Lion Family Knitted in King Cole Big Value DK and Tinsel Chunky - 9152 - Downloadable PDF

Lion Family Knitted in King Cole Big Value DK and Tinsel Chunky

What Is Being Made

This downloadable PDF pattern from King Cole provides instructions for knitting a complete Lion Family collection. The design creates multiple lion figures in varying sizes, ranging from 6 to 8.5 inches (15 to 21 centimeters) in height. These knitted lions are soft toys and accessories suitable for display, play, or decorative purposes.

Yarn and Materials

The Lion Family pattern utilizes two distinct yarn weights from King Cole's product range to create visual interest and texture variation:

• King Cole Big Value DK – A double knit weight yarn used as the primary yarn for constructing the main body pieces
• King Cole Tinsel Chunky – A chunky weight yarn incorporated into the design, likely for mane detailing or accent features that require a heavier, more textured appearance

The pattern recommends 3.25mm knitting needles for working with the DK yarn components. Finishing materials include safety eyes for securing facial features before closing final gaps during assembly.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for crafters with basic experience. The primary stitch structure used throughout the pattern is Stocking Stitch (st-st), which creates a smooth, finished fabric by alternating knit rows and purl rows. This classic stitch is ideal for toy construction as it produces an even surface suitable for stuffed pieces.

Garter Stitch (gt-st) is also referenced in the pattern instructions, created by knitting every row to produce a textured, reversible fabric with visible horizontal ridges.

Shaping techniques essential to this pattern include:

• Make 1 (M1) – An increase stitch created by picking up and working a loop between stitches, used to gradually expand pieces during construction
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) – A decrease technique that reduces stitch count by knitting two stitches as one
• Purl 2 Together (P2tog) – A decrease technique performed on purl rows to shape pieces symmetrically

The pattern demonstrates strategic use of increases and decreases to shape individual components. For example, the head piece begins with 17 stitches and is increased to 27 stitches through Make 1 stitches distributed across multiple rows, creating the rounded form necessary for a three-dimensional lion head. Decreases are employed to taper pieces toward completion and create anatomical definition.

Pattern Components

The Lion Family design is constructed from multiple individual pieces that are knitted separately and then assembled:

• Head – Worked from cast-on stitches with strategic increases to achieve a rounded, dimensional shape
• Ears – Made as separate components (quantity: 2 per lion) using smaller stitch counts for proportion

Assembly instructions include securing safety eyes before closing the final gap, indicating that the pieces are stuffed and seamed together to create the finished three-dimensional toy form.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters are comfortable with basic stitches and shaping techniques. The combination of two yarn weights and the requirement to construct, stuff, and assemble multiple pieces makes this project suitable for crafters beyond absolute beginner level who have completed simple garments or basic toy projects.