Larry LION Sewing Pattern photo tutorial.

I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my Lion Sewing Pattern ~> scroll down for step-by-step photos!

Lion soft toy sewing pattern

*** PLEASE NOTE – this in ONLY a PHOTO TUTORIAL ***
The FULL PATTERN IS NOT included here.

It is NOT A FREE PATTERN!

I have made this photo tutorial so people who have purchased the pattern can SEE how to sew this stuffed toy lion! (I wanted to explain this so you are not disappointed if you have found this page via a search engine and not from the link in my Larry Lion toy sewing pattern!)

Choose some fabric to sew a Lion!

Larry Lion does not need be BROWN – he looks great in ALL sorts of colours!

I decided to make a BLUE toy lion in this photo tutorial…

We start sewing the Lion’s face:

STEP 1

Sew the NOSE PIECE to the FOREHEAD PIECE. (I have outlined the NOSE PIECE with a red line in the photograph so it stands out more clearly!!)

STEP 2

Sew the SIDE HEAD PIECES to the CHEEK PIECES, (from A – B, matching the stars of the pattern markings).

STEP 3

Follow this Face Sewing Diagram to make your lion’s face.

Sew a SIDE HEAD/CHEEK PIECE to the NOSE/FOREHEAD PIECE on one side. (I have added a dashed, red line to show you where you will sew these pieces together.)

TIP: Finger press the seam open. This makes the seam nice and neat which will help you to get them lined up in Step 2.

(I have outlined the FOREHEAD PIECE with a red line in the photograph below so it stands out more clearly!!)

Sew the other SIDE HEAD/CHEEK PIECE to the NOSE/FOREHEAD PIECE on the other side, and continue on, sewing the CHEEK PIECES together along the centre.

(Again, the dashed, red line shows where to sew.)

Sew the CHIN PIECE to the CHEEK PIECES. (In the photo below you can see the pieces BEFORE I pinned them together, and then on the right, you can see the CHIN PIECE pinned in position.)

STEP 4

Sew the EAR PIECES together, leaving the straight edge open. Turn them right sides out. Fold the ears in half. (I have added the red dashed lines to show you where to fold the pieces.) Sew the straight edges of the ear together, as shown on the pattern piece. This will form a fold when you open it up again.

*I have added a yellow arrow in the photo to show you where to sew
because it’s hard to see the brown thread in this photo.

STEP 5

Pin the EARS in place on the SIDE HEAD PIECES making sure that the fold of the ears face the front, and sew them in place with a tacking/hand stitch so they won’t slip and look crooked when you sew this seam later. (I have outlined the EARS in red as they are hard to see in the photo below.)

STEP 6a

With right sides together, sew the MANE PIECES together. Clip the seams and snip off the points of the mane so that it will turn nicely.

STEP 6b

Use a turning tool (like a wooden chopstick or blunt pencil) to make the tips of the mane nice and pointy. With the MANE right sides out, pin the outside seam so that it lies flat then stitch around the pointed edge using a 5mm/¼inch seam allowance. (I have used a red, dashed line to show you where to stitch in the photo below.)

TIP: If you are using fleece fabric for Larry use a large zig-zag stitch to sew around the inside (open, rounded) edge of the mane. I find this makes it easier when you sew the mane in place. (I don’t always do this, but you can sew a single stitched line instead of a zig zag for cotton fabrics.)

STEP 7

Pin the inside edges of the MANE PIECES to the face. Start at the top of the FOREHEAD PIECE – there should be gap under the chin! Put the head aside to make the body. Looking at the lion’s face from the front – it should look like the photo below!)

Let’s sew Larry’s LEGS and BODY:

STEP 8a

Sew the FRONT OUTER LEG PIECES to the BODY PIECES, with the fabric right sides together and matching the dots of the pattern markings.

STEP 8b

This is what it should look like once you have pinned the pieces together! (The red, dashed line shows you where to sew them together.)

STEP 9a

Sew the TAIL PIECE and the TAIL TIP PIECE together as shown on the pattern pieces.

STEP 9b

Fold the sides of the tail ( the long edges) to the center of the tail, and then fold it in half (along the length) to form the tail.

(I have used a dotted red line to show you the center of the tail below.)

STEP 9c

Sew the tail closed at the side with a 5mm (¼inch) seam. You don’t need to sew the whole way down the tail tip, perhaps about 1cm (½ inch) at most.

STEP 9d

Cut the tassels for the tail, about 5mm (¼inch) thick.

STEP 10a

Pin the tail in place and sew the BODY PIECES together along the back (Remember to leave a gap for stuffing above the tail!).

STEP 10b

Sew the BACK OUTER LEG PIECES to the BODY PIECES, matching the dots of the pattern markings.

STEP 11

Sew the BACK INNER LEG PIECES and FRONT INNER LEG PIECES to the TUMMY PIECES, remember to place pieces with the right side of the fabric together, matching the crosses of the pattern markings.

STEP 12

Sew the LEG&TUMMY PIECES to the LEG&BODY PIECES, matching points C, D, E and F. (I find it’s easiest to sew the back of the back legs and ‘bottom’ closed first, then the front of the front legs next. Lastly sew the bit between the front and back legs,

TIP: Use lots of pins for this bit and don’t worry – you will find it wrinkles here, especially if you are using cotton fabric.)

Let’s go back to the head now:

STEP 13

Sew the BACK HEAD PIECES together, as shown on the pattern markings.

STEP 14

Pin the BACK HEAD PIECES to the lion’s face, with the mane and ears in between. Sew this seam very carefully so the layers don’t slip.

I have outlined the NOSE PIECE in red!

TIP: If I am using fleece I use a tacking/hand stitch to secure all the layers first before I sew it on the sewing machine.

STEP 15

If you are using craft eyes insert them now. You can also use buttons or beads for Larry’s eyes.

TIP: If you are using beads – sew them on AFTER you stuff the head. When you sew them on, pull the beads into the head a little bit (pull them down towards the chin) so it forms eye sockets and rounder cheeks!

Sew the head to the body:

STEP 16

Sew the HEAD to the BODY at the neck. (I find the best way to do this is to turn the head right sides out and position the head facing inside the body.)

STEP 17

Pull the HEAD PIECES back out of the body. Pin and sew the lion closed under the chin, neck and tummy. Sew from G – H – J – K.

FOOT PADS:

STEP 18

Sew the FOOT PAD PIECES in place. Use LOTS of pins so they don’t slip as you sew!

TIP: I have a tutorial on my blog to show you how to sew perfect plushie feet – it’s easy when you know how!

Assembly:

STEP 19

Turn your toy right sides out. and Fill the legs and body with toy stuffing. Fill the head and the rest of the body nice and firmly with stuffing.

STEP 20

With black/ brown embroidery thread, sew the toes on the feet. (Follow the instruction in the pattern for this)

STEP 21

Use some black berry pins to decide where you want to place your lion’s whisker spots, then use black/ brown embroidery thread and French knots to sew on some spots for them.