This snuggle inducing wrap is so soft a squishy that they’ll never want to take it off. Promise. The mane is worked up by wrapping yarn around a flexible straw… took me a while to figure out how to fluff that up! Enjoy!

MATERIALS

• 1lb ball medium weight pale yellow, washable yarn (I used light weight Bernat Baby Big Ball Sport Yarn in baby yellow, doubled up with 2 strands instead of 1)
• 1 baby skein of contrasting colour for the mane and edging
• Size F-5 (3.75 mm) and H-8 (5 mm) crochet hooks
• Embroidery needle
• Bendable straw

GAUGE

14 sc = 4” (10 cm) with Size F-5 (3.75 mm) hook

PATTERN:

Back:

Begin at lower back neck, with smaller hook and MC, ch 17.Row 1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across – 16sc Ch1, turn.

Work even in hdc on 16 sc for 5”.

Fasten off.

Sides and Top:

Row 1: (RS) With RS facing, attach MC and work 18 hdc across first side edge of back piece, 16 hdc across top, 18 hdc across rem side edge of back piece – 52 sc. Ch 1, turn.Rows 2 and 3: hdc in each hdc across. Ch 1, turn.

Fasten off MC at end of Row 3 and attach A.

Mane:

Loop St Row (WS) hdc in first st, * place a bendable straw in front of work, yo straw 2x from front to back, then insert hook in next st and complete as for sc; rep from * across to last st sliding loops off and moving straw forward as it becomes full, hdc in last st. Ch 1, turn.

Next Row (RS) hdc in each hdc across. Ch 1, turn.

Rep last 2 rows until 3 1/2” from beg of sides and top, end RS.Fasten off A. Attach MC. Work 1 row sc. Ch 1, turn.

Bottom Edge of Hood:

Next Row (RS) With RS of hood facing, using MC and smaller hook, work 47 sc evenly spaced over lower side and back edges. Ch 1, turn.Next Row (WS) Sc across, dec 5 sts evenly spaced – 42 sc. Ch 1, turn. Work even in sc for 3 rows. Fasten off.

EARS (make 2):Outside Piece With smaller hook and MC, ch 9.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across- 8sc. Ch1, turn.

Rows 2-5: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Work sc across, dec 1 sc each side of row. Ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Rep Row 6- 4sc.

Fasten off.

Edge of Ear With MC and smaller hook, work 18 sc evenly around side and top edges of outside ear piece. Fasten off.Inside Piece With B and smaller hook, work same as Outside Piece.

Assembly Place inside ear piece on top of outside ear piece, then with MC and smaller hook, sc both pieces tog around sides and top edges. Fasten off. Sew ears evenly spaced on top of head between 3rd and 4th Loop St Rows from front of hood.

Wrap:

Beg at lower edge, with MC and larger hook, ch 2.Row 1: 3 hdc in 2nd ch from hook. Ch 1, turn.

Cont in hdc, inc 1 st each edge every row until there are 141 hdc.Next Row Cont in hdc, dec 1 st at center of row – 140 hdc. Ch 1, turn. Cont in hdc, dec 1 st each edge every row until there are 84 sc.Next Row Work 2 hdc tog across entire row – 42 hdc.Next Row Work even in sc. Fasten off.

FINISHING:

With RS’s tog, seam 42 sts of lower hood edge to 42 sts at top of wrap.

With RS facing, using MC sc evenly around outer edges of wrap with larger hook and around hood edge with smaller hook.

Tail:

With MC and larger hook, ch 30.

Work 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, then 3 sc in each ch to end. Fasten off.

It will curl all on its own.

Tassel:

Wrap A yarn around a 4 1/2” piece of cardboard 82 times. At one end, slip a 5” piece of MC under the loops and knot tightly. Cut the loops at other end and remove cardboard. Loop and tightly wrap a 36” strand of MC around the tassel, about 1” down from top. Secure the yarn ends and tuck them into the tassel. Attach to one end of tail. Fasten other end of tail to outside of wrap approximately 13” from lower edge in center.

[FREE Pattern ????!] Paws off the #cookies, munchkin! Who else has a hungry #lion not so hungry for their #greens??? This sneaky lion’s #mama has a trick or two up her sleeve (shhhh…#spinach, #broccoli and #squash *might* be major players in this kiddo’s morning #muffins – but that’s between me and you). What are your #tricksofthetrade to get #baby and #toddler to chow down on their #veggies?? In exchange, you can download this *RAWWWD* #seeloveshare #crochet lion wrap pattern! #freepattern via link in bio!