Fun fact: Once a blue-footed booby is old enough, their feet turn blue – they don’t eat blue food to get their foot colour, although diet plays a part.

The finished bird measures approximately 32cm (12⅝in) tall and 47cm (18½in) long from tip of bill to end of tail.

Crocheted in cotton yarn, various stitches are used to create rows of back feathers and the shaping of the wings and feet. A scattering of simple embroidery is worked over the head and long neck.

This project uses:
1 x 20g ball in 750 Beach Hut
4 x 20g balls in 762 Shower
2 x 20g balls in 777 Cookie
1 x 20g ball in 786 Yacht
1 x 20g ball in 778 Sherbet

Other materials you will need include:

• 2.75mm (UK-:USC/2) crochet hook
• Blunt-ended yarn needle
• Toy stuffing
• 2 mm (12-gauge) craft wire for the legs
• 1 pair of 6mm (¼in) looped glass teddy bear eyes or beads
• Clear nylon invisible thread
• Pliers

This bird is purely decorative and not suitable for small children, due to the wire used for the legs.