Make the wise decision to crochet this cute, colourful and cuddlesome bird.

Measurements

Approximately 24cm/9 1/2in tall, excluding ears.

Materials

1 x 50g (100m) ball of Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran in each of Petrol (025), Lemon (063), Light Blue (033) and Orchid (012).

Size 4.00 crochet hook; washable toy stuffing.

Note: Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.

HEAD AND BODY

Base: With 4.00 hook and Petrol, make 2ch.

1st round: Work 8htr in 2nd ch from hook, slst in first htr.

2nd round: 2ch (counts as 1htr), 1htr in base of 2ch, [2htr in next st] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 16 sts.

3rd round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in next st, [2htr in next st, 1htr in next st] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 24 sts.

4th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 2 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 32 sts.

5th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 3 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 40 sts.

6th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 4 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 4 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 48 sts.

7th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 5 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 5 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 56 sts.

8th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 6 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 6 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 64 sts.

9th round: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 7 sts, [2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 7 sts] 7 times, slst in top of 2ch - 72 sts.

10th round: 2ch, [1htr in next st] to end, slst in top of 2ch. 

Body:

1st round: With Petrol, 3ch (counts as 1tr), [1tr in next st] to end, slst in top of 3ch.

2nd round: Work from left to right around the posts of tr of previous round thus: [miss 1tr, slst in next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of following tr] to end, working last 5tr of final repeat around 3ch, slst in slst at beginning - 18 feathers. Fasten off Petrol. Join Lemon to last slst of 2nd round.

3rd round: 3ch (counts as 1tr), [1tr in next st on 2nd round] to end, slst in top of 3ch - 72 sts. The last 2 rounds form pattern. Continue in pattern in stripes of 1 round Lemon, 2 rounds Light Blue, 2 rounds Lemon, 2 rounds Light Blue, 2 rounds Petrol, 2 rounds Lemon, 2 rounds Light Blue and 2 rounds Orchid. 

Head: Continue in Orchid only.

1st round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 8 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 7 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 64 sts.

2nd round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 7 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 6 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 56 sts.

3rd round: 2ch, [1htr in next st] to end, slst in top of 2ch.

4th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 6 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 5 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 48 sts.

5th and 6th rounds: As 3rd round. 

7th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 5 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 4 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 40 sts.

8th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 4 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 3 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 32 sts.

9th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 3 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in each of next 2 sts] 7 times, slst in first htr - 24 sts. Stuff body and continue to add stuffing as you work. 

10th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in each of next 2 sts, [htr2tog, 1htr in next st] 7 times, slst in first htr - 16 sts.

11th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1htr in next st, [htr2tog] 7 times, slst in first htr - 8 sts. Fasten off.

Run a gathering thread along fastened-off edge, pull up tightly and secure. 

WINGS (make 2)

With 4.00 hook and Orchid, make 4ch.

1st row: 1tr in 4th ch from hook.

2nd row: Rotate work clockwise, work 5tr around the post of tr, then 5tr around 3ch - 1 feather.

3rd row: 3ch, 1tr in base of 3ch, 2tr in top of 3ch of 1st row, 2tr in top of first of 5tr at beginning of 2nd row. 

4th row: Working from left to right, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of first tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of following tr, miss 1tr, slst in next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around 3ch - 2 feathers.

5th row: 3ch, 1tr in base of 3ch, 1tr in each of next 6 sts on 3rd row, 2tr in top of first of 5tr at beginning of 4th row.

6th row: Working from left to right, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of first tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of following tr, [miss 1tr, slst in next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around the post of next tr, rotate work clockwise and work 5tr around following tr] to end, working last 5tr around 3ch - 3 feathers.

7th row: 3ch, 1tr in base of 3ch, 1tr in each of next 10 sts on 5th row, 2tr in top of first of 5tr at beginning of 6th row.

8th row: As 6th row - 4 feathers. Fasten off.

Sew wings to side of body. 

EYES (make 2)

1st round: With 4.00 hook and Petrol, wind yarn round index finger of left hand to form ring, insert hook into ring, yarn round hook and pull through, 2ch, 7htr in ring, slst in top of 2ch, pull end tightly to close ring. Fasten off. Join Lemon to any htr.

2nd round: 2ch (counts as 1htr), 1htr in base of 2ch, [2htr in next st] to end, slst in top of 2ch - 16 sts.

3rd round: 2ch (counts as 1htr), 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in next st, [2htr in next st, 1htr in next st] to end, slst in top of 2ch - 24 sts. Fasten off.

Working along top of 2nd round, sew eyes securely on head.

BEAK

With 4.00 hook and Petrol, make 2ch.

1st row: 3htr in 2nd ch from hook, turn.

2nd row: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in next st, 2htr in last htr, turn. 

3rd row: 2ch, 1htr in base of 2ch, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, 2htr in top of 2ch. Fasten off.

Sew beak to front of face, stuffing it lightly as you sew.

EARS (make 2)

With 4.00 hook and Petrol, make 4ch. 

1st row: 1tr in 4th ch from hook. 

2nd row: Rotate work clockwise, work 7tr around the post of tr, 1ch, then 7tr around 3ch. Fasten off.

Sew ears securely on top of head.