Leonardo the Lion

$9.00

STEP 1: SELECT BUNDLE SIZE

STEP 2: SELECT COLOR

MAIN COLOR

Forge

worsted weight yarn

$27.45
$27.45

CONTRAST COLOR ONE

Forge

worsted weight yarn

$27.45
$27.45

CONTRAST COLOR TWO

Forge

worsted weight yarn

$27.45
$27.45
$9.00

Leonardo the Lion by Brenda K.B. Anderson is a sweet, sleepy-eyed lion made in celebration of Leo season and all those who love the King of the Jungle.

H+W's co-founders are both Leos, Gryffindors, and huge fans of Brenda’s innate talent creating sweet, muppet-like creatures, so we couldn't resist asking her to design this celebratory lion for us.  Thus Leonardo the Lion, with his collegiate sweater, gentle expression, and robust mane, was born just in time for Leo season (July 23 - August 22). Hear us roar! 

Leonardo might appear intimidating, but he is actually quite simple to make. We promise! He's made in Forge, in pieces from the top down, starting with the top shoulders in CC2 (midnight) with a simple color change for the legs and hands. The sweater ribbing, faux pocket, chest appliqué, crown emblem, and sweater buttons are attached in finishing. The eyelids + nose are made from felted swatches of the MC (gold leaf) and CC2 (red feather). His facial features are embroidered after attaching the button eyes, eyelids, and nose. His little curved tail is created in a tube using a drop stitch technique and attached to his bum after stuffing. His robust, glorious mane is the crowning glory of this regal project.

Need some tutorials? We've got you covered!

Type:   Digital Download
Designer:   Brenda K.B. Anderson
Yarn:   Forge
Skill Level:   3 out of 5
Yarn: Hudson + West Co. Forge (70% U.S. Merino / 30% U.S. Corriedale; 235 yds [214 m]; 3.5 oz. [100g]): gold leaf (green-yellow), midnight (navy), red feather (burnt orange), 1 skein each.

Sizes:
Approximately 23” [58 cm] around shoulders, 17” [43 cm] around chest just below arms, and 20” [51 cm] tall (excluding mane).

Needles: 
Size A (for body): Size US 4 [3.5 mm]: 16” [41 cm] circular needle, double-pointed needles (dpn), or long ciruculars for magic loop per knitter’s preference.
Size B (optional; for felt eyelids and nose ): Size US 3 [3.25 mm] circular or straight needle, per knitter’s preference.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions:
Markers; waste yarn; tapestry needle; fiberfill stuffing; T-pins; sharp sewing needle and black thread; two 1.5” [38 mm] white buttons for eyes (recommended: La Mode #48219); two 0.875” [22 mm] black buttons for eyes (recommended: La Mode #570000038); three 0.75” [19 mm] buttons for sweater (recommended: La Mode #26284); Size G-6 [4 mm] or H-8 [5 mm] crochet hook; cardboard cut to 2.5” [6.5 cm] wide (use the yarn label!).

Gauge:
20 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st before stuffing on Size A needles for body + sweater.
13 sts and 19 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on Size B needles for felted pieces.

Skills required:
Increasing; decreasing; seaming; chain stitch embroidery; duplicate stitch; short rows; circular knitting; (optional) felting; (optional) crochet dropped stitch.

About the Designer

Brenda K. B. Anderson crochets and knits on her end of the couch after her kids have gone to bed. She is the author of Beastly Crochet and Crochet Ever After and can never resist starting new yarn-y projects. Brenda believes that inside every ball of yarn there is a lovable creature waiting to be let out. Find her on Ravelry as yarnville.

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