If you love plush crochet toys, this Velvet Cute Lion Amigurumi Free Pattern is the perfect project to add to your collection. Designed with soft velvet yarn, this adorable lion features a fluffy mane, rounded paws, and a sweet facial expression that makes it truly irresistible. The texture of velvet yarn gives the toy a luxurious, cuddly finish that both children and adults will adore.
This step-by-step crochet tutorial guides you through every detail, from shaping the body and head to creating the mane, muzzle, and paw pads. Whether you’re making a handmade gift, nursery decoration, or adding a new piece to your amigurumi collection, this velvet lion will quickly become a favorite project.
Get your plush yarn ready and start crocheting your own charming amigurumi lion today!
If you want to access 1000+ free amigurumi patterns, you can download our application from this link!
Materials & Tools
To make this plush amigurumi, you will need:
- Plush yarn (Himalaya Dolphin Baby, YarnArt Dolce, or similar) – 1 skein in main color
- Small amount of contrasting yarn (for muzzle and paw pads)
- Safety eyes
- Safety nose
- Polyester fiberfill
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
- Plastic needle (for plush yarn)
- Long needle (for sculpting)
- Strong thread (for sculpting)
- Scissors
📖 Abbreviations
- mr – magic ring
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase (2 sc in one stitch)
- dec – decrease (1 sc over 2 stitches)
- F/O – fasten off
- blo – back loops only
Notes:
Do not stuff the tail and ears.
Stuff the pieces as you crochet unless otherwise stated.
🦁 Body + Head
Use main color yarn. Work in continuous rounds.
🧸 Body
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: 6 inc (12)
3: 12 inc (24)
4: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
5: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
6: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
7: (6 sc, inc) × 6 (48)
8–12: sc in each st around (48) — 5 rounds
13: (6 sc, dec) × 6 (42)
14: sc in each st around (42)
15: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
16: sc in each st around (36)
17: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
18: sc in each st around (30)
19: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
20: sc in each st around (24)
21: (2 sc, dec) × 6 (18)
22: sc in each st around (18)
💡 Stuff the body firmly as you go.
🦁 Head
23: 18 inc (36)
24: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
25–26: sc in each st around (42) — 2 rounds
27: (6 sc, inc) × 6 (48)
28–30: sc in each st around (48) — 3 rounds
💡 Insert safety eyes between rounds 27–28 (adjust placement if needed).
31: (6 sc, dec) × 6 (42)
32: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
33: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
34: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
35: (2 sc, dec) × 6 (18)
36: (1 sc, dec) × 6 (12)
37: 6 dec (6)
Fasten off, close the hole and hide the yarn tail.
💡 Stuff the head very firmly before the final decreases to avoid a flat top.
🦁 Arms (Make 2)
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: 6 inc (12)
3: (1 sc, inc) × 6 (18)
4: sc in each st around (18)
5: (1 sc, dec) × 6 (12)
6–10: sc in each st around (12) — 5 rounds
11: (2 sc, dec) × 3 (9)
Lightly stuff the lower part only.
Fold in half and crochet through both edges.
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.
✔ Stitch math correct
✔ Round numbering fixed
🦁 Legs (Make 2)
1: Ch 6. Starting from 2nd ch from hook:
4 sc, 3 sc in one st, turn,
3 sc, inc (12)
2: inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18)
3: 1 sc, inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc) × 3, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc) × 2 (24)
4: 24 sc in blo (24)
5: sc in each st around (24)
6: 6 sc, 6 dec, 6 sc (18)
7: 5 sc, 4 dec, 5 sc (14)
8: 5 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc (12)
9: sc in each st around (12)
10: (2 sc, dec) × 3 (9)
11–17: sc in each st around (9) — 7 rounds
Lightly stuff the foot and lower leg.
Fold and crochet edges together.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
✔ Math correct
✔ Decrease structure consistent
🐾 Paw Pads
Small Pads (Make 6)
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.
Big Pads (Make 2)
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: 6 inc (12)
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.
🦁 Muzzle
1: Ch 6. Starting from 2nd ch from hook:
4 sc, 3 sc in one st, turn,
3 sc, inc (12)
2: inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18)
3: 1 sc, inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc) × 3, 3 sc, (1 sc, inc) × 2 (24)
4: 2 sc, inc, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc) × 3, 3 sc, (2 sc, inc) × 2 (30)
Fasten off, leave a long tail.
Insert the nose in the upper center part.
Lightly stuff the muzzle before sewing.
Sew securely to the head.
🦁 Ears (Make 2)
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: 6 inc (12)
3: (1 sc, inc) × 6 (18)
4: (6 sc, inc) × 3 (21)
✔ 18 → 21 artış mantığı böyle olmalı.
(5 sc, inc) × 3 yazımı 18 vermezdi.)
Fold the piece in half and crochet through both edges.
Do not stuff.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Sew the ears between head rounds 25–29 (adjust placement if needed).
🦁 Tail
Start with additional color (mane tip color).
Use loop stitches for the fluffy part.
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: sc in each st around (6) — use loop stitches
Change to main color.
3–8: sc in each st around (6) — 6 rounds
Do not stuff.
Fold flat and crochet edges together.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Attach the tail to the back of the body around round 6–8.
🦁 Mane
You have 2 options:
Option 1 – Slip Stitch Loop Mane (Easier)
Using additional color:
Attach yarn and work slip stitches evenly around the head.
In each stitch, pull up a long loop before completing the slip stitch to create the mane texture.
Adjust loop length evenly.
Option 2 – Separate Mane Piece (Cleaner Look)
Use additional color.
1: 6 sc in mr (6)
2: 6 inc (12)
3: (1 sc, inc) × 6 (18)
4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
Continue increasing by 6 stitches each round
until the piece is slightly larger than the head.
Work the entire piece using loop stitches.
Fasten off and sew the mane to the head.
🦁 Assembly & Decoration
Sew the big paw pads to the feet and the small pads to the front paws.
Attach the legs to the bottom of the body, making sure they are aligned evenly.
Sew the arms slightly below the head on both sides.
Attach the ears to the head, positioning them symmetrically.
Sew the muzzle to the head. Lightly stuff it before fully closing the seam.
Install the safety eyes (if not already inserted) and secure them firmly.
Using strong thread, sculpt the muzzle slightly to give the face more expression.
Embroider the eyebrows and stitch a vertical line dividing the muzzle.
Finally, weave in and securely hide all yarn tails.