I wanted a rectangle block body to play with using different stitches (mosaic knitting) and stranded colourwork to create patterns.
Different stitches needed more/less stitches to fit so I’ve noted my findings so I can make these again.
The rows of rib each end of the body were supposed to grip the crème egg top and bottom.
The stranded colourwork also creates a thicker fabric to hold the egg.

I designed these with the Innocent Big Knit for AgeUK in mind, but also so they also fit a creme egg.
Because the Big Knit is not collecting at the moment I will donate them to the Francis House Childrens Hospice Easter Chick (and bunny) appeal. Although they are not made using their official pattern they still accepted them.
Here are links to these

https://www.francishouse.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/...

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/the-big-k...

Only managed 80 before the deadline.

I made these hen bodies many different ways but this bit was always the same:
Finishing for each hen:
Add face detail before stitching up.
Fold hen in half and crochet on a beak with 2.5mm hook. I ended up using aran weight wool for a larger beak.
Beak, all in the same point: sl st to join, HDC, sl st back into the same point, cut wool and add stitches to make more beak like if necessary.
For the eyes I tied a knot three times into the loop, pulled tight and attached it to the face.
Sew up seams right side out using mattress stitch, but leave top of head open.
Comb
Using 2.5mm hook and red.
We will join the head together by using a loop from casting off from both sides of the top of the head at 3 points. This in effect joins the seam.
Point 1: Chain x4 into front of head, SC in 2nd, 3rd and 4th loops from hook, sl st into same st.
Point 2: SC into middle, Chain x4, SC in 2nd, 3rd and 4th loops from hook, sl st into same st.
Point 3: SC into back of head, Chain x4, SC in 2nd, 3rd and 4th loops from hook, sl st into same st.

Basic stocking stitch hen with stranded colourwork pattern with a 2st, 3st, 5st or 6st repeat (divisible by 30 plus 1 for seaming)

I used 3.5mm needles and DK wool.
Cast on 31sts
2 rows rib in main colour
9 rows of stranded colourwork
(If using a 8 row pattern do a row after the rib, then start the fairisle)
SS 2 rows in main colour
1 row rib in main colour
Cast off 10 ribwise, Rib 11, Cast off 10 ribwise
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Or
Cast on 31sts
Rib 2 rows
10 rows of stranded colourwork
1 row ss
1 row rib
Cast off 10 ribwise, Rib 11, Cast off 10 ribwise
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Or
Cast on 31sts
Rib 2 rows
11 rows of stranded colourwork
1 row ss
Cast off 10, K 11, Cast off 10.
SS 7rows in white, cast off

For fairisle patterns with a 4st or 8st repeat made using method above but
I cast on 33sts for body
I cast off 11, kept 11 for head, cast off 11.

I’ve added some fairisle charts I used in the photos

The non-fairisle hens.

Black and white hen
31sts (Would add couple more stitches next time, because no stretch to this stitch)
2 rows rib in black
Seed stitch for 10 rows alternating colours every stitch.
2 rows rib in black
Cast off 10, K11, Cast off 10
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Turquoise and white hen
I used this pattern- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTdgbJZdpV8
I needed to use 36 sts to get the same width.
I didn’t count rows.
2 rows turquoise, then added in white and when happy with size, 2 rows turquoise at end.
I cast off 12, knitted 12 for neck, cast off 12
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely.

Blue and white hen -Tweed stitch
Cast on 30sts
Rib 2 rows in blue
White row 1- Slip 1 st purlwise, K2 (repeat across)
White row 2- Knit across
Blue row 1- k2, sl 1 st purlwise (repeat across)
Blue row 2- K across.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soGg8BiXQ_4&pp=ygUsS2...
After 4th white stripe I did 2 rows rib.
Cast off 10, K10 Cast off 10
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Purple and white hen- Broken Seed Stitch
Cast on 29 in purple (very stretchy stitch)
2 rows Rib
K 1 row white
K1 P1 across in purple
K1 row in white
P1 K1 across in purple
After 6th white row do 2rows purple
Cast off 9, K11, Cast off 9
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Charcoal and White hen, 2 row broken seed stitch
Cast on 29 sts in Charcoal
2 rows rib
Charcoal k1 row
#White K1 P1 across
White K across
Charcoal K1 P1 across
Charcoal k1 row#
Repeat from # to # 3 times
Rib 2 rows
Cast off 9, K11, Cast off 9
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Pink and white hen
Cast on 31sts
2 rows rib
Block of coat tweed stitch for 20 rows
https://www.mosaicknitting.com/2017/01/coat-tweed-slipped...
On RS rows, slip stitches with yarn in back.
On WS rows, slip stitches with yarn in front.
Row 1 - RS: Color A, K3, * SL1, K2; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: With same color, knit the purl stitches and slip the slipped stitches.
Row 3: Color B, K2, * SL1, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, SL1, K1.
Row 5: Color A, K1, * SL1, K2; rep from * to end.
Row 7: Color B, K3, * SL1, K2; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 9: Color A, K2, * SL1, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, SL1, K1.
Row 11: Color B, K1, * SL1, K2; rep from * to end.
Repeat Rows 1 - 8
K 1 row
Rib 1 row
Cast off 10, K11, Cast off 10
SS 7rows in white, cast off loosely

Red and White Hen
Cast on 31sts
2 rows rib
Flecked Tweed stitch
Row 1 (WS): Using A, p1, wyib, sl 1, wyif, #p3, wyib, sl 1, wyif; rep from # to last st, p1
Row 2: Using A, k1, sl 1, #k3, sl 1; rep from # to last st, k1
Row 3: Using B, p3, #wyib, sl 1, wyif, p3; rep from # to end
Row 4: Using B, k3, #sl 1, k3; rep from # to end.

Turquoise, White and Mustard Hen- Multicolour Tweed (wrong side)
Mustard hen, Speckled Slip stitch (wrong side)
I wasn’t keen on how these turned out, but found the wrong side to be nicer, so used this side instead.