Here's how to make this awesome crochet Lion! This is a super fun pattern which makes a great intermediate level project.

To make this lion I used leftover yarn from other projects. To make the mane I used a loop stitch over two different sized frames. I used thin pieces of cardboard to make the frame, however if you prefer you can use something else for the frame or no frame at all. As a side note I found that the mane looks best if you use bulky large yarn.

Abbreviations:
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
dec - decrease
inc - increase
ch - chain
st - stitch

Supplies

Crochet hook

Yellow or fawn color yarn (for body)

Bulky yarn ( for mane)

Black embroidery thread or yarn (for eyes and paws)

Brown embroidery thread or yarn (for nose)

White medium weight yarn (muzzle)

Scissors

2 1/2 inch wide piece of thin cardboard

1 inch wide thin piece of cardboard

Stitch markers

Yarn needle

Thread

Stuffing

Step 1: Front Leg

Make 2

With yellow or fawn color yarn

Row 1: Magic Ring sc 6 st

Row 2: sc 2 in each st ( 12 st)

Row 3: sc 2 in each st (24 st)

Rows 4-6: sc 1 in each st (24 st)

Row 7: sc 1, dec, ( rep 10 times) sc 1 in each remaining st ( 19 st)

Row 8: dec 5 times, sc 9 (14 st)

Rows 9-15: sc 1 in each st (14 st)

Add Stuffing

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing

There will be an opening at the top of all four legs

Remember to secure Magic Ring

Step 2: Hind Leg

With yellow or fawn color yarn, Make 2

Row 1: Magic Ring 6 st

Row 2: sc 2 in each st (12 st)

Row 3: sc 2 in each st (24 st)

Rows 4-6: sc 1 in each st (24 st)

Row 7: sc 1 in next st, dec, 10 times (19 st)

Row 8: dec 5, sc 9 st (14 st)

Rows 9-10: sc 1 in each st (14 st)

Row 11: sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc, sc 10 st (16 st)

Row 12: sc 1, inc, rep 3 times, sc 9 st (18 st)

Row 13: sc 1, inc, rep 4 times, sc 10 st (22 st)

Rows 14-15: sc 1 in each st (22 st)

Add stuffing

Fasten off leaving long end for sewing

Don't forget to secure Magic Ring

Step 3: Body

With yellow or fawn color yarn

Row 1: Magic Ring 6 st

Row 2: sc 2 in each st (12 st)

Row 3: sc 1 in first st , inc, rep 6 times (18 st)

Row 4: sc 1 in next 2 st, inc, rep 6 times (24 st)

Row 5: sc in next 3 st, inc. rep 6 times (30 st)

Row 6: sc 1 in next 4 st, inc, rep 6 times (36 st)

Rows 7-14: sc 1 in each st (36 st)

Row 15: sc 1 in next 7 st, dec, rep 4 times (32 st)

Rows 16-18: sc 1 in each st (32 st)

Row 19: sc 1 in next 14 st, dec, rep 2 times (30 st)

Rows 20-22: sc 1 in each st (30 st)

Row 23: sc 1 in next 3 st, dec, rep 6 times (24 st)

Row 24: sc 1 in next 2 st, dec, 6 times (18 st)

Add Stuffing

Row 25: sc 1 in next st, dec, rep 6 times (12 st)

Row 26: dec 6 times (6 st)

Finish Adding stuffing

Fasten Off, weave in end

Step 4: Head

With yellow or fawn color yarn

Row 1: Magic Ring 6 st

Row 2: sc 2 in each st (12 st)

Row 3: sc 1, inc, rep 6 times (18 st)

Row 4: sc 2, inc, rep 6 times (24 st)

Row 5: sc 3, inc, rep 6 times (30 st)

Rows 6-9: sc 1 in each st (30 st)

Row 10: sc 3, dec, rep 6 times (24 st)

Sew on eyes 4 st apart

Row 11: sc 1 in each st

Row 12: sc 2, dec, rep 6 times (18 st)

Row 13: sc 1 in each st (18 st)

Add stuffing

Row 14: sc 1, dec, rep 6 times

Row 15: dec 6 times

Fasten off leaving long end to sew

Embroider/attach eyes between rows 10 & 11

You can attach the eyes now or you can sew on the muzzle first then attach the eyes like I did in the photos.

The benefit of embroidering the eyes on instead of using sew on eyes (buttons, plastic eyes, etc.) is that they can be given to small children without the fear of the eyes falling off and being swallowed.

