The Oddball Blackbird

[scroll down for pattern]

You know how in my last post I said that life hadn’t been co-operating lately? Well, life must have read that and got a little angry with me. A lot angry, actually.

I caught the stomach flu. My whole family caught the stomach flu. Twenty-four hours ago I basically felt like I was being turned inside out from both ends. Why do you need to know this? It’s because that bout of grossness combined with a lost SD card means that Biff the Angry Bear will not be introduced to the world for a while longer.

Instead I thought you might like this little Blackbird. She has the same pear-shaped body and crazy eyes as the Easter Bunny and the Mice. I think she would look lovely in blue, and if you wanted to make a little white tummy either from yarn or felt, you could easily have yourself a little penguin.

This was done in a bit of a hurry so if there is anything that is unclear or if I've made a mistake, please let me know.

Edit: Added note under Terminology section that the pattern is written using US terminology.

The Oddball Blackbird

 

Size

8cm/3in tall, 7cm/2 ¾in wide

Skill Level

Easy.

Note on yarn and hook size

I crochet with a light worsted (DK) weight yarn. You can use a slightly heavier or lighter yarn as long as you use the same type of yarn for the different colours. This will ensure your toy is in proportion. Use a hook size that will give you a nice firm stitch. The 3.00mm is my favourite hook.

Materials

Yarn

Black

Orange

White

Crochet Hook – 3.00mm or preferred size

Filling

Plastic pellets or dried beans and stocking (optional)

Tapestry needle

Black felt

Craft glue and/or thread and sharp needle for attaching felt

Terminology
***This pattern was written using US crochet terminology***

ch – Chain

Rnd - Round

sc – Single crochet

sc2tog – Single crochet two stitches together.

sl st – Slip stitch

st – Stitch. This term covers ch, sc, hdc, sl st and other stitches used in crochet.

Make a ring – The starting point for crocheting in a spiral. Use which ever method you prefer.

* * - Repeat the instructions between the asterisks as directed.

( ) – The number of stitches that should be in a completed round are placed in brackets at the end of that round’s instructions.

Instructions

Body (in Black)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (30)

Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 7: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (42)

Rnd 8: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (48)

Rnd 9-10: sc in each st  around

Rnd 11: *sc in next 6 st, sc2tog*  around (42)

Rnd 12: *sc in next 5 st, sc2tog*  around (36)

Rnd 13-14: sc in each st  around

Rnd 15: *sc in next 4 st, sc2tog*  around (30)

Rnd 16: *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog*  around (24)

Rnd 17: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st* around (28)

Can start lightly stuffing now. Plastic pellets or dried beans tied in a stocking can be placed at the bottom of the body to give it a bit of weight.

Rnd 18: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (32)

Rnd 19: *sc in next 7 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 20: sc in each st around

Rnd 21: *sc in next 7 st, sc2tog*  around (32)

Rnd 22: *sc in next 6 st, sc2tog*  around (28)

Rnd 23: *sc in next 2 st, sc2tog*  around (21)

Rnd 24: *sc in next st, sc2tog*  around (14)

Finish stuffing firmly.

Rnd 25: sc2tog  around (7)

Close up hole, fasten off and weave in ends.

Wings (in Black)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: sc in each st around

Rnd 5: *sc in next 4 st, sc2tog*  around (15)

Rnd 6: *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog*  around (12)

Rnd 7: sc2tog around (6)

Rnd 8: sc2tog around (3)

Close up hole and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn. Thread the yarn through the wing and pull out at Rnd 1. This is the end that will be joined to the body. Make two.

Tail (in Black)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (9)

Rnd 3: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (12)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (15)

Fasten off leaving a long tail. Whipstitch the opening flat so that you are left with what looks like a small triangle. Thread the remaining tail of yarn up through the tail and out through the narrow end. This end will be joined to the body.

Beak (in Orange)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in ring (4)

Rnd 2: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (6)

Rnd 3: Repeat Rnd 2 (9)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (12)

Fasten off, leaving a tail to use when joining.

Big Eye ( in White)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Sl st in next st and pull through yarn. Leave a tail for joining to the body.

Small Eye (in White)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Sl st in next st and pull through yarn. Leave a tail for joining to the body.

You can now attach a small circle of black felt to each eye to make the pupils, using needle and thread or glue. They should sit off-centre, close to the edge of the eye.

Assembly

***These are guidelines only. Be guided by your own eye at all times.***

Join the wings to the body. The wings look like flattened teardrops. The rounded ends are stitched to the body just below the narrowest part of the body.

Join the beak to the body. Stich the opening flat to the body just above the narrowest part.

Join the eyes to the body.  The eyes sit close together just above the beak. Position the eyes so that the pupils are close together.

Join the tail to the body. The tail sits on the lower back, centred between the wings. Stitch down only the narrowest part of the tail. The tail is like a triangle – have the triangle pointing down when you stitch it on. This will make the tail sit up.

 Surprise! It's a Googy-egg!

Kim Lapsley © 2012