Test Knitters II: The Lion Edition...

Lafcadio The-Lion-Who-Shot-Back By Ruth H. Bennett

Yarn: Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Ombres

1 skein Safari for Mane (110 yda.)

Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids
2 skeins Yellow (110 yds ea.)

Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm DPN

Gauge: Not important, but 4.5 sts & 6 rows = 1”

Supplies:
~Black Embroidery Floss or Crewel Cotton for eyes & claws
~Yarn Needle
~Poly Fiber-Fil
~Scissors

Why is it that tweaking one pattern leads you design another? Well, Elefante is super cute, but I had to change a lot before I could knit it the way I liked. In doing so, I had an inspiration to design a pattern (using the basic 2 Balls/4Tubes) for a Lion. Right now I’m making i-cord for the mane…
But, the next time I make this, I might use curlicue ruffles instead. Or, a chain stitch crochet mane would be easily made, but even more easily unravelled & destroyed. I’m thinking that a child might put too big a balding punishment on it in the process of play. Oh well, I’ll see what I think when I follow this design idea to the end…
The rest of the Quills Group is knitting Elefante as our Summer KAL.
This pattern I am designing is loosely based on what I have learned from making 3 of those, plus all the rewriting I had to do to make sense of the LouLou UGH.

I hope Lafcadio doesn’t end up on a shelf just for show. Stuffies are made to be loved.
Hug him while reading the Shel Silverstein book!!!

FEET: (Make 4)
Pads of Feet (can be done in a contrasting color!)
Row 1: Long Tail CO 6 sts
Row 2: Sl 1, Purl
Row 3: Sl1, M1, K4, M1, K1 = 8 sts
Row 4: Sl1, Purl
Row 5: Sl1, M1, K6, M1, K1 = 10 sts
Rows 6-12: Sl 1st st Stockinette
Row 13: Sl1, K2tog, K4, PSSO, K1 = 8 sts
Row 14: Sl1, Purl
Row 15: Sl1, K2tog, K2, PSSO, K1 = 6 sts
Row 16: Sl1, Purl
Row 17: Sl1, K6, While keeping live sts on one dpn, Pick Up 20 sts along slipped edge of Foot Pad for Foot (use main color) = 26 sts
Rows 18-23: Place marker at beginning of round & knit in the round

Toe Decreases:
Row 23: K5, (PSSO, K2tog) four times, K5 = 18 sts
Rows 25-31: Knit in round
Row 32: BO in Knit (Leave long tail for finishing (tail will sew on feet!))

MANE:
Make as many 6” long 3-stitch I-cords as you think you’ll need for the mane you had in mind...
Leave tails for stitching on later when you are assembling & embellishing. (I made 48)

EARS:
Row 1: Longtail CO 6 sts
Row 2: Sl1 Purl
Row 3: Sl1, M1, K4, M1, K1 = 8 sts
Row 4: Sl1, Purl
Row 5: Sl1, M1, K6, M1, K1 = 10 sts
Row 6: Sl1, Purl
Row 7: Sl1, Knit
Row 8: Sl1, Purl
Row 9: Sl1, Knit
Row 10: Sl1, Purl
Row 11: Sl1, K8, P1
Row 12: Sl1 K wise, K8, P1
Row 13: Sl1, Knit
Row 14: Sl1, Purl
Row 15: Sl1, Knit
Row 16: Sl1, Purl
Row 17: Sl1, Knit
Row 18: Sl1, Purl
Row 19: Sl1, Knit
Row 20: Sl1, Purl
Row 21: Sl1, K2tog, K4, PSSO, K1 = 8 sts
Row 22: Sl1, Purl
Row 23: Sl1, K2tog, K2, PSSO, K1 = 6 sts
Row 24: Sl1, Purl
Row 25: BO in Knit

~Fold at Middle RS out
~Single crochet together using slipped stitches as guide. Leave long tail for finishing (tail will sew on ear!)

BODY: Just a Ball!
Row 1: Lontail CO 9 sts, distrubute 3 sts per DPN
Row 2: KFB each stitch = 18 sts, 6 on each DPN
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: (K2, M1)* = 27 sts, 9 each DPN
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: (K3, M1)* = 36 sts, 12 each DPN
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: (K4, M1)* = 45 sts, 15 each DPN
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: (K5, M1)* = 54 sts, 16 each DPN
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: (K6, M1)* = 63 sts, 21 each DPN

Knit in the round for 4” ( about 24 rows)

