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Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern

Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern
4.0★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
4.1K 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 Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern creates Ollie the Lion, a 16 cm tall amigurumi lion with a textured ruffled mane and a sweet face. You will crochet separate pieces for head, body, limbs, ears, mane and tail and sew them together for a polished finish. The design uses basic amigurumi techniques with a few intermediate elements like BLO work and ruffle construction.

Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Clear step-by-step rounds and supporting photos make assembly straightforward. Suitable for crocheters comfortable with increases, decreases and working in rounds.

Why You'll Love This Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines simple amigurumi shapes with a playful ruffled mane that adds so much character. I enjoy the way the mane framing the face transforms the whole toy into something unique and huggable. I also love the clear step-by-step rounds and photos that make assembly satisfying and achievable. Making Ollie always feels rewarding — you finish with a polished, giftable little friend.

Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love customizing Ollie by changing the mane color to create different personalities — try pastel pinks for a soft look or deep rust tones for a vintage feel.

You can make Ollie larger or smaller by swapping yarn weight and adjusting the hook size; bulky yarn with a larger hook creates a chunky cuddle buddy, while fine yarn makes a tiny keychain friend.

I sometimes embroider different expressions to change Ollie's mood; a small smile or surprised mouth gives an entirely different character.

Try adding tiny crocheted accessories like a scarf, bow, or little hat to personalize Ollie for gifts or seasonal themes.

I like to experiment with eye size: smaller safety eyes or embroidered eyes give a gentler look, while larger eyes make the face pop.

To make Ollie poseable, you can thread thin wire into the limbs before stuffing for subtle posing capability.

Mix textured yarns for the mane for a fluffier, more dramatic ruffle — boucle or mohair blends give a soft halo effect.

For baby-safe toys, omit safety eyes and embroider the eyes instead, and sew all pieces with extra-secure stitches.

I also enjoy creating little sibling sets with different colors and sizes — it makes for a lovely gift set or market offering.

Don't be afraid to combine yarns or add painted or felted accents for unique, one-of-a-kind Ollies — that creative freedom is part of the fun!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch markers on rounds with increases and decreases leads to lopsided shaping; use a stitch marker at the start of each round and move it as you go to maintain correct stitch counts. ✗ Forgetting to stuff as you go will make shaping difficult later; stuff gradually and evenly during rounds where shaping occurs to keep smooth curves. ✗ Pulling your yarn too tightly when closing openings can distort the piece; keep a consistent moderate tension and close openings with small, even stitches. ✗ Placing safety eyes too early or too far apart can change facial expression; follow the note for eye placement between rounds 16 and 17 and measure stitches so spacing is symmetrical.

Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern

Make your own Ollie the Lion — a sweet, pocket-sized amigurumi with a ruffled mane and gentle expression. This pattern walks you through each piece with step-by-step rounds, clear photos, and helpful tips so you can sew a charming, handmade friend. Perfect for gift-making or adding a cuddly companion to your collection.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Ollie The Lion Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    100% combed and mercerised cotton Schachenmayr Catania Originals (50 g / 125 m)
  • 02
    Color Code 0404 - main body color, approximately 50-75 g
  • 03
    Color Code 0437 - mane/contrast color, approximately 25-50 g
  • 04
    One pair of 6 mm safety eyes

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 2.20 mm (or a hook that fits your yarn)
  • 02
    Polyester Fiberfill stuffing
  • 03
    Scissors
  • 04
    Stitch marker
  • 05
    Tapestry needle for sewing
  • 06
    Embroidery thread for nose
  • 07
    6 mm safety eyes (pair)

Progress Tracker

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— Notes :

Info :

** Do not forget to stuff the pieces as you move forward! ** Use stitch markers or a piece of yarn to follow the rounds neatly.

— Materials :

Info :

%100 combed and mercerised cotton Schachenmayr Catania Originals (50 g and 125 m). Color Codes: 0404, 0437. One pair of 6 mm safety eyes. 2,20 mm or a hook that fits your yarn. Polyester Fiberfill. Scissors. Stitch marker. Tapestry needle for sewing. Embroidery thread for nose.

