There is something about a crochet lion that makes people smile before they even pick it up — that golden face, that gloriously over-the-top mane, those little ears peeking out of all the fluff. Lions are the kings of the crochet animal world in my house: regal enough to display on a shelf, soft enough to be dragged around by a toddler, and endlessly giftable for baby showers, birthdays and anyone who needs cheering up. A lion was one of the first amigurumi animals I ever finished, and I have never really stopped making them since.
So I have gathered twenty of my favourite lion designs for you here, and every single one is genuinely free. There are big huggable amigurumi lions and tiny pocket-sized cubs, a flat ragdoll, two cosy loveys, lion hats for babies and grown-ups alike, a sweet appliqué, a granny square and even a C2C blanket chart. I have noted the size, the yarn and the honest little details for each one as we go — pick your favourite, warm up your hook, and let's grow a whole pride.
1. Leon, the Big Huggable Lion
We are starting with a lion with real presence: Leon, from Craft Passion, stands about thirteen and a half inches tall — ten and a half sitting — so he is a proper armful of a cuddle. He is worked in DK yarn with a small 2.5 mm hook, which gives him that smooth, tight amigurumi finish, and his famous mane is made by fastening on individual strands of yarn one by one. I will be honest with you: the designer says the mane took her a whole day of fastening, so put on a good film, settle in, and treat it as the relaxing part rather than a race. The complete pattern is free on the Craft Passion site, with photo help for the assembly. Leon can stand or sit depending on how you finish his legs, and a row of little Leons on a windowsill is honestly one of the happiest sights in crochet.
Pattern: Leon the Lion by Craft Passion — Get the free pattern
2. Lionel, the Poseable Cuddle Lion
Lionel is the letter-L star of The Friendly Red Fox's Amigurumi A to Z series, and he is about twelve inches of pure cuddle. His cleverest trick is his legs: they are made so he can sit with them out, tuck them in, or even stand up, which makes him a wonderfully poseable play buddy for children. The mane is built on a separate little "hair hat" with strands of bulky yarn attached and then teased apart for that wild, curly look — the designer includes lots of tips for getting it just right. The full pattern is free on her site; just note her one condition, which is that this design is for personal use only, and there is an optional paid ad-free PDF if you prefer printing. He is rated for advanced beginners, but a determined beginner with patience will manage him beautifully.
Pattern: Lionel the Lion by The Friendly Red Fox — Get the free pattern
3. The Flat and Friendly Ragdoll Lion
If you have never tried a ragdoll, Spin a Yarn Crochet's lion is a delightful place to start. Instead of working in the round, you crochet flat panels — twenty-eight separate pieces in total, though ten of those are tiny cheeks, toes and paw pads that take minutes — and join them for that charming two-dimensional ragdoll look. He finishes at about ten and a half inches tall, with a scalloped terracotta mane worked into clever back loops you prepare as you go. There is a fair amount of sewing and assembling, so this is a lovely slow-weekend project rather than a one-evening make. The complete pattern is free on her blog, with an optional inexpensive ad-free PDF on Etsy if you like to work offline. In mustard and terracotta he looks like he wandered straight out of a picture book.
Pattern: Ragdoll Lion by Spin a Yarn Crochet — Get the free pattern
4. Louis, the Tiny Royal Lion
Every pride needs a king, and Louis from Little World of Whimsy wears the tiniest crochet crown to prove it. He is a palm-sized mini lion, just three by three and a half inches, inspired by Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, and his huge ruffled mane is worked in double crochet straight into a special back-loop round on his head. The pattern is beginner level and teaches you a picot stitch and an optional French knot along the way, so you learn real skills while making something adorable. He is designed in soft DK cotton, and the complete pattern is free on the designer's site, with an optional ad-free PDF on Etsy if you want it offline. Louis makes the sweetest desk companion, stocking filler or "just because" gift I can think of.
