“Which Came First” Knitted Chicken

FINISHED SIZE

4” [10 cm] tall, from base to top of head

MATERIALS

• 25 yards [23 m] of bulky-weight yarn in Color A (yellow, chick)
• 25 yards [23 m] of bulky weight yarn in Color B (white, egg)
• 2 yards [2 m] of DK-weight yarn in Color C (orange, embroidered beak)
• Set of 5 double-pointed needles in US Size 10 [6.0 mm] or size required for gauge
• 1 pair of 6mm safety eyes with backing washers
• Locking stitch marker
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

GAUGE

14 sts and 24 rnds = 4” [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch in the rnd

Gauge is not critical for this pattern; however, a different gauge will affect the finished size of the toy as well as the amount of yarn used.

PATTERN NOTES

It is important that you stop to weave in ends and add arms, beak, and eyes before finishing the project. Once the final round is worked and the stitches are pulled tight to close, you won’t be able to access the inside/wrong side of the fabric, making it very difficult to weave in the ends.

Safety eyes are intended for toys ages 3 and up. If recipient is under 3 years old, do not use safety eyes, and instead embroider the eyes using black DK-weight yarn.

INSTRUCTIONS

Wings (Make 2):

With Color A and leaving approx 8” [20.5 cm] tail, CO 5 sts.

Set-Up Row (WS): Knit all sts.

Row 1 (RS) – Row 4 (WS): Sl1 wyif, k4.
Row 5: Sl1 wyif, sk2p, k1.
Row 6: Sl1 wyif, k2.

BO loosely on RS. Weave in ending yarn tail on WS. Yarn tail from CO edge will be used to sew wings to body. Set wings aside.

Egg & Chick:

With Color B and leaving approx 8” [20.5 cm] tail and using the circular cast on, CO 7 sts. Begin working in the rnd, placing marker to mark beginning of rnd.

Rnd 1: [Kfb] 3 times, k1, [kfb] twice, k1—12 sts.
Rnds 2–3: Knit all sts.
Rnd 4: [Kfb, k1] 6 times—18 sts.
Rnds 5–6: Knit all sts.
Rnd 7: [Kfb, k2] 6 times—24 sts.
Rnds 8–9: Knit all sts.
Rnd 10: [Kfb, k3] 6 times—30 sts.
Rnds 11–23: Knit all sts—13 rnds total.
Rnd 24: [K2tog, k3] 6 times—24 sts.
Rnd 25: Knit all sts.
Rnd 26: [K2tog, k2] 6 times—18 sts.
Rnds 27-28: Knit all sts.

Cut Color B. Join Color A, it will be used for remainder of project.

Rnds 29–30: With Color A, knit all sts.
Rnd 31: [Kfb, k2] 6 times—24 sts.
Rnd 32: Knit all sts.
Rnd 33: [Kfb, k3] 6 times—30 sts.
Rnds 34–47: Knit all sts—13 rnds total.

Rnd 48: [K2tog, k3] 6 times—24 sts.
Rnds 49–50: Knit all sts.

Rnd 51: [K2tog, k2] 6 times—18 sts.
Rnds 52–53: Knit all sts.

Leaving sts on the needle, add wings, beak, and eyes as follows:

Using whip stitch and the beginning yarn tail from the wing, sew each wing onto Rnd 47, separated by 12 sts on front of chick.

Using Color C and tapestry needle, create an upside-down triangle for the nose at the center front of your chick, between the two wings. Fill in triangle with satin stitch. Top of triangle starts on Rnd 47.

Place safety eyes (or embroider eyes with black yarn) on Rnd 49 above nose.

Turn piece inside out and weave in ends. Turn right-side out and continue chick as follows:

Rnd 54: [K2tog, k1] 6 times—12 sts.
Rnds 55–56: Knit all sts.
Rnd 57: [K2tog] 6 times—6 sts.

Break yarn, leaving approx 8” [20.5 cm] tail. With tapestry needle, thread tail through remaining sts and pull snugly to close and weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS

approx: approximately
BO: bind off
CO: cast on
k: knit
kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch
k2tog: knit two stitches together
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: Right Side
sl: slip stitch purlwise
sk2p: slip 1stitch purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over k2tog
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: Wrong Side
wyif: with yarn in front