Hoot the Owl

Hello my lovelies, how are we all? We have definitely been enjoying this sunny weather. It makes such a difference to how you feel, doesn’t it. We’ve just had a full weekend of hockey madness, but it was definitely better spectating in the sun. But then a week of poorliness in the house. Definitely a lot of germs going around. Whatever it is, seems to have wiped out a third of little man’s class. Crazy. Oh the joys. Think I will have to be an antibacterial warrior again!! It’s definitely not been the best of weeks & I don’t seem to have been able to have done hardly any crocheting. Hmm… need to change that.

So I would like to introduce you to little Hoot. I wanted to make the lovely Lisa from For the Love of Yarn a little owl out of my For the Love of Yarn yarn stash. Thought it would be nice to make one out of all her wool over the years. So there’s wool from her yarn clubs, advent calendars and skeins of individual wool. Couldn’t resist mixing it with one ball of fluff from a few years ago, to make little Hoot super soft. So Hoot is made from 4ply yarn and fluff held together. I used a 4mm hook. You don’t have to use the fluff, just make it with DK yarn, whichever you prefer.

Right let’s get down to business. Hope you like the pattern.

Level 

Easy (This pattern is written with UK Crochet terminology.)

Yarn

50g of 4ply yarn and 20g of fluff or 100g DK yarn in the main owl colour. Then 10g of white yarn for the eyes. You will also need a small amount of orange DK yarn for the beak and a small amount black yarn for the eyebrows and eyes, if you aren’t using the safety eyes.

Hook – 4mm crochet hook

Finished Size – 20cm tall

Notions 

Scissors, darning needle for ends, toy stuffing, a pair of 10mm safety eyes. (If using them.)

Abbreviations  

Slip Stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Chain stitch (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Magic Ring – Fold over the yarn to make the loop. Insert your hook through the loop and grab the working yarn (long piece) and pull through the loop. Hold the tail and the working yarn and pull so that the knot tightens, but you still have a loop. This has created a magic ring.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) – Work each double crochet stitch in the back loop only.

Fasten off – Slip Stitch into the next stitch, pull the yarn through the stitch, then cut. Leave long tails, so that you can use them to attach the different parts of the body together. 

Yrh – Yarn Round Hook

st – Stitch

Right it’s pattern time…

Pattern 

Head – make 1 using main owl colour.

Rnd 1: Make a mr, 1ch (does not count as a st throughout) then 6dc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the ring. (6)

Rnd 2: [2dc into next st.] 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [1dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [2dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5: [3dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (30)

Rnd 6: [4dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 7: [5dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (42)

Rnd 8: [6dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (48)

Rnd 9: [7dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (54) 

Rnd 10: [8dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (60) 

Rnds 11 – 13: 1dc in each st. (60)

Rnd 14: [8dc, dc2tog.] 6 times. (54) 

Rnd 15: [7dc, dc2tog.] 6 times. (48) 

Rnd 16: [6dc, dc2tog.] 6 times. (42) 

Rnd 17: [5dc, 2dctog] 6 times (36)

Rnd 18: [4dc, 2dctog] 6 times (30)

Rnd 19: [3dc, 2dctog] 6 times (24)

Rnd 20: [2dc, 2dctog] 6 times  (18)

Rnd 21: [2dctog] 9 times (9) 

Stuff the head at this point.

Rnd 22: [1dc, 2dctog] 3 times (6) 

Seal up & fasten off, leaving a tail for it to be sewn on to the body.  

Ears – make 2 using main owl colour.

Rnd 1: Make a mr, 1ch then 4dc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the ring. (4)

Rnd 2: [2dc into next st.] 4 times. (8)

Rnd 3 & 4: 1dc in each stitch. (8) 

Rnd 5: [2dc, dc2tog.] twice. (6)

Rnd 6: 1dc in each stitch and fasten off. (6)

Body – make 1 using main owl colour

Rnd 1: Make a mr, 1ch then 6dc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the ring. (6)

Rnd 2: [2dc into next st.] 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [1dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: 1dc in each stitch. (18)

Rnd 5: [2dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 6: [3dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (30)

Rnd 7: [4dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 8: [5dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (42)

Rnd 9: [6dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (48)

Rnd 10: [7dc, 2dc into next st] 6 times. (54) 

Rnds 11– 12: 1dc in each st. (54)

Rnd 13: [7dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (48)

Rnds 14 – 15: 1dc in each st. (48)

Rnd 16 [6dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (42)

Rnd 17: 1dc in each st. (42) 

Rnd 18: [5dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (36)

Rnd 19: 1dc in each st. (36)

Rnd 20: [4dc, 2dctog] 6 times (30)

Rnd 21: 1dc in each st. (30)

Rnd 22: [3dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (24)

Rnds 23 – 24: 1dc in each st.  (24)

Rnd 25: [2dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 26: 1dc in each st. (18)

Rnd 27: [1dc, 2dctog] 6 times. (12) 

Rnd 28: 1dc in each st. (12)

Rnd 29: [2dctog] 6 times. (6)

Ss, then fasten off and sew up the hole.

