King Cooper is a majestic lion that lives on in dreams and fairy tales. He is a crochet amigurumi lion whose simple techniques give him a complex look, and a durable finish. He can be made to sit stationary or with joints for extra play. Are you his new best friend? You can download his pattern on Etsy and Ravelry.
For the last 8 years Cooper was my side kick, he was a beautiful, sweet, intuitive, though slightly intrusive and slobbery English Setter. While we did not call him King Cooper, he had many names- most often, he was Nurse Cooper.
From the minute I learned to crochet, he was there. Snuggled next to me through every project- silently encouraging me when I was tackling more challenging ones. He was with me through every step of the process when I finally had the courage to try my hand at designing.
When Cooper needed a haircut it looked like a lion’s mane. 
That was the inspiration for King Cooper’s mane.
He always knew when someone wasn’t feeling well, injured, or sad, no matter what- he was there. Nurse Cooper was quietly comforting us all. When our boys were born he would gently let all of our visitors know that, while my husband and I might be Mom and Dad, he was protecting the boys, too. Never aggressively, instead he would sit as close as he could to the boys, and watch every move anyone made near them like a hawk. When I had surgery that kept me in months of recovery, he slept on my feet every day to make sure I got better.
There wasn’t a mean bone in his body, even in his final days, through his discomfort, the most he would let out was a sigh. It was our turn to be his nurse and protector. We took him to the vet who took care of him like he was his own, there was no good answer. It was time to say goodbye.
This was the last project he helped me with. I was halfway through it the last night he was home with us. He looks like him when he was in need of a hair cut. King Cooper was finished in his honor, I hope that he will bring the same joy, love, and comfort to you as he brought to us.
Materials
Worsted Weight Brown (Body Color) 290 yards
Worsted Weight Light Brown(Snout/Paw Color) 55 yards
Worsted Weight Bright Blue, 380 yards (Mane)
Worsted Weight Yellow (Crown) 25 yards
Scrap Worsted Weight Black
Black Embroidery Thread
3 Pipe Cleaners
15 mm eyes
2.75 mm hook
Finishing Needles
Stuffing
Optional:
Doll Joints
Terms (US)
CH Chain
MR Magic Ring
SC Single Crochet
BLO Back Loop Only
INC Increase, Two Single Crochet in one stitch
DEC Decrease, Single Crochet two together
SS Slip Stitch
SK Skip Stitch
DC Double Crochet
Picot Picot
BO Bobble
SK Skip Stitch
You can find the pattern for King Cooper the crochet amigurumi lion on Etsy and Ravelry, and can save him for later on Pinterest.
Thank you to my wonderful pattern testers
Kate
Krista @yarntwiddler
Genna @webbcrochet
Patricia @cellopatramusic