How to Crochet a Fringe for a Lion Mane
Whether you want to make a lion's mane for a costume or you want to sew a mane onto a toy lion, the crochet loop stitch could be just the stitch you need. The loop stitch creates a base of single crochet stitches with large loops coming off the top; leave the stitch as is for a curly mane or trim it for a traditional fringed look.
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Instructions
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1
Make a length of chain stitches until the chain stitches are long enough to wrap around your head or around the head of the toy lion. To make a chain stitch, bring the yarn up and over the hook from back to front (yarn over) and draw the yarn through the loop on the hook.
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2
Make one chain stitch and turn; single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain stitch across.To make a single crochet stitch, insert your hook into the stitch indicated; yarn over and draw up a loop. Yarn over again and draw through both loops on the hook.
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3
Make one chain and turn. Make a loop stitch in the first stitch of the row. To do this, wrap the yarn clockwise around your left index finger to make a loop. Insert your hook into the first single crochet of the row, then turn the hook toward the left and pass it behind both ends of the loop on your finger. Catch both strands of the loop with the hook and bring them through the stitch, leaving the middle of the loop to hang behind the work; you now have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and draw through all three loops. Repeat this stitch in every stitch across the row.
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4
Make one chain and turn. Make a single crochet in the top of each loop stitch across the row. Make your stitches in the regular base of the loop stitches, leaving the loops themselves to hang free outside the work.
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5
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until your lion's mane is as wide as you want it to be. Cut the working yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Yarn over with this tail and pull it through the last stitch to secure it.
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6
Thread the yarn tail onto an embroidery needle and weave it in and out of the single crochet stitching to hide it. Repeat with any remaining yarn tails.
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Tips & Warnings
Add ribbon or yarn to either side of the lion's mane to tie it around your head, or simply sew the two ends together and wear it around your head in a circle.
Cut the loops open with scissors to make a fringed mane, or keep them as they are for more of a curly look.
For a toy lion, sew the mane directly to the lion's head using spare yarn and an embroidery needle.
References
- Photo Credit D. Anschutz/Photodisc/Getty Images
