Crochet Pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL CentralI’m so excited to be kicking off the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with the Lion Pocket Pillow! This cuddly lion has a cute little mane along with a pocket in the back. This lion is very huggable and the pocket can be used to package a gift or to hold a special book.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this project were generously provided by Clover USA, Fairfield World, and Red Heart Yarns.

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL CentralI love watching lions on television, but unfortunately in real life, we don’t get to hug them (what with the lions being wild predators and all). So, I made a softie version that’s easy to hug. It’s rectangular, kind of like a pillow, but with a stuffed muzzle and pocket in the back.

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL CentralI think you’ll have a lot of fun making your own one! The stitches are all pretty simple (just single crochets with a few chains and slip stitches thrown in) but there is quite a bit of assembly involved.

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL CentralI think you’ll agree it’s well worth it! You can follow along with the rest of the Softie CAL here or by clicking on the image below.

CAL Central 2018 Softie Crochet Along via Underground Crafter

If you make your own Lion Pocket Pillow, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Lion Pocket Pillow to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

Underground Crafter on RavelryIf you want an easy print format, you can buy an ad-free PDF version on Craftsy.

Underground Crafter on Craftsy
Shop Red Heart, America's Favorite Yarn

Lion Pocket Pillow

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL CentralA lion’s face and mane add character to a simple, stuffed pillow. The pocket on the back can be used to hide a gift or to keep a book safe during travels.

 

Finished Size

  • Pillow: 10” (25.5 cm) wide x 12” (30.5 cm) tall before stuffing.

Materials

Gauge

  • 18 sc x 20 rows = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern but stitches should be small so that fiber filling doesn’t show.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • CA – Color A
  • CB – Color B
  • CC – Color C
  • ch – chain
  • ea – each
  • pm – place stitch marker
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • sc – single crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • yo – yarn over
  • * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

  • Front, Back, and Pocket Panels are crocheted flat in rows.
  • Muzzle and Ears are crocheted in unjoined spirals in the round. Move stitch markers up each round to mark position of last stitch.

Pattern Instructions

Front and Back Panels (Make 2)

  • With CA, ch 46.
  • Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch and in ea ch across. (45 sts)
  • Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in ea st across.
  • Rows 3-60: Rep Row 2 – 58 times, or until Panel measures approximately 12” (30.5 cm) tall. Fasten off.

Pocket Panel

  • With CC, rep instructions for Front Panel through Row 30, or until Panel measures approximately 6” (15 cm) tall. Fasten off.

Muzzle

  • With CB, start with magic adjustable ring. (Oombawka Design has a helpful magic adjustable ring tutorial here.)
  • Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull yarn tightly to close ring, pm in last st to mark position. (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea st around. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around. (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep from * around. (30 sts)
  • Rnd 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep from * around. (36 sts)
  • Rnd 7: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * around. (42 sts)
  • Rnd 8: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; rep from * around. (48 sts)
  • Rnd 9: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts; rep from * around. (54 sts)
  • Rnd 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts; rep from * around. (60 sts)
  • Rnd 11: Sc in ea st around.
  • Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 11. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 1 yd/1 m) for joining.
 Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL Central
  • With yarn needle and approximately 1 yd (1 m) of CA, embroider muzzle details onto crochet piece using the back stitch. (Shiny Happy World has a helpful back stitch tutorial here.)
  • Position the craft nose at the top of the Muzzle and secure with washer.
  • With yarn needle, weave in ends of CA on back of Muzzle.

Ears (Make 2)

  • With CA, rep instructions for Muzzle through Rnd 6. Rep Rnd 11 twice. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 3 yd/3 m) for seaming and joining.

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL Central

  • Fold Ear in half along center. There will be 18 sts on ea side. Working through both layers of Ear, sc in next 9 sts. Stuff ear firmly with Poly-Fil. Sc in next 9 sts. Draw yarn through last loop but do not cut off excess yarn tail. (Yarn tail will be used for seaming.)

Assembly

Face

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL Central

  • Position Muzzle, Ears, and craft eyes on Front Panel.
  • Attach craft eyes firmly by securing washers on back.
  • With yarn needle and yarn tail, sew Muzzle to Front Panel until about 10 sts remain. Stuff Muzzle firmly. Sew remaining sts to Front Panel. With yarn needle, weave in ends from Muzzle on back of Front Panel.
  • With yarn needle and yarn tail, sew ea Ear to Front Panel along flat (folded) edge. With yarn needle, weave in ends from Ears on back of Front Panel.

Pillow

Free crochet pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow in Red Heart Super Saver yarn and stuffed with Fairfield Original Poly-Fil by Underground Crafter. This pattern is one of 10 free crochet patterns by 10 designers in the 2018 Softie Crochet Along with CAL Central

  • With locking stitch markers, “pin” three Panels together as follows. Position right side of Front Panel with face so it is facing down. Position Back Panel on top of wrong side of Front Panel. Position Pocket Panel on top of Back Panel.
  • With right side of Front Panel (face) facing you, join CA with sl st at bottom of Front Panel. Lining up stitches and working through all layers, ch 1, join with sc seam (a helpful tutorial for joining with single crochet is available here). Sc in same st, sc in next 44 sts, changing to CC in last yo of final sc, turn to work along long edge, 2 sc in side of first row, sc in side of ea row until last row, 2 sc in side of last row, turn to work along top of Front Panel, sc in ea st across row, turn to work along long edge, sc in side of ea row across to Pocket Panel. Stuff pillow firmly with Poly-Fil. Continue to seam side of long edge by working sc in side of ea row to last row, 2 sc in side of last row, sl st to first sc (in CA) to join.

Mane

  • Row 1: Turn to work along long edge (in CC), ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sc in next st; rep from * across. Fasten off.

Finishing

  • With yarn needle, weave any remaining ends into inside of pillow.
© 2018 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2018/04/02/crochet-pattern-lion-pocket-pillow/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

If you make your own Lion Pocket Pillow, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Lion Pocket Pillow to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

Underground Crafter on RavelryIf you want an easy print format, you can buy an ad-free PDF version on Craftsy.

Underground Crafter on Craftsy

6 thoughts on “Crochet Pattern: Lion Pocket Pillow”

Leave a Comment

Subscribe to the newsletter to get my secrets and access to the subscriber vault!

5 Secrets for Improving Your Crochet Skills