Crochet Appliques – Lion

Find here a free Crochet Pattern Lion Applique


After the giraffes’ appliques, here are the lions’ appliques! I have decided this time to make a family of lions. I hope you will like them.  You can use them to personalize a crochet blanket, a crochet bag or even a crochet hat!  Don’t forget to join my facebook group,  you can ask your questions, and share your finished projects and I will regularly ask you what pattern you would like to see next (or you can even suggest something even if I am not asking! I don’t promise I will do everything but I will try).

I hope you will enjoy and understand the pattern. If you have any questions, feel free to write to me. And I would love to see your work!

lion applique crochet pattern

Crochet Pattern Lion Applique Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

 

You can find my Giraffes Crochet Appliqués here.

lion king crochet applique


Free Crochet Pattern: Lion Applique – PIN IT FOR LATER!

Crochet Pattern Lion Applique Applique Crochet lion


Crochet Lion Appliques

 

Material:

  • Yarn calling for 5,5 mm hook in: cream, yellow and brown
  • A very small amount of pearl cotton in black (for the eyelashes of the female)
  • Size 3.5 mm crochet hook.
  • 3 black safety eyes (7.5 mm) for each lion
  • Stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle

 

Abbreviations:

  • chain (ch)
  • magic ring (mr)
  • single crochet (sc)
  • increase (inc)
  • invisible decrease (dec)
  • slip stitch (sl st)
  • half double crochet (hdc)
  • double crochet (dc)

 

What did I use?

Light worsted yarn.
I used « I love this cotton» from Hobby Lobby.


Pattern: How to crochet a lion applique?


The male – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique


The body 

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 8. (8)
  • Row 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 7 ch. (7)
  • Row 2: ch1, turn; 1 inc, 1 sc in the next 5 st, 1 inc. (9)
  • Rows 3 to 9: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (9)
  • Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 5 st, 1 dec. (7)
  • Rows 11 to 13: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (7)
  • Row 14: ch1, turn; 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 3 st, 1 dec. (5)
  • Rows 15 to 16: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (7)
  • do not turn, make 1 sc evenly all around (you do not want to crochet to tight for this part – you can also use a bigger size crochet). (approx. 37 st)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the head on), fasten off.

 


The head – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
  • Round 2: inc 6 times. (12)
  • Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
  • Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)
  • Round 5: [1 sc in next 3 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (30)

Change for the brown yarn:

  • Round 6: for this round, I just made a mix of sc, hdc and dc as i didn’t want a symmetric mane (you don’t have to do exactly the same if you want a different of more symmetric one): [2 sc in the first st, 3 dc in the next st, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 3 hdc, 1 sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 3 hdc, 1 dc, 1 sc, 3 hdc, 1 sc, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 hdc, 1 sc]. (52 st)

Cut the yarn, fasten off.

Decide where to place the eyes and fix them (not the nose, only the eyes!).


The legs (make 4) – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the brown yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
  • Round 2: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x3. (9)

Change for the yellow yarn:

  • Row 3: 1 sc in the next 3 st. (3)
  • Rows 4 to 8: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (3)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the legs to the body), fasten off.

 


The muzzle

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the cream yarn.

  • ch 6. (6)
  • Round 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 4 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Now working on the other side of the chain: 1 sc in the next 4 ch. (10)
  • Round 2: 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 sc in the next st and place a stitch marker, 2 sc in the next st. (7)
  • sl st in the next st

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the muzzle to the head), fasten off.

Place a safety eye where your st marker is (it should be the top center of the muzzle – just check before to fix it). If you want to make a mouth (don’t be like me and do it now!), take your black yarn and your tapestry needle. Take the nose off, and make a mouth, then put the nose back on the muzzle. Place the muzzle on the head, fix the nose and with your tapestry needle, sew the nose to the head.

Crochet Pattern Lion Applique


The ears (make 2)

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the ears to the head), fasten off.

 


The tail

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 10. (10)
  • cut 2 strands of brown yarn. Insert your hook in the last ch, grab these 2 strands by the middle and pull them through the ch. With your hands, take all the ends, pull them through the look and tighten up. Cut the brown yarn to a shorter length and separate each strand of yarn to give a more natural look.

Assembling all pieces together – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Sew the ears to the head (I didn’t take any picture for the male but I used the same way for the baby – pictures below)

Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Sew the head to the body.

Sew two legs at the front of the body and sew two legs at the back of the body (see the picture below for their positions).

Sew the tail, just above one of the back leg.

lion applique crochet pattern


The female – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique


The body

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 7. (7)
  • Row 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 6 ch. (6)
  • Row 2: ch1, turn; 1 inc, 1 sc in the next 4 st, 1 inc. (8)
  • Rows 3 to 9: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)
  • Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 4 st, 1 dec. (6)
  • Rows 11 to 12: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
  • Row 13: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 2 st. (5)
  • Row 14: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (5)
  • do not turn, make 1 sc evenly all around (you do not want to crochet to tight for this part – you can also use a bigger size crochet). (approx. 32 st)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the head on), fasten off.

 


The head – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
  • Round 2: inc 6 times. (12)
  • Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
  • Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)
  • Round 5: [1 sc in next 3 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (30)

Cut the yarn, fasten off.

Decide where to place the eyes but do not attach them yet. Once you know where to place them, take them off, take your tapestry needle and the black cotton pearl and make some eyelashes (see pictures below). When the eyelashes are done, put the eyes back and attach them. I forgot to do the eyelashes before to fix the eyes (don’t be like me!), so I don’t have any pictures and I put pictures from the giraffe pattern as it is exactly the same way to do it.


The legs (make 4) – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the brown yarn.

  • Round 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring. (8)

Change for the yellow yarn:

  • Row 2: 1 sc in the next 3 st. (3)
  • Rows 4 to 8: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (3)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the legs to the body), fasten off.


