My Lion Blanket/Pillow

Well, I'm finally setting aside time today and updating posts with patterns.  And, I think this one, My Lion Blanket/Pillow, is so super cute and cuddly.  In months past, this blanket has been posted with pics of My Puppy and My Polar Bear Blankets.

The Lion Blanket is made a little different.  I didn't use blanket yarn on this one, but decided to use double-stranded #4 Worsted Weight yarn to see how it would measure up with my other 2 blankets and to determine which yarn I liked best in making the animal blanket/pillows.

My Lion Blanket/Pillow Pattern

Difficulty Level:  Easy

Gauge:  4 (HDC, SC) groups by 8 rows = 4"x4"

Materials:
--5mm, 6mm and 8mm hook
--#4 worsted weight yarn in burnt pumpkin (4 skeins), light taupe (2 skeins) and small amounts of remaining colors of: white, yellow, black
--small amount of #5 buttercup yarn for trim around nose
--small amount of poly fil for nose and eyes

Abbreviations:

Ch: chain

Sl st: slip stitch

St: stitch(es)
Sk:  skip

SC: Single Crochet
HDC:  Half Double Crochet
DC:  Double Crochet

SC2tog:  Single Crochet 2 stitches together
SC3tog:  Single Crochet 3 stitches together
HDC2tog:  Half Double Crochet 2 stitches together
Dec:  decrease

MR: magic ring

FO: fasten off

Directions:
1.  With 2 strands of burnt pumpkin yarn, and 8mm hook, Ch72.  HDC in 2nd ch and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (71)
2.  *HDC and SC in first st, sk next st,* repeat across.  HDC in last st.  Ch1.  (71)
3-50.  Repeat #2. (2 skeins held together will make approximately 42 rows)  FO at the end of row 50 and weave ends.

At the end of row 50, your piece should measure approximately 23" wide x 31" long.

 Hoodie portion:
Now, turn to one of the short sides to make the hood.  You will be holding 2 strands of the light taupe together (now if you want to use 1 skein and hold the ends together, then that's fine).
1.  Work 50 HDC st evenly across the short side.  Ch1 and turn.  (50)
2.  HDC dec, then 1 HDC st in the next 46 st, and HDC dec in the last 2 st.  Ch1 and turn.  (48)
3.  HDC dec, then 1 HDC st in the next 44 st, and HDC dec in the last 2 st.  Ch1 and turn.  (46)
4.  HDC dec, then 1 HDC st in the next 42 st, and HDC dec in the last 2 st.  Ch1 and turn.  (44)
5.  HDC dec, then 1 HDC st in the next 40 st, and HDC dec in the last 2 st.  Ch1 and turn.  (42)
6.  HDC dec, then 1 HDC st in the next 38 st, and HDC dec in the last 2 st.  Ch1 and turn.  (40)
7-18.  1 HDC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (40)
 
Fold last row (18) in half and either, whipstitch or sl st together to form hoodie.  FO and weave ends.

19.  Now, join 2 strands of taupe yarn to the edge of the hoodie and SC across.  FO and weave ends.

Mane:
1.  Join 2 strands of burnt pumpkin to the last st of the edge (#19) with a sl st. *Ch8, sl st into first ch, then sl st into next st,* repeat from * to * across.
2.  Work another round of, *Ch8, sl st into first ch, then sl st into next st,* repeat from * to * across in the previous row (18).
3.  Now from the corner you will work up approximately 11" with *Ch8, sl st into first ch, then sl st into next st,* repeat from * to *.  Repeat on the other side.

At the top of the hood, I made 6 rows of mane, approximately 5" long.  The space left open between the mane on each side of the hood is for ear placement.  (see pics to help guide you)

Ears (make 2):
(double-stranded yarn)
1.  8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (8)
2.  2 HDC in each st.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (16)
3.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (24)
4-5.  1 HDC in each st around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (24)
6.  HDC2tog, 1 HDC next.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  FO and leave a long tail for attaching.  Do not stuff with polyfil.  (16)

Attach ears on each side of hood.

Nose (muzzle):
1.  With light taupe yarn double-stranded, leave a long tail to start with.  Ch8.  SC in 2nd ch and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)
2-7- SC across.  At the end of row 7, FO taupe yarn and join burnt pumpkin.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)
8.  With burnt pumpkin, SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)
9.  SC2tog, SC in next 3 st, SC2tog.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)
10.  SC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)
11.  SC2tog, SC in next st, SC2tog.  Ch1 and turn.  (3)
12.  SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  (3)
13.  SC3tog.  FO and weave ends.  (1)
14.  Join buttercup yarn in the corner st of row 1.  For this you will be working SC stitches evenly down the side (of rows 1-13), across (row13) the last row and back up the side of (13-1).  You will not work across the top of row 1.  Ch1 and turn. (27 SC stitches = 13 sc on each side and 1 at the point of row 13)
15-17.  SC around.  Ch1 and turn.  At the end of 17, FO and leave a long tail.  Stuff firmly as you sew to the center front of the hood.  (27)

Eyes (make 2):
(light taupe, yellow, burnt pumpkin, black and white)
5mm hook
1.  With 5mm hook and black yarn, 3 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (3)
2.  2 SC in each st around.  FO black yarn and join burnt pumpkin.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (6)
3.  With burnt pumpkin, 2 SC in each st around.  FO burnt pumpkin and join yellow.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (12)
4.  With yellow, 2 SC in same st as ch1 and 2 SC in each of the next 6 st, don't FO yellow but leave alone.  Join black yarn before completing the last SC (of the 7th st).  With black yarn, 1 SC st in each of the next 5 st.  Sl st to the first st.  Ch1 and turn.  (19)
5.  Continuing with black yarn, 1 SC in each of the 5 previous row black st.  Before completing last st, join yellow yarn back and 1 SC in each of the previous row yellow st (14).  Sl st to join and FO yellow and black yarn.  Weave ends.  (19)
6.  Join light taupe in any st and ch1.  SC around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (19)
7.  SC around.  Sl st to join and FO.  Leave a long tail for attaching.  I embroidered white onto the black portion of the inner section of the eye.  Stuff firmly as you sew each eye onto the hood.  (see pics)

Paws (make 2):
8mm hook
From Row 15, measure down 8".
1.  Working with burnt pumpkin and double-stranded yarn, sl st to join and ch1.  SC in same st and next 8.  Ch1 and turn.  (9)
2-20.  SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  FO, leave a long tail for sewing.  Fold paws in half and sew each side; make sure the opening is on the inside so when the blanket is worn standing, child can place their hands into the paws.  I made 3 spots for each paw.  With buttercup yarn, I made 5 SC into MR.  Join and FO.  Then attached to top of the paws.

The completed Lion Blanket from top of hood to the bottom measures 43 1/2" long.

To make into a pillow:  lay blanket out straight, fold from bottom up halfway, then fold inward each side (to mirror the hood) and then fold up under the hood.  Here, is where I noticed the biggest difference in the blanket yarn and using worsted weight yarn.  With the worsted weight yarn, the pillow isn't as firm; is more slouchy, but it still works and can sit on your bed or couch.

Happy Crocheting

Legal:

--don't claim my pattern as your own

--don't use my pics

--okay to make, sale, and/or give away your finished projects

--credit me as the designer by providing a link to my blog; please do not distribute my pattern in electronic or written form