Here is a free pattern to help you create a little crochet bird – perfect for adding a vintage touch to weddings, styling your home and just bringing a bit of handmade love to your life.
The pattern uses DK yarn and a 3.5mm crochet hook. It is written using US crochet terms.
Abbreviations:
Slip – insert hook into next stitch and pull yarn though
Sc – single crochet – insert hook into next stitch, yarn over (yo), pull through stitch (st), (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through both loops.
Hdc – half double crochet – yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull through st, (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops.
Dc – double crochet – yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull through st, (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through first 2 loops, (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through final 2 loops.
Trb – treble crochet – yo hook twice, insert hook into stitch, yo pull through stitch – (4 loops on hook). Yo and pull through first two loops, (3 loops on hook). Yo and pull through two loops, (2 loops on hook). Yo and pull through two remaining loops.
Crochet Bird Body (Make 2)
1. Chain 20 (18+2 turning chain). Don’t turn work.
2. Skip the first 2 chains (these count as 1 dc), dc 4, put 3 dc into next stitch, 11 dc (until 2 from end), hdc, sc, cut thread and pull end through. Don’t turn.
3. Join new colour in 2nd chain of previous row. Chain 2 , dc4, 3 dc into next stitch, 11 dc (until 3 from end), make 2 trebles in same stitch. Pull end through. Don’t turn.
4. Join new colour in 2nd chain of previous row. Chain 1, dc 4, 3 dc into next stitch, dc 10, make 2 trebles in the last stitch. Pull end through. Don’t turn.
5. Join new colour in 2nd chain of previous row. Chain 1, hdc, 2 dc into next stitch, 2 treble into next stitch 4 times, 1 treble, 2 dc into next stitch, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1 slip. Fasten off.
6. Make 2 bird bodies.
Crochet Bird Head (make 2)
1. Using the magic ring technique make 10 hdc into ring, join with a slip stitch.
2. Chain 2 and 1 hdc into first stitch. Make 2 hdc into each stitch and join with a slip stitch to the first chain. Fasten off. (20 stitches)
3. Make 2
Crochet Bird Wing (make 2)
1. Using the magic ring technique, chain 2, make 3dc into ring. Fasten off. Don’t turn.
2. Chain 2 into top of 2 chain from first row, 1dc in same stitch, 2dc in next stitch, 2dc in final stitch. Fasten off. Don’t turn. (5 stitches)
3. Chain 2 into top of 2 chain from second row, 1dc in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch, 1dc in next stitch, 2dc in final stitch. Don’t turn. (7 stitches)
4. Starting in top of chain 2 from previous row, chain 3, slip into same stitch.
Chain 3, slip into next stitch and repeat across the top edge.
5. Chain 1 at the corner to help turn it. Sc around the edge, using 3 sc at the tip to turn the corner, continue to end and slip into the first stitch. Fasten off. Make 2.
Assembling the crochet bird
1. Place the 2 body parts together right side up – one side of the bird is actually made using the reverse of a side so make sure your ends are securely woven into the wrong side of one piece. Match the 2 bird pieces together and using your hook, work through the 4 loops of each outside edge. I normally start along the bottom edge.
2. Sc along the outside edge, using all 4 loops to stitch the 2 bird body parts together.
3. Continue along the outside edge until you reach the first part of the tail feathers. Sc 3 into the corner stitch to ease around it.
4. Sc along the edge of the tail feather, using 3 stitches at each point to turn the corner.
5. Sc along the top edge of the bird body until you are about 1 inch before the end of the bird bodies. Take a small amount of stuffing and lightly stuff the bird body.
6. Take the 2 head pieces and pin them together and to the neck of the bird overlapping the head pieces onto the body slightly. Continue to sc along the top edge of the bird straight across from the body onto the head using all 4 loops of the stitches.
7. Continue to sc around the 2 head pieces until you almost reach the end and put a little bit of stuffing into the head.
8. Continue to sc around the head and back onto the body to your starting point. Pull the thread through and finish off. Using matching colored wool stitch across each side of the neck overlap on both sides to secure the head to the body.
9. Pin the 2 wings to the bird body and stitch them on using coordinating wool. Take 2 small squares of felt about 1.5cm x 1.5cm and placing them against each other, cut a triangle in the middle and a slight slope to each side to make 2 beak pieces. Place a beak piece on either side of the head and stitch around the edges to bring them together and attach them to the bird.
NEW – instructions on how to add a crochet beak are now available!
10. Sew a small button to each side of the head for eyes.
11. You can now add a ribbon to hang your little crochet bird!
If you make something from this pattern I would love to see it! Please send any photos to millie@rubyandcustard.com. You might also be interested to check out some of my other free patterns 🙂
Millie x
Like this pattern? Buy the Ruby and Custard Crochet book! Available on Amazon and in all good book shops!
Copyright – Melissa Masterton 2016
