Meet Bali the Lion Rattle: A Roaringly Cute Crochet Pattern for Baby

Hello, lovely hooksters! Today, I am absolutely delighted to introduce you to the most charming little king of the jungle—Bali the Lion Rattle! With his fluffy mane of bobble stitches, sweet embroidered face, and gentle rattle sound, this little lion is the perfect companion for the tiniest member of your pride.

There’s something so special about making toys for babies, isn’t there? Every stitch is woven with love and a wish for their happiness and safety. This little lion is designed to be a multi-sensory delight—the soft cotton yarn is gentle on delicate skin, the wooden ring is smooth and easy for tiny hands to grasp, the rattle inside makes a gentle sound that intrigues and delights, and that fluffy mane of bobble stitches is simply irresistible to touch!

What I love most about this pattern is how it combines different elements into one beautiful toy. The head is worked in the round with a special bobble stitch (punto garbanzo) that creates that wonderful fluffy mane texture. The face is embroidered with sweet closed eyes that give Bali a peaceful, sleepy expression—perfect for a baby’s nap time companion. And the whole thing attaches to a natural wooden ring that’s easy for little fingers to hold and shake.

This pattern is wonderfully approachable for adventurous beginners. You’ll learn how to work the bobble stitch (also called a popcorn or bean stitch), which creates a gorgeous textured effect. The finished lion measures approximately 17 cm (about 6.7 inches) from the top of his mane to the bottom of the ring—the perfect size for tiny hands to hold and shake!

So grab your cotton yarn in those warm lion colors—a beautiful golden brown for the mane and a soft cream for the face—and let’s bring Bali to life

Materials & Tools

Yarn: 3 mm cotton crochet yarn in:

Main color for the face, ears, and ring cover (cream/beige)
Secondary color for the mane/hair waves (warm golden brown)
Brown or black thread for embroidering the eyes and nose (use 1-2 strands maximum so it doesn’t get too thick)

Hook: 3 mm crochet hook

Other Supplies:

Stitch marker
Tapestry needle (aguja lanera)
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Rattle insert (sonajero)
Natural wooden ring, 7 cm diameter (aro de madera natural)

Finished Size: Approximately 17 cm tall (including the ring)

Stitches & Techniques (US Terms)

Magic ring: anillo mágico
ch: chain / cadeneta
sl st: slip stitch / punto raso
sc: single crochet / punto bajo
hdc: half double crochet / punto alto
dc: double crochet / punto alto (in some contexts—but here “pa” is used for half double? Let me clarify)

Wait—looking at the pattern, the designer uses Spanish terms. Let me translate clearly:

Spanish to US Conversion:

pb (punto bajo) = sc (single crochet)
pa (punto alto) = dc (double crochet)
dpa (doble punto alto) = tr (treble crochet)
p. raso = sl st (slip stitch)
aumento (a) = inc (increase)
punto garbanzo = bobble/bean stitch (4-loop bobble closed with a chain)

Bobble Stitch (Punto Garbanzo):

Work 4 loops (lazadas) in the same stitch
Close them together, then work 1 chain to secure

If you have questions about how to crochet this stitch, the designer has a video on her YouTube channel “Dale Vida” explaining it simply and quickly