) x 2, 8dc, msm, 40sts.
ROUND 7 8dc, 2dc in next st, 2dc, 2dc in next st, 16dc, 2dc in next st, 2dc, 2dc in next st, 8dc, msm, 44sts.
ROUNDS 8 – 17 dc around, msm, 44sts.
Attach pad circles to foot base
Securely stitch 1 large and 3 small pad circles onto each foot base using the long yarn tail on each pad circle. Place each circle as in the Picture below and oversew round their edges one at a time. Make sure you work through every stitch of each pad circle and into footbase.
Legs / Arms (make 2 left & 2 right)
Continue to work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 Rejoin yarn to outer loop of where you fastened off foot base, 42dc in outer loops of dc’s from last foot base round, (dc2tog) x 2, 1dc, psm, 45sts.
ROUND 2 Work through both loops again, dc around x 1, msm, 45sts.
ROUNDS 3 & 4 Repeat as round 2, msm, 45sts.
ROUND 5 10dc, (dc3tog, 4dc) x 3, dc3tog, 11dc, msm, 37sts.
ROUND 6 9dc, dc3tog, 3dc, (dc2tog, 3dc) x 2, dc3tog, 9dc, msm, 31sts.
ROUND 7 8dc, (dc2tog, 2dc) x 3, dc2tog, 9dc, msm, 27sts.
ROUND 8 7dc, dc3tog, 1dc, dc4tog, 1dc, dc3tog, 8dc, msm, 20sts.
ROUNDS 9 – 25 dc around, msm, 20sts.
Left arm/leg
ROUND 26 & 27 5dc, 10ss, 5dc, msm, 20sts.
ROUND 28 5dc, 10ss, 5dc, rsm, ss in top of 1st dc, 20sts, fasten off.
Right arm/leg
ROUND 26 & 27 5ss, 10dc, 5ss, msm, 20sts.
ROUND 28 5ss, 10dc, 5ss, rsm, ss in top of 1st dc, 20sts, fasten off. Do not leave long tail.
Small Foot pad (make 12)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or work 3ch & ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 9dc in ring, 9sts, pull magic adjusable ring tail tight, ss into 1dc, fasten off leaving long tail of yarn to attach to foot base.
Large Foot pad (make 4)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or work 3ch & ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 9dc in ring, psm, pull tail tight, 9sts.
ROUND 2 2dc in each of 9dc of previous row, ss in top of 1st dc, rsm, 18sts, fasten off leaving long tail of yarn to sew onto foot base.
Head continued
ROUND 18 18dc, (2dc in next st) x 3, 2dc, (2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 50sts.
ROUND 19 18dc, (2dc in next st, 1dc) x 3, 2dc, (1dc, 2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 56sts.
ROUND 20 18dc, (2dc in next st, 2dc) x 3, 2dc, (2dc, 2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 62sts.
ROUND 21 18dc, (2dc in next st, 3dc) x 3, 2dc, (3dc, 2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 68sts.
ROUND 22 18dc, (2dc in next st, 4dc) x 3, 2dc, (4dc, 2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 74sts.
ROUND 23 18dc, (2dc in next st, 5dc) x 3, 2dc, (5dc, 2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 80sts.
ROUND 24 dc around, msm, 80sts.
ROUND 25 18dc, (2dc in next st) x 3, 38dc, (2dc in next st) x 3, 18dc, msm, 86sts.
ROUND 26 & 27 8dc, 70dc in outer loops only, 8dc, msm, 86sts.
ROUND 28 8dc, 70dc in outer loops only, 1dc, 7ch (miss 7dc), continue into round 30 being careful not to twist ch, msm, 86sts.
ROUND 29 7ch (miss 7dc), 1dc, 70dc in outer loops only, 7dc along ch, msm, 86sts.
ROUND 30 7dc along ch, 1dc in both loops, 70dc in outer loops, 8dc in both loops, msm, 86sts.
ROUND 31 8dc, 70dc through outer loops, 8dc, msm, 86sts.
*All rounds from now on are worked through the outer loops of every stitch until finished.*
ROUND 32 1dc, (dc2tog, 8dc) x 4, 4dc, (8dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 78sts.