Eye Patch – make 2 using white yarn.

Rnd 1: Make a mr, 1ch (does not count as a st throughout) then 6dc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the ring. (6)

Rnd 2: [2dc into next st.] 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [1dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [2dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times and fasten off. (24)

Place your safety eyes in the middle of each of the eye patches. Make sure you are happy with the position of the eye patch before you add the backs to the eyes. As once they are on… they’re on. Alternatively, create your eyes using some black thread and a darning needle like the picture below.

Wings – make 2 using your main colour.

Rnd 1: Make a mr, 1ch then 6dc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the ring. (6)

Rnd 2: [2dc into next st.] 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [1dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4 & 5: 1dc in each stitch. (18)

Rnd 6: [2dc, 2dc into next st.] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5: 1dc in each stitch.  (24) 

Rnd 6: [2dc, 2dctog] 6 times (18) 

Rnd 7: [1dc, 2dctog] 6 times (12) 

Rnd 8: 1dc in each stitch. (12) 

Rnd 9: [2dc, 2dctog] 3 times. (9)

Rnds 10 – 11: 1dc in each stitch. (9) 

Rnds 12: [1dc, 2dctog] 3 times (6) 

Rnd 13: [1dc, 2dctog] 2 times (4)

Ss then, fasten off and leave a tail to sew the wings on to the body.

And there you have all your body parts. It’s time now to sew each body parts together using your darning needle. If you need help with how to sew your body parts on, then please use this link to my techniques page.

How to sew up your creations

I start with the head first, then the wings. Followed by the eyes and the ears.

Once you have sewn the eyes on, you need to create the beak. Here’s a simple picture tutorial on how to do this. Insert a long piece of orange/pink thread, knotted at the end. Don’t forget, you always insert it at the back of the head, so the yarn is more secure. (The knot will sit in the stuffing and not be near the front of the head.) Then work in a triangle formation to create the beak & then sew your end through to the back of the head and knot it off, pushing the knot back into the head so it’s secure.

For the eyebrows, use a piece of black thread and as before with a knot at the end work from the back of the head through to where you want the eyebrows to be at the front, then work your way to the back again to secure.

And there you have it. One little Hoot. Don’t forget you can use a variety of different coloured yarns for this pattern. You could even do some stripes around the tummy. Like the one above.

As many of you know, I do not sell my patterns, but ask for a donation, however small, to support one of our incredible charities. For this pattern, I will be supporting the wonderful charity CLDF – Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. This is a charity that is close to the heart of Lisa from For the Love of Yarn and her family and I feel truly honoured that I can help and support the charity in anyway I can. Here is the link to my Just Giving page to support CLDF. A donation, however small, will be very much appreciated by the charity. 

Children’s Liver DiseaseFoundation – Just Giving Page

Care
When washing, ensure you follow the instructions on the label of the yarn you are using & be as gentle as you can.
Reshape where applicable. 

All you need to do now, is give it to a loved one to snuggle up with. Don’t forget to share any pics with us on the good old fashioned net. 

Well I really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. As usual, any questions or queries just give me a shout. 

Happy hooking!

🌈Xx 

(Don’t forget that this pattern is brought to you from PipsRainbow, it has not been tech edited, but all attempts have been made to ensure it is correct and easy to follow. It is only to be used for personnel use only and not to be shared or used to create items for profit. Thank you.)

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Around the World Cowl CAL

Well hello my lovely ones. How are we all on this wet and horrible day? Think we’ve got another storm brewing here. Oh the joys! Definitely time to get the winter woolies out and batton down the hatches. I don’t mind the cold, but definitely not a fan of wind & rain!
Hope you are all keeping well! We all keep having poorlies in our house! Hoping for less germs in the house soon!

So this little lady has been on my hook for the whole of 2024 and is finally finished and now snuggled up around my neck. It is created from the Around the World Club from the all inspiring Lisa over at For the Love of Yarn Here’s the link so you can zoom over and see all your gorgeous squishy yarn. Most years, Lisa creates a monthly yarn club based around a theme. In 2023 it was Geodes & Gems, but last year it was based around lots of different countries. It was so much fun finding out each month, which county the yarn was based on and all the little extra pressies too that she includes in your parcel. If you are ever able to sign up to one of her clubs, trust me, you will not be disappointed.