Pattern: Louis the Royal Lion by Little World of Whimsy — Get the free pattern
5. Leo, the Gentle Savanna Lion
Elisa Sartori's Leo is a soft, natural-looking lion of about seven inches, worked in a cotton-bamboo yarn that gives him the loveliest drape and a gentle sheen. His face is full of quiet detail — an embroidered muzzle and chin, little eyebrows, and a mane made from eight-inch strands of yarn looped on and trimmed to whatever length you like. A chenille stem hidden inside his tail means you can curl it into different poses, which children absolutely love. The full written pattern is free on the Elisa's Crochet site, and if you prefer, there is an optional paid ad-free PDF with extra step-by-step photos. In the designer's beige, mauve and russet palette he looks calm and storybook-like; in classic gold and brown he is pure savanna.
Pattern: Leo the Lion by Elisa’s Crochet — Get the free pattern
6. The Circus Lion With a Bow Tie
Roll up, roll up — Elisa's second lion in this collection is a little circus performer, complete with a red jacket effect, embroidered decorations and a dapper white bow tie. He is part of her Circus Amigurumi series, designed with a baby's nursery mobile in mind, and at about six inches tall he is perfectly sized for little hands or for hanging with his circus friends. His mane is a stroke of genius: a long chain worked with triple increases that coils into a full, curly ruff around his head. The pattern is rated beginner level and the whole thing is free on her site, worked in medium-weight cotton with a 3.25 mm hook. Make the whole circus troupe over time and you have the most charming mobile or shelf display.
Pattern: Circus Lion by Elisa’s Crochet — Get the free pattern
7. The Sweet Safari Lion
Ana at Little Crochet Farm designed her lion as part of a twelve-animal Safari Animals Collection she created for her baby girl, and you can feel the love in every round. He stands about seven and a half inches tall in sport-weight cotton with a tiny 2 mm hook, with a light tummy panel, embroidered eyes and a fabulous ruffled mane worked in surface slip stitch with double-crochet increases — it puffs up like a little lion's halo. The complete written pattern is free on her site; the printable PDF is offered as a perk for her Patreon members, but you do not need it to make him. Because he is one of a matching set, he pairs beautifully with her zebra, giraffe and elephant for a full nursery safari. This is a wonderful first "collection" project.
Pattern: Crochet Lion by Little Crochet Farm — Get the free pattern
8. The Cowardly Lion From Oz
Some lions are brave, and one beloved lion is famous for wishing he was. Puqqu's Cowardly Lion is a faithful crochet tribute to the Wizard of Oz favourite, complete with his fluffy two-tone mane, gentle worried expression and the little green bow he wears in his hair. At about eleven inches tall he is an intermediate make, with shaping, colour changes and a latch-hooked mane to enjoy. The full pattern is free on the Puqqu site, and the designer suggests adding a medal of courage or embroidered whiskers to make him truly yours. Frame him honestly in your mind as a storybook character piece rather than a generic lion — that is exactly his charm. If you are building an Oz collection with a Dorothy and a Toto, he is the missing member of the party.
Pattern: Cowardly Lion by Puqqu — Get the free pattern
9. The Pocket-Sized Cute Lion
Good things come in small packages, and Ekaterina Krikun's little lion finishes at just twelve to thirteen centimetres — small enough to perch on a desk, ride in a pocket or hang from a bag as the world's cutest keyring companion. He is worked in fine YarnArt Jeans with a 2 mm hook, and there are some thoughtful touches: his arms are crocheted directly into the body on the final rounds, so there is less fiddly sewing than you would expect. His mane is worked as rounds of double crochet right around the head, giving a neat, contained fluff rather than loose strands. The complete pattern is free on the Amigurum site, translated for English readers. Tiny projects like this are perfect for using up the last precious metres of a favourite golden yarn.
Pattern: Cute Lion by Ekaterina Krikun at Amigurum — Get the free pattern
10. The Lion With the Curly Chain Mane
Here is a lion with a mane technique I had never seen before, and it is so clever: instead of cutting strands, you crochet long chains and work back along them with increases, creating springy curls that are attached all over the head — and the same trick makes his fabulous curly tail tip. This AmigurumiBook design has a soft rounded body, a beige belly patch and two-part ears with a darker edging that gives him a really polished, finished look. The whole pattern is free on the AmigurumiBook site, worked with a fine 1.75 or 2 mm hook in denim-style yarn. Those curls give him a playful, almost cartoon energy that photographs beautifully. If you enjoy a project with one memorable technique you will reuse forever, this is your lion.