Begin Decreases:
Row 1: (K5, K2tog)* = 54 sts, 16 each DPN
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: (K4, K2tog)* = 45 sts, 15 each DPN
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: (K3, K2tog)* = 36 sts, 12 each DPN
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: (K2, K2tog)* = 27 sts, 9 each DPN
Row 8: Knit (At this point, stuff the body with fiber-fil & continue to knit to close...)
Row 9: (K1, K2tog)* = 18 sts, 6 each DPN
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: (K2tog)* = 9 sts
~Pull yarn through knit loops to close & weave in ends.
HEAD:
Row 1: Long Tail CO 6 sts
Row 2: Sl1, Purl
Row 3: Sl1, M1, K4,M1, K1=8 sts
Row 4: Sl1, Purl
Row 5: Sl1, M1, K6, M1, K1=10 sts
Row 6: Sl1, Purl
Row 7: Sl1, M1, K8, M1, K1=12 sts
Row 8: Sl1, Purl
Row 9: Sl1, Knit
Row 10: Sl1, Purl
Row 11: Sl1, Knit
Row 12: Sl1, Purl
Row 13: Sl1, Knit
Row 14: Sl1, Purl
Row 15: Sl1, K2tog, K6, PSSO, K1=10 sts
Row 16: Sl1, Purl
Row 17: Sl1, K2tog, K4, PSSO, K1=8 sts
Row 18: Sl1, Purl
Row 19: Sl1, K2tog, K2, PSSO, K1=6 sts

While keeping the live sts on one dpn, Pick up 22 sts in slipped edge stitches for a total of 28 sts.
I distributed mine in a 6/8/8/6 proportion over 4 needles (it will make sense later...).
Row 20-1: Place marker at the beginning of row & knit 2 rows

Muzzle Increases:
Row 22:
dpn 1: K1, M1, K4, M1, K1=8 sts
dpn 2: K1, M1, K2, M1, K2, M1, K2, M1, K1=12 sts
dpn 3: K1, M1, K2, M1, K2, M1, K2, M1, K1=12 sts
dpn 4: K1, M1, K4, M1, K1=8 sts (Total of 40 sts)
Row 23: Knit
Row 24:
dpn 1: K1, M1, K6, M1, K1=10 sts
dpn 2: K1, M1, K4, M1, K2, M1, K4, M1, K1=16 sts
dpn 3: K1, M1, K4, M1, K2, M1, K4, M1, K1=16 sts
dpn 4: K1, M1, K6, M1, K1=10 sts (Total of 52 sts)
Row 25: Knit
Row 26:
dpn 1: K10 sts
dpn 2: K1, M1, K6, M1, K2, M1, K6, M1, K1=20 sts
dpn 3: K1, M1, K6, M1, K2, M1, K6, M1, K1=20 sts
dpn 4: K10 sts (Total of 60 sts)
Row 27-44: Knit (Optional: Switch to Safari on Row 35 for back of head)

Head Decreases:
Row 45: (K4, K2tog)* =50 sts
Row 46: Knit
Row 47: (K3, K2tog)* =40 sts
Row 48: Knit
Row 49: (K2, K2tog)* =30 sts
Row 50: Knit (At this point, stuff the body with fiber-fil & continue to knit to close...)
Row 51: (K1, K2tog)* =20 sts
Row 52: Knit
Row 53: (K2tog)* =10 sts
~Pull yarn through knit loops to close & weave in ends.

Tail:
Work a 3-stitch i-cord for 6 inches. Leave a long tail for later sewing.
Bind off & weave in end.
Use scraps of Safari to create a fringe on the tip of tail.

Finishing:

Stuff feet with Poly Pellets or just Poly-Fill stuffing (Or any other washable stuffing of your choice...)
Use tail of cast on to whip stitch onto bottom of body (use finished image or your own taste for a guide).

Sew head onto body using whip stitch (use finished image or your own taste for a guide).
Be sure to do this well... double stitch it, if necessary.

Use crochet edge tail to whip stitch ears onto top of head (use finished image or your own taste for a guide).
Sew on tail using cast on end.

Use tails of i-cord to firmly knot each end into scalp of head to create a mane
(use finished image or your own taste for a guide).
Sew on tail.

Embroider eyes & mouth using your favorite stitches. I used back stitch for mouth & satin stitch for nose. I used a combination of satin stitch (pupils), button hole stitch (whites), & back stitch for outlines.
Be Creative! If you are making this for an older child, apply snap on saftey eyes before stuffing. Or blanket stitch on felt eyes... Or, embroider on a wink... That’s what I’m gonna do for my next one!

I’d love to see your finished Stuffie! Please send comments & pictures here to my blog!!!

Copyright Pending!!!
This test pattern is intended for personal use.
Please do not take this & claim it for your own or sell.
Knitting Geeks make up a small community. You will be found out!