I made these little bird ornaments because it’s bird season.They’re everywhere in the garden, skipping and chattering from one tree to another. Each year I buy one new ornament for each of my children, so in keeping with my home made theme, these are the new additions to our family stash.
Make one from yarn leftovers and embroider and embellish it if you wish. Here’s the pattern.
Enjoy!
–Mel
LITTLE BIRD ORNAMENT
MATERIALS
15 g suitable yarn (shown in Blue Sly Alpaca Skinny Organic Cotton and Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend)
Size 3.5mm[US4] double pointed needles or size appropriate for yarn choice
5 stitch markers, one in contrasting colour to mark end of round
Organic wool fibre for stuffing
20 cm length of ribbon
TAIL
Cast on 26 sts.
Join in rnd, taking care not to twist the stitches. Place contrasting marker.
Rnd 1: K6, pm, k1, pm, k12, pm, k1, pm, k6.
Note: slip the marked stitches on alternate rnds.
Rnd 2: K 1 rnd.
Rnd 3: *Ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog; repeat from * once, k to end–22sts
Work 6 rnds straight.
**Work Rnd 3–18sts
Work 6 rnds straight.
Repeat from **–14sts
Work Rnd 3–10sts
BODY
Note: knit the marked stitches on all rounds from this point.
Rnd 1: M1, k to 2nd marker, sm, k1, m1, k2, m1, k1, sm, work to last marker, m1–14sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 3: work to 2nd marker, k1, m1, k4, m1, k1, work to end–16sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 5: Work to 2nd marker, k1, m1, k6, m1, work to end–18sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 7: Work to 2nd marker, k1, m1, k8, m1, work to end–20sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 9: Work to 2nd marker, k1, m1, k10, m1, work to end–22sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 11:Work to 2nd marker, k1, m1, k12, m1, work to end–24sts
Work 4 rnds.
Fold tail at slipped stitches, and sew tail at cast on edge. Insert fibre filling.
Rnd 16:Work to 2nd marker, ssk, work to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, work to end–22sts
Work 1 rnd.
Rnd 18-20: Repeat Rnd 16 three times–16sts
Rnd 21: Ssk, work to last 2 sts, k2tog–14sts
Rnd 22: Repeat Rnd 16–12sts
Rnd 23: *K2tog; repeat from * to end–6sts
Insert fibre filling
Remove all markers except one marking end of rnd.
HEAD
Rnd 1: *Kfb; repeat from * to end–12sts
Rnd 2: K3, m1, k6, m1, k to end–14sts
Rnd 3:K3, m1, k8, m1, k to end–16sts
Work 2 rnds straight.
Rnd 6: K3, ssk, k6, k2tog, k3–14sts
Work 1 rnd
Rnd 8:K3, ssk, k4, k2tog, k3–12sts
Rnd 9: K3, ssk, k2, k2tog, k3–10sts
Rnd 10: K3, ssk, k2tog, k3–8sts
Insert last of fibre filling.
Rnd 11: [Ssk] twice, [k2tog] twice–4sts
Rnd 12: Ssk, k2tog–2sts
Slip 1st over second st. Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
WING [make 2]
Cast on 1st.
Row 1: Kfbf (knit front, back, front of stitch)–3sts
Row 2: Kfb, p1, k1–4sts
Row 3: [k1, p1] twice
Row 4: Pfb, k1, p1, k1–5sts
Row 5: [K1, p1] twice, k1.
Row 6:Kfb, [p1, k1] twice–6sts
Row 7: [K1, p1] 3 times.
Row 8:Pfb, [k1, p1] twice, k1–7sts
Row 9: [K1, p1] 3 times, k1.
Row 10:Kfb, [p1, k1] 3 times–8sts
Row 11: [K1, p1] 4 times
Row 12: [P1, k1] 4 times
Repeat rows 11 & 12.
Row 15: Dec 1 st each end of row–6sts
Row 16: Work 1 row straight.
Repeat rows 15 & 16 twice–2sts
Skp. Fasten off.
Sew short edge of wing along side of bird following curve of the shaping stitches.
Sew upper surface of the tail to the bird’s Back to set the tail at an angle [see photo below].
Sew 3 lines of running stitch along the length of the tail.
Sew ends of ribbon to Back of bird to form a loop.
note: pin the ribbon first to see how it hangs and make adjustments to the position.