Pattern: Cute Lion Amigurumi by AmigurumiBook — Get the free pattern
11. The One-Piece Mini Lion
Stephanie at Grace and Yarn is known for her clever one-piece minis, and her little lion is a joy for anyone who dreads assembly day: the legs, body and head are crocheted as a single piece, so the only sewing is the arms and ears. He finishes at about eight inches in worsted weight yarn, and his mane is made from loops of chain-10 worked all around the head until it is as full as you like. The complete pattern is free on her blog, with an optional paid ad-free PDF on Etsy and Ravelry if you prefer a printable copy. Her sample mixes a plush ivory for the paws with a honey-gold body, and it works beautifully from stash yarn. If you are making multiples for party favours or a market stall, this efficient little design is the one to reach for.
Pattern: Mini Crochet Lion by Grace and Yarn — Get the free pattern
12. The Plush Lion Snuggler
Snugglers are the lovey-style toys babies adore — a proper stuffed head on a soft, unstuffed blanket-like body — and The Friendly Red Fox's big-footed lion version is about thirteen inches of chenille cosiness. The clever construction keeps the feet shaped and plump without loose stuffing wandering into the floppy body, and the arms can even be attached so they move. Worked in plush chenille yarn, he grows quickly and feels like a shop-bought plush. The full pattern is free on her site as part of her Mix & Make series; there is an optional paid bundle PDF if you want all three lion bodies together. She also reminds you that embroidered eyes are the safer choice for babies and toddlers, which I always appreciate in a designer.
Pattern: Lion Snuggler (Mix & Make, Big Footed Version) by The Friendly Red Fox — Get the free pattern
13. The Chubby Standing Plush Lion
Same beloved head, completely different lion: this Mix & Make version from The Friendly Red Fox stands on all four legs like a real little lion, about eight inches tall and wonderfully round. You make two pairs of legs and join them into a chubby standing body, then angle the head over the front edge so his nose tips forward in the sweetest way. In the recommended chenille he works up surprisingly fast for a four-legged toy, and the designer provides video help for the trickier joins. The complete pattern is free on her site, and the optional paid bundle covers this body along with its two sister versions. Of the whole pride in this roundup, this is the one that looks most like it might pad off on an adventure when you leave the room.
Pattern: Plush Lion, Chubby Standing Version (Mix & Make) by The Friendly Red Fox — Get the free pattern
14. Tau, the Lion Lovie Blanket
Dedri Uys of Look At What I Made named her lion lovie Tau, which means lion in Sesotho, and it is a comfort blanket with real soul. A sweet lion head sits on a slightly textured square blanket with a scalloped edge, and there are optional little feet to add at the corners for extra charm. It is written for advanced beginners, in US terms, and finishes somewhere between ten and a half and thirteen and a half inches square depending on your yarn and tension. Here is the honest detail: the pattern itself is a free PDF download in Dedri's Ravelry store, and her page links you straight to it — no charge, just a download. Make it in classic yellow and orange, or follow Dedri's own dream of a grey lion with a turquoise mane for a modern nursery.
Pattern: Tau the Crochet Lion Lovie by Dedri Uys at Look At What I Made — Get the free pattern
15. The Granny Square Lion Lovey
This lovey from Unique Baby Gear Ideas pairs a small stuffed lion head with a simple granny-style blanket body, which makes it a confident-beginner project with a lot of handmade charm. The finished lovey is about ten to twelve inches square, and what I love most is how thoughtfully baby-safe the pattern is: the eyes are embroidered rather than plastic, every piece has tug-test reminders, and there is clear guidance about supervised use. The full pattern is free on the site, with stitch-by-stitch checkpoints after every round, so you always know you are on track. Worked in soft worsted yarn, it washes well and drapes nicely over a little one. As a handmade baby shower gift with a safari theme, this one is hard to beat.
