Which came first, the chick or the egg? Chicks, fluffy and charming, take 21 days to hatch from their eggs. They symbolize new life and are often associated with Easter.
This little chick is cute and really easy to knit.
Length: 6cm (2½in)
Height to top of head: 7cm (2¾in)
• Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles
• 10g (¼oz) of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Essence 663 (ec) used DOUBLE throughout
• 5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Jaipur 463 (ja) for legs and beak
• 2 pipecleaners for legs and feet
• 2 tiny black beads for eyes and sewing needle and black thread for sewing on
See for Leg and Claw Method.
NOTE: work as directed, but to create a chick as in photograph, make up body with purl side as right side.
Starting at the tail, with ec cast on 18 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: P1, inc, p4, inc, p4, inc, p4, inc, p1. (22 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: P6, inc, p8, inc, p6. (24 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: P1, inc, p6, inc, p6, inc, p6, inc, p1. (28 sts)
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: P10, inc, p6, inc, p10. (30 sts)
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: P1, inc, p9, inc, p6, inc, p9, inc, p1. (34 sts)
Row 11: Knit.
Row 12: P1, inc, p10, inc, p8, inc, p10, inc, p1. (38 sts)
Row 13: Knit.
Row 14: P1, inc, p13, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p13, inc, p1. (38 sts)
Row 15: Knit.
Row 16: P1, inc, p6, p2tog, p5, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p5, p2tog, p6, inc, p1. (36 sts)
Row 17: K8, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k8. (32 sts)
Row 18: P6, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p6. (28 sts)
Row 19: K2tog, k5, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k5, k2tog. (24 sts)
Row 20: P8, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p8. (22 sts)
Row 21: K2tog, k18, k2tog. (20 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K2tog, k16, k2tog. (18 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 27: P2, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p2. (14 sts)
Row 28: Purl.
Row 29: K2tog, k1, [k2tog] 4 times, k1, k2tog. (8 sts)
Row 30: [P2tog] 4 times. (4 sts)
Row 31: K4tog and fasten off.
With ja, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 4: P2tog and fasten off.
(make 2 the same)
With ja, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 12 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With ja, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
Eyes
This little chick has beads for eyes, but you can make French knots with black yarn if you prefer.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
BODY With knit sides together and whip stitch, fold body in half and sew together, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap.
STUFFING Stuff the chick firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
LEGS AND FEET Using an 18cm (7in) length of pipecleaner and the Leg and Claw Method (see here), make up legs and feet. The chick’s legs are 1cm (¼in) high. To attach the legs, push protruding ends of pipecleaners into base of body approx 4 rows apart.
BEAK With knit sides together, sew up beak and attach to head as in photograph.
EYES Sew on black beads positioned as in photograph.
