This pattern provides steps for knitting a rock dove/pigeon with additional modifications for making a passenger pigeon.

It was created to celebrate the publication of A Moonserpent Tale. If you’ve enjoyed my free patterns and want to support my fiction by picking up a copy, I greatly appreciate it!

The pigeon’s beak, body, and tail feathers are knit in one piece. The wings and feet are knit separately and attached.

The pattern can be made with any just about any yarn/DPN combo.

Gauge is NA.

The rock dove version will use black, grey, green, purple, orange or pink--about few dozen yards of each--and a small length of white yarn.

The passenger pigeon version uses black, grey or pale blue, copper, white, and orange or pink.

The following techniques are used:

Knit-in-the-Round
Knit Straight
Purl
Cast On
Knit Cast-on
Bind Off
Knit Front and Back
Knit Two Together
Slip Slip Knit
Slip Slip Purl
Short Rows with Wrap & Turn Method
I-cord

Additional supplies are: stuffing, a needle for assembly and embroidery, and safety eyes, which can be substituted with beads, small buttons, or embroidery. A stitch holder or spare needle is also needed.