Materials


Knitting Loom: large gauge loom with 24 pegs.
Sample was knit on blue round Knifty Knitter.


Yarn: 1 skein worsted weight yarn. 1ball of eyelash yarn. Sample was knit with Red Heart Classic solid yarn and 1 skein of Fun Fur yarn.


Notions: Tapestry Needle, knitting tool, 2 16 mm round black buttons for eyes (if this item is intended for small children, use safety eyes instead) sewing needle and a small amount of thread to attach eyes, small amount of fiberfill to stuff body.


Gauge: not important for this project

Pattern Notes:
Use 1 strand of plain yarn and 1 strand of fun fur throughout pattern. Except on beak.

Beak: knitted as flat panels
Wings & Beak: Knitted as flat panels. Slip the first stitch of each row.

Special Techniques: Drawstring Cast-On: (developed by Brenda Myers and used with permission).

• The drawstring cast-on allows the bottom of the bird to be cinched shut.
• Form a slip knot and attach the working yarn to the anchor peg on the side of the loom.
• Wrap the working yarn once around the outside of all the pegs.
• Lay the working yarn above the wrapped strands on the first peg and flat knit this peg by lifting the bottom strands over the working yarn.
• On peg 2, hold the working yarn aside and hook the lower strands of yarn. Lift the lower strands over the peg.
• On peg 3 and all odd pegs, repeat step 3.
• On peg 4 and all even pegs, repeat step 4.
• Follow these steps for all pegs. This will complete the Drawstring CO. Now you can continue on to row 1 of your project.
  

Body:
(Worked in the round) Cast on 24 pegs with the Drawstring Cast On method.
Work 40 rounds in knit stitch.
Sew buttons to front of body or attach safety eyes. Set aside, do not gather.

Wings:
Make 2
worked as a flat panel
Cast on 5 sts.
Rows 1-10: knit (slip the first peg of every row)
Next row: Move the loops on peg 1 to peg 2 and knit off/over. Move the loops from peg 5 to peg 4 and knit off/over so only 1 loop remains. Knit the row
Next row: Knit
Next row: Move the loops from peg 2 to peg 3 and knit off/over. Move the loops from peg 4 to peg 3 and knit off. Bind off all stitches.

Weave in the yarn tails at the decreased end of each wing.

Use the other set of yarn tails to sew the wings to the sides of the body.

Beak:
Make 2
Use two strands of worsted weight yarn.

Cast on 3sts, leaving a 10 inch yarn tail at the beginning.
Rows 1-5: knit
Next: Move the loops from peg 3 to peg 2 and knit off/over.
Next: Move the loops from peg 1 to peg 2 and knit off/over.
Bind off.

Weave in the yarn tails at the decreased end of each beak piece.
Use one set of yarn tails at the cast on end to sew the top beak piece to the bottom beak piece, leaving the front half open.
Use the other set of yarn tails to sew the beak to the body just below the eyes.

Finishing: Lightly stuff the body with fiberfill. Gather the top of the body and sew the yarn tails through a few stitches to secure. Weave the yarn tails in and clip any excess.

Now you have a happy Hootie!

About Designer:

Jenny lives in Utah with her husband, 3 sons, and 1 girl. She enjoys all types of creative projects, especially the needle arts. Jenny started loom knitting in November 2006 and started creating patterns the following summer. You can catch up with Jenny and see some of her latest projects on her blog: http://guppylovesshark.wordpress.com

Contact Jenny.

Copyright 2008, Jennifer Stark