OVAL OWL CROCHET PATTERN

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

MATERIALS & TOOLS 2 or 3 colors of yarn: Body and wing color (A), foot and eye color (B), pupil color (C) Crochet hook: Appropriate size hook to achieve a firm gauge with selected yarn Tapestry needle

FOR THESE OWLS WE USED Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (100% organically grown cotton; 2.75oz/78g = 94 yd/86m) medium weight yarn 4: #201 Mocha (A), #099 Macadamia (B) and (C).

GAUGE CIRCLE = 17⁄16"/3.6cm worked on 5.50mm (size I-9 U.S.) hook

FINISHED MEASUREMENT 43⁄8/11.1cm x 63⁄8/16.2cm, with both wings down Coats & Clark Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread, No. 10, Art. 154 (100% mercerized cotton, 350yd/320m, no weight given) 10-count crochet thread 0: #661 Frosty Green (A), #422 Golden Yellow (B), #484 Myrtle Green (C).

GAUGE CIRCLE = 3⁄8"/1cm worked on 2.00mm (size 4 steel U.S.) hook

FINISHED MEASUREMENT 2 3/4/7cm x 2¼/5.7cm, excluding antennae

OWL With A, ch 13.

Rnd 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each of next 6 ch, sk next 2 ch, sl st in next ch—7 dc, 2 ch-3 lps.

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st as sl st at end of last rnd, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch, working across opposite side of foundation ch, 2 dc in next ch, dc in each of next 5 ch, 2 dc in next ch, 2 dc in each of next 3 ch, working across top of Rnd 1, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, sl st to top of beg ch-3—30 dc.

Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st as sl st at end of last rnd, 2 dc in each of next 5 sts, dc in next 9 sts. For first tuft 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 ch (first feather made), ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 ch, sl st in first ch of first feather, which already has a sl-st in it (2nd feather made), 2 hdc in same dc of Rnd 2; Working across top of head, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st; For 2nd tuft 2 hdc in next dc, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 ch (first feather made), ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 2 ch, sl st in first ch of first feather, which already has a sl-st in it (2nd feather made), 2 dc in same dc of Rnd 2; To finish rnd, dc in next 9 sts, join with sl st to top of ch-3 at beg of rnd—42 sts, 2 sets of feathers. Fasten off A.

First foot Join B with a sl st in 5th dc of Rnd 3, *ch 5, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sc in next ch, sl st in next ch, sl st in same st of Rnd 3; rep from * twice. Fasten off B.

Second foot Join B with a sl st in 3rd st from first foot, make another foot same as first foot.

Wings (make 2) Row 1: With A, ch 7, sc in 3rd ch from hook (ch-2 lp formed), sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sk 1 ch, sl st in next ch. Rnd 2: Ch 1, 3 sc in same ch as sl st at end of previous rnd, 2 sc in next ch, working across opposite side of foundation ch, sc in each of next 3 ch, sc in next ch, sc-picot, sc in next ch, sc in next 3 sts on top of Row 1, join with a sl st in first sc of rnd, OR cut yarn and needle-join to first sc of rnd.

Eye and Beak With B, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Rnd 1: Ch 1, 7 sc in ring, join with a sl st to first sc. Row 2: Ch 4, sc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in next ch. Fasten off B.

Other Eye With B, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Rnd 1: Ch 1, 7 sc in ring, cut yarn and needle-join to first st of rnd, use yarn end to tack eye to top of final hdc of beak.

Antennae (require 2 sts on top of head) Join C with sl st at top of head, ch 6, (2 hdc, ch 2, sl st) in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in next 3 ch, sl st in same st of head, sl st in next st; rep from * to * once, fasten off A.

FINISHING Arrange wings as desired and sew to body. Sew eyes to body with C, with 6 or 7 sts coming from center of eye like spokes to just inside the outer rim of eye. Tack beak invisibly in place. Weave in ends and block.

Reprinted with permission from Cute Crochet World © 2014 by Suzann Thompson, Lark Crafts, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Photography by Lark Books.