R1with mane2: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7(5 sc, inc) ×6(42)
R83 sc, (inc, 6 sc) ×5, inc, 3 sc(48)
R948 sc(48)
R104 sc, (inc, 7 sc) ×5, inc, 3 sc(54)
R1154 sc(54)
R124 sc, (inc, 8 sc) ×5, inc, 4 sc(60)
R13–1460 sc(60)
R1560 sc(60)
R164 sc, (dec, 8 sc) ×5, dec, 4 sc(54)
R1754 sc(54)
R184 sc, (dec, 7 sc) ×5, dec, 3 sc(48)
R19(6 sc, dec) ×6(42)
R203 sc, (dec, 5 sc) ×5, dec, 2 sc(36)
R21(4 sc, dec) ×6(30)
R222 sc, (dec, 3 sc) ×5, dec, 1 sc(24)
R23(2 sc, dec) ×6(18)
R24(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R25dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 7.9 cm at the widest, 5.9 cm long; 25 rounds.
Change to gold (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R14).
→ Insert the safety eyes now (positions: see “Face”) and fix the backs. Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with mane2: ch 60 and join into a ring with a sl st in the first ch (do not twist); 60 sc, one in each ch of the ring(60)
R22 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×11, inc, 2 sc(72)
R3(popcorns)(1 sc, popcorn) ×36(72)
R43 sc, (inc, 5 sc) ×11, inc, 2 sc(84)
R5(popcorns)(popcorn, 1 sc) ×42(84)
R6(shells)(skip 2 st, 7 dc in one st, skip 2 st, 1 sl st) ×14(112)
Size before assembly: about 12 cm at the widest, 0.6 cm long; 6 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff.

R1with mane: ch 60 and join into a ring with a sl st in the first ch (do not twist); 60 sc, one in each ch of the ring(60)
R25 sc, (inc, 9 sc) ×5, inc, 4 sc(66)
R3(popcorns)(1 sc, popcorn) ×33(66)
R4(shells)(skip 2 st, 7 dc in one st, skip 2 st, 1 sl st) ×11(88)
Size before assembly: about 9.9 cm at the widest, 0.9 cm long; 4 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff.

R1with cream: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(3 sc, inc) ×3(15)
R415 sc(15)
R5(1 sc, dec) ×5(10)
R6dec ×5(5)
Size before assembly: about 3.2 cm at the widest, 1.7 cm long; 6 rounds.
Change to gold (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R2).
→ This piece is not stuffed.
Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 5 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside. Do not stuff. Shape it into a dish: rounds 1–3 are the front of the piece, the magic ring its centre. Push the centre in so the front is concave (about 3 mm at the centre) and turn rounds 4–6 to the back: they make a thick rounded rim (about 8 mm thick) and lie behind as a second layer; the piece is about 32 mm across.

R1starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc 2, 3 sc in the last ch; continue along the other side of the chain: sc 1, 2 sc in the last ch (the one you made the first sc in)(8)
R2(inc ×3, 1 sc) ×2(14)
R31 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc(20)
R420 sc(20)
Size before assembly: an oval about 3 × 2.2 cm at the widest, 1 cm long; 4 rounds. The piece is oval: the rounds go around the chain, and on the finished toy the chain (the long side of the oval) runs side to side; the starting chain is at the front of the piece (on the finished toy). The round-start marker is in the middle of a long side (the piece's centre line), while R1 starts at a turn: after R1 shift the round start — sc 1 more (not counted in any round) and place the marker there. The increases fall on the turns.
With cream: ch 4.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with gold: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(inc ×2, 1 sc) ×2(10)
R3–610 sc(10)
R7(3 sc, dec) ×2(8)
Size before assembly: about 1.3 cm at the widest, 2.3 cm long; 7 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with cream: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(3 sc, inc) ×3(15)
R4–515 sc(15)
R62 sc, (dec, 3 sc) ×2, dec, 1 sc(12)
Size before assembly: about 2 cm at the widest, 1.9 cm long; 6 rounds.
Change to gold (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R2).
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff firmly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with gold: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2–176 sc(6)
Size before assembly: about 0.8 cm at the widest, 6.1 cm long; 17 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done. Bend ≈ 80° around round 9. After stuffing, bend the piece so the inner side of the bend faces up on the finished toy (on the piece: in round 9, 0.5 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ). On the inner side draw rounds 8 and 9 together (1 rounds go into the fold): with the needle and matching yarn make 3–4 stitches through the loops of both rounds over about 2 st, pull to the angle and hide the end inside.

R1with mane: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(popcorns)(1 sc, popcorn) ×6(12)
R412 sc(12)
R5dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 1.6 cm at the widest, 1.6 cm long; 5 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 13 mm (on the head): between rounds 21 and 22, 16 st apart (count along round 21: about 7.9 st each side of the centre top line).
Satin stitch (on the muzzle): in nose thread, a triangle about 7.5 mm wide and 5.5 mm tall, horizontal stitches; centred in round 1, on the centre top line.
Embroidery in mouth thread (on the muzzle), straight stitches through: (in round 1, on the centre bottom line ) → (in round 2, on the centre bottom line).
Embroidery in mouth thread (on the muzzle) (2, symmetric: the toy's left side is described, the right is its mirror image), straight stitches through: (in round 2, on the centre bottom line) → (between rounds 2 and 3, 0.5 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 2 and 3, 1.5 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 2, 2 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ).

Baby Lion

What you'll need