Knitted Birds

Happy Easter! I'm back home now, managed to make a tit of myself, fall over and take the skin off my fingers on the way home. I was also the person who everyone hates on the tube with my massive rucksack, lots of tutting but I made it and it is amazing to look into a fridge with actual food in it again.

This project started off just as a chick for Easter but then it grew and I received increasingly weird requests from all my friends. They only take an evening to make so they are great as last minute presents.

Obviously green hair or huge scary eyes is a personal choice.

Knitted with 3mm needles and DK wool.


Body (garter stitch-all knit rows):

Cast on 24sts

Knit 2 rows

Shaping the Tail: Increase at each end of next three rows (30sts)

Knit 1 row

Dec at beginning of next 6 rows (24sts)

Body and head: Knit 22 rows

(Knit 2 together) until end of row (12sts)

Knit 1 row

(Knit 2 together) until end of row (6sts)

Break off yarn and thread through stitches.

Sew down the bird’s back, stuff and then sew along the bottom.

Loop yarn bellow head and pull tight to make a neck. You may also want to add a few stiches above the tail to make it stand out more.

Beak (make 2):

Cast on 6sts

K 1 row

P2tog, P2, P2tog

K1 row

P2tog, p2tog

Break of yarn and thread though stitches. Sew onto head slightly curved.

Feet (make 2):

Cast on 6sts

Beginning with a knit row stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) 3 rows

Purl 2 together, take yarn once around right hand needle (RHN), purl 2 together, take yarn once around RHN, purl 2 together (5sts)

SS 4 row

Cast off

Fold in half and sew together. The holes from row 4 will make the gaps between the claws.

This is all you need for the basic bird. Sew on the beak and feet and then embroider on some eyes.

My personal favourite was the grey and yellow penguin. For this you will also need a chest and some wings. 

Chest:

Cast on 10sts

Knit 14 rows

K1, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K1 (8sts)

K1 row

K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1

K1 row

Cast off.

Wings (make 2):

Cast on 6sts

Knit 14 rows

K2tog, K2, K2tog

K2tog, K2tog

Cast off

Fold in half length ways and sew up.

I didn't make feet for the penguin because it would be hard to fit them on with the chest.

Feel free of course to be as wacky as you want and leave a comment if you have any questions.

Avatar Mittens

(The benders, *childish snort*, not the blue people)

Inspired by Aang's orange and yellow outfit and of course his blue arrow.

I made them using 3mm needles and DK wool.
Pattern (make two, but with the arrow on different sides):
Cast on 40sts
In yellow knit 20 rows of K2 P2 rib.
Beginning with a single row of yellow follow chart below for next 22 rows in stocking stitch (starting with a knit row).
Knit 2 rows of K2 P2 rib.
Cast off.
In mattress stitch sew down the sides leaving a hole for the thumb.

Arrow chart

They should now look something like this:

Given the option I probably would have picked a slightly darker orange but the only wool shop within walking distance doesn't have much of a range and the friend's birthday I was making them for was approaching quickly. Let me know if you have any questions or comments :).




In other news I've also learnt how to play the didgeridoo (very badly) and I tried microwaving cake for the first time, best decision I've ever made in my life.