— Abbreviations :

Infos :

Mr: Magic ring. Ch: Chain. Sc: Single crochet. Inc: Increase. Dec: Decrease. Sl st: Slip stitch. Hdc: Half double crochet. HDCinc: Half double crochet increase. Dc: Double crochet. DCinc: Double crochet increase. BLO: Back loop only. Rnd-Rnds: Round-Rounds. St-Sts: Stitch-Stitches. (...): The number of sts you should have at the end of each round or row. (...)- times: Repeat the instructions x times.

— Arms :

Round 1 :

5sc in a mr (5)

Round 2 :

2sc in all sts around (10)

Round 3-19 :

(17rnds) Sc in all sts around (10)

Round 20 :

Flatten the piece and close the opening by making sc stitches through both layers of remaining sts (5)

Infos :

** Crochet the second arm in the same way. ** DO NOT stuff the arms.

— Feet and Legs :

Info :

** Start with color code 0437

Round 1 :

5sc in a mr (5)

Round 2 :

2sc in all sts around (10)

Round 3 :

(1sc,1inc)- 5 times (15)

Round 4 :

(2sc,1inc)- 5 times (20)

Round 5 :

(3sc,1inc)- 5 tekrar (25)

Round 6 :

(4sc,1inc)- 5 times (30)

Round 7 :

WORK BLO: Scin all sts around (30)

Info :

** Change to Color Code 0404

Round 8-10 :

(3 rnds) Sc in all sts around (30)

Round 11 :

9sc, 6dec, 9sc (24)

Round 12 :

9sc, 3dec, 9sc (21)

Round 13 :

8sc, 2dec, 7sc, 1dec (18)

Round 14-19 :

(6 rnds) Sc in all sts around (18)

Round 20 :

Flatten the piece and close the opening by making sc stitches through both layers of remaining sts (9)

Infos :

** Crochet the second piece in the same way. ** Sew the legs between Round 9 and 10 on the body. Please look through the pictures below ☺

— Body :

Round 1 :

6sc in a mr (6)

Round 2 :

2sc in all sts around (12)

Round 3 :

(1sc,1inc)- 6 times (18)

Round 4 :

(2sc,1inc)- 6 times (24)

Round 5 :

(3sc,1inc)- 6 times (30)

Round 6 :

(4sc,1inc)- 6 times (36)

Round 7 :

(5sc,1inc)- 6 times (42)

Round 8 :

(6sc,1inc)- 6 times (48)

Round 9 :

(7sc,1inc)- 6 times (54)

Round 10-18 :

(9 rnds) Sc in all sts around (54)

Round 19 :

11sc, (1dec,4sc x 5 times), 1dec, 11sc (48)

Round 20 :

Sc in all sts around (48)

Round 21 :

11sc, (1dec,3sc x 5 times), 1dec, 10sc (42)

Round 22 :

Sc in all sts around (42)

Round 23 :

11sc, (1dec,2sc x 5 times), 1dec, 9sc (36)

Round 24 :

Sc in all sts around (36)

Round 25 :

11sc, (1dec,1sc x 5 times), 1dec, 8sc (30)

Round 26 :

Sc in all sts around (30)

Round 27 :

(3sc,1dec)- 6 times (24)

Round 28-29 :

(2 rnds) Sc in all sts around (24)

Info :

** Break the yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

— Head :

Round 1 :

7sc in a mr (7)

Round 2 :

2sc in all sts around (14)

Round 3 :

(1sc,1inc)- 7 times (21)

Round 4 :

(2sc,1inc)- 7 times (28)

Round 5 :

(3sc,1inc)- 7 times (35)

Round 6 :

(4sc,1inc)- 7times (42)

Round 7 :

(5sc,1inc)- 7 times (49)

Round 8 :

(6sc,1inc)- 7 times (56)

Round 9 :

(7sc,1inc)- 7 times (63)

Round 10-22 :

(13 rnds) Sc in all sts around (63)

