Crochet Cardinal Ornament: Simple Free Pattern

Size: about 10 cm (3.9 in) tall in worsted yarn (approximate; it depends on your tension)

Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4). A (crimson red) about 25 yd (23 m), B (black) about 5 yd (5 m), C (orange) about 5 yd (5 m)

Hook: 3.5-4.0 mm (smaller than the yarn label, for a tight fabric with no stuffing showing)

Notions: a little yarn for the embroidered details, fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle

ABBREVIATIONS (US terms): MR magic ring, sc single crochet, inc 2 sc in one stitch, dec single crochet 2 together (invisible decrease recommended), st(s) stitch(es), sl st slip stitch, FO fasten off, Rnd(s) round(s)

Notes: Worked in continuous spiral rounds; move your stitch marker up each round. The number in brackets is the stitch count at the end of the round.

PROPORTIONS: The wings are big on purpose. Leave them unstuffed and sew them on spread out.

Body (make 1, colour A), about 5.6 cm (2.2 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 sc in each st around 6
• Rnd 3 inc in each st around 12
• Rnd 4 sc in each st around 12
• Rnd 5 sc in each st around 12
• Rnd 6 (sc, inc) x 6 18
• Rnd 7 sc in each st around 18
• Rnd 8 sc in each st around 18
• Rnd 9 (sc 2, inc) x 6 24
• Rnd 10 sc in each st around 24
• Rnd 11 sc in each st around 24
• Rnd 12 sc, inc, (sc 3, inc) x 5, sc 2 30
• Rnds 13-15 sc in each st around 30
• Rnd 16 (sc 3, dec) x 6 24
• Rnd 17 sc, dec, (sc 2, dec) x 5, sc 18

Stuff firmly, and keep stuffing as you close.

• Rnd 18 (sc, dec) x 6 12
• Rnd 19 dec in each st around 6

FO, weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull closed.

Mask (make 1, colour B), about 2.2 cm (0.9 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 12

Sl st in the next st to finish. FO, leaving a long tail.

Beak (make 1, colour C), about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 4 sc in MR 4
• Rnd 2 sc in each st around 4
• Rnd 3 inc in each st around 8
• Rnds 4-5 sc in each st around 8

FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly if you like.

Wing (make 2, colour A), about 3.4 cm (1.3 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 12
• Rnd 3 (sc, inc) x 6 18

Sl st in the next st to finish. FO, leaving a long tail.

Assembly

1. Stuff the Body firmly before closing it, and leave a long tail of colour A. The pointed magic ring end is the crest at the top.
2. Sew the mask to the body between Rnds 9 and 11. Flat and centred on the front.
3. Sew the beak to the body between Rnds 10 and 11. Centred on the front, on the middle of the mask, point out.
4. Embroider the two small eyes on the body at Rnd 9 with colour B. About 5 stitches apart, on the top edge of the mask.
5. Sew the wings to the body between Rnds 11 and 15. One on each side, folded in half into a half-circle; the fold upright, towards the front, the round edge towards the back.
6. Thread a length of colour A through the tip of the crest and tie into a hanging loop.
7. Weave in all ends.