Crochet Lion Rug With T-Shirt Yarn step by step


 

Materials & tools

  • T-shirt yarn (bulky sheet/cord yarn) — one main color for head/body (e.g., beige/tan) and 1 contrasting color for mane (gold/amber/brown). Amount depends on final size; for a small/medium rug you’ll likely need ~300–800 g of t-shirt yarn (estimate; see notes). 

  • Acrylic/cotton worsted yarn (optional): a thinner yarn to stitch facial details (black/white/pink).

  • Large crochet hook sized for your T-shirt yarn (typically 8–12 mm; choose hook that makes tight secure stitches). 

  • Scissors, tapestry needle, stitch marker, measuring tape.

  • Optional: small bit of polyester fill if you want slightly raised nose or ears.

Abbreviations (US terms)

  • ch = chain

  • sc = single crochet

  • dc = double crochet

  • sl st = slip stitch

  • st(s) = stitch(es)

  • … = repeat sequence


Overview of construction

  1. Crochet a flat circular base for the lion’s head (work increases until desired diameter).

  2. Work a few plain rounds (no increases) to build a little thickness.

  3. Make facial pieces (eyes, nose, muzzle) as small appliqués or embroider directly.

  4. Create the mane around the head using either (A) loop/looped stitches or (B) fringe strips attached with lark’s-head knots (both methods shown commonly for t-shirt rugs).

  5. Add ears (crocheted flat triangles), attach everything, trim and shape mane.

STEP-BY-STEP

Step 1 — Start the head base (magic ring or chain loop)

  1. Make a magic ring. (Alternative: ch 4, join to a ring).

  2. Round 1: ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull ring closed. (6 sc)

  3. Sl st to join (or work in continuous rounds if you prefer a joinless look).

  4. Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

  5. Round 3: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st — repeat. (18 sc)

  6. Round 4: sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st — repeat. (24 sc)

  7. Round 5: sc in next 3, 2 sc in next — repeat. (30 sc)

  8. Continue increasing in this same manner (each round add 6 more stitches total) until the circle reaches the desired head diameter. Typical target sizes: small head ~20–25 cm; medium ~30–40 cm. Stop increasing when the circle lies flat (if it cups = too few increases; if it ruffles = too many increases).

Tip: Count stitches at end of each round so your increases are even — this keeps the base flat. (Each round usually increases by +6 stitches.)

Step 2 — Build up the “head thickness”

  1. Once your base diameter is reached, stop increasing.

  2. Work 3–6 rounds of sc in every stitch around (no increases). This gives the head a bit of thickness so the mane sits nicely. The number of rounds determines how puffy/thick the head is.

Step 3 — Make facial appliqués (eyes, muzzle, nose)

You can either crochet small circles/appliqués and sew them on, or embroider features directly.

Small eye (example)

  • Magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, tighten and sl st to join — finish and fasten off. Make two in white or a light color. Add smaller black center discs (6 sc in magic ring, sl st, fasten off) and sew onto white eye.

Nose

  • Chain 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc, hdc in next, sl st into last; shape into small triangle OR make a small oval: magic ring 6 sc, then ch 1 and sc around to shape a small oval.

Muzzle (optional larger oval)

  • Magic ring, 8–10 sc into ring, then 1 round of sc around to make a 2–round oval. Sew centered.

Attach the appliqués to the head using tapestry needle and secure ends. Use yarn to embroider mouth lines. (If you prefer safety eyes, set them before stuffing/finishing, but with a rug bigger than toy, sewn/stitched eyes are often preferred.)

Step 4 — Two ways to create the mane (choose one or combine)

Method A — Loop stitch mane (lots of soft loops)

This gives a full, ruffly mane without cutting lots of strips.

  1. With mane color yarn (T-shirt yarn or a different bulky yarn), work a round of loop stitches around the head edge: for each stitch around, pull up a long loop to desired length and secure the loop with sc or complete a loop stitch — every stitch (or every other stitch) depending on fullness you want. The typical loop length: 4–8 cm before trimming.

