My Crocheted Take on Kiwi.

Introducing….KIWI!!!!   I got my inspiration from Bittersweet’s blog, http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2007/07/09/crazy-kiwis/.  Her little knitted bird reminded me of a postcard i had years ago.  Bought it in Germany, it was such a strange looking bird, i wish i still had the picture.  Anywho, here is my crocheted version of a kiwi bird!!!

click here for pdf: My Crochet Kiwi

She is a rather large bird, compared to the other stuff i usually crochet!!  And she is a bit lumpy in the tummy–i could’nt find the rest of my fiberfill earlier.  Or i was just to lazy to get up and get the other fiberfill bag.

And another picture!!

Here is the pattern i wrote out for the crocheted bird. Here goes:

Materials:

WW yarn in brown and yellow (as always, i used Caron Simply Soft)

size F and E hook

eyes

fiberfill

Body:(use size F hook)

(the body is worked from the bottom up)

6 sc in a ring

rd 1: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)

rd 2: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc around (18 sc)

rd 3: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc around (24 sc)

rd 4: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc around (30 sc)

rd 5: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc around (36 sc)

rd 6: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc around (42 sc)

rd 7: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc around (48 sc)

rd 8: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 7 sc around (54 sc)

rd 9-24: sc in each sc around (54 sc)

rd 25: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 7 sc around (48 sc)

rd 26: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 6 sc around (42 sc)

rd 27: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 5 sc around ( 36 sc)

rd 28: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc around (30 sc)

rd 29: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc around (24 sc)

rd 30: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc around (18 sc)

rd 31: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next sc around (12 sc)

rd 32: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 9 sc (10 sc)

rd 33: sc in each sc around (10 sc)

rd 34: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc (12 sc)

rd 35: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc (14 sc)

rd 36: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc (16 sc)

rd 37: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 14 sc , 2 sc in next sc (18 sc)

rd 38: sc in each sc around (18 sc)

rