Ooops first I need to apologise for my lateness with my next Doodle animal. You may have noticed I’ve been a tad absent lately on the blog apart from CAL postings. Well it’s pretty much just a case of life just getting in the way of things at the moment…I’m hoping they will improve shortly so I can get back on track with more regular postings.

But any way right now it’s time for Doodle Zoo character no. 9! Let me introduce to you Rory the Lion! Tah-dah!

If you haven’t heard about Doodle Zoo it’s my mini challenge to myself this year to design 12 free little animals built on one simple base design so they all look related. For details about the other Doodle Zoo characters; see my posts about Doodle Duck, Rowan Rabbit, Finlay Frog, Ezra Elephant, Peggy Panda, Petunia Pig, Ruby the Dragon and Kimberlie Koala.

I’m still planning on 12 little characters to form the eclectic menagerie that is our Doodle zoo so watch this space for future additions!

All the Doodle Zoo animals are designed to work up in about an hour and because they are just the right hand size they become very steal-able so be prepared to make a few! Furthermore Rory is a great little stash buster only using about 30g / 90 yards of yarn. Rory would also make a cute additional gift for family and friends or an quick addition to a craft stall.

This is an easy pattern suitable for beginners looking to learn some new crochet techniques. Click here to add this pattern to your favourites / queue on Ravelry or click here to access on Craftsy or scroll down for the pattern.

Rory the Lion

Yarn: (8ply / yarn weight #3 or #4)

30g / 90 yards of any tan/yellow double knit yarn
2g of rust / orange yarn
Scraps of black and white yarn

Hook:

4mm (US size G)

You will also need:

Yarn needle
Stitch marker
2 x 9mm black safety eyes
Polyester toy stuffing

Gauge:

4 dc/sc = 1 inch / 2.5 cm

Size:

Finished lion measures (from bottom to top of mane) = 4 inches / 10.5 cm

Stitch Guidance:

Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and pull through all loops.
Double Crochet/Single Crochet (dc/sc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Treble / Double Crochet (tr/dc): Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Double Crochet/Single Crochet 2 sts together (dc/sc2tog): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.

Pattern Guidance:

All the parts of the lion are worked without joining using a stitch marker to keep track of the rounds. Place the stitch marker in the top of the first st to mark start of round.

Pattern:

Body:

Rnd 1: With tan/yellow yarn; either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or ch 2, crochet 6 dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (6 sts).

Rnd 2: 2 dc/sc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: *1 dc/sc in next, 2 dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (18 sts).

Rnd 4: * 1 dc/sc in next 2 sts, 2 dc/sc in next st, * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (24 sts).

Rnd 5: * 1 dc/sc in next 3 sts, 2 dc/sc in next st, * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (30 sts).

Rnd 6 – 12: 1 dc/sc in each st around (30 sts).

Add your safety eyes in between rows 7 and 8 about 8 stitches apart.

Rnd 13: * 1 dc/sc in the next 3 sts, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of rnd, begin to stuff your lion (24 sts).

Rnd 14: *1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of the rnd (18 sts).

Rnd 15: *1 dc/sc in the next st, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of the rnd (12 sts).

Finish off stuffing the body

Rnd 16: *1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of the rnd, cut thread leaving a long tail (6 sts)

Using your tail end and using your yarn needle sew the last 6 stitches closed, finish off and weave in ends.

Muzzle:

Rnd 1: With white yarn; either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or ch 2, crochet 6 dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (6 sts).

Rnd 2: * 3 dc/sc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts * repeat from * to * once more (10 sts).

Rnd 3: 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, 3 dc/sc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, 3 dc/sc in the next st 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts (14 sts).

Rnd 4: 1 dc/sc in each st around until end, finish off but leave a long tail for joining (14sts)

With black yarn embroider a nose and whiskers onto the muzzle (see photo below).
Sew nose into place between the eyes with the top edge of the nose just below row 9.

Mane:

Rnd 1: With rust / orange yarn 32 ch, sl st to join, ch 1 (doesn’t count as first dc/sc), 1 dc/sc in the same st as beginning 1 ch and in each st around until end, sl st the top of the first dc/sc to join (32 sts)

Rnd 2: *miss 1 st, 5 tr/dc in next, miss 1st, sl st to next st * repeat until you reach the last 8 sts., finish off but leave a long yarn tail for joining.