These sweet rattles make the perfect gift for new babies

Essentials

Yarn used

Bergere de France Ideal 1 ball each in Gerbille 24866 (HC - handle colour), Linaire 20933 (MC - blue owl), Danseuse 23026 (MC - pink owl), Belladone 22375 (CC1), Olivine 20754 (CC2), Calanque 24872 (CC3), Vitamine 24109 (CC4), Girolle 29051 (BC - beak colour) & Meije 51253 (EC - eye colour)

About the yarn

DK; 125m per 50g ball; 40% combed wool, 30% acrylic, 30% polyamide

Hook used

3mm

Other supplies

stitch marker

tapestry needle

polyester toy stuffing

9mm safety eyes (2 per owl)

small rattle insert (1 per owl)

Pattern instructions

These rattles use safety eyes - however, if you're worried about giving these to young children, they can be replaced with black embroidery thread.

The pattern is worked in amigurumi style, in spirals without turning and without joining each round with a slip stitch.

Place a marker in the first stitch of each round to mark the beginning of the round.

Owl handle & body

Row 1: With HC, working into a magic ring, 6 dc. Pm to mark the beg of the rnd.

Row 2: [2 dc into the next dc] 6 times. 12 sts

Row 3: *Dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * 6 times. 18 sts

Rows 4 & 5: Dc around.

Row 6: *Dc, dc2tog; rep from * 6 times. 12 sts

Rows 7-24: Dc around.

Change to MC.

Row 25: [2 dc into the next dc] 12 times. 24 sts

Row 26: *3 dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * 6 times. 30 sts

Row 27: *4 dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * 6 times. 36 sts

Rows 28-31: Dc around.

Change to CC1. 

Row 32: Dc around. 

Change to CC2.

Row 33: Dc around.

Change to CC3.

Row 34: Dc around.

Change to CC4.

Row 35: Dc around.

Change to MC.

Rows 36-51: Dc around.

Fasten off and break the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Eye circle (make 2)

Row 1: With EC, working into a magic ring, 6 dc. Pm to mark the beg of the rnd.

Row 2: [2 dc into the next dc] 6 times. 12 sts

Row 3: *Dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * 6 times. 18 sts

Fasten off and break the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Beak

Leaving a long starting tail with BC, chain 4. 

Row 1: 2 tr into 4th ch from hook. Fasten off and break the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Wing (make 2)

Row 1: With MC, working into a magic ring, 6 dc. Pm to mark the beg of the rnd.

Row 2: [2 dc into the next dc] 6 times. 12 sts

Row 3: *Dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * to the end. 18 sts

Row 4: *2 dc, [2 dc into the next dc]; rep from * 6 times. 24 sts

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Making up: Push the safety eyes through the centre of the eye circles and push the back of the safety eye through the work between rows 44 and 45, approximately 4cm apart. Fix with safety backing on the inside. Sew the eye circles in place then the beak between the eye circles using tail ends. Stuff firmly, placing the rattle insert inside the owl's body.

With the top edges held flat, sew together using whip stitch. To create ear shaping, run a tail of yarn back to the centre of the seam and push the needle through the body to the back, where the handle colour changes to the main colour. Secure with a stitch. Sew the wings to the sides, halfway down the body, using tail ends.

Hints & tips

When adding the ear tufts, push your hook through from the back of the ear apex to the front. Cut 18cm lengths from each of the contrasting yarns and hold them together. Pull the centre of the lengths of contrasting yarn through together so that you have a loop. Pull the ends through the loop and pull tight, trimming the ends to the desired length.