Owl Ornaments

Here it is! I finally finished writing up the pattern for my owl ornaments. They are pretty quick and easy and they turn out cute every time!

Materials needed:

Us size 4 (3.5 mm) dpns

Small amount of worsted weight (or similar) yarn in desired colors 

Stuffing

Crochet hook (approximately US E4/ 3.50 mm)

Needle

Buttons for eyes

There are a few options for the owl.  The body can be knit in seed stitch, plain garter stitch or garter stitch with stripes. Also the head of the owl can be knit in a different color. There are seed stitch wings or garter stitch wings.

Seed stitch body owl.

Garter stitch with stripes owl.

To make owl:

For owl body: co 24 st (Leave a long enough tail to sew up bottom of owl when finished.)

Join in the round.

For seed stitch version:

Round 1: (k1, p1) to end

Round 2: (p1, k1) to end

For garter stitch version:

Round 1: knit to end

Round 2: purl to end

For garter stitch with stripes version:

With color A:

Round 1: knit to end

Round 2: purl to end

With color B:

Round3: knit to end

Round 4: purl to end

For all versions repeat rounds until piece measures 1 ½ inches.

Begin working head as follows:

Change yarn color if desired.

Next round: knit to end

Repeat until piece measures 2 ½ inches from cast on.

Place the first 12 st on one dpn and the second 12 on another. Using the 3 needle bind off method (see pictures below), bind off all stitches. If you prefer, you can bind off in the round and sew the top seam together after.

Seed Stitch Wing

Seed Stitch Wing:

Co 5 st

Working flat,

(K1, p1) twice, k1

Repeat last row four more times.

P2tog, k1, p2tog

P1, k1, p1

Pull yarn through remaining st.

Garter Stitch Wing:

Co 5 st

Garter Stitch Wing

Working flat, knit 6 rows

K2tog, k1, k2tog

K 1 row

Pull yarn through remaining st.

Beak:

Co 3 st

K 3 rows

Pull yarn through remaining st.

To finish:

Sew in all ends except the cast on end. Fill with stuffing and sew up bottom of owl using cast on tail (see pictures below). Sew button eyes, beak and wings to owl. For loop to hang owl with, use the crochet hook to make a slip knot and chain 30 st. Sew to top of owl.

Abbreviations:

Co: cast on

Dpn(s): double point needle(s)

K: knit

K2tog: knit two together

P: purl

P2tog: purl two together

St: stitches

The first step for binding off- put half of the stitches on one dpn and half on the other.

Next knit one stitch from the front needle and one stitch from the back needle at the same time.

Once you have two stitches on your right hand needle, lift the first stitch over the second and off the needle as you would in a normal bind off. 

Continue working until all stitches are bound off. 

 After the owl is finished being knit, stuff it and sew up the bottom.

The owls can be done in many different colors. The original ones I made in various shades of white and grey. 

These owls are a great way to use scrap yarn and there are lots of color possibilities. The eyes can also be crocheted as I did with many of the white owls. Enjoy and happy knitting!