This year she is continuing with Around the World, but also has a new club coming out called Fantasy Fibres with two other clubs as well. Wow! Ekk, so so excited to see what she creates. Follow the link above if you want to find out about them!

So after the club, this is called my Around the World Cowl. It is slightly different to a usual cowl. In the sense that it is very large in size. I wanted to create a cowl which I could wear in different ways. The first and foremost most use, is to wrap it around twice around your neck as a snuggly cowl. Because of the length of the cowl, I tend to allow more of the cowl to sit behind the back of my head, thus meaning it isn’t sitting on my neck and weighing it down. (If you struggle with neck pain, this might work for you.) Another option, is that you can wrap a larger part of it around your shoulders and smaller part around your neck, giving you much more warmth. And would look super nice with a simple plain coloured jumper. And thirdly you could even wrap part of it around your head and neck, thus giving you a hood and a cowl! Haha, but this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Nice and warm through. All of these options are a great way to use as a simple shaped large cowl.

Oh I do love a year long project. There is such a sense of achievement at the end when it’s finished. This little lady has been on some adventures wit me this year. It has definitely been in a few parts in the world. Well the ones that I go to. I wonder where it will come with me, now that’s its finished.

As many of you know, I do not sell my patterns, but ask for a donation, however small, to support one of our incredible charities. For this pattern, I will be supporting the wonderful charity CLDF – Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. This is a charity that is close to the heart of Lisa from For the Love of Yarn and her family and I feel truly honoured that I can help and support the charity in anyway I can. Here is the link to my Just Giving page to support CLDF. A donation, however small, will be very much appreciated by the charity.

Children’s Liver DiseaseFoundation – Just Giving Page

It’s pattern time

Let’s get down to business. The cowl consist of 12 sections of 5 different stitches. I’ve used 12 sets of 5 x colours from my Around the World Club. There is 60 rows in total. The 5 stitches are repeated for each of the 12 sections. So once you get a hand of the stitches, you will be away.

It 5 repeated rows consists of 5 different stitches: Treble Crochet, Large Cluster, Double Treble Crochet, Twin V and Staggered Half Treble.

Alternatives – If you aren’t using a yarn club for your yarn, you could create it with 5 different colours that you alternate each row, or it would be great for an Advent Yarn set. Or alternatively, just use up some of yarn stash.

Yarn â€“ 
12 x 5 sets of 20g skeins of 4ply yarn from Around the World Club
480g of yarn in total.
14g of yarn per row. (60 different colours in total)

Size – 110cm by 45cm

Level â€“ Moderate (This pattern is written with UK Crochet terminology.)

Hook â€“ 4mm crochet hook

Notions â€“ 
Scissors, darning needle for ends.

Abbreviations â€“ 
mr – Magic Ring
ch – Chain
st – Stitch
ss – Slip Stitch
dc – Double Crochet
yrh – Yarn Round Hook
tr – Treble Crochet
lc – Large Cluster
dtr – Double Treble Crochet
htr2tog – Half Treble Crochet Two Together

Stitches –
Double Crochet – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Chain – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Slip Stitch – Insert hook as directed, yrh and pull a new loop through both the work and the loop on your hook.

Large Cluster – [yrh, insert hook as directed, yrh, pull loop through, yrh, pull through 2 loops] 5 times in same place, yrh, pull through first 5 loops on hook, yrh, pull through both loops on hook.

Double Treble – yrh twice, insert hook through the stitch/space and then yrh, pull yarn through the stitch. 4 loops on hook. Yrh and pull through the first 2 loops. Yrh and pull through the next 2 loops. Yrh and pull through the last 2 loops.

Twin V – [Miss next 2 stitches, work 2tr in each of the next 2 stitches] and repeat.

htr2tog – yrh insert in stitch, yrh pull through (3loops) yrh pull through 2, yrh insert in next stitch, yrh pull through (4 loops) yrh and pull through all loops.

Staggered Half Treble Pairs – yrh insert in stitch, yrh pull through (3loops) yrh pull through 2 loops, yrh insert in next stitch, yrh pull through (4 loops) yrh and pull through all loops, then ch1.

Fasten off – Slip Stitch into the next stitch, pull the yarn through the stitch, then cut. Leave long tails, so that you can use them to
attach the different parts of the body together.


Pattern – Use a different coloured yarn for each row. (60 rows in total, plus a double crochet row at the end)

Using your first colour, make a foundation chain of 320, then ss into the first chain to make a big ring. Be very careful here that the foundation chain is straight and not twisted!