ROUND 33 dc around, msm, 78sts.
ROUND 34 1dc, (dc2tog, 7dc) x 4, 4dc, (7dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 70sts.
ROUND 35 dc around, msm, 70sts.
ROUND 36 1dc, (dc2tog, 6dc) x 4, 4dc, (6dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 62sts.
ROUND 37 dc around, msm, 62sts.
ROUND 38 1dc, (dc2tog, 5dc) x 4, 4dc, (5dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 56sts.
ROUND 39 dc around, msm, 54sts.
ROUND 40 1dc, (dc2tog, 4dc) x 4, 4dc, (4dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 46sts.
ROUND 41 1dc, (dc2tog, 3dc) x 4, 4dc, (3dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 38sts.
Tail (make 1)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or a 3ch, ss into first ch ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 6dc into ring, pull tail tight, psm, 6sts.
ROUNDS 2 – 40 dc around, msm, (about 27cms long) 6sts.
ROUND 41 Create tassel on end of tail, *(1dc, 30ch, 1dc) into next st, 30ch*, rept from *to * 6 times, ss into top of 1st dc, 6sts & 12ch loops, fasten off. Do not leave long tail.
Mane
*Work back and forth along the front loops that were not worked when crocheting the head.*
ROW 1 Re-join yarn to 1st front loop on head in round 27, (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 34, 40ch, 1dc, turn, 70sts & 35ch loops.
Ears (make 2)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or a 3ch, ss into first ch ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 6dc into ring, pull tail tight, psm, 6sts.
ROUND 2 *1dc, (2dc in next st) x 2*, rept *to* once more, msm, 10sts.
ROUND 3 2dc, 3dc in next st, 4dc, 3dc in next st, 2dc, msm, 14sts.
ROUNDS 4 – 9 dc around, msm, 14sts, fasten off.
ROUND 10 dc around, ss in top of 1st dc, rsm, 14sts, fasten off. Do not leave long tail.
Head continued
ROUND 42 1dc, (dc2tog, 2dc) x 4, 4dc, (2dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 30sts.
ROUND 43 1dc, (dc2tog, 1dc) x 4, 4dc, (1dc, dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 22sts.
ROUND 44 1dc, (dc2tog) x 4, 4dc, (dc2tog) x 4, 1dc, msm, 14sts.
ROUND 45 dc4tog, 1dc, dc3tog, 1dc, dc4tog, 1dc, msm, 6sts.
ROUND 46 dc4tog x 3, ss2tog, ss in top of 1st dc, rsm, 3sts, fasten off. Do not leave long tail.
Mane continued
ROW 2 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 11, flatten ears, attach 1st ear by working 7dc through both layers of ear & next 7 front loops, (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 6, attach 2nd ear by working 7dc through both layers of ear & next 7 front loops, (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 11, turn, 70sts & 28ch loops.
ROWS 3 – 6 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 34, 40ch, 1dc, turn, 70sts & 35ch loops.
ROW 7 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 34, 40ch, 1dc, fasten off, 70sts & 35ch loops. Do not leave long tail.
*From now on continue mane by working in rounds.*
ROUNDS 8 & 9 Rejoin yarn to 1st front loop of next head round, (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 43, do not turn, psm, 86sts & 43ch loops.
ROUNDS 10 & 11 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 39, do not turn, psm, 78sts & 39ch loops.
ROUNDS 12 & 13 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 35, do not turn, psm, 70sts & 35ch loops.
ROUNDS 14 & 15 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 31, do not turn, psm, 62sts & 31ch loops.
ROUNDS 16 & 17 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 27, do not turn, psm, 54sts & 27ch loops.
ROUNDS 18 & 19 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 23, do not turn, psm, 46sts & 23ch loops.
ROUNDS 20 & 21 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 19, do not turn, psm, 38sts & 19ch loops.
ROUNDS 22 & 23 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 15, do not turn, psm, 30sts & 15ch loops.
ROUNDS 24 & 25 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 11, do not turn, psm, 22sts & 11ch loops.
Eyes (make 2)
Using oddments of black & white yarns.
