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Writer's pictureFios da Fazenda

Zooey the chicken

Updated: Nov 22, 2019

Designer Leticia Cinto



The chicken is knitted top down, that is, from crest to tail. It is worked in rounds, except where the pattern says otherwise. I used the magic loop technique to knit it, but you can work with a double point needle set, if you wish. The crest and the tail feathers do not need to be filling as they are structured enough to remain standing, but you can use a little filling to make them a little more round. You can also replace part of the body filling with a little sandbag, to turn your chicken into a doorstop.


Materials Yarn: 3 colors of Merino Sock Da Fazenda (100% merino wool)


US 0 / 2 mm 24” circular needles Black and white scrap yarns and a crochet hook to make the eyes (in case you had chosen not to use purchased eyes) Tapestry needle to sewing


Size 22 cm (height) x 14 cm (width) 8 ½” (height) x 5 ½” (width)


Abreviations k – knit p – purl bl – backloop yarn over kb&f – knit back and front


pb&f – purl back and front

slk – slip stitch knitwise slp – slip stitch purlwise k2tog – knit 2 stitches together p2tog – purl 2 stitches together ssk – slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together






Directions

Eyes You can buy safety eyes or you can make them out of 2 felt circles (black and white), sewed together.


Another option is to make them in crochet. To do this you will need black and white scrap yarns, preferebly fine ones.


With the white yarn, make a circle with 3 chains or using the magic circle.


Make 5 single crochet stitches and close the circle with a slip stich crochet.


At the second round, make one half double crochet, one double crochet in the same stitch, two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet and one half double crochet in the next stitch. Finish with one slip stitch, keeping the elyptical shape. Cut the yarn, leaving at least 4 inches to sew the eye.


With the black yarn, do the same, stopping in the first round and sew this circle over the white elyptical part.


Do the same for the other eye.


Beak Using yellow yarn and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: knit all stitches. Round 3: *k1, bl* to the end. Round 4: knit all stitches. Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2, bl* to the end. Round 7: knit all stitches. Round 8: knit all stitches. Round 9: *k3, bl* to the end. Round 10: knit all stitches. Round 11: knit all stitches. Round 12: *k4, bl* to the end. Round 13: knit all stitches. Bind off all the stitches and cut the yarn, leaving at least 15” to sew the beak.


Central crest Using chosen color and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: *kb&f* to the end (16 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2tog* to the end (8 stitches). Round 7 até 14: knit all stitches. Pass all stitches through a scrap yarn and cut the yarn, leaving at least 4” left.


Right side crest Using the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).

Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: kb&f, kb&f, k4, kb&f, kb&f (12 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: k2tog, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2tog (8 stitches). Round 7 até 10: knit all stitches. Pass all stitches through a scrap yarn and cut the yarn, leaving at least 4” left.


Left side crest Using the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total)


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: k2, kb&f, kb&f, kb&f, kb&f, k2 (12 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: k2, k2tog, k2tog, k2tog, k2tog, k2 (8 stitches). Round 7 até 10: knit all stitches.


Assembling the crest Put crest parts together so that you have, when resume work: 4 stitches of the left side crest, 4 stitches of the central crest, 4 stitches of the right side crest, 4 stitches more of the right side crest, 4 stitches of the central crest and 4 stitches more of the left side crest, making a circular round again with 24 stitches total. Resuming work:


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: knit all stitches. Round 3: *k2tog, k1* to the end (16 stitches). Round 4: knit all stitches


Now, continue working changing color to the color chosen to make the body and continue as following:


Top of head Round 1: *k1, kb&f* to the end (24 stitches). Round 2: knit all stitches. Round 3: *k2, kb&f* to the end (32 stitches). Round 4: knit all stitches. Round 5: *k3, kb&f* to the end (40 stitches). Round 6 até 12: knit all stitches.


Continuing head Round 1: k19, kb&f, k20. Round 2: knit all stitches. Round 3: k21, kb&f, k19. Round 4: knit all stitches. Round 5: k20, kb&f, k21. Round 6: knit all stitches. Round 7: k22, kb&f, k20. Round 8: knit all stitches. Round 9: k21, kb&f, k22. Round 10: knit all stitches. Round 11: k23, kb&f, k21. Round 12: knit all stitches. Round 13: k22, kb&f, k23. Round 14: knit all stitches. Round 15: k24, kb&f, k22. Round 16: knit all stitches. Round 17: k23, kb&f, k24. Round 18: knit all stitches. Round 19: k25, kb&f, k23. Round 20: knit all stitches. Round 21: k24, kb&f, k25. Round 22: knit all stitches. Round 23: k26, kb&f, k24. Round 24: knit all stitches. Round 25: k25, kb&f, k26.


Before continuing to work the chicken body, sew the eyes in their places. After that, put a little filling inside the beak and sew it in its place.


Breast Row 1: k13, turn work. Row 2: p26, turn work. Row 3: k26, turn work. Repeat rows 2 and 3 five times. Row 14: k14, ssk, k1, turn work. Row 15: slp, p3, p2tog, p1, turn work. Row 16: slk, ssk, k1, turn work. Row 17: slp, p5, p2tog, p1, turn work. Row 18: slk, k6, ssk, k1, turn work. Row 19: slp, p7, p2tog, p1, turn work. Row 20: slk, k8, ssk, k1, turn work. Row 21: slp, p9, 2pft, p1, turn work. Row 22: slk, k10, ssk, k1, turn work. Row 23: slp, p11, p2tog, p1, turn work. Row 24: slk, k12, ssk.


