—Using fancy handpainted safety eyes
—using all Heartland yarn, variety of colors.

This project is for a newish but darling friend who has a bird character, pink feathers with a fancy outfit.
So ideally, I’m knitting this ‘chicken’ pattern in pink, cream, and purple.

Made an adorable double-knit plaid scarf, button hole and button to make it removable.

Created arms from CO 7 knit in the round and something of an elbow turn (k2togs and kfbs). There will be some feathers stretching back on the arms, debating if I want to add pipecleaners or wire for support. Hands were made from 2-stitch icording similar to feet.

There will be an upward tail, like a Pheasant, with a single large feather at the top. Should be interesting, at least.

Tried grafting. It never really does look good, so I’ll likely just stick to the knitting and crochet seaming.

Feet: added fourth toe for more bird-like look. Also used thread to reinforce the “foot” section look from the ankle on both the first and third toes, to get something close to a 90° angle.

Beak: I did the beak the way the pattern suggested… but instead of ending, I switched needles and knit another two rows in the face color, and separated the stitches into two sides of 3 each (6 stitches) and sewed them on (with the face color) to the face. The bird has a physical ‘horn’ structure that shares the same beak material, so I created an eyebrow ridge of purple to join with the beak. The look isn’t as ‘parrot’ as I would like, but still accomplishes the avian look.

Clothes: Scarf done earlier. Button and button hole for removal. Created the Priley vest, pinstripe by doing stockinette with planned stripe of light green (knit them knit again) texture and color contrast every 4 rows. Vest was 9 stitches wide, increasing up to 15, then down to 9 at the end. Added two arm holes, each 3 stitches by 6 rows large. I sewed snap fasteners to the ends of the vest. Later pattern checking led me to knit a small bow tie in red and a fancy scarf in green and sew each on the vest end.

Hat. Knit in the round, measured decreases for hat top. Paperclip in brim, knit garter for band, added feather decor