Elisa Sartori, on Instagram as @elisascrochet, discovered the world of yarn and crocheting when she moved to the United States and found that she had a lot of free time on her hands. Table runners, doilies and scarves were the first projects that she dedicated herself to before discovering the artform of amigurumi. Once she became proficient in this Japanese technique, she immediately started drafting her designs. The thing she loves most about amigurumi is bringing her fantasies and ideas to life. She likes to work with different types of yarns, from the simplest; like those of cotton, to the finest; like those of merino wool. It's important to be aware that any material can add a touch of originality and make a product stand out. She draws inspiration for her projects from everything around her such as animals, plants, or even simple everyday objects!
We asked Elisa to think of a pattern just for us. And she came up with an extremely soft lion. With closed eyes and joyful expression. A Zen-like lion that tries to decipher the song-like messages of other animals!
Let's get knitting.
MATERIALS
Sierra yarn col. Saffron 100 g / 3.5 oz
Sierra yarn col. Nougat 100 g / 3.5 oz
Sierra yarn col. Rust 100 g / 3.5 oz
Sierra yarn col. Beaver 100 g / 3.5 oz
Crochet hook n° 4 EU / G-6 US
Synthetic wadding
CROCHET STITCHES USED
Chain
Magic ring
Slip stitch
Single crochet
Half double crochet
Double crochet
DIMENSIONS OF FINISHED PIECE
Total length 25 cm / 10"
Width 15 cm / 6"
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Easy
METHOD
Round 1: single crochet 1 in a magic ring 8 times (8)
round 2: carry out 8 increases (16)
round 3: *single crochet 1 and 1 increase in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 8 times (24)
round 4: *single crochet 2 and 1 increase in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 8 times (32)
round 5: single crochet 32 (32)
round 6: *single crochet 1 and 1 increase in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 8 times (40)
round 7 and 8: single crochet 40 (40)
round 9: *single crochet 4 and 1 increase in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 8 times (48).
From round 10 to round 16: knit single crochet 48 (48).
Round 17: *single crochet 2 and 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 12 times (36)
round 18: *single crochet 1 and 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 12 times (24)
round 19: *single crochet 1 and 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (18).
Stuff the head with synthetic wadding.
Stitch filet crochet.
Round 1: begin using the nougat-coloured yarn, chain 5, 1 single crochet in the second stitch of the hook, single crochet 1 in the following 3 stitches (4) chain 1.
From round 2 to round 11: single crochet 4 (4) chain 1.
Round 12: single crochet 4 (4), leave some extra nougat yarn and switch to beaver coloured yarn and chain 1
round 13: single crochet 4 (4) chain 1
round 14: decrease 2 (2) 1 chain 1
round 15: decrease 1 (1).
Leave some extra beaver coloured yarn.
Sew the nose to the head, placing the beaver-coloured triangular section between rounds 11 and 14.
Sew the two sections to the head with the extra yarn of the corresponding colour. With the beaver-coloured yarn and the needle, make a long stitch to create the shape of the mouth.
Using the beaver-coloured yarn and a wool needle, embroider the lions' eyes between rounds 10 and 11 (4 stitches long). Leave a space of 2 stitches between the eyes and the nose section.
With the rust-coloured yarn and a wool needle, embroider three horizontal lines (the width of a stitch) on the cheeks of the lion, between rounds 14 and 16.
Round 1: with the rust-coloured yarn, chain 35, 2 double crochets in the third chain starting from the hook, then stitch 2 double crochets in each of the following stitches (68).
Leave some extra yarn to sew the mane onto the head of the lion.
Round 1: with the saffron-coloured yarn, chain 4, increase 1 in the second stitch from the hook, single crochet 1 in the following stitch, increase 2 in the last chain, continue to stitch on the other side of the initial chain, single crochet 1, 1 increase in the following stitch (10)
round 2: single crochet 10 (10)
round 3: *single crochet 4, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 2 times (8).
Leave a little extra thread to sew the ears onto the lion's head, between rounds 5 and 9. Do not stuff the ears, instead flatten them, and then sew them to the head.
LEG # 1
Round 1: start with the beaver-coloured yarn, single crochet 8 in a magic ring (8)
round 2: 8 increases (16)
round 3: single crochet 16 (16)
round 4: change to the saffron-coloured yarn, single crochet 16 (16).
Bind off.
LEG # 2
Round 1: start with the beaver-coloured yarn, single crochet 8 in a magic ring (8)
round 2: 8 increases (16)
round 3: single crochet 16 (16)
round 4: change to the saffron-coloured yarn, single crochet 16 (16).
Do not bind off, but stitch 4 slip stitches.
Join the legs together, then start working on the lion's body.
Round 5: insert the hook into the first stitch of the last round of leg # 1, single crochet 1 in the same stitch, single crochet 1 in the following 15 stitches; start stitching the chains between the 2 legs, 1 half double crochet in each of the 4 chains; continue working on the second leg, single crochet 1 in the first stitch of the last round, single crochet 1 in the following 15 stitches; work again the chains between the 2 legs, 1 half double crochet in each of the 4 following chains (40)
round 6: *single crochet 4, 1 increase in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 8 times (48).
From round 7 to round 15: single crochet 48 (48).
Begin stuffing the legs and body.
Round 16: *single crochet 6, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (42)
round 17 and 18: single crochet 42 (42)
round 19: *single crochet 5, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (36)
round 20 and 21: single crochet 36 (36)
round 22: *single crochet 4, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (30)
round 23 and 24: single crochet 30 (30)
round 25: *single crochet 3, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (24)
round 26 and 27: single crochet 24 (24)
round 28: *single crochet 2, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times (18).
Leave a little extra yarn to sew the lion's body to the head. stuff the body with synthetic wadding before sewing the two pieces together.
Round 1: start with the beaver-coloured yarn, 6 double crochets in a magic ring (6)
round 2: 6 increases(12)
round 3: single crochet 12 (12)
round 4: change to the saffron-coloured yarn, single crochet 12 (12)
round 5 and 6: single crochet 12 (12)
round 7: *single crochet 4, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat 2 times (10)
round 8 and 9: single crochet 10 (10)
round 10: *single crochet 3, 1 decrease in the following stitch*, repeat 2 times (8).
From round 11 to round 14: single crochet 8 (8).
Leave a little extra yarn to sew the front legs between rounds 27 and 28 of the lion's body. Lightly stuff the first section of the legs before sewing them to the body.
Round 1: begin the tail using the rust-coloured yarn, single crochet 6 in a magic ring (6)
round 2: 6 increases (12)
round 3 and 4: single crochet 12 (12)
round 5: 6 decreases (6)
round 6: change to the saffron-coloured yarn, single crochet 6 (6).
From round 7 to round 16: single crochet 6 (6).
Leave a little extra yarn to sew the tail onto the back of the body, between rounds 7 and 11. Do not stuff the tail.
With the beaver-coloured yarn and a wool needle embroider a horizontal line 1 stitch wide, between rounds 10 and 11 of the body.
If you enjoyed creating the amigurumi lion and you are a big fan of this technique then we suggest also reading how to make and amigurumi bear.
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