{early October 2011} - I’m trying to edit this to turn it into a potholder. We shall see how it goes…

{Oct.26.11} - almost FINISHED one and now I just have to sew on the beak, feet, and eyes. Then block. I’m going to make several out of this batch - one skein of each color is enough to make 3.

I modified the pattern as follows. I THINK I LIKE THIS POTHOLDER BETTER THAN THE PLACEMAT IN THE PHOTO!!!
Notes: I used an E hook because I wanted it to be smaller and also tighter than a placemat would be. I crocheted very tight for the body and then maybe just slightly less tight for the feathers. I used quite a bit more tension than I usually do and I think it turned out very neat looking! I followed the original body pattern, just omitted the last few rows. For the feathers, I omitted one dc row and then modified the remaining dc row to work with the smaller body. I Also down-sized the beak and the feet.

MEASUREMENT
Approx 10 ins 25 cm in diameter.

MATERIALS
Lily® Sugar ’n Cream (Solids: 70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds; Ombres: 56.7 g/2 oz; 86 m/95 yds)
Main Color (MC) (01130 Warm Brown) 1 ball
Contrast A (02013 Terra Firma) 1 ball
Contrast B (01612 Country Yellow) 1 ball

Size 3.5 mm (U.S. E or 4) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge. Small amount of black yarn for eye embroidery.

GAUGE: first 2 rounds = 2” diameter

ABBREVIATIONS: sugarncream.com/abbreviations

INSTRUCTIONS

Body
With MC, ch 4. Join with sl st to form ring.
Note: Ch 3 at beg of rnd or row counts as dc.
1st rnd: Ch 3. 11 dc in ring. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 12 dc.

2nd rnd: Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 2 dc in each dc around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 24 dc.

3rd rnd: Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 dc in next dc. 2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in next dc. Rep from around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 36 dc.

4th rnd: Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. 2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Rep from around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 48 dc.

5th rnd: Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 dc in each of next 3 dc. 2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in each of next 3 dc. Rep from around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 60 dc.

6th rnd: Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 dc in each of next 4 dc. 2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in each of next 4 dc. Rep from around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. 72 dc.

Feathers
Note: I attached yarn A with a sl st to the dc just one right of where the body was fastened off. It seemed to hide the seam pretty well.

Beg working in rows:
1st row: With A, ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 dc in each of next 5 dc. 2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in each of next 6 dc. 2 dc in next dc. Rep from 4 times more. 1 dc in each of next 5 dc. 2 dc in next dc. Turn. 48 dc. Leave rem sts unworked.

2nd row: Ch 4 (counts as tr). 1 tr in each of next 3 dc. Ch 3. Rep from to last 4 dc. 1 tr in each of last 4 dc. Turn.

3rd row (I changed the first and last sets of sc sts in this row slightly to match): Ch 1. Miss first tr. 1 sc in next tr. Miss next 2 tr. (3 dc. Ch 4. Sl st in first ch – picot made. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Miss next tr. 1 sc in next tr. Miss next 2 tr. Rep from, ending with 1 sc in 2nd and last tr. Fasten off.

Beak
With B, ch 10.
1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 9 sc.
2nd row: Ch 1. Draw up a loop in each of next 2 sc. Yoh and draw through all loops on hook – sc2tog made. 1 sc in each sc to last 2 sc. Sc2tog. Turn. 7 sts.
3rd row: Ch 1. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each sc to last 2 sts. Sc2tog. Turn. 5 sts.
Rep last row 1 time more. 3 sts.
Next row: Ch 1. Draw up a loop in each of next 3 sts. Yoh and draw through all loops on hook – sc3tog made. Fasten off.

Feet (make 2)
With B, ch 2. (Note I used an adjustable ring to pull the feet nice and tight. You can find how to here: http://www.crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx)

1st rnd: 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to first sc.
2nd row: Ch 4. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 2 ch. (1 sc in next sc. Ch 6. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 4 ch) twice. 1 sc in next sc. Ch 4. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 2 ch. Sl st in next sc. Fasten off.

Sew Feet and Beak in position (see picture).
With black yarn, I made the eyes doing ch 4, join then sc 4 in round and fasten off.