12-06-2016

Bluebird of Happiness
Original pattern by Sara Elizabeth Kellner
Modified by Carmen L. Wiley

Abbreviations
CO cast on
K knit Darning needle
P purl Stuffing
M1 make one stitch (see special note below)
st stitch
sts stitches
K2tog knit two stitches together
SSK slip two sts knit-wise, place them back onto left dpn, then K them together through the back loop
WT wrap and turn (see special note below)
PU pick up (create) a new stitch from existing work

Supplies:
Double pointed needles or a long circular needle, if using the magic loop method
(Needle size depends on the weight of yarn, I recommend going down 3 -4 needles sized for a tight knit so the stuffing doesn’t pop out)

The small bird were knit in lace weight yarn help double using a US 000 and the larger birds were knit with worsted weight yarn on US 3

Darning needle

Special Notes
M1 = make one stitch: I recommend the Elizabeth Zimmerman e-loop method

WT = wrap and turn: After knitting the specified number of stitches, bring yarn to the front of work, slip the next st on the left needle to the right one, move yarn to the back of your work, and slip the stitch back to the left needle. This “wraps” the stitch. Turn your work and purl the number of stitches indicated. Bring yarn to the back of work, slip the next st on the left needle to the right one, move yarn to the front of your work, and slip the stitch back to the left needle. This wraps the second stitch. Turn your work and knit the number of stitches indicated. If you are using multiple colors of yarn, consider knitting your wraps on the next row; otherwise, your wraps do NOT need to be picked up and knit.

Work begins at neckline
CO 18 sts, join in the round, and work the following rounds:

1) K all sts (this is the row you’ll PU sts from when making the head)
2) K all sts
3) (K1, M1, K5) repeat to end of round (increase 3 sts, total of 21 sts)
4) K all sts
5) (K1, M1, K6) repeat to end of round (increase 3 sts, total of 24 sts)
6) K all sts
7) (K1, M1, K7) repeat to end of round (increase 3 sts, total of 27 sts)
8) K all sts (27 sts) 21)
9) K3, WT, P6, WT, K3
10) K4, WT, P8, WT, K4
11) K5, WT, P10, WT, K5
12) K6, WT, P12, WT, K6
13) K7, WT, P14, WT, K7
14) K8, WT, P16, WT, K8
15) K all sts
16) K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts in round, SSK, K1
17-22) Repeat round 16 (you should end with 15 sts)
23) K all sts
24) K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts in round, SSK, K1 (13 sts)
25) K all sts
24) K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts in round, SSK, K1 (11 sts)
25) K all sts
24) K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts in round, SSK, K1 (9 sts)
25) K all sts
24) K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts in round, SSK, K1 (7 sts)
25) K all sts

Cut yarn, thread end into a darning needle, and slip through remaining live sts. Do not pull closed yet.

Head:
From the first row of knitting, beginning just to the right of the first CO st (center of the bird’s chest), PU 18 sts, then work the rounds below. (Row 3 should be worked exactly as written; 2 of the sts will be wrapped 3 times each).
1) K all sts
2) K all sts
3) K12, WT, P6, WT, K6, WT, P6, WT, K6, WT, P6, WT, K12
4) K all sts
5) K all sts
6) (K1, K2tog) repeat to end of round
7) (K2tog) repeat to end of round
8) (K2tog) repeat to end of round (3 sts)

Cut yarn, thread end into a darning needle, and slip through remaining live sts. Pull tightly closed and secure.
Using the end of a straight needle, stuff the bluebird’s head and body through open end at tail, being mindful of his graceful lines. Do not stuff the tail, rather, flatten it out and bend in an upward direction.
Pull yarn tightly closed and secure.