Leonard Lion is a fun and entertaining knitted toy.  Much loved, he has a realistic style, yet is of a simple design.
Leonard is a popular member of our household. He lives with his friends Freddie Fox, Rebecca Rabbit, Mischief Monkey and Lucy Lamb.  All five are much loved by the tiny humans and their friends!
 
He is quick and simple to knit, using any yarn that you wish.  I have knitted him in lion like colours, but he could equally be knitted in a bright variegated yarn for a more contemporary look.  Use any thickness of yarn, thicker - larger lion, thinner yarn a smaller, cuter lion.  The lion in the pictures here was knitted in a chunky yarn on 6mm needles.  He is about 30cm high. If you were to use a 4ply yarn and 3mm needles, he would be about half size at 15cm high. Generally I recommend using a needle size a bit smaller than that suggested for the yarn, you will want to knit quite a tight fabric, so that the stuffing doesn't show through.
 
The pattern includes instructions for knitting the pieces on the flat, or in the round - you choose which way you want to knit.  There is also a techniques section which explains with photos, the techniques used.  Stocking stitch (knit and purl), increase and decrease.  Loop stitch (for the mane) is fully explained as a technique.
 
If knitting in DK (Sport) weight yarn, you will need approx 30g of the main colour.  For an Aran (Worsted) weight you will need approx 75g, and for a chunky yarn, approx 150g.
 
The pattern knits each body part separately, then these are stitched together to create a lion of pleasing structure.  Soft and slightly floppy in the limbs, yet firm enough to sit up unaided.