More Easter knits

by knitsbysachi on April 12, 2017

I found this bottle at our wine shop in town.

It had come from Ibaragi prefecture in Japan. It must be an ale brewed by a small local brewery that uses locally sourced ingredients and water. I felt like I found my old friend. It has such a cute label and I thought I must have it.

I am not a beer drinker. I find all beers too bitter for me. Only recently, I learned the difference between ale and lager.
I tasted a little. The ale had fruity, tangerine like aroma (or should I call it bouquet?) and was very tasty. Yes, it was bitter and my husband happily finished it all, but it was good.

The one I bought is called ‘White ale’ and the shop had another kind, ‘Red rice ale’. That sounds even more interesting. I want to try it next time.

The brewer has an online shop; Hitachino Nest Beer

Oh, I was going to share the pattern of these two little guys here today.

Little chicken and chick

Abbreviations
Stst: stocking stitch
St: stitch
K: knit
P: purl
Kfb: k one through the front then through the back (same stitch)
K2tog: knit two together
P2tog: purl two together
Skpo: slip1, knit1, pass slipped stitch over

Special technique: i-cord
Using double-pointed needles cast on the required number of stitches. Do not turn. Slide stitches to the opposite end of the needle, then knit stitches again taking the yarn firmly across the back of work. Repeat to desired length. Cast off.

Chicken
Materials
• 3g white DK
• Small amounts of brown, dark brown DK (8-ply)
• Small amounts of 4-ply (fingering) red and yellow
• Stuffing

Needles
A pair of 2.75mm-3.00mm (US 2) Double pointed knitting needles (DPN)*It is to make i-cords, but there is an
alternative

Body
With white, cast on 9 sts.
Row 1 (WS): p
Row 2: (kfb) in each st to end. 18 sts
Row 3: p
Row 4: (k1, kfb) to end. 27 sts
Rows 5-11: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 12: (k1, k2tog) to end. 18 sts
Rows 13-17: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 18: (k2tog) to end. 9 sts
Break yarn, draw through sts, pull tightly and fasten off.

Wings: make two
With white, cast on 8 sts.
Rows 1-3: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 4: k2tog, (k1, k2tog) to end. 5 sts
Row 5: p
Break yarn, draw through sts, pull tightly and fasten off.

Feet: make two
With brown, cast on 5 sts.
Ro w1: cast off 4 sts p wise. 1 st
Row 2: cast on 4 sts, cast off these sts p wise. 1 st
Row 3: cast on 4 sts, cast off to end.

Legs: make two
With brown, cast on 2 sts and work 4 rows in i-cord. Break yarn, draw through sts, pull tightly and fasten off.
Alternatively, if you do not have DPNs, cast on 4 sts, cast off these sts p wise.

Wattle: make two
With 4-ply red, cast on 3 sts
Row 1: p1, p2tog.2 sts
Row 2: k2tog and fasten off.

Comb: make three
Work as Wattle

Beak
With 4-ply yellow, cast on 4 sts.
Row 1: (p2tog) twice. 2 sts
Row 2: k2tog and fasten off.

To make up
With fasten-off yarn end, sew body and stuff. Seam wings and attach them to body. Connect three claws of feet at one end neatly and attach them to leg. Attach legs to body. Attach wattle, beak and comb pieces to head. With dark brown, French knot eyes.

Chick
Materials
• Small amount of soft yellow, brown DK
• Small amounts of 4-ply dark brown and yellow
• Stuffing

Body
With soft yellow, cast on 7 sts.
Row 1 (WS): p
Row 2: (kfb) in each st to end. 14 sts
Row 3: p
Row 4: (k1, kfb) to end. 21 sts
Rows 5-7: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 8: (k1, k2tog) to end. 14 sts
Rows 9-11: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 12: (k2tog) to end. 7 sts
Break yarn, draw through sts, pull tightly and fasten off.

Wings: make two
With soft yellow, cast on 6 sts.
Rows 1-2: Beg with a p row, work in Stst.
Row 3: (p2tog) to end. 3 sts
Break yarn, draw through sts, pull tightly and fasten off.

Beak
As given for Chicken

To make up
Sew body seam and stuff. Seam wings and attach them to body. Attach beak. With 4-ply dark brown, French not eyes. For a leg, cut brown DK yarn to about 8cm and make a knot on one end. Make another knot on top of first knot to ensure knot will not be undone. Thread yarn and pierce front base of body, leaving knot and about 1cm yarn for leg. Hide yarn end in body. Repeat for other leg.

When you are knitting toys, it is a good idea to make it a habit of keeping fairy long end at cast-on and fasten-off ends for sewing. Also, seam with the right side out. Your finish will be neater.

Easter is almost here but this is a super quick project. You can make it in no time.

Happy Easter!