This is a fantastic project to get rid of yarn leftovers and create a fun project too. It’s entirely about shaping, so mostly short rows and increasing.

A small amount of this yarn in white was hand dyed in Berry Crush and Honey Mustard for the crown, waddle, and beak.

I used Coco Knits Shadow Wrap Short Row technique - quick & easy.

Chicken was stitched up starting from the back feathers, working downwards. For the bottom, I lined up one pointy end of the gusset in between the bottom feathers and then stitched along one side of the body to the other point of the gusset. Stitched the two sides of the body and the second point of the gusset together, and then carried on joining the gusset and the other side of the body together, returning to the back feathers. Broke yarn.

She was stitched together down her front with a hand’s width remaining open, and then she was given a good soaking (about an hour) in the kitchen sink with some good swishing and squeezing once the water cooled down, then another soak with wool wash (Soak). Laid out flat in her natural shape (no wrinkles) to dry on a towel, no pinning involved.

Once thoroughly dry, her eyes were needle felted on prior to stuffing. I love how her eyelashes turned out.

Chicken was actually stuffed through her front, at the breast, and she got stuffed good. I placed a small baggie filled with popcorn seeds flat on the bottom gusset. She now has a bit of heft to so she can sit upright unassisted.

I think the very best thing about Chicken is that she makes everyone laugh the first time they meet her, and usually after the first time too.