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LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern

LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern
4.3★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
1.5K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

🧸

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern creates a soft, 28 cm lion hand puppet handcrafted from plush yarn with a textured mane and embroidered face details. It includes full round-by-round instructions for the head, ears, mane, arms and body plus photo sequences. The design features easy-to-follow shaping, crocheted mane loops and step-by-step finishing tips to make assembly simple.

LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

You will find helpful video links for closing holes, indenting eyes and sewing parts together. The pattern uses super bulky plush yarn for a cuddly finish and sport cotton for embroidery details.

Why You'll Love This LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it turns simple stitches into a playful, expressive puppet with a lot of character. I enjoyed designing the curly mane technique — it adds a tactile element kids love to touch. I appreciate that the pattern includes detailed photos and helpful video links, making tricky steps much easier to follow. Working with plush yarn gives the puppet a wonderfully soft feel that is perfect for storytime and gifting. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love changing up the mane color to create different personalities — try ombre reds or autumn browns for a varied look.

I often use a slightly smaller hook for the embroidery yarn so facial lines look crisp and controlled.

To make a toddler-safe version, replace plastic eyes with embroidered eyes using thin cotton yarn for a fully fabric face.

If you want a smaller puppet, switch to a DK or sport weight plush and a smaller hook; a bulkier version works with chunkier plush yarn for a larger puppet.

I sometimes add a little felt crown or tiny crocheted scarf for seasonal outfits, which makes the puppet instantly gift-ready.

Try using variegated yarn for the mane loops to give a playful, colorful fringe effect without changing yarn frequently.

For a sturdier puppet, add a flat piece of interfacing inside the body base before sewing closed to help the hand slide in and stay in place.

I occasionally embroider different expressions — a smile, a surprised mouth, or eyebrows placed closer together for sassier looks.

Experiment with arm placement and angle when joining: higher placement makes the puppet look more welcoming, lower placement gives a relaxed pose.

I like to personalize puppets with small accessories like a tiny bow tie or a felt badge sewn to the chest to make each one unique.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Placing safety eyes too late or too close together can ruin facial balance; fix by measuring 10 stitches between eyes and inserting them between rounds 5 and 6 before heavy stuffing. ✗ Overstuffing the head will distort the face and make embroidery difficult; stuff gradually, shape as you go, and stop when the head feels firm but not stretched. ✗ Skipping tails left for sewing at the start of the body or ears causes difficulty when attaching parts; always leave a long tail for sewing and cut only after parts are secured. ✗ Forgetting to avoid stuffing the arms makes joining bulky and uneven; do not stuff the arms and sew them into the body as instructed to keep the sleeve shape neat.

LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern

Make a charming lion hand puppet using soft plush yarn and clear step-by-step instructions. This pattern guides you through crocheting the head, mane, ears, arms and body, plus assembly and embroidery details. Perfect as a handmade gift or playful addition to storytime, the puppet has full photos and helpful video links to support your progress.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for LION HAND PUPPET Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Super bulky plush yarn - Himalaya Dolphin Baby (120m - 100g) (131yd - 3.52 oz); dark yellow color for head and body (1 skein, № 80330)
  • 02
    Super bulky plush yarn - Himalaya Dolphin Baby (120m - 100g); brown color for mane (№ 80370)
  • 03
    Sport cotton yarn - Yarn Art Jeans (160m - 50g) (175 yd - 1.76 oz); black yarn for embroidery (small amount)
  • 04
    Plastic eyes - 2 pieces, diameter 7 mm
  • 05
    Fiber filler - for stuffing head

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 4.5 mm
  • 02
    Large needle (for embroidery and sewing parts)
  • 03
    Knitting markers / stitch markers
  • 04
    Plastic eyes 7 mm (2 pieces)
  • 05
    Yarn needle for sewing and finishing

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Head :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) * 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(1 sc, inc) * 6, 6 sc (24)

Round 5 :

(2 sc, inc) * 6, 6 sc (30)

Round 6 :

(3 sc, inc) * 6, 6 sc (36)

Round 7 :

(4 sc, inc) * 6, 6 sc (42)

Round 8-12 :

42 sc (5 rounds)

Round 13 :

(5 sc, dec) * 6 (36)

Round 14 :

(4 sc, dec) * 6 (30)

Round 15 :

(3 sc, dec) * 6 (24)

Info :

Insert safe plastic eyes. Fix eyes between 5 and 6 rounds from MR on the nose. The distance between the eyes is 10 sc

Info :

Stuff the head with fiber filler

Round 16 :

(2 sc, dec) * 6 (18)

Round 17 :

(1 sc, dec) * 6 (12)

Round 18 :

dec * 6 (6)

Info :

Draw the yarn through 6 front loops and tighten. Cut and secure the yarn

Info :

HOW TO CLOSE A HOLE IN AMIGURUMI https://youtu.be/DdqCijfLtXA

Info :

HOW TO INDENT AMIGURUMI EYES https://youtu.be/ta3Hl1hU8SY

Info :

Use the black cotton yarn. Take the thread. Pull it through the back of the head and pull it out above the right eye. Leave the tail on back head's part

Info :

Pass the needle from below under the left eye and pull out under the right eye. Make sure that the yarn falls from the inside of the left eye. Next, pass the needle from above the right eye, making sure that the thread lies on the inside of the eye. And pull out the needle in the same place behind the head. Tighten both threads so that the eyes are sunken. Tie a knot, hide the tail inside the head

