Stripy Owl Family

A little while ago I came across a delightful stripy cat crochet pattern - 'Caity Cat' by Janette Williams  http://thegreendragonfly.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/crochet-cat/ . I loved making it and then couldn't resist adapting the pattern to make an owl.

The Owl & the Pussycat!

I've since made many owls in three different sizes. They are great for using up leftover yarn and as a quick and easy project. I know that the correct term for a group of owls is a 'parliament' but, in this case, I think it feels more like a 'proliferation'!

In response to requests via Ravelry, I have attempted to write up the owl pattern. Please feel free to use it as you wish. I hope it makes sense. I used the 'Medium Owl' pattern for the Owl & the Pussycat.

Stripy Owl Family Pattern:

Pattern uses UK terminology.


Use any yarn with a size smaller hook than is usual, in order to create a tight fabric.

eg DK (8ply) – 3.5mm hook


Change yarn by working the final dc of the previous round to the last yarn over. Yarn over with the new colour yarn and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Tie the ends tightly together on the inside of the body. Continue with new colour.

Straight round = 1 dc in each st around

Increase round = 1 dc in each st to the middle of the first side of the body, 2 dc in middle stitch, 1 dc in each st to the middle of the other side of the body, 2 dc in middle stitch, 1 dc in each st to complete round.  There is no need to be absolutely precise about finding the middle stitch. Go by what looks right by eye.

Double increase round = As increase round but work 2 x 2 dc in middle 2 stitches of each side of the body.

Decrease round = 1 dc in each st to the middle of the first side of the body, dc2tog, 1 dc in each st to the middle of the other side of the body, dc2tog, 1 dc in each st to complete round.

Big Owl:

Base

Yarn A

Ch 21

Row 1: dc in 2^nd ch from hook and in every ch across (20 sts)

Row 2: ch 1, dc in every st across

Row 3-8: Repeat Row 2

Body   (worked in continuous rounds – ie do not join with ss at end of each round)

At end of Row 8 continue around the rectangle working along the short end putting 1 dc into each row end, 1 dc in opposite side of each foundation ch, 1 dc into each row end of last short side.

This forms the foundation round (20+7+20+7=54 sts)

Work 4 straight rounds.

Yarn B

Work 1 straight round, 1 increase round, 2 straight rounds.

Yarn C

Work 4 straight rounds.

Yarn D

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 2 straight rounds.

Yarn E

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 2 straight rounds.

Yarn F

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 2 straight rounds.

Yarn G

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round, 2 straight rounds.

Yarn H

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round, 2 straight rounds.

Fasten off leaving a long end.

Stuff body firmly. Sew the top opening closed flat using the long end.

Eyes (make 2)

Starting ring: ch 5 and join with ss.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 dc into ring, join with ss.

Round 2: ch 1, 2 dc in each st, join with ss.

Round 3: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in 2^nd st,* rep *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Fasten off.

Sew a button onto the middle of each eye and sew eyes onto owl.

Beak

Ch 5

Row 1: dc into 2^nd ch from hook and next 3 ch (4 sts). Turn.

Row 2: ch 1, dc2tog x 2. Turn.

Row 3: ch 1, dc2tog.

Ch 1. Fasten off.

Sew onto owl.

Wings (make 2)

Begin by making a pentagon thus:

Make a loop ring.

Round 1: ch 1, 5 dc into loop, join with ss and pull tight.

Round 2: ch 1, 2 dc in each st, join with ss (10 sts).

Round 3: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in 2^nd st*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 4: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in next 2 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 5: ch 1, * 2dc in 1^st st, 1dc in next 3 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 6: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in next 4 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 7: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in next 5 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Now make a point:

Ch 1, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dtr, 1 trtr, 1 dtr, 1 tr, 1 dc, ss. Fasten off.

Sew both wings onto owl.

Possible Embellishments

Small 5  Petal Flower

Starting ring: ch 4 and join with ss.

Round 1: ch 2 (counts as 1^st htr), 9 htr into ring, join with ss.

Round 2: ch 2 (counts as 1^st htr), 2 htr in 1^st st, ss in next st, *3 htr in next st, ss in next st*, repeat *to* around, forming 5 petals. Fasten off.

Small 6 Petal Flower

Make a loop ring.

Round 1: [3 ch, 1 dtr, 3 ch, ss in ring] 6 times. Fasten off.

Small Heart

Make a loop ring.

Round 1: ch 2, 3 dtr, 4 tr, 1 dtr, 4 tr, 3 dtr into ring.

Pull ring mostly closed, ch 2, ss into centre hole, pull tightly closed and fasten off.

Medium Owl:

Base

Yarn A

Ch 15

Row 1: dc in 2^nd ch from hook and in every ch across (14 sts)

Row 2: ch 1, dc in every st across

Row 3-8: Repeat Row 2

Body   (worked in continuous rounds – ie do not join with ss at end of each round)

At end of Row 8 continue around the rectangle working along the short end putting 1 dc into each row end, 1 dc in opposite side of each foundation ch, 1 dc into each row end of last short side.

This forms the foundation round (14+7+14+7=42 sts)

Work 3 straight rounds.

Yarn B

Work 1 straight round, 1 increase round, 1 straight round.