Make either a magic adjustable ring or a 3ch, ss into first ch ring. Work in rounds with RS facing. Black 9dc, do not ss in top of next st, 9sts,fasten off.
Change to oddment of white yarn.
White Re-join white in 2nd dc of black round, 1ch, 2dc in this st, 1dc, 1htr, 3tr in next st, 1htr, 3dc, fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching to face.
Nose (make 1)
Make either a magic adjustable ring or a 3ch, ss into first ch ring. Work in rounds with RS facing.
ROUND 1 6dc into ring, pull tail tight, psm, 6sts
ROUND 2 1dc, 1ch, 2dc, 1ch, 2dc, 1ch, 1dc, msm, 9sts.
ROUND 3 1dc, *(1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in ch space, 2dc*, rept from *to* once more, (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in ch space, 1dc, msm, 15sts.
ROUND 4 2dc, *(1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in ch space, 4dc*, rept from *to* once more, (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in ch space, 2dc, msm, ss in top of 1st dc, 21sts, fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching to face.
Mane continued
ROUND 26 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 7, do not turn, psm, 14sts & 7ch loops.
ROUND 27 (1dc, 40ch, 1dc) x 2, do not turn, ss into top of 1st dc, rsm, 4sts & 2ch loops. Do not leave long tail.
ROUND 28 1dc, 40ch, 2dc, do not turn, rsm, 3sts & 1ch loop, fasten off.
Pre-felting & assembly instructions
1 Using the long tail of yarn attached to each piece securely sew both eyes & nose onto head by oversewing round their edges making sure to catch every stitch. Position on face as seen in photographs a, b & c on next page. Place each eye a few stitches apart and line up the bottom straight edge of each eye along the top of muzzle. Place nose on front of muzzle lining up one of the corners with the center ring of 8dc workied in first round of crocheting the head. Trim any long tails left on your crocheted pieces now otherwise they will all tangle & felt together in the washing machine.
2 Put all crocheted parts in your washing machine with an old pair of jeans & 2 x fairy liquitabs (or other normal washing machine detergent quantity for a full load). Set washing machine to longest cycle available without prewash with a minimum temperature of 90 degrees centigrade (hottest wash). After felting wash is complete remove items and reshape arms, legs & head/face while still damp. During the felting some of the mane chain loops may have matted together. Gently tease them apart where needed. Leave all pieces to dry naturally until completely dry. DO NOT tumble dry.
Assembly instructions
1 With your chosen stuffing stuff, stuff and stuff some more the head, body & limbs. Thread sharp sewing needle with a double strand of the medium grey colour thread and knot the end. Ladder stitch head opening closed and pull stitches so tight that they disappear as in pictures d, e & f. Tie ends off very securely.
2 Thread sharp sewing needle with a double strand of the medium grey colour thread and knot the end.
Identify left and right limbs & attatch to body by ladder stitching limbs in postition as above. Repeat ladder stitching for tail and for attaching head to body making sure to pull stitches so tight that they disappear each time. Tie ends off very securely. 3 Using a sharp pair of scissors cut through the apex of every felted mane & tail chain loops stretching the loop slightly to help achieve cut at very top of each loop.
4 Using a double strand of Kauni back stitch embroider his smiley mouth starting at bottom corner of nose down & then heading out to the sides.
Your Lion is now completely finished & I hope you enjoyed making him!
Alternative colourway
If you want to make a Marlion using up bits of yarn in your stash like I did first of all (as picture below).
This is the break down of amounts of yarn needed to make the various parts.
Foot base (all 4) 48g
All pad cricles & Limbs 20g
Body 22g
Head 20g
Mane 218g for a full head of locks
Ears 4g
Nose 2g
Tail 8g
Eyes oddments of black & white
Smiley mouth oddment of dark coloured yarn
I used up some Rowanspun 4ply/fingering weight yarnfor the main body parts in red, orange, turquoise,purple & an oddment of green for nose. The mane & tail are in Kauni EQ rainbow & the eyes in oddments of Jaegar pure wool.
Resources
If you are having trouble finding any of the materials used here are some internet mail order companies I’ve used….