Pick 5 stitches in the side of the last 10 rows (1 stitch every 2 rows) and continue working the stitches not worked in the last 10 rows: k14, kb&f, k12. Pick 5 stitches in the other side of the last 10 rows (1 stitch every 2 rows). Keep working stitches until complete the round: k8. Round 25: knit all stitches (53 stitches).


Belly Round 1: k25, kb&f, k27. Round 2: knit all stitches. Round 3: k27, kb&f, k26. Round 4: knit all stitches. Round 5: k26, kb&f, k28. Round 6: knit all stitches. Round 7: k28, kb&f, k27. Round 8: knit all stitches. Round 9: k27, kb&f, k29. Round 10: knit all stitches. Round 11: k29, kb&f, k28. Round 12: knit all stitches. Round 13: k28, kb&f, k30. Round 14 to 24: knit all stitches. Round 25: ssk, k28, kb&f, k29. Round 26: knit all stitches. Round 27: k28, kb&f, k29, k2tog. Round 28: knit all stitches. Round 29: ssk, k28, kb&f, k29. Round 30: knit all stitches. Round 31: k28, kb&f, k29, k2tog. Round 32: knit all stitches. Round 33: ssk, k28, kb&f, k29. Round 34: knit all stitches. Round 35: k28, kb&f, k29, k2tog. Round 36: knit all stitches.


Bind off all stitches. Cut the yarn leaving at least 15” to sew.


Using small portions of the wool filling, fill generously the body, leaving the chicken really chubby.


Now, using the yarn left, sew up two thirds of the opening. To keep both sides together while sewing, try to use hair clips.


Tail – 1st feather Using color chosen and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).

Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: *kb&f* to the end (16 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2tog* to the end (8 stitches). Round 7: knit all stitches. Row 8: k7, turn work. Row 9: slp, p5, turn work. Row 10: slk, k5, turn work. Row 11: slp, p5, turn work. Row 12: slk, k5, turn work. Row 13: slp, p6, turn work. Rounds 14 to 16: k8.


Tail – 2nd feather Using color chosen and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: *kb&f* to the end (16 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2tog* to the end (8 stitches). Round 7: knit all stitches. Row 8: k7, turn work. Row 9: slp, p5, turn work. Row 10: slk, k5, turn work. Row 11: slp, p5, turn work. Row 12: slk, k5, turn work. Row 13: slp, p6, turn work. Rounds 14 to 18: k8.


Tail – 3rd feather Using color chosen and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).

Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: *kb&f* to the end (16 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2tog* to the end (8 stitches). Round 7: knit all stitches. Row 8: k7, turn work. Row 9: slp, p5, turn work. Row 10: slk, k5, turn work. Row 11: slp, p5, turn work. Row 12: slk, k5, turn work. Row 13: slp, p6, turn work. Rounds 14 to 20: k8.


Tail – 4th feather Using color chosen and the magic cast on, cast on 4 stitches (total).


Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *kb&f* to the end (8 stitches). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: *kb&f* to the end (16 stitches). Round 5: knit all stitches. Round 6: *k2tog* to the end (8 stitches). Round 7: knit all stitches. Row 8: k7, turn work. Row 9: slp, p5, turn work. Row 10: slk, k5, turn work. Row 11: slp, p5, turn work. Row 12: slk, k5, turn work. Row 13: slp, p6, turn work. Rounds 14 to 22: k8.


Tail – Putting feathers together On 4th feather, k4. Put first 4 stitches of the 3rd feather on left needle and k4. Put first 4 stitches of the 2nd feather on left needle and k4. Put first 4 stitches of the 1st feather on left needle and k4. Put last 4 stitches of the 1st feather on left needle and k4. Put last 4 stitches of the 2nd feather on left needle and k4. Put last 4 stitches of the 3rd feather on left needle and k4. Put last 4 stitches of the 4th feather on left needle and k4.


Now you have 32 stitches on the needle. Round 1: knit all stitches. Round 2: *k2tog* to the end (16 stitches total). Round 3: knit all stitches. Round 4: knit all stitches. Bind off all stitches and cut yarn, weaving ends.


Put the complete tail in the opening left (one third) in the chicken body. Check if it is necessary more filling. Sew the opening, holding the tail between the two sides. Cut the yarn and weave in ends.


Wings Make two. Cast on 30 stitches using magic cast on (15 on each needle) and the chosen color.


Round 1: purl all stitches Round 2: purl all stitches Round 3: pb&f, p13, pb&f, pb&f, p13, pb&f. Round 4: purl all stitches Round 5: pb&f, p15, pb&f, pb&f, p15, pb&f. Round 6: purl all stitches Round 7: pb&f, p17, pb&f, pb&f, p17, pb&f. Round 8: purl all stitches Round 9: pb&f, p19, pb&f, pb&f, p19, pb&f. Round 10: purl all stitches Round 11: pb&f, p21, pb&f, pb&f, p21, pb&f. Round 12: purl all stitches Round 13: pb&f, p23, pb&f, pb&f, p23, pb&f. Round 14: purl all stitches Turn work to the wrong side, leaving stockinette stitch on the right side. Fill in with a little wool filling and, using three-needle bind off, bind off all stitches and cut yarn, leaving at least 15” left.


Sew both wing in the place, using the yarn left.


This post was originally published on Blog da Fazenda Caixa Dagua, in May 20, 2013

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