These lions were inspired by the hand dyed yarns from Kim Dyes Yarn. Soft and squishy, these yarns make beautiful toys!

Luna the pocket hamster is dedicated to beloved pet hamsters everywhere:)

Yarn for these toys can be found here:

Kim Dyes Yarn

Willa and Ellis are knit in the round from the bottom up. The arms are knit first and then set aside to be attached later. Next each leg is knit and then joined together to work the body. The arms are then joined before knitting the shoulders, neck and head. Stitches for the muzzle are provisionally worked with waste yarn which is later removed. The live stitches are then picked up and worked in the round to form the muzzle. The ears and tail are knit separately and sewn on. Ellis’ mane is worked separately and sewn on. The sample lions have embroidered eyes, but tips are included for using safety eyes.

Materials:

Yarn
For the Lions - Brioche DK from Kim Dyes Yarn, DK weight, 280 yds/256 m. Each lion used about 50 yds/46 m in the Dandelions colorway. You will also need about 2 yds/2 m each of suri alpaca lace and fingering weight boucle for the mane. The sample used Meringue Fluff and Crumble Slubby from Kim Dyes Yarn.

For the sweaters - Sourdough Sock from Kim Dyes Yarn, fingering weight, 400 yds/423 m. Each sweater used about 30 yds/27 m for the sweater body and 15 yds/14 m for the sleeves and pockets. The body of the sweaters were worked in the Indie Dyer Barbie colorway with contrasting yarn for the sleeves and pockets.

For Luna - 2 yds/2 m finger weight yarn

Needles
For the Lions - US size 2 (2.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge below. You will need two sets of double pointed needles (ten total). One set is used for holding stitches and one is used for knitting.

For the sweaters - US size 2 (2.75 mm) 24” circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge below. You will also need a set of double pointed needles in the same size for the sleeves and pockets.

For Luna - US size 2 (2.75 mm) set of doubled pointed needles.

Lion Gauge - 6.5 sts by 9 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly stuffed.
Sweater Gauge - 7 sts by 10 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly blocked.

Miscellaneous - darning needle for weaving in ends; about 
1/4 oz/7 g of wool stuffing (or stuffing of your choice); 4 locking stitch markers; two 6”/15 cm scraps of yarn to hold stitches for the muzzle and sweater pockets; scrap of black fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss for eyes and pink for noses; scrap of finger weight yarn to match mane; cardboard 2.5 x 5”/2.3 x 4.6 cm for mane.