Round 23 :

(7sc,1dec)- 7 times (56)

Round 24 :

(6sc,1dec)- 7 times (49)

Round 25 :

(5sc,1dec)- 7 times (43)

Round 26 :

(4sc,1dec)- 7 times (35)

Round 27 :

(3sc,1dec)- 7 times (28)

Round 28 :

(5sc,1dec)- 4 times (24)

Info :

** Break the yarn short and fasten off.We will not use this end to sew.

Info :

NOTE: Insert the safety eyes between Round 16 and 17 with a distance of 13 sts (visible 10 sts) ☺

— Ears :

Round 1 :

6sc in a mr (6)

Round 2 :

2sc in all sts around (12)

Round 3 :

(1sc,1inc)- 6 times (18)

Round 4-5 :

(2 rnds) Sc in all sts around (18)

Round 6 :

(1sc,1dec)- 6 times (12)

Round 7 :

6dec (6)

Infos :

** DO NOT stuff the ears. ** Sew the ears between rounds 6 and 8. Please look through the pictures below.

— Mane :

Round 1 :

Ch64 and and join with a sl st into the first ch st to form a ring.

Round 2 :

Ch2; 3dc in each st around and sl st into the first st of the round.

Round 3 :

Ch2; 1hdc in each st around and sl st into the first st of the round.

Round 4 :

Ch3 and 1sc into the same st that we made sl st, (3sc, ch3 and 1sc into the same st) repeat until the end of the round.

Info :

** Break the yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

— Tail :

Round 1 :

6sc in a mr (6)

Round 2 :

Work BLO; sc in all sts around (12)

Round 3 :

Work BLO; (1sc,1inc)- 6 times (18)

Round 4-5 :

(2 rnds) Work BLO; Sc in all sts around (18)

Round 6 :

Work BLO; (1sc,1dec)- 6 times (12)

Round 7 :

Work BLO; (1dec)- 6 times (6)

Round 8-27 :

(20 rnds) Sc in all sts around (6)

Info :

**Break the yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

— Ruffles of the Tail :

Info :

** Using the yarn with color code 0437; starting from the second round of the tail and using the remaining loops of sts (we will work into the BLO sts between Rounds 2 and 7 of the tail): work 2hdc in each st between Round 2 and 7 (including Round 7) After completing hdc sts, ch2 and turn, this time we will work 3dc sts into each hdc st from the previous rounds.

Info :

** Sew the tail between Round 11 and 12 on the body.

Assembly Instructions

  • Insert the safety eyes between Round 16 and 17 of the head with a distance of 13 sts (visible 10 sts) before fastening off.
  • Sew the ears between rounds 6 and 8 of the head, positioning them symmetrically on either side of the top of the head.
  • Sew the legs to the bottom of the body between Rounds 9 and 10, spacing them evenly and securing firmly for stability.
  • Sew the tail between Round 11 and 12 on the body and attach the ruffles around the tail base using the BLO loops as instructed.
  • Sew the mane around the head opening using the long tail left after making the mane, then attach the head to the body and weave in all ends securely.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to keep track of rounds, especially during increases and decreases.
  • 💡Stuff pieces gradually while shaping; do not wait until the end to stuff for best results.
  • 💡Work into back loop only (BLO) when instructed to create neat edges or attachment points for ruffles.
  • 💡Pin parts in place and check photos for placement before permanently sewing pieces together.

Ollie the Lion is ready to bring cuddles and charm to your home — his ruffled mane and sweet face are sure to delight! Handmade with care, Ollie makes a lovely gift or keepsake to treasure. Happy crocheting and enjoy your new little friend! 🧶🧸

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

Ollie the Lion will be approximately 16 cm tall from ears to toe when made with the recommended yarn and hook size.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but the finished size will change; choose a hook size appropriate for your yarn to maintain correct gauge.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so basic experience with amigurumi techniques such as magic ring, increases, decreases and working in rounds is recommended.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 5-7 hours, though time may vary depending on experience and the amount of time spent on assembly and ruffles.