Lion and Dragon baby blankies.

For the imminent arrival of our baby girls (yes, there is an “s”, we're having 2 *\o/*), I asked Tony, my husband, what kind of animals he would like them to have as baby blanky-toys.

Since he really likes the series Games of Thrones, he suggested a dragon and a lion, and while I admit that I was more thinking about common animals such as bunnies, mice, cats, dogs; I had fun making a ferocious dragon and his friend the mighty lion.
I guess now we just need to figure out who will be Daenerys and who will be Cersei? :)

Here I'm sharing with you the patterns for the head since it's really fast, straightforward, and can make up for a pretty cute baby gift!

Note: We actually call these doudous in French, but I learned that in English it didn't have the same meaning :)

Requirements:

• Crochet Hook H (5mm)
• Tapestry Needle
• Any colors of baby yarn you want
• Stuffing

Abbreviations / Terminology used:

• st: stitch
• sc: single crochet
• ss: slip stitch
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• fhdc: foundation half double crochet
• 2 sc in next st (increase)
• 2 sctog: 2 single crochet together (decrease)

The baby blankies are composed with a granny square + an animal head. I chose a variegated yarn for the granny squares, then made the heads with colors that were within the granny square.

Head (same shape for both the lion and the dragon):

Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (18)
Round 4: *2 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (24)
Round 5: *3 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (30)
Rounds 6-9: sc around (30)
Round 7: *3 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (24)
Round 8: *2 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (18)
Round 9: *1 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (12)
(Start adding stuffing)
Round 10: *2 sctog* repeat (6)
Add more stuffing, finish off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Dragon features:

Mohawk:

ch 16, turn, skip 1^st st

A: ss + sc in same st

B: hdc + dc + picot edge + hdc in same st

C: sc + sc in same st

repeat ABC till the end, it should give 5 spikes

Muzzle:

4 fhdc, 3 hdc in turn, 2 hdc around, 3 hdc in turn

add nostrils

Ears:

ch 4, turn, skip 1^st st

ss, sc in same st

hdc, dc, hdc in same st

sc, ss in same st

Lion features:

Mane:

ch 22, turn, skip 1^st st

A: ss + sc in same st

B: hdc + dc + hdc in same st

C: sc + sc in same st

repeat ABC till the end, it should give 7 bumps

Muzzle:

Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in first 3 st, 2 hdc in last 3 st (6sc+6hdc)

Finish off with a sc in the next st and embroid the mouth and nose.

Assembly line:

Attach the different elements together using the pictures as guidelines, sow the eyes, and finally attach the head firmly to the granny squares. Time to make lots of these cuties!

Hope you'll enjoy making them as much as I did :)