Lion Crochet Square

March is coming in like a lion! Seriously, I can’t believe we had snow in Arizona last night (down in the valley). This lovely lion is our third square in the Animal Square Crochet-Along that I am hosting this year. So simple and so cute! The lion mane is created by making 12 scallops and the other face pieces are very easy patterns to follow.

If you aren’t familiar with my Animal Square CAL you can read all about it HERE.

Each month (January through December of 2023) I will post a new Crochet Animal Square.  These are simple crochet squares that are embellished with adorable animal faces! These squares work up quickly and won’t take you more than an hour or two. This project is extremely beginner friendly and you can add more or less embellishments. Customize to your liking!

At the end of the year, I will be stitching these all together to make a blanket! But they could also be turned into a pillow(s), a scarf, or any other creative way you’d like to use them.

It’s never too late to start!
Get the January Polar Bear Square HERE
Get the February Horse Square HERE

Materials:
– Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in colors Gold (main square and ears), Carrot (mane), Cornmeal (snout and border), and a bit of Cafe Latte brown for the nose.
Shop all these colors RIGHT HERE on Yarnspirations.com <—-
– Size H Crochet Hook
– Two 12mm black safety eyes (optional)
– Tapestry Needle

First let’s make the Square:
With gold yarn
Chain 21, SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way down chain, chain 1, turn
Row 2-23: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn
now continue making a SC in the 3 sides (2 Chains in each corner)
join in cornmeal, fasten off gold, SC in each stitch all the way around 4 sides making 2 SC in each corner.

Fasten off weave in ends.

Note: It’s a good idea to measure your square so you know it is in fact square after row 23. Add more or less rows to accommodate if needed. We all crochet with a different tension so size can vary.

Lion Mane:
with carrot orange yarn
Chain 49, in 3rd chain from hook make 6 DC, skip a stitch, join to next with a slip stitch, skip a stitch, *make 6 DC in next, skip a stitch, join to next with a slip stitch, skip a stitch, repeat from * down the chain, making 12 scallops.
Fasten off leaving long tail, stitch onto square in a circle as pictured.

Snout:
with cornmeal (light yellow) yarn
Magic Ring, chain 2 and make 10 DC in ring, do not join, chain 2, turn
Round 2: DC in first 3, 2 DC in next 4, DC in last 3, fasten off leaving long tail.
Snout should be stitch on at the bottom, inner circle of mane.

Nose:
with cafe latte brown yarn
Chain 5, SC in second chain from hook, HDC in next, DC in last two, fasten off leaving long tail
Stitch to the top of snout.

Attach two 12mm black safety eyes. You can also stitch eyes on like I did in the Polar Bear Square. Or use two black buttons or crochet small black circles. Lots of eye options!

Ears (make 2):
with Gold yarn
Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 6 SC in ring, do not join, chain 1, turn
Row 2: 2 SC in each stitch across, fasten off leaving long tail.
Stitch onto inner circle of mane, across from each other.

VIDEO TUTORIAL IS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
All the videos will be available on my Repeat Crafter Me YOUTUBE Channel! 
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If you like my Lion you might also like this adorable Lions, Tigers, Bears Blanket on Yarnspirations.com!
—> Get the Lions and Tigers and Bears Blanket FREE Pattern <—-
PS – clicking my links over to Yarnspirations yarn and patterns really helps my sponsorship and keeps the free patterns flowing!