loopy lion

41 SKILL LEVEL

Tricky YOU WILL NEED

■ Any DK yarn in beige, dark

brown, orange and teal

■ A 5mm (US H/8) hook MEASUREMENTS

Square measure approx 10x10cm (4x4in) ABBREVIATIONS

lp st Wrap working yarn around your index finger, insert hook in st, yrh with 2 strands below the loop on your finger, pull through st, yrh and pull through all loops on hook, remove loop from finger For a full list, see page 88 of

Simply Crochet magazine NOTES

Parts of this pattern are worked in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a ss. You may find it helpful to mark the first st of the round, moving it up as you go. LOOPY LION

Using beige, ch4 and ss in last ch from hook to form a loop.

Round 1 (WS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 8dc in loop, ss to beg dc. [8 sts]

Round 2 (WS) Ch1, 2dc into each stitch around, ss to beg dc. [16 sts]

Round 3 As Round 2. [32 sts] Change to dark brown.

Round 4 Ch1, *(dc in next st, lp st in next st) 3 times, dc in next st, (lp st, dc) in next st, (lp st in next st, dc in next st) 3 times, lp st in next st, (dc, lp st) in next st; rep from * once more, ss to beg dc. [36 sts] Change to orange.

Round 5 Ch1, *(dc in next st, lp st in next st) 4 times, (dc, lp st); rep from * 3 times more, ss to beg dc. [40 sts]

Change to dark brown.

Round 6 Ch1, *(dc in next st, lp st in next st) 4 times, dc in next st, (lp st, dc) in next st, (lp st in next st, dc in next st) 4 times, lp st in next st, (dc, lp st) in next st; rep from * once more, ss to beg dc. [44 sts] Fasten off.

With RS facing you, join teal in any st. Round 7 Ch3 (counts as tr), tr in next st, *ch3, skip 1 st, tr in next 4 sts, htr in next 2 sts, tr in next 4 sts; rep from * 3 times more omitting final 2 sts on last rep, ss to top of beg ch-3. [40 sts, 4 ch-3 sps]

Fasten off and weave in ends. Using dark brown, embroider the eyes, nose and mouth.