Circle Mane Lion Finger Puppet Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

This little lion is the perfect first amigurumi project: a tiny peach finger puppet with a soft apricot chenille mane sewn on behind the face. It is made for beginners, for anyone who loves mid-century modern shapes, and for anyone who needs a five-minute smile. The body is a smooth, rounded cotton egg that slips over a fingertip, while the flat chenille mane gives it a fuzzy, retro halo. Small, quick, and full of charm, it works up in an evening and makes a sweet gift, party favor, or storytelling companion.

Materials Needed

• Yarn A (body and ears): DK weight cotton in peach, approx. 10 yds (9 m).
• Yarn B (mane): bulky weight chenille in apricot, approx. 5 yds (4.5 m).
• Hook 1: 3.5 mm (US E) for the cotton body and ears.
• Hook 2: 5.0 mm (US H) for the chenille mane.
• Notions: tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker, small amount of black embroidery thread (eyes) and apricot embroidery thread (nose).
• Finished size: puppet body 1.5" (3.8 cm) diameter and 1.25" (3.2 cm) tall; mane 2.5" (6.4 cm) diameter.

Abbreviations

• MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into to start a round with no hole.
• sc – single crochet: insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• inc – increase: work 2 sc into the same stitch to add one stitch.
• dec – decrease: work 2 stitches together as one sc to remove one stitch.
• st(s) – stitch(es).
• FO – fasten off: cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last loop.

Gauge

Cotton: 22 sc x 24 rnds = 4" (10 cm) with the 3.5 mm hook; chenille: 12 sc x 12 rnds = 4" (10 cm) with the 5.0 mm hook. Work a small flat swatch in each yarn and measure the center of the fabric; if your stitches are larger than this, go down a hook size so the puppet fits snugly on a finger.

Tips Before You Start

• Work the body in continuous rounds without joining, and place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you never lose your place.
• Keep your tension firm on the cotton body so the puppet holds its round shape and grips the finger instead of sliding off.
• Chenille sheds and is hard to unravel, so count the mane stitches carefully and avoid frogging; if you must undo, do it slowly.
• Leave the tails listed in the pattern (8" on the mane, 4" on the ears) — you will use them for sewing, so do not trim them short.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (peach cotton, 3.5 mm hook)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnds 4–10: sc in each st around (18 sts).

Rnd 11: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 12: dec x6 (6 sts).

Finish: FO, leaving a tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull tight to close, and weave the tail inside the body.

Mane (apricot chenille, 5.0 mm hook)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Finish: FO, leaving an 8" tail for sewing. The piece should lie flat as a disc about 2.5" (6.4 cm) across.

Ears (make 2 – peach cotton, 3.5 mm hook)

Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc into the ring (4 sts).

Rnd 2: inc in each st around (8 sts).

Finish: FO, leaving a 4" tail for sewing. Each ear is a tiny flat disc.

Assembly and Finishing

Flatten the mane disc and place it against the back of the body so the peach face sits in front of it like a dome on a plate. Using the 8" chenille tail and a tapestry needle, sew the mane to the back of the body around Rnds 4–5, keeping it centered and working small stitches through the back loops only so the front stays smooth. Sew the two ears to the front of the body at Rnd 3, about 0.5" (1.3 cm) apart, using their 4" tails. With black embroidery thread, stitch two small eyes at Rnd 5, about 0.25" (0.6 cm) apart. With apricot embroidery thread, stitch a small nose at Rnd 6, centered below the eyes. Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the body. No blocking is needed; if the mane looks ruffled, gently pat it flat with damp fingers and let it dry.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: try a mustard body with a rust mane, or a cream body with a soft brown mane, for a different mid-century palette.
• Firmer fit: if the puppet feels loose on a small finger, work Rnds 4–10 with one fewer stitch (17 sts) or add a thin elastic loop inside the opening.
• Mane texture: for a shaggier look, work the mane in a fluffy eyelash yarn held together with the chenille, or add a single round of slip stitches around the mane edge in a contrasting shade.