Hi! In this post, I will cover the basics of how to create an awesome Cardinal Bird toy!
Materials needed
- Yarn: any yarn you would like to use. Keep in mind that size can vary with different yarn. Yarn that I have used: YarnArt Jeans Plus in red, black and yellow color
- Stuffing
- Hook 3,5mm
- Scissors
- Darning needle
- Stitch markers
- Safety eyes 6mm
Final measurements
The soft toy is around 16cm high (12 cm without feathers). The size may depend on the used yarn.
Few words before starting
The pattern is written in American terminology. Crochet in a spiral. It is advised to use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows. Crochet through both loops of the stitch unless told otherwise. Single crochet with yarn under. You should crochet very tightly to avoid holes to be showing while stuffing. Have fun!
Abbreviation
- MR - magic ring
- sc - single crochet
- inc - increase
- dec - decrease
- ss - slip stitch
- Rnd - round
- (...)x - repeat x times what is in brackets
- [...] - the number of stitches after finishing the current row
Body
start with red yarn
Rnd 1. MR6 [6]
Rnd 2. 6inc [12]
Rnd 3. (1sc, inc)x6 [18]
Rnd 4. (2sc, inc)x6 [24]
Rnd 5. (3sc, inc)x6 [30]
Rnd 6. (4sc, inc)x6 [36]
Rnd 7. (5sc, inc)x6 [42]
Rnd 8-15. 42sc [42]
Rnd 16. (5sc, dec)x6 [36]
Rnd 17. 18sc (4sc, dec)x3 [33]
Rnd 18. 18sc (3sc, dec)x3 [30]
Rnd 19. (3sc, dec)x6 [24]
Rnd 20. 12sc (2sc, dec)x3 [21]
Rnd 21. 12sc (1sc, dec)x3 [18]
Rnd 22. 18sc [18]
Stuff body.
Rnd 23. (2sc, inc)x6 [24]
Rnd 24. (3sc, inc)x2, 1sc, change to black 2sc, inc, 2sc, change to red 1sc, inc (3sc, inc)x2 [30]
Rnd 25. 11sc, change to black 6sc, change to red 13sc [30]
Rnd 26. 10sc, change to black 8sc, change to red 12sc [30]
Rnd 27-28. 9sc, change to black 10sc, change to red 11sc [30]
Rnd 29. 8sc, change to black 12sc, change to red 10sc [30]
Rnd 30. 12sc, change to black 4sc, change to red 14sc [30]
Rnd 31. 13sc, change to black 2sc, change to red 15sc [30]
Rnd 32. (3sc, dec)x6 [24]
Place safety eyes. Stuff body fully.
Rnd 33. (2sc, dec)x6 [18]
Rnd 34. (1sc, dec)x6 [12]
Rnd 35. 6dec [6]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a tail. Using a darning needle close the hole.
Feathers
use red yarn
Small Feather (make two)
Rnd 1. MR4 [4]
Rnd 2. (1sc ,inc)x2 [6]
Rnd 3. (1sc, inc)x3 [9]
Rnd 4. (2sc, inc)x3 [12]
Rnd 5. 12sc [12]
Rnd 6. (2sc, dec)x3 [9]
Rnd 7. 9sc [9]
Rnd 8, (1sc, dec)x3 [6]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Mid Feather (make two)
Rnd 1. MR4 [4]
Rnd 2. (1sc ,inc)x2 [6]
Rnd 3. (1sc, inc)x3 [9]
Rnd 4. (2sc, inc)x3 [12]
Rnd 5. 12sc [12]
Rnd 6. (2sc, dec)x3 [9]
Rnd 7. 9sc [9]
Rnd 8, (1sc, dec)x3 [6]
Rnd 9. 6sc [6]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Big Feather
Rnd 1. MR4 [4]
Rnd 2. (1sc ,inc)x2 [6]
Rnd 3. (1sc, inc)x3 [9]
Rnd 4. (2sc, inc)x3 [12]
Rnd 5. (3sc, inc)x3 [18]
Rnd 6. 18sc [18]
Rnd 7. (3sc, dec)x3 [12]
Rnd 8. 12sc [12]
Rnd 9. (2sc, dec)x3 [9]
Rnd 10. 9sc [9]
Rnd 11. (1sc, dec)x3 [6]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew feathers to head in order:
Small, Mid, Big, Mid, Small
Wing (make two)
use red yarn
Rnd 1. MR6 [6]
Rnd 2. (1sc, inc)x3 [9]
Rnd 3. (2sc, inc)x3 [12]
Rnd 4. 12sc [12]
Rnd 5. (3sc, inc)x3 [15]
Rnd 6. 15sc [15]
Rnd 7. (4sc, inc)x3 [18]
Rnd 8. 18sc [18]
Rnd 9. (5sc, inc)x3 [21]
Rnd 10-11. 21sc [21]
Rnd 12. (5sc, dec)x3 [18]
Rnd 13. (4sc, dec)x3 [15]
Rnd 14. (3sc, dec)x3 [12]
Rnd 15. (2sc, dec)x3 [9]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Flatten the wing and sew it to the sides of the body.
Tail
use red yarn
Tail ends (make 3)
Rnd 1. MR5 [5]
Rnd 2. 5inc [10]
Rnd 3-4. 10sc [10]
For the first 2 pieces: ss in the next stitch. Fasten off.
For the last piece: connect all pieces together by continuing crocheting round 5.
Rnd 5-6. 30sc [30]
Rnd 7. (13sc, dec)x2 [28]
Rnd 8. (5sc, dec)x4 [24]
Rnd 9. (4sc, dec)x4 [20]
Rnd 10. (3sc, dec)x4 [16]
Rnd 11. (2sc, dec)x4 [12]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew tail to body.
Beak
use yellow yarn
Rnd 1. MR6 [6]
Rnd 2. (1sc, inc)x3 [9]
Rnd 3. (2sc, inc)x3 [12]
ss in the next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew to the head.
And now your Cardinal Bird is ready!
I would love to see your finished projects! Use @rustycrochet to tag me on Instagram when posting photos. You can also contact me by email at [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out more patterns!
Note
Pattern for Cardinal Bird is free. Under no circumstances do not sell this pattern.