Step 5: Muzzle

Yarn Color Abbreviations:

Yellow Yarn = Y

White Yarn = W

Starting with white yarn

Row 1: Magic Ring 6 st

Row 2: W 2 sc in each st, rep 5 times (10 st), Y 2 sc in last st (2 st)(12 st total)

Row 3: W sc 1, inc, rep 4 times,(12 st) Y sc 1, inc, rep 2 times (6 st) (18 st total)

Row 4: W sc 1 in each st, (12 st) Y sc 1 in each st (6 st) (18 st total)

Fasten off, with long end to sew, leaving opening at the top, (it should look like a cup)

Embroider on nose and mouth, the top of the nose should cover the transition between the white and yellow yarn.

Sew muzzle to the head between rows 2 & 9 Sew around the edge of the muzzle, leave a small opening between head an muzzle to add stuffing. Sew the opening closed and tie off.

Step 6: Crocheting a Loop Stitch Over a Frame

In the pictures I used a thinner yarn to show the steps, when I made the real mane I used a Bulky yarn which is harder to see in photos.

There is a way to make a loop stitch without a frame, however I chose to use a frame because it keeps the loops more consistent in size.

Using a piece of thin cardboard as a frame create a loop stitch by raping the yarn from front to back under the card bard, then create a normal single crochet stitch to fasten the loop. To create an increase create two loop st in the same stitch, as you would with normal single crochet. Basically you are using single crochet, but before you crochet a stitch you rap the yarn around the cardboard.

If that was all confusing here it is more simply:

Insert hook from front to back in the next st
Rap the yarn from front to back under the frame
Rap hook from front to back
Pull hook through first loop on hook
Rap hook again and pull through remaining loops.

When working on a round, you will need to slide the loops off the frame every few stitches so that the loops come out evenly, the tension stays the same, and the frame won't bend.

Step 7: The Mane

I chose this method for crocheting the mane because I thought it was the most secure and still presents a realistic look. I used a frame, because it helps the loops come out more evenly.

Note: All inc are with loop st

With bulky yarn

Start using 2 1/2 inch frame

Row 1: Magic Ring sc 6 st

Row 2: 2 loop st in each st (12 st)

Row 3: 1 loop st, inc, rep 6 times (18 st)

Row 4: 1 loop st in next 2 st, inc, rep 6 times, (24 st)

Row 5-7: 1 loop st in each st (24 st)

Switch to using 1 inch frame

Row 8: 1 loop st in each st (24 st)

Fasten off with long tail for sewing

If you choose to use medium weight yarn for the mane follow the same pattern until Row 4.

Row 5: 1 loop st in next 3 st, inc, rep 6 times (30 st)

Rows 6-8: 1 loop st in each st ( 30 st)

Switch to using 1 inch frame

Row 9: 1 loop st in each st

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing

Step 8: Connecting Lower Part of the Mane

This is the fringe that goes under the chin.

ch 14

Over 1 inch frame

Row 1: loop st in each st (14 st)

fasten off leaving long tail for sewing

Step 9: Ears

With yellow or fawn color yarn, Make 2

Row 1: Magic Ring 6 st

Row 2: sc 2 in each st (12 st)

Row 3: sc 1 in each st

Row 4: sc, dec, rep 2 times (10 st)

Row 5: 1 sc in each st

Fasten off leaving long tail to sew

Sew the ears to the mane on the third row from the edge, approximately 8 st apart if using bulky yarn and 10 st apart if using 4 ply yarn for the mane.

Step 10: Tail

There are two parts to the tail, the base, and the tassel

Tail Base

With yellow or fawn color yarn

ch 15

Row 1-4: sl st in back loops only (15 st)

Do not fasten off

Tail Tassel

Row 1: ch 2

Row 2: over 1 inch frame, crochet 2 loop st in each st (4 st)

sl st the base and the tassel together

Fasten off

Step 11: Assembling

This is the suggested order to assemble this lion, however there is no right or wrong order. Just make sure to tack down the ears to the body and the mane in various places.

Sew the front legs to the body between rows 5 & 9, 2 st apart.
Sew the hind legs to body between rows 14 & 22, 2 st apart.
Sew the muzzle to the head if you haven't already.
Sew the mane with the ears to the head .
Sew the head to the body.
Rap the lower part of the mane around the neck sew in place.
With needle and thread tack down the mane to the head in various places, make sure to tack down the ears to the head.
Sew the tail to the body using either thread or scrap yarn.