Pattern: Crochet Lion Lovey by Unique Baby Gear Ideas — Get the free pattern
16. The Lion Hat in Six Sizes
Why should the toys have all the fun? Melissa at Lovable Loops has written a lion hat that runs in six sizes, from a tiny 0–3 months right up to adult, so the whole family can match. The hat itself is worked top-down in joined rounds of double crochet, and then the personality arrives: rounded ears, a shaped face and nose sewn on, a stitched smile and whiskers, and a full mane made from strands of yarn knotted on in two rows. It is an advanced-beginner pattern in worsted weight yarn, and the complete instructions for every size are free on her site. For Halloween costumes, zoo trips and the family photo that will live on the fridge forever, matching lion hats are pure joy. Team adult size, honestly — I have no shame.
Pattern: Lion Hat by Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
17. The Mighty Jungle Newborn Lion Hat
For the very newest little cubs, Stitch11's Mighty Jungle hat is a newborn treasure — I will be upfront that this one is written in size 0–3 months only, which makes it a specialist, but for newborn photos and coming-home outfits it is perfect. The earflap style keeps tiny ears warm, long braided ties hang from each flap, and the mane is made by wrapping yarn around a business card so every strand comes out the same length, then looping row after row around the face. Sleepy crochet eyes and a little nose are appliquéd on to finish the face. The complete pattern is free on the Stitch11 site, with photo help for the mane technique. In buttercup and burnt pumpkin shades, it is autumn-baby perfection.
Pattern: The Mighty Jungle (Lion Hat) by Stitch11 — Get the free pattern
18. The Heart-Maned Lion Appliqué
Sometimes you do not need a whole lion — you need a little lion to finish a project, and this Craftorator appliqué is the sweetest solution. The lion's face is one large crocheted heart, and his mane is eight tiny orange hearts sewn around it, which makes the whole motif a love letter in yarn. Worked in fine size-10 cotton thread with a 1.8 mm hook, it finishes at only about two and a half inches across, so it is delicate, detailed work rated for intermediate crocheters. The full pattern is free on the Craftorator site. Sew one onto a baby blanket corner, a plain tote bag, a denim jacket or a nursery cushion and watch the whole piece light up. A set of them in different mane colours would make adorable card toppers too.
Pattern: Crochet Lion Applique with Heart-Shaped Mane by Craftorator — Get the free pattern
19. The Lion Granny Square
Granny square lovers, your lion has arrived. This Craftorator square builds a dimensional lion face from joined circles — the head is made in two layers and crocheted together, which gives it a lovely padded, almost appliquéd relief — then bordered into a proper square with a scalloped shell mane worked around the face. The complete step-by-step pattern is free on the Craftorator site. One square makes a cushion front or a wall hanging; a dozen make the safari baby blanket of dreams, especially alternated with plain squares or other animal faces. Because the face is three-dimensional, choose a smooth yarn with good stitch definition so every feature reads clearly. This is the kind of motif that makes a whole blanket feel designed rather than assembled.
Pattern: Crochet Lion Granny Square by Craftorator — Get the free pattern
20. The Cute Baby Lion C2C Blanket Chart
We are finishing with something completely different: a pixel-style baby lion you work as a blanket, designed by Ariana Wimsett at Magic Yarn Pixels. The chart is a generous 100 squares high by 80 wide, in five colours, and it can be worked in corner-to-corner crochet, mini C2C, tapestry or single crochet — the page even helps you calculate your finished size and yarn. Now, the honest bit, because you deserve it: the chart itself is free to download from her page with a quick free account sign-up, while the full written row-by-row pattern is a paid PDF in her shops — so this one is for crocheters happy working from a graph. If that is you, the result is a striking jungle nursery blanket with a very handsome little lion at its heart.
Pattern: Cute Baby Lion C2C by Magic Yarn Pixels — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty lions, my friend — big and small, standing and snuggling, hatted and blanketed, every single one free and every single one with a mane worth writing home about. If you are new to amigurumi, start with the one-piece Mini Lion or the sweet Safari Lion; if you are gifting a newborn, Tau and the two loveys are ready to be loved; and if you simply want a lion for yourself — because you are allowed — Leon or Lionel will happily rule your sofa. My best tip: make the mane the last job of the day, with music on and no clock watching, because a great mane is never rushed.
Now tell me — which of these twenty lions is going on your hook first, and are you team classic gold or team wild-colour mane? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your pride!