1 – Treble Crochet. Carrying on with your first colour, ch3 and work 1tr in the next chain and then 1tr in each chain, then finish by ss into the first tr stitch and fasten off (making sure it isn’t twisted). (320)

2 – Large Cluster. Attach your new yarn into the first tr stitch in the round and ch3 (acts as ch2 for the height & ch1). The lc in next stitch, ch1, miss 1tr then lc in next tr. Repeat to end of round. The end with a lc, then Ss in top of first ch3 and fasten off. (320)

3 – Double Treble Crochet. Attach your new yarn into top of ch3 from previous round and ch4 (acts as 1dtr) now work *1dtr in first LC and 1dtr in first ch1sp.* repeat in each LC & ch1sp till the end of the row then work 1dtr in the last LC then Ss top of ch4. (320)

4 – Twin V. Attach your new yarn into top of ch4 and ch3 (acts as 1tr) then miss 1tr and work 2tr in the next stitch and one after. Then miss 2 dtr stitches then 2tr in the next 2 stitches repeat this across the round. Then in the last two stitches, work 2tr in the last but one stitch and then 1tr in the last stitch, then Ss into the ch3 and fasten off. (320)

5 – Staggered Half Treble Pairs. Attach your new yarn in the top of the ch3 and then ch2 (acts as 1htr), then work htr2tog over the first & second stitch then ch1. Then work 1htr2tog over the next 2 stitches and ch1. Repeat this across the round and then 1htr in last stitch and then ss into the top of the original ch2 and fasten off. (320)

This completes your first 5 row repeat and if using a yarn club, the first 5 colours. Now the 5 row repeat will start again.

6 – Attach new yarn into top of ch2 from previous round and ch3 (acts as 1tr) then work 1tr into first stitch and 1 tr in the ch1sp. Then work 1tr in next stitch and 1tr in ch1sp and repeat across round. Finish by working 1tr in the last tr stitch and then Ss into the top of the first ch3 and fasten off.

7 – Attach your new yarn into the top of the ch3 from the previous round and ch3 (acts as ch2 for the height & ch1). The lc in next stitch, ch1, miss 1tr then lc in next tr. Repeat to end of round. The end with lc then Ss in top of first ch3 and fasten off. (320)

8 – Third Colour. Attach your new yarn into top of ch3 from previous round and ch4 (acts as 1dtr) now work *1dtr in first LC and 1dtr in first ch1sp.* repeat in each LC & ch1sp till the end of the row then work 1dtr in the last LC then Ss top of original ch4 and fasten off. (320)

9 – Fourth Colour. Attach your new yarn into top of ch4 and ch3 (acts as 1tr) then miss 1dtr and work 2tr in the next stitch and one after. Then miss 2dtr stitches then 2tr in the next 2 stitches repeat this across the round. Then in the last two stitches, work 2tr in the last but one stitch and then 1tr in the last stitch, then Ss into the ch3 and fasten off. (320)

10 – Fifth Colour. Attach your new yarn in the top of the ch3 and then ch2 (acts as 1htr), then work htr2tog over the first & second stitch then ch1. Then work 1htr2tog over the next 2 stitches and ch1. Repeat this across the round and then 1htr in last stitch and then ss into the top of the original ch2 and fasten off. (320)

Now repeat steps 6 – 10, 10 more times. (60 rows in total.)

When you have completed row 60, instead of fastening off, using the same colour, ch1 then work 1dc in each stitch and in each ch1sp across the row. At the end of the row, work 1dc in the last htr stitch, ss into the first ch1 and fasten off. This will give you a good neat edge to your cowl.

Now it is time to sort out all of those annoying ends! And there is a lot of them. There are two choices for you ends. It doesnt matter which you choose, it’s which suits you best. The second plaiting option which I have used is a lit quicker.

1 – Sew in each individual end using a darning needle.
2 – Starting at the top, gather your first lot of ends into 3 bunches and make one large plait, gathering the ends as you work your way down your cowl. At the end of your cowl, use a darning needle to bind the ends off by wrapping it around. (You can see what I have done in the last picture below.) Then cut below the bind the ends that are left. This is a much quicker way of sewing in your ends and as it is hidden inside of the cowl, no one will know it is there.

And there you have it. Your Around the World Cowl is complete. You just need to block your work now. It is important to do this to endure the yarn is relaxes and sets into place. I’ve included a video tutorial here’s if you are ensure of how to do this.

Care
When washing, ensure you follow the instructions on the label of the yarn you are using & be as gentle as you can.
Reshape where applicable.

All you need to do now, is give it to a loved one to snuggle up in or wrap it around your neck and keep warm! Don’t forget to share any pics with us on the good old fashioned net. 

Well I really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. As usual, any questions or queries just give me a shout.

Happy hooking!

🌈Xx 

(Don’t forget that this pattern is brought to you from PipsRainbow, it has not been tech edited, but all attempts have been made to ensure it is correct and easy to follow. It is only to be used for personnel use only and not to be shared or used to create items for profit. Thank you.)

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