This is a free knitting pattern for everyone to enjoy, excerpted from my book Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi. Please check out the Mochimochi Shop for more patterns that you’ll love!
Photo by Brandi Simons
These little hens were feeling proud of their big accomplishments a few hours ago, but now they’re just trying to figure out how to get off this ride…
You’ll need:
– Fingering-weight tarn in 3 colors plus a foot or so of black yarn
– Set of size 1 US (2.25mm) double-pointed needles
– Small tapestry needle
– Small amount of stuffing
Notes:
– The finished project is very small and is not a suitable toy for small children.
– You can scale up the chickens by using thicker yarn and corresponding needle size.
A list of pattern abbreviations can be found here.
——– Pattern starts here! ——–
Body (worked bottom to top)
With Color 1, cast on 6 stitches onto 3 needles and join to work in a round.
Rnd 1: [Kfb] 6 times (12 sts).
Rnd 2: [Kfb, k1] 6 times (18 sts).
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: [Kfb, k2] 6 times (24 sts).
Rnds 5-8: Knit (4 rnds).
Rnd 9: [K2tog, k2] 6 times (18 sts).
Rnd 10: [K2tog, k1] 6 times (12 sts).
Rnds 11-14: Knit (4 rnds).
Insert a small amount of stuffing into the piece.
Rnd 15: [K2tog] 6 times (6 sts).
Break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches with a tapestry needle.
Features
With black, embroider the eyes onto the narrow head section, with two small horizontal stitches for each, placed about three stitches down from the top of the head and spaced two stitches apart.
With Color 2, embroider the beak with two longer horizontal stitches, placed between and one stitch down from the eyes.
Comb
With Color 3, pick up and knit 3 stitches at the top of the head.
Turn, and bind off the stitches.
Note: You will probably end up with a row of Color 3 stitches on one side of the head. To make the coloring more even, weave in the loose ends of Color 3 so that it covers the gaps.
Wings (make 2)
Flip the chicken upside down, and with Color 1, pick up and knit 4 stitches at side of body, just under the first decrease round.
Turn the piece.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Knit.
Break the yarn, and draw the yarn tightly through the stitches from right to left.
You can either stitches the wing down onto body with the loose end, or weave the end back through the wing for outstretched wings.
Legs
With Color 2, cast on 2 stitches onto one needle.
Knit 12 rows if I-cord, then break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches.
With the end still threaded on the tapestry needle, insert the I-cord through the bottom front side of the body, going in and coming out at the second increase round, and spaced about 5 stitches apart. Pull the I-cord halfway through the body, so that an equal length sticks out from each side. When you weave in the loose ends, bend the ends of the I-cord upward and stitch in place for feet.
Weave in loose ends.
© 2013 Anna Hrachovec / Mochimochi Land
Please do not copy or distribute any part of this pattern without permission.
Please do not sell items made from this pattern without permission.