— Ears :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

inc * 6 (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) * 3, sl st (9)

Info :

Leave the tail for sewing and cut it. Make 2 ears

Info :

Sew ears beetween 10-11 rounds from the MR on the nose. Distance 11 st

— Mane :

Info :

Use the brown plush yarn, crochet hook 4,5 mm. Attach the yarn to the st between 9-10 rounds from the nose, 5 st below left ear

Round 1 :

***Crochet 8 ch, sl st in the next st***. Repeat this step around upper part lion’s face. Cut the yarn

Info :

Attach the yarn to the st between 11-12 rounds from the nose, 5 st below right ear

Round 2 :

***Crochet 9 ch, sl st in the next st***. Repeat this step around upper part lion’s face. Cut the yarn

— Embroider Nose & Face :

Info :

Use the brown plush yarn and a large needle. Embroider 4 lines from the MR center to the mane. Cut and secure the yarn

Info :

Use the black cotton yarn and a large needle. Embroider the black nose as shown on pictures. After embroider a mouth

Info :

Use the thin cotton yarn and a large needle. Embroider eyes, eyebrows and mouth lines

— Arms :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

inc * 6 (12)

Round 3 :

(2 sc, inc) * 4 (16)

Round 4-5 :

16 sc (2 rounds)

Round 6 :

(2 sc, dec) * 4 (12)

Round 7-9 :

12 sc (3 rounds)

Info :

Make sl st, cut the yarn. Don't stuff. Make 2 pieces

— Body :

Info :

Use the dark yellow plush yarn. Crochet hook 4.5 mm. Leave the tail for sewing, begin crochet without sl st. Make 24 ch, sl st in the first loop. Make a circle

Round 1 :

24 sc

Round 2 :

(3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)

Round 3 :

(4 sc, inc) * 6 (36)

Round 4 :

(5 sc, ins) * 6 (42)

Info :

HOW TO ATTACH ARM TO BODY https://youtu.be/Bq3PAUiOh2M

Round 5 :

crochet together with arm - 7 sc, 13 sc only on the body, 7 sc together with another arm, 15 sc only on the body (42)

Info :

Crochet sc2tog on both sleeves sides to avoid holes

Info :

HOW TO CROCHET SC2TOG https://youtu.be/tZqOHv2NJhM

Round 6 :

sc2tog, crochet only on the arm - 4 sc, sc2tog, 12 sc only on the body, sc2tog, 4 sc only on the another arm, sc2tog, 14 sc only on the body (38)

Round 7 :

dec, 2 sc, dec, 12 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 14 sc (34)

Round 8 :

34 sc, ch

Round 9-14 :

34 dc (6 rounds)

Info :

Make 1 sc, 1 sl st, cut and secure the yarn

Info :

Sew the body to the head as shown in the pictures and video below

Info :

HOW TO SEW BODY WITH HEAD https://youtu.be/QTUIJCnqP6E

— Finish :

Info :

CONGRATULATIONS! Your hand puppet is ready

Assembly Instructions

  • Insert and secure the 7 mm plastic eyes between rounds 5 and 6 of the head, spacing them 10 single crochet stitches apart before final stuffing.
  • Sew the two ears between rounds 10 and 11 from the magic ring on the nose, spacing them 11 stitches apart and using the tails left from the ears for sewing.
  • Attach the mane by crocheting chains into the stitches indicated (first row 8 ch loops, second row 9 ch loops) around the upper face starting 5 stitches below each ear, then cut and secure yarn.
  • Join the arms to the body on Round 5 by crocheting together as instructed: work 7 sc with the first arm, 13 sc only on the body, 7 sc together with the second arm, then 15 sc only on the body (42).
  • Embroider the brown nose lines (4 lines from MR center to mane), then embroider the black nose and mouth with black cotton; finish with thin cotton yarn for eyes and eyebrow lines as shown.
  • Sew the body to the head aligning the neck opening to the base of the head and use blanket or whipstitch to secure evenly as shown in the photos and linked video.

Important Notes

  • 💡Leave long tails for sewing on pieces where instructed (body start, ears) to make finishing and attachment easier and neater.
  • 💡Do not stuff the arms; stuffing only the head gives the puppet correct shape and allows hand access inside the body.
  • 💡Place safety eyes before heavy stuffing and embroidery so you can adjust placement and sink the eyes correctly.
  • 💡Use stitch markers to mark round starts, especially when joining arms into the body, to keep counts accurate.

This adorable Lion Hand Puppet is designed for playful storytelling and cozy imaginative play. Crafted in plush yarn with a tactile mane and embroidered face, it makes a perfect handmade gift. Enjoy the process and share the joy of a handcrafted puppet with loved ones! 🧶🦁

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished hand puppet measures approximately 28 cm (11 inches) tall when made with the recommended plush yarn and 4.5 mm hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights but it will change the final size; adjust your hook accordingly and expect a different hand fit.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate and assumes familiarity with single crochet, increases, decreases and basic joining techniques.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 5-7 hours, depending on experience and pace, including embroidery and assembly time.

What yarns are recommended for best results?

The pattern recommends super bulky plush yarn (Himalaya Dolphin Baby) for the head, mane and body, and sport cotton yarn (Yarn Art Jeans) for embroidery details.