The muzzle

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the cream yarn.

  • ch 6. (6)
  • Round 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 4 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Now working on the other side of the chain: 1 sc in the next 4 ch. (10)
  • Round 2: 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 sc in the next st and place a stitch marker, 2 sc in the next st. (7)
  • sl st in the next st

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the muzzle to the head), fasten off.

Place a safety eye where your st marker is (it should be the top center of the muzzle – just check before to fix it). If you want to make a mouth (don’t be like me and do it now!), take your black yarn and your tapestry needle. Take the nose off, and make a mouth, then put the nose back on the muzzle. Place the muzzle on the head, fix the nose and with your tapestry needle, sew the nose to the head.


The ears (make 2)

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the ears to the head), fasten off.

 


The tail

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 10. (10)
  • cut 2 strands of brown yarn. Insert your hook in the last ch, grab these 2 strands by the middle and pull them through the ch. With your hands, take all the ends, pull them through the look and tighten up. Cut the brown yarn to a shorter length and separate each strand of yarn to give a more natural look.

Assembling all pieces together – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Sew the ears to the head.

Sew the head to the body.

Sew two legs at the front of the body and sew two legs at the back of the body (see the picture below for their positions).

Sew the tail, just above one of the back leg.

lion crochet


The cub – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique


The body

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 6. (6)
  • Row 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 5 ch. (5)
  • Row 2: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 inc, 1 sc in the next 2 st. (6)
  • Rows 3 to 8: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
  • Row 9: ch1, turn; 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 dec. (4)
  • Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (4)
  • Row 11: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next st, 1 dec, 1 sc in the next st. (3)
  • do not turn, make 1 sc evenly all around (you do not want to crochet to tight for this part – you can also use a bigger size crochet). (approx. 23 st)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the head on), fasten off.


The head – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
  • Round 2: inc 6 times. (12)
  • Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
  • Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)

Cut the yarn, fasten off.

Decide where to place the eyes and fix them.


The legs (make 4)

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the brown yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)

Change for the yellow yarn:

  • Row 2: 1 sc in the next 2 st. (2)
  • Rows 4 to 6: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (2)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the legs to the body), fasten off.

 


The muzzle

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the cream yarn.

  • ch 4. (4)
  • Round 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 2 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Now working on the other side of the chain: 1 sc in the next 2 ch. (6)
  • Round 2: 2 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st and place a stitch marker, 2 sc in the next st. (6)
  • sl st in the next st

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the muzzle to the head), fasten off.

Place a safety eye where your st marker is (it should be the top center of the muzzle – just check before to fix it). If you want to make a mouth (don’t be like me and do it now!), take your black yarn and your tapestry needle. Take the nose off, and make a mouth, then put the nose back on the muzzle. Place the muzzle on the head, fix the nose and with your tapestry needle, sew the nose to the head.

lion applique crochet


The ears (make 2)

Work in rounds, do not turn unless specified. If needed, use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)

Cut the yarn (leave a long tail to sew the ears to the head), fasten off.

 


The tail

With a 3.5 mm crochet and the yellow yarn.

  • ch 5. (5)
  • cut 1 strand of brown yarn. Insert your hook in the last ch, grab this strand by the middle and pull them through the ch. With your hands, take all the ends, pull them through the look and tighten up. Cut the brown yarn to a shorter length and separate each strand of yarn to give a more natural look.


Assembling all pieces together – Crochet Pattern Lion Applique

Sew the ears to the head.

Sew the head to the body.

Sew two legs at the front of the body and sew two legs at the back of the body (see the picture below for their positions).

Sew the tail, just above one of the back leg.

lion applique crochet


All done! I hope you enjoyed this pattern! Don’t forget to show me your work, it does encourage me to create more patterns.

lion king crochet applique pattern

lion king crochet applique safari crochet applique


All rights reserved.

The pattern and photographs contained in this document are the property of Natalina Craft. This pattern is available for personal use only. No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part, or distribution of this pattern or content is allowed.

You may sell finished items in limited amounts. If you sell your finished products online, I would be grateful if you can add a statement saying « Pattern by Natalina Craft » and link back to my post.


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Crochet Lion Appliques


 

18 thoughts on “Crochet Appliques – Lion”

  1. Elaine Smith

    Hi

    I love the lion family – a suggestion for future appliques could be a family of cheetahs, rhinos, hippos and zebras

  2. Rebecca Masse

    I loved this pattern. So easy to follow. Added it to a baby blanket for my cousin (Lion family). I wish I could add a few photos but I can’t seem to figure it out.

  3. Mary Aufenanger

    I really enjoyed making different 🦒 appliqués I sewed the elephant applique to a crocheted 🧶 star 🌟 pillow

  4. My mom (age 83) just completed the elephant for a baby blanket she’s making for the upcoming birth of her first great-grandchild. She just loves your animal patterns and asked me to print out the rest of the collection. I can’t find the print links within each post. Can you send me the links? Next time I visit her I’ll take a picture of the completed blanket. I can email you the separate images of the elephant and the blanket – she’ll probably be done with the blanket and applying the elephant in the next day or so. You’ve made her day by offering these patterns for free. She loves elephants too so that’s what she started with.THANK YOU!!

    1. Thank you very much! That makes me so happy! I haven’t been able to do the print link for all the patterns yet but I will do it as soon as possible. Please let me know which ones you (she) would like and I will do them first. I would love to see a picture of the blanket. Thank you so much!

  5. How tall are the baby lion and giraffe? Do you have other jungle animal patterns? I’m making a wall hanging for my great-granddaughter’s nursery.

    1. Hi, they are about 3 and 4 inches tall. I do have an elephant pattern. What other animals would you like to make?

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