This month we welcome Lionel to our collection of amigurumi endangered species; Lionel is an African lion, a large predatory cat that lives in the sub-Saharan lands in Africa. While they have no natural predators(but are rather the top of the food chain for their environment), these lions are now classed as “vulnerable” due to environmental factors and human interaction. Within the past 100 years, African lion populations have decreased by over 40% due largely to human interaction, which includes habitat loss. The once roamed over the entire continent, even some areas of Europe and Asia, but are now only found in south east areas of the sub-Saharan.Twelve African countries have seen the loss of the lion in recent decades.
“During the past decade, lion populations have declined by about 30 percent. Currently, an estimated 20,000 lions remain in the wild.” – Smithsonian’s National Zoo
While it may seem like the decrease of the top predator would be beneficial to other animals that roam Africa, the reality is quite the opposite. African ecosystems rely on the lion to hunt herbivorous animals to keep their population from becoming too large and resulting in the overgrazing of the grasslands.
So how can we help!? While we as individuals can not stop habitat loss due to human interactions(villages, cities, hunting etc) we can support causes that do, and also help spread the awareness. What we can do as individuals that helps not only the African lion, but all other species in danger, is decrease our carbon footprint as much as possible. What does this mean? A carbon footprint measures the amount of carbon compounds(such as carbon dioxide) the individual emits into the environment. We can decrease our footprint by doing things such as recycling, composting, reducing our resource consumption and other small daily tasks. No one is perfect, but every bit helps!
Materials
Yarn:
Tools:
- 3.5mm Crochet Hook (a 3.25mm or 4.00mm could be used depending on your tension)
- 12mm Safety Eyes
- Chenille Stick(pipe cleaner) or craft wire.
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker
- Sewing Pins
- Polyfil
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in same stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two together (Decrease) |
| SC3INC | Single Crochet three in same stitch. |
| LSC | Loop Single Crochet |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | A comma is used to indicate when to move on to the next step in the round/row. |
Special Techniques Used
- Magic Circle
- Amigurumi Close Method
- Amigurumi Piece Join Method
- Running Stitch Marker
- Loop Single Crochet(right handed)
- Loop Single Crochet (left handed)
Do not join a round unless the pattern says to do so. Otherwise pieces worked in the round will be done in the spiral method.
Ears
Make x2
Yarn Color: Sungold
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 3 sc, no join. | (3 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 3 scinc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3 | (12 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
Fasten off piece leaving a tail for sewing, do not stuff. Set aside.
Tail
Yarn Colors: Brown, Sungold
Begin with Brown
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 3 sc, no join. | (3 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 3 scinc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 sc, 1 sc2tog* repeat x3 | (6 stitches) |
Switch to “Sungold”
| Round 6-14: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, insert chenille stick. Set aside.
Front Legs
Yarn Colors: Ivory, Sungold
Make x2
Begin using “Ivory”
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
Switch to “Sungold”
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x3 | (15 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 15 sc. | (15 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 6 sc2tog, 3 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 6: | 2 sc, 1 sc2tog, 5 sc. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 7-13: | 8 sc. | (8 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, stuff LIGHTLY(you don’t want the legs to look thick). Set aside.
Thigh
Make x2
Yarn Color: Sungold
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 18 sc. | (18 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing. Set aside.
Back LEFT Foot
Yarn Colors: Ivory, Sungold
Begin with “Ivory”
| Round 1: | Ch 4, *1 sc3inc, 1 sc* rotate work 180 degrees and repeat * to * x1. See Diagram Below. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, sc* repeat x4 | (12 stitches) |
Switch to “Sungold”
| Round 3: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 3 sc2tog, 6 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, stuff. (Mark foot with a stitch marker or piece of different colored yarn, so you know this is the LEFT foot) Set aside.
Back RIGHT Foot
Yarn Colors: Ivory, Sungold
Begin with “Ivory”
| Round 1: | Ch 4, begin working in the 2nd chain from hook, *1 sc3inc, 1 sc* rotate work 180 degrees and repeat * to * x1. See Diagram Below. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, sc* repeat x4 | (12 stitches) |
Switch to “Sungold”
| Round 3: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 6 sc, 3 sc2tog. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, stuff. Set aside.
