Leonara the Lion Ornament

By: Nancy Anderson from Red Heart Yarns

Use your knitting skills to create a cute and festive new Christmas ornament like this Leonara the Lion Ornament. This easy Christmas knit pattern will show you how to design your very own handmade Christmas ornament that you can put on your own tree or give to any animal lover. Kids especially will love the adorable face and fuzzy mane. For a Christmas ornament to knit that's guaranteed to be king, you'll want to make this one.

Finished Size 7" (18 cm) tall.

RED HEART® Super Saver®: 1 skein of 672 Spring Green A, and 10 yards each of 512 Turqua B, 316 Soft White C and 312 Black D.

Susan Bates® Double Pointed Knitting Needles: 3.75 mm [US 5].
Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 3.75mm [F-5].

Stitch marker, stitch holder, yarn needle, fiberfill.

GAUGE: 22 sts = 4" (10 cm), 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Buy yarn
(4 Medium)RED HEART® Super Saver®, Art. E300 available in solid color 7 oz (198 g), 364 yd (333 m); multicolor, heather, and print 5 oz (141 g), 244 yd (223 m), flecks 5 oz (141 g), 260 yds (238 m) skeins.

Special Stitches
Increase – Knit into the front and the back of the next stitch (1 stitch increase).

Notes:
1.    Head, Body and Legs are worked in one piece.
2.    Stuff Head, Body and Legs firmly with fiberfill as they are worked.
3.    Remaining body components are worked separately and are sewn together using cast on and bind off ends.

LION
Body
With A, cast on 6 sts, leaving a long end for sewing. Join, being careful that sts are not twisted, and begin working in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1 (Right side): Work Increase around: 12 sts.
Round 2: (K1, work Increase) around: 18 sts.
Round 3: (K2, work Increase) around: 24 sts.
Round 4: (K3, work Increase) around: 30 sts.
Rounds 5-16: Knit around.
Round 17: (K3, K2tog) around: 24 sts.
Round 18: Knit around.
Round 19: (K2, K2tog) around: 18 sts.
Round 20: Knit around.
Round 21: (K1, K2tog) around: 12 sts.
Round 22: Knit around.
Round 23: Work Increase around: 24 sts.
Round 24: (K3, work Increase) around: 30 sts.
Rounds 25-38: Knit around.
Round 39: K7, place next 16 sts on holder, K7: 14 sts.
Rounds 40-50: Knit around.
Round 51: Work Increase around: 28 sts.
Rounds 52 and 53: Knit around.
Round 54: (K2, K2tog) around: 21 sts.
Round 55: (K5, K2tog) around: 18 sts.
Round 56: K3, (K2tog, K3) around: 15 sts.
Round 57: (K3, K2tog) around: 12 sts.
Round 58: (K1, K2tog) around: 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 8" (20 cm) end. Thread yarn needle with the end and weave through remaining stitches, draw up firmly; fasten securely.

Second Leg
Slip first 2 sts from holder onto scrap yarn, secure.
Slip remaining 14 sts from holder evenly onto double pointed needles. Join, being careful that sts are not twisted, and begin working in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1 (Right side): Knit around: 14 sts.
Rounds 2-10: Knit around.
Round 11: Work Increase around: 28 sts.
Rounds 12 and 13: Knit around.
Round 14: (K2, K2tog) around: 21 sts.
Round 15: (K5, K2tog) around: 18 sts.
Round 16: K3, (K2tog, K3) around: 15 sts.
Round 17: (K3, K2tog) around: 12 sts.
Round 18: (K1, K2tog) around: 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 8" (20 cm) end. Thread yarn needle with the end and weave through remaining stitches, draw up firmly; fasten securely.

Arms (Make 2)
With A, cast on 12 sts, leaving a long end for sewing. Join, being careful that sts are not twisted, and begin working in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1 (Right side): Knit around.
Rounds 2-15: Knit around.
Round 16: Work Increase around: 24 sts.
Rounds 17 and 18: Knit around.
Round 19: (K2, K2tog) around: 18 sts.
Round 20: K2, (K2tog, K2) around: 14 sts.
Begin stuffing Arm with fiberfill as Rounds 21 and 22 are worked.
Round 21: K2, (K2tog, K2) around: 11 sts.
Round 22: K2, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2: 9 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 8" (20 cm) end. Thread yarn needle with the end and weave through remaining stitches, draw up firmly; fasten securely.

Ears (Make 2)
With A, cast on 6 sts, leaving a long end for sewing. Join, being careful that sts are not twisted, and begin working in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1 (Right side): Work Increase around: 12 sts.
Round 2: Knit around.
Round 3: (K1, K2tog) around: 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 10" (25 cm) end. Thread yarn needle with the end and weave through remaining stitches, draw up firmly; fasten securely.

Tail
With A, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1 (Right side): Knit across, slide sts to opposite end of needle, do not turn.
Rows 2-12: Repeat Row 1.
Cut yarn, leaving a 8" (20 cm) end. Thread yarn needle with the end and weave through remaining stitches, draw up firmly; fasten securely.

FINISHING
Thread yarn needle with scrap yarn and secure 2 sts between Legs.
Using photo as a guide and threading yarn needle with long cast on and bind off ends, assemble Lion. Sew Arms, Ears and Tail to Body.
Using photo as a guide and crochet hook, loop 4”
(10 cm) lengths of B and C in Head to form Mane.
Using photo as a guide and threading yarn needle with a 12" (30 cm) length of D, embroider lines on Arms and Legs for Paws, and Eyes, Nose and Mouth on Head.
Using a hairbrush or comb, comb out yarn for Mane, trim even.

ABBREVIATIONS: K = knit; mm = millimeter; P = purl; st(s) = stitch(es); tog = together; ( ) = follow instructions in parentheses as indicated.