Yarn C

Work 3 straight rounds.

Yarn D

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 1 straight round.

Yarn E

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 1 straight round.

Yarn F

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round, 1 straight round.

Yarn G

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round, 1 straight round.

Yarn H

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round, 1 straight round.

Fasten off leaving a long end.

Stuff body firmly. Sew the top opening closed flat using the long end.

Eyes (make 2)

Starting ring: ch 5 and join with ss.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 dc into ring, join with ss.

Round 2: ch 1, 2 dc in each st, join with ss.

Fasten off.

Sew a button onto the middle of each eye and sew eyes onto owl.

Beak

Ch 3

Row 1: dc into 2^nd ch from hook and next 1ch (2 sts). Turn.

Row 3: ch 1, dc2tog.

Ch 1. Fasten off.

Sew onto owl.

Wings (make 2)

Begin by making a pentagon thus:

Make a loop ring.

Round 1: ch 1, 5 dc into loop, join with ss and pull tight.

Round 2: ch 1, 2 dc in each st, join with ss (10 sts).

Round 3: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in 2^nd st*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 4: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in next 2 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Round 5: ch 1, * 2dc in 1^st st, 1dc in next 3 sts*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Now make a point:

Ch 1, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dtr, 1 tr, 1 dc, ss.  Fasten off.

Sew both wings onto owl.

Baby Owl:

Base

Yarn A

Ch 11

Row 1: dc in 2^nd ch from hook and in every ch across (10 sts)

Row 2: ch 1, dc in every st across

Row 3-6: Repeat Row 2

Body   (worked in continuous rounds – ie do not join with ss at end of each round)

At end of Row 8 continue around the rectangle working along the short end putting 1 dc into each row end, 1 dc in opposite side of each foundation ch, 1 dc into each row end of last short side.

This forms the foundation round (10+5+10+5=30 sts)

Work 2 straight rounds.

Yarn B

Work 1 straight round, 1 increase round.

Yarn C

Work 2 straight rounds.

Yarn D

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round.

Yarn E

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round.

Yarn F

Work 1 straight round, 1 decrease round.

Yarn G

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round.

Yarn H

Work 1 straight round, 1 double increase round.

Fasten off leaving a long end.

Stuff body firmly. Sew the top opening closed flat using the long end.

Eyes (make 2)

Starting ring: ch 5 and join with ss.

Round 1: ch 1, 10 dc into ring, join with ss.

Fasten off.

Sew a button onto the middle of each eye and sew eyes onto baby owl.

Beak

Embroider a beak onto baby owl.

Wings (make 2)

Begin by making a pentagon thus:

Make a loop ring.

Round 1: ch 1, 5 dc into loop, join with ss and pull tight.

Round 2: ch 1, 2 dc in each st, join with ss (10 sts).

Round 3: ch 1, *2 dc in 1^st st, 1 dc in 2^nd st*, repeat *to* to end of round, join with ss.

Now make a point:

Ch 1, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, ss. Fasten off.

Sew both wings onto baby owl.

I hope they work up well and you are soon surrounded by your own proliferation of owls!

A Crafty Outing

Yesterday I had a real treat. In the normal course of life at the moment, I am able to cope with an expedition and get out of the house once a week. When there are no medical appointments to attend, this expedition often takes the form of a visit to the local library, a bit of shopping and a mug of hot chocolate. On a good weather day, we sometimes get down to the river and watch all the happenings in and on and around that wonderful vein of life. But yesterday was something different as my daughter took me to a nearby craft fair, or 'Craft & Design Experience' to give its proper name.

Bamboo flutes
 by Ray Brook

It certainly was an experience. If I close my eyes now, I find my mind populated by an extraordinarily varied range of shapes and colours and sounds, and even the lingering memory of the flavour of a damson-sized olive popped into my mouth as a tempting sample of Mediterranean culinary delights. My daughter did a sterling job pushing my wheelchair over tussocky grass around the various marquees as we were drawn to one exhibitor after another. I'm sure the impact was enhanced by the juxtaposition of such different crafts and skills cheek by jowl. Pens next to ceramics next to knitwear next to furniture next to jewellery next to coloured glass sculpture next to hats next to paintings next to carvings and so it went on. Inspired, stunned, tickled, attracted, delighted and occasionally appalled, we had a fantastic time together.

We marvelled at the patient intricacy and beauty of marquetry alongside the clean and simple lines of sculptures so perceptively carved in stone they seemed to capture the very essence of their subject - a leaping hare and pensive owl have both taken up residence in my mind. We rather fell for a magnificent dragon formed from coloured chicken wire perching higher than a person on its stake. A fantastical form of scarecrow perhaps, we could almost convince ourselves it belonged amongst the fruit trees in our garden. We rested in the rare and welcome sunshine, imbibing tea and being gently entertained by a barbershop choir. We nobly resisted much temptation that would have resulted in a sledgehammer sized dent in our bank balance or, indeed, a bomb sized crater, but we didn't quite make it out without making a little indentation. We are now the delighted owners of a handmade bamboo flute!

The big brother of the one we saw?  For more of these incredible beasties and other animals,
see www.simplyrewired.co.uk