An adorable free crochet Lion Pattern Square is square #6 in the Wildlife Animal Square Blanket crochet a long. A free crochet blanket granny square pattern by Nana’s Crafty Home!

This fun and sweet Lion Square is Part 6 of the Wildlife Animal Blanket CAL. Can you believe we are already half way through our crochet a long? It definitely doesn’t seem possible! 

Every time I release a new square in the Wildlife Animal Blanket CAL it becomes my new favorite and definitely the Lion square hit the top of my faves!

There is so much to love about this lion face square! The lion’s mane is very simple to make but has a huge impact on texture and is visually so appealing! The little ones are going to so love playing with the lion’s mane.

This free crochet lion pattern is part of the Wildlife Animal Blanket CAL and if you would like all the details on this year-long event you can find it on the blog. 

Crochet Lion Square Pattern Details

These “circle in a square” squares begin as a double crochet circle and then the circle is squared off for easy joining.  The main portion of the circle in a square uses all beginner-friendly crochet stitches – single, half double, double crochet stitch and treble stitches.

This is the first square in the Wildlife Animal series that uses two different colors for the circle face portion of the square. The first several rounds of double crochet stitches are worked in yellow and then the final rounds of the circle are worked in orange – the same color used for the mane.

The portion of the face worked in orange yarn as well as the first round of the green will also be worked in the back loop only. Working in the back loop only will leave the front loop free to come back at the end once the square is complete to add the lion’s mane.

After you have completed the square you will work the lion’s mane using orange yarn. Working in the unused front loops you will slip stitch in each loop, work 8 chains, then slip stitch into the next loop. The 8 chains create a “loopy” mane that is so textured! His mane really pops out of the square!

Once the main square is complete you will crochet applique pieces – eyes, muzzle, nose and ears. Once the appliques are finished, they are then sewn to the front of the square.

This square works up to a large 14″ x 14″ square. Perfect size for a matching pillow! 

Instead of using plastic safety eyes for my lion square crochet pattern, I am using my single crochet cartoon Crochet Eyes. These are the same crochet eyes I have used for my previous blankets and I just love how much personality they add! I have a complete photo and video tutorial for the crochet eyes to help you make them as well.

My free crochet lion pattern and the entire Wildlife Animal Blanket use Red Heart Super Saver* which is a medium worsted weight acrylic yarn.  Very economical and with plentiful color options! You can certainly substitute your favorite worsted weight yarn – Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn!, Red Heart With Love, Paintbox Simply Aran, Vanna’s Choice, Big Twist Value, Caron Simply Soft, Caron One Pound and so many more!  Raid your yarn stash – even mix and match.

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Be sure to come back for July’s Hippo Square!

You can purchase the ad-free PDF of the Lion crochet Square for a small fee. You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!!

Purchase the ad-free pdf of my Lion Square for a small fee.  Thank you so much for supporting my work!

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You may also like the following free crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

• 1. Zebra Square free crochet pattern
• 2. Panda Square free crochet pattern
• 3. Giraffe Square free crochet pattern

Lion Square free crochet pattern

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

Red Heart Super Saver Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic) 

•     Cornmeal 1.0 oz / 53 yds (Yellow)
•     Carrot 2.2 oz / 115 yds (Orange)
•     Frosty Green 1.5 oz / 80 yds (Green)
•     Black 0.4 oz / 21 yds (Black)
•     Turqua 0.01 oz / 1 yard (Blue)
•     White 0.01 oz / 1 yard (White)
•     Aran 0.1 oz / 6 yds (Cream)

Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
Scissors
Stitch marker (optional)
Tapestry needle

Approximate finished size:  14” square

Gauge: First 4 rounds = 4” / 4 dc sts = 1”

Abbreviations:

• MC = magic circle
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble
• sp = space
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sk = skip
• sl st = slip stitch
• WS = wrong side
• RS = right side

Pattern Notes:

• Ch 3 at beginning of each round counts as first dc stitch.
• Ears, eyes, muzzle and nose are worked separately and then sewn to front of panel.
• Mane is worked in the unused front loops of rounds 7-10.

Recommended Tutorial:

Crochet Eyes in 3 Sizes Tutorial

Pattern Instructions

With yellow, make MC.

Round 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in MC, join with sl st in top of ch-3 and tighten ring. (12)

Round 2: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st in top of ch-3. (24)

Round 3: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (36)

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last st, 1 dc in last st, sl st in top of ch-3. (48)

Round 5: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (60)

Round 6: Ch 3, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, 1 dc in last 2 sts, switch to orange, sl st in top of ch-3.  (72)

Fasten off yellow.

Note: Rounds 7-10 are worked BLO. We are creating the location for the lion’s mane.

Round 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 5 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (84)

Round 8: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 3 sts, 1 dc in last 3 sts, sl st in top of ch-3.  (96)

Round 9: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 7 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of first st. (108)

Fasten off orange.

Round 10: Join green in first st, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, tr in next 4 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, tr in next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * two times; (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in first st. (120 + 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Note: Work in both loops for remainder of square.

Round 11: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, tr in next 4 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in ch-2 sp, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, tr in next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * two times; (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in ch-2 sp, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in first st. (136 + 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Round 12 – 13: Ch 3 (counts as first st), *dc in each st to next ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st top of ch-3.  (152 round 12, 168 round 13)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Mane

With orange yarn (working in FLO from rounds 7 – 10) sl st to first unused front loop from round 7, *ch 8, sl st in FLO of next st,* repeat from * to * to end of round. Continue repeating from * to * in FLO of every round working a ch-8 between each round.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Eyes (make 2)

With black, make MC.

Round 1: (RS) Ch 1, 6 sc in MC, join with sl st in first st, tighten ring. (6)

Fasten off black, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Row 2: Join blue in first st of round 1, sl st in next 4 sts.

Fasten off blue.

Row 3: Join white in first st of round 1 (behind slip stitches of row 2), sl st in next 4 sts.

Fasten off white, leaving a long tail for embroidery of eye.

With long tail of white, embroider center of eye.

Weave in remaining ends not left for sewing.

Ears (make 2)

Round 1: (RS) With yellow, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC.  (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st.  (12)

Round 3: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (18)

Round 4: 1 sc in next 3 sts, switch to cream, 1 sc in next 3 sts, switch to yellow, 1 sc in next 12 sts.  (18)

Round 5:  1 sc in next 2 sts, switch to cream, 1 sc in next 5 sts, switch to yellow, 1 sc in next 11 sts.  (18)

Round 6 – 7: Repeat round 5.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Nose

With black, ch 3.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in last ch. Turn. (2)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (4)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (6)

Work sc sts evenly around outside edge of nose, working 2 sc sts in each corner, sl st to first st.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Muzzle

With cream, make MC.

Round 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in MC, join with sl st in top of ch-3 and tighten ring. (12)

Round 2: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st in top of ch-3. (24)

Leaving a long tail for sewing, fasten off.

Assembly 

Note:  Sew following pieces to RS of square.

With long tail, sew nose to muzzle, then use long end of black yarn embroider smile.

With long tails, sew ears to top of face in between rounds 8-9 of the mane.

With long tail, sew muzzle to face.

With long tails, sew eyes to face.

Weave in remaining ends.

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