Crochet Lion Lovey...

Lion Lovey

Well, I was playing around with some orange yarn I have and ended up designing my version of a "Lion Lovey..."

The lion's head and the blankey were made in one part. I opted for the 10mm black animal eyes but, if you're afraid of this potentially creating a hazardous situation, then by all means, crochet the eyes.  I admit, I got a little lazy about crocheting the eyes tonight...

The blankey was made in granny square, except for the last row of the contrast color.  It was made with chain 10's and slip stitches...

Materials:
--5.0 mm hook
--#4 worsted weight yarn - "I Love This Yarn" from Hobby Lobby (2 shades of orange)
--(2) 10mm animal eyes
--small amount of brown to embroider nose
--polyfil
--tapestry needle for weaving

Abbreviations:
Ch: chain
St: stitch
Sl st: slip stitch
MR: magic ring
FO: fasten off
Sc: single crochet
Dc: double crochet
Dec: decrease (insert hook into st, yarn over, come back thru st; insert hook into next st, yarn over, come back thru st; yarn over and pull all 3 loops on hook thru)

Directions:
Head:
1.  6 sc into MR.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (6)
2.  2 sc in eac st.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (12)
3.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (18)
4.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (24)
5.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (30)
6.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 4 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (36)
7-12.  1 sc in each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (36)
13.  Dec 2 st, then 1 sc into next 4 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (30)
14.  Dec 2 st, then 1 sc into next 3 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (24)
15.  Dec 2 st, then 1 sc into next 2 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (18)
16. Dec 2 st, then 1 sc into next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (12)

--if you're going to use animal eyes then attach now; I attached mine on Row 10 and left 4 stitches between them (see pic)

--now, stuff head firmly with polyfil

17.  Dec 2 st.  Repeat 5 more times.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (6)
18.  Dec 2 st.  Repeat 2 more times.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (3)

The next 3 rounds are inc rounds to make the base for the granny square:
19.  2 st into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (6)
20.  2 st into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (12)
21.  2 st into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (24)
22.  To make the square:  *3 Dc, Ch1, 3 Dc into the first st (this makes the first corner); ch2, skip 2 stitches; 3 Dc into next st; ch2, skip 2.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times.  Sl st to first Dc.  Granny square is made.  Now, you will just keep working around until your square measures 10".  You will make your corners in the Ch1 space (of the previous round 3dc, Ch1, 3 Dc).  Each side will continue to increase by one additional 3 Dc (into the previous round ch2 of the sides).

At 10", switch yarn to your darker shade, and complete one more round as above.

1.  Then, on the last round, I slip stitched over 2 stitches, to start in the Ch1 space of the corner.
2.  Into the Ch1 space, I chained 10, sl st into Ch1 sp, ch 10, sl st into same Ch1 sp, and ch 10 and sl st into Ch1 sp.  (3 ch 10 sl st into Ch1 space made).  Now, I continued to make 3 ch 10 that are sl st into the ch space all the way around.  (The 3 ch 10's are made where in previous rounds the 3 Dc on the sides were made and where the corners are). This part was a little time consuming but I think it made the final round look better.

Nose:
1.  12 DC into MR.  Sl st to join.  FO, leaving a long tail to attach.  Use brown yarn to embroider nose.  (See pic where to attach; don't forget to add a small amount of polyfil before you finish attaching it to the head)

Ears (make 2):
1.  Ch3.  Sc into 2 ch from hook and remainder.  Ch1 and turn.  (2)
2.  2sc in first st, 1 sc in next.  Ch1 and turn.  (3)
3.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next and 2 sc in last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)
4.  1 sc in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)
5.  2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3 st and 2 sc in last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)
6.  1 sc in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.
7.  Now, working around the perimeter of the ear 1 sc in each st around.  Sl st to join.  FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.

Mane:
With darker yarn, ch49.  Sc into 2nd ch from hook, *ch5, sl st into first ch of the ch5 (creates a picot), skip next 2 ch of the base chain, sc into next ch.* repeat from * to * until the last ch.  Sl st into last chain.  Leave a long tail to attach around the head, behind the ears (see pic). I embroidered the
mane with the picots on the outside.

Legal:

--don't claim pattern as your own

--don't use my pics

--give me credit and link back to my blog