Amigurumi Abayomi Lion CAL - Part 3

Welcome to part three of the amigurumi Abayomi lion crochet-a-long. It's time to see some magic as we crochet Abayomi's body and add the arms, legs and tails as we go! Let the magic begin...

Are you just joining us today? Be sure to check out Amigurumi Abayomi Lion CAL Part 1, where we go over the pattern notes, abbreviations and gather our supplies.

Already completed this step? Move on to Amigurumi Abayomi Lion CAL Part 4 (link will activate on Thursday, September 10th, 2015), where we will crochet the facial features, or check out the full schedule for this CAL below...

---

This pattern is copyrighted to Rebeckah Ferger of www.rebeckahstreasures.com. It is for personal use only.  No part of this pattern may be copied or distributed in any way. If you sell what you make from this pattern, please credit me as the designer. All rights reserved, 2015.

---

REMINDER: Side facing you as you crochet equals the WS of work. Crochet in continuous rnds.

---

Lion Body Instructions:

You have 2 options for crocheting the body. You can either crochet the body normally and attach the limbs (arms, legs, tail) via sewing later, OR you can save time and incorporate the limbs into the body as you crochet. Further instructions for each are included below...

Make 1

*Use MC

   rnd 1: sc 6 into a magic circle (6 sts)
   rnd 2: sc 2 into each st around (12 sts)
   rnd 3: [sc, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (18 sts)
   rnd 4: [sc 2, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (24 sts)
   rnd 5: [sc 3, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (30 sts)
   rnd 6: [sc 4, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (36 sts)
   rnd 7: [sc 5, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (42 sts)
   rnd 8: [sc 6, sc 2 into next st] x 6 (48 sts)


OPTION 1: Sew the legs and tail to the body later.

   rnd 9-14: sc 48 for 6 rnds, cont to rnd 15.

TIP for Sewing Legs & Tail to Body:

Use a scrap piece of yarn to mark st sps #7-#14 (this marks the right leg placement), #28-#35 (this marks the left leg) & #44-#46 (this marks the first rnd of the tail placement) of rnd 9.

Use another to mark st sps #44 & #46 (this marks the next 2 rnds of tail placement) of rnd 10-11.

Use one more to mark st sps #44-#46 (this marks the final rnd of tail placement) of rnd 12.

OPTION 2: Attach limbs as you crochet: Always insert hook into body sts before inserting hook into the joining pieces.

   rnd 9 (leg & tail attachment rnd): 

• Sc 6 over first sts of body. 
  
• Then, holding the right leg on the back side of the body sts with top of leg sts pressed tog and toe facing front of work (toe points away from stitch marker) – you will work through 3 sts at a time, with hook going through the body st first then through both st sps on the leg, sc over next 8 sts of body tog with st sps of the leg – attach to st sps #10 & #12 of this leg first, followed by st sps #9 & #13 and so on; ending with st sps #3 & #1 (st sps #11 & #2 of the legs are left unworked).
  
• Sc in the next 13 sts of the body only. 
  
• Rep same attachment instructions for left leg, joining it to next 8 sts of body – this time attach to st sps #1 & #3 of this leg first, followed by st sps #18 & #4 and so on, ending with st sps #12 & #10. 
  
• Sc in the next 8 sts of body only. 
  
• Then, holding the top opening of tail on the back side of body sts – you will work through 2 sts at a time, with hook going through the body st first then through the tail st, sc over next 3 sts of body tog with 3 sts of the tail (I like the first tail sts attached to the body to be #2, #1, & #10, but it doesn’t make a difference which ones you start with).
  
• Sc 2 over rem body sts (48 sts).

   rnd 10-11 (tail attachment rnds cont.): sc 43 over first sts of body, sc next st of body tog with first avail st of tail, sc in next st of body only, sc next st of body tog with last avail tail st, sc 2 over rem body sts (48 sts).

   rnd 12 (last tail attachment rnd): sc 43 over first sts of body, sc next 3 sts of body tog with last 3 sts of tail, sc 12 over rem sts (48 sts).

   rnd 13-14: sc 48 for 2 rnds, cont to rnd 15.

Continue crocheting the body normally (same for both)... 

   rnd 15: [sc 6, sc2tog] x 6 (42 sts)
   rnd 16: [sc 5, sc2tog] x 6 (36 sts)
   rnd 17-18: sc 36 for 2 rnds
   rnd 19: [sc 4, sc2tog] x 6 (30 sts)


OPTION 1: Sew the arms to the body later.

   rnd 20: [sc 3, sc2tog] x 6 (24 sts)

TIP for Attaching Arms to rnd 20 of Body:

Remember to insert your hook into both back lps of the sts for the sc2tog before inserting hook into the arm sts. Then, work st normally.

OR if sewing arms onto body later, use a scrap piece of yarn to mark st sps #4-#9 (this marks the right arm placement), & #16-#21 (this marks the left arm) of rnd 20 of body.

OPTION 2: Attach arms as you crochet: Always insert hook into body sts before inserting hook into the joining pieces.

   rnd 20 (arm attachment rnd): [sc 3 over next sts of body, holding the arm on the back side / RS of the body sts with top of arm sts pressed tog (hand tip points towards body) – sc2tog next 2 sts of body tog with st sps #6 & #7 of arm, sc next st of body tog with st sps #5 & #8 of arm, sc next st of body tog with st sps #4 & #9 of arm, sc next st of body tog with st sps #3 & #10 of arm, sc2tog over next 2 sts of body tog with st sps #2 & #11 of arm, sc next st of body tog with st sps #1 & #12 of arm, sc 2 over next 2 sts of body, sc2tog over next 2 sts of body] x 2 (24 sts).


Continue crocheting the body normally (same for both)...

   rnd 21: [sc 2, sc2tog] x 6 (18 sts)

Stuff body...

   rnd 22: [sc, sc2tog] x 6 (12 sts), sl st join to first st of rnd, f/o with long tail (will be used to attach body to head later).

---

Are you enjoying this Abayomi Lion CAL? Tell me what you think either by commenting below, by visiting this pattern on ravelry, or by giving this pattern a star-rating...

This adorable Amigurumi Abayomi Lion crochet pattern is also available as a PDF for a small cost. Your purchase of the PDF version helps to support me and this blog, so I can continue to do what I love and bring you more fun patterns. Thank you!

We'd love to see your lions too! Share pictures of your CAL on Ravelry, my Saturday Link Party, or my Crocheting Treasures Facebook Group.

If you have any questions at all, leave me a note below, or if you prefer, you can also ask questions on Ravelry or in my Crocheting Treasures facebook group. Either way, I am always happy to help!

---

Amigurumi Abayomi Lion CAL Schedule & Links to Each Part:

• Part 1: Supplies & Pattern Notes
  
• Part 2: Lion's Arms, Legs & Tail
• Part 3: Lion's Body (YOU'RE HERE)
• Part 4: Lion's Facial Features (Thursday, September 10th, 2015)
• Part 5: Lion's Head (Sunday, September 13th, 2015)
• Part 6: Lion's Mane (Thursday, September 17th, 2015)
• Share Your Abayomi Lion CAL Photo Contest (Sunday, September 20th-October 9th, 2015)

*The links will become activated once each part is published in the morning of the set dates above.