Friday, April 3, 2009

spring chick

My yarn still isn't here! I don't know why it's taking so long, since I usually get my orders in 3 days. Can you tell I'm a little impatient? So, to help us all pass the time, I've got a free pattern for you! A sweet little spring chick, just in time to greet the warm days, sunshine, and daffodils.

The pattern is based on the chicken from the Fuzzy Farm pattern, but with the shaping adjusted to make it look more like a chick. The weight of yarn isn't specified, so just use whatever nice yellow yarn you have on hand. If you have no yellow, knit a sparrow from brown, or a robin from grey with some red felt stitched to it's breast. There are m1 increases on the purl side, which are not too hard: just lift the yarn between stitches with your left hand needle (inserting the needle from the back) and purl into the front of the loop. I can't seem to find a nice tutorial for this stitch, but if you know of one, please link to it in the comments, or email me. Happy knitting!

Spring Chick

Materials
approx. 15-20 m (or yards) of yellow yarn, small amount of black yarn, 3x3" piece of orange felt, orange thread, stuffing, pair of straight knitting needles, tapestry needle, hand-sewing needle

Whatever weight of yarn you use, select knitting needles that are 1-2 sizes smaller than recommended for the yarn. This way the knitted fabric will be dense enough that the stuffing will not show through. The finished size of the chick will depend on the yarn you use. I used DK weight yarn on 3.25 mm needles, and mine turned out 8 cm long.

Cast on 21 sts. P 1 row.
Row 2-3: k1, m1, k7, k2tog, k1, skpo, k7, m1, k1. P 1 row.
Repeat rows 2-3.
Work 6 rows in st st.
Row 12-13: k9, m1, k3, m1, k9. (23 sts) P 1 row.
Row 14: k10, m1, k3, m1, k10. (25 sts)
Row 15: p11, m1, p3, m1, p11. (27 sts)
Row 16: [k1, skpo] 3 times, k3, m1, k3, m1, k3, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. (23 sts)
Row 17: p10, m1, p3, m1, p10. ( 25 sts)
Row 18: [k1, skpo] 3 times, k7, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. (19 sts)
Row 19: bind off 3 sts, p to end. (16 sts)
Row 20: bind off 3 sts, k to end. (13 sts)
Work 2 rows in st st.
Row 23: p1, [p2tog] 6 times. (7 sts)
Break off yarn leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining sts and pull tight to gather.

Embroider eyes by making a french-knot for each eye with the black yarn. Use end of yellow yarn to sew up seam, starting from head, working along belly, and ending at bum. Make sure to stuff firmly before closing seam. Cut out a beak and two feet from the orange felt and sew in place. The open beak is a diamond shape, folded across the middle, with the fold stitched onto the face of the chick. The closed beak is a half-circle, rolled into a cone, with the flat sides stitched together. Place open end of cone on chick's face, with the seam facing down, and stitch on.


Abbreviations

[ ] = repeat instructions in brackets the number of times stated ("to end" means repeat until you reach the end of the row)
K or k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together
m1 = make one by picking up loop between stitch just worked and next stitch, and knit/purl into the back/front of this loop
P or p = purl
skpo = slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (or use ssk if you prefer)
st or sts = stitch or stitches
st st = stocking stitch

P.S. Don't forget to check out who else in participating in Fiber Arts Friday.

21 comments:

magswilliams said...

Thanks for the chick pattern!! Can't wait to get started!

Mamapooki said...

Too cute,

Anonymous said...

Thanks ever so much for the chick pattern. Happy Easter to you all.

Faye (Australia)

dawn224 said...

Love em!

These are the most helpful videos I've found:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/increases

Misty said...

The chicks are so cute! Thank you for sharing your pattern with us!

Carolyn B said...

This just gave me a childhood flashback because I remember once having a little knit chick that fit inside a colored plastic easter egg, though it was not as cute as these! (and prob. made with icky 70s polyester/acrylic craft yarn) - thanks for sharing!

Emily said...

peep peep peep Happy Easter, Mittens!

kaykatrn said...

They couldn't be any more cute! I think I will make some blue ones for my Mom. She loves the bluebird of happiness-type critters, and these would be totally unique. Thanks.

Acornbud said...

How adorable. Thanks for sharing! Hope it is springy in your neck of the woods:)

NLautner said...

Thanks so much for the pattern Barbara, I'm going to make a few for my Easter table!

Szarina said...

i tried doing this for my first amigurumi project...it looked more like a duck than a spring chick LOL thanks for the pattern! =] http://images.plurk.com/4530516_24357adcf6259ff7b79a36024a052d7c.jpg

m said...

thanks so much for sharing - they are sooo cute. I've just posted a link for a super quick and easy chick also http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/

magnoliasntea said...

Adorable! Thank you for the pattern.

Sylvia said...

I thought that maybe you could put some pinto beans in the middle of these and use them for pin cushions.. I don't know if anyone else thought of that.. It could be really cute! At least it'd be something a little different.

-Sylvia
Antique Jewelry

Unknown said...

Thanks! Can't wait to get started. Although maybe I should wait until Easter...now would be kind of irrelevant.

Anonymous said...

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme.

Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz answer back as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to find
out where u got this from. many thanks

My web page fruitautomaten

Barbara Prime said...

I designed everything myself, including taking and editing the photos. I've been wanting to update it recently, as I designed it several years ago now. Blogger is not too bad as a blog host, although it is difficult to reply to comments.

Anonymous said...

Dear Barbara,
thank you so much for your Spring Chick pattern. I was looking for a bird to go with my knitted dolly. They are so sweet... can't wait to knit one...
Jill (Australia)

Ann said...

Oh these chicks are so so sweet! I might have to forget my hook and get out my needles to make one or two this week! Thanks so much for the pattern. Happy Easter!

Happy Knitter said...

I love your patterns I just can't get my bears to look like bears and I am tired of everyone telling me they look like mice :(

Barbara Prime said...

Happy Knitter: The shape of the head is greatly affected by how much stuffing you use, and where you put it. Perhaps you could try adding more stuffing to the nose to make it wider? This other tutorial might also be useful to you: http://blog.fuzzymitten.com/2014/03/tutorial-soft-sculpture-for-head.html