  2. After completing a loop round, you can work another plain sc round to anchor loops, and add a second loop round behind the first for more volume.

  3. Once all loops are attached, cut the loops if you want a fringed mane, then carefully trim to shape and brush (a small wire brush or pet slicker brush works for fluffing cotton/fringe).

How to do a simple loop stitch: insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a long loop (holding it on the hook), yarn over and pull through to secure loop (this forms the loop on the front); then sc or sl st in the next st to lock that loop row. Exact loop-stitch sequences vary — the key is forming secure long loops then anchoring them.

Method B — Fringe / lark’s-head strip mane (recommended for very textured mane)

  1. Cut many t-shirt yarn strips — length 12–20 cm depending how long you want mane strands. Fold each strip in half. 

  2. Working around the head in the round, insert your hook through a stitch, pull the folded loop through to create a loop; pull strip ends through that loop (lark’s-head knot) and pull tight — this attaches a fringe tuft.

  3. Attach fringe densely around the intended mane zone (one or two rounds of attachment). For fuller mane, attach multiple strips into each stitch or add additional rows of fringe closer to the center.

  4. After all strips are attached, trim and shape the mane into rounded lion shape; brush to make the fringe fluff out if needed.

Tip: For a natural look, use two similar colors (e.g., golden yellow + reddish-brown) and stagger lengths. The fringe method is the most used for “lion mane” realism. 

Step 5 — Ears (make 2)

  1. Ch 5 (or ch 4), sc in 2nd ch from hook and across to shape a small triangle, or:

  2. Make a small triangle: ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next (3 sts), ch 1, turn, sc2tog, ch 1, turn, sc2tog — fasten off.

  3. Sew ears to top of head (behind the mane), secure well. Optionally fold a bit and tack so ears stand.

Step 6 — (Optional) Body or rug base extension

If the lion rug in the video includes a full body (not just head + mane), you’ll continue crocheting outward from the head (or attach the head to a larger oval/round rug):

  • For a full rug, continue rounds of sc outward from the head (or start a separate large round/oval and sew the head at the top). Use the same increase formula (+6 stitches per round) to expand and keep the rug flat. Use color changes or textured rounds to make paws/body shapes if you like.


Step 7 — Assembly & finishing

  1. Position and sew on eyes, muzzle and nose if not already attached. Embroider mouth lines.

  2. Trim and shape the mane: cut to even length and trim to a rounded lion silhouette. Use a brush to fluff fringe.

  3. Weave in all ends securely. Tuck tails into stitches and stitch down if needed.

  4. If rug needs extra stability, consider a thin non-slip rug backing (cut-to-size) sewn or hot-glued to back — useful if rug will be stepped on.

Troubleshooting & tips

  • Base cups or ruffles: If your circle cups (bowl shape), add a round of increases in a more spread pattern. If it ruffles, you’ve increased too quickly — remove a round of increases or frog back. Counting stitches and adding exactly 6 increases per round keeps the circle flat.

  • Keep tension firm. With t-shirt yarn you want tightish scs so the rug holds shape. Pull loops firmly when making loop stitches or attaching fringe.

  • Anchor t-shirt yarn ends by crocheting a few stitches over the start/end so they don’t pull out. 

  • Brush/tease fringe gently to increase fluffiness—some crafters lightly use a pet slicker brush for cotton strips.

Approx. stitch count example (flat round growth)

Round 1: 6 sc
Round 2: 12 sc
Round 3: 18 sc
Round 4: 24 sc
Round 5: 30 sc
Round 6: 36 sc
Round 7: 42 sc
(Each round = previous +6 stitches) — continue until desired diameter. 

Where to get the kit / pattern (optional)

ReTwisst offers an official DIY Lion Rug kit and pattern that includes recommended materials for an exact match to the video — useful if you want the same colors and quantities. 

Video Tutorial: 

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