Body
Yarn Colors: Sungold, Ivory
Bold instructions will indicate when to use “Ivory” yarn
Begin using “Sungold”
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x4, repeat * to * x2 | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7-8: | 24 sc, 12 sc. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 9: | *2 sc, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x4, repeat * to * x2. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 20 sc, 10 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 11: | *1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x4, repeat * to * x2. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 12-14: | 16 sc, 8 sc. | (24 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving an extra long tail for attaching the head. Stuff piece firmly(careful not to over stuff. Set aside.
Head
Yarn Colors: Sungold, Ivory
This piece is worked from the bottom up.
Bold instructions will indicate when to use “Ivory” yarn
Begin using “Sungold”
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x2, repeat * to * x2, repeat * to * x2. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *2 sc, scinc, 1 sc* repeat x2, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc, 3 sc, 1 scinc, 3 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *1 scinc, 4 sc* repeat x2, 1 scinc, 4 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc, 2 sc, *1 scinc, 4 sc* repeat x2.(cut Ivory) | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7-10: | 36 sc. | (36 stitches) |
Insert Safety Eyes between Rounds 8-9 so that they line up with the edges of the Ivory section, there should be about 6-7 sc between them.
| Round 11: | *2 sc, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *1 sc2tog, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 14: | *1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 15: | 6 sc2tog. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off and use the Amigurumi Close Method. Stuff piece firmly(careful not to over stuff. Set aside.
Mane
Yarn Color: Brown
Before beginning leave a long tail for sewing the mane to the face.
| Round 1: | Ch 36, sl into first chain to join. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 36 LSC working in the back bar of chain. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 36 sc. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 36 LSC. | (36 stitches) |
Rows 5 and 6 will be moving the round start point over by 3 stitches, in order to make a loop that goes around the neck.
Place a stitch marker at Round 1, to make it easier to locate later.
| Round 5: | 9 sc, ch 6, sk 6, 6 sc, Ch 6, sk 6, 3 sc, Ch 12, sk 9 | (39 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Sk 3, 36 LSC. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *2 sc, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 8: | 30 LSC. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 9: | *1 sc2tog, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 24 LSC. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 11: | *1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 12: | 18 LSC. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 14: | 12 LSC. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 15: | 6 sc2tog. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off and use the Amigurumi Close Method. Set Piece aside.
Assembly
Note: use sewing pins to hold things in place as you assemble. I personally use these, I pinch them before inserting them into the ami and I find they hold much tighter than straight pins.
- Beginning with the BODY and HEAD pieces, set the head piece on top of the body so that the white/Ivory areas line up. Pin in place and sew the pieces together using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method. Add more stuffing if needed before fully sewing the pieces together.
- Place the combined Head and Body Piece on a flat surface in front of you, with the ivory section facing you. Pin the Thigh pieces between rounds 4-8 on either side of the ivory “belly” section. Stuff the thigh pieces firmly and sew in place.
- With the piece still placed on a flat surface, pin in place the Back Left Foot and Back Right Foot so that the entire ami is able to sit on a flat surface without assistance. Sew the feet in place, adding more stuffing as needed before fully closing.
- At Round 12 of the Body, in the Ivory belly section, Pin the Front Legs inset from the back feet. Once satisfied sew in place.
- At the back of the Ami, pin the tail on the Lion(hehehe) so that it is centered down the back at the lowest point available while the ami is sitting.
- Pin the Ears on the head so that each ear is about 3 rounds from the last round of the head. Sew into place once satisfied. (I highly suggest putting the mane on before sewing to make sure the ears fit in the openings created in Round 5 of the Mane)
- Lastly Place the Mane over the head so that Round 1 of the Mane encircles the Face of the Lion. Put the opening created in Round 5 of the Mane over the ears so they stick out. Pin Round 1 of the Mane around the face, use the Amigurumi Piece Join Method to sew in place once satisfied. Secure the Mane around the neck by sewing it in place.
- With Pink yarn, add a nose centered between the eyes so that the nose is half in the Ivory area and half not.
Thank you for choosing my Pattern!
This pattern and all information contained in this post is the property of Tiffany Horton. You have permission to sell any finished product created using this pattern, a link back to this pattern is appreciated. The information contained in this post (the pattern, media,etc) may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in anyway. Rewriting, reselling, distributing, or copying this pattern electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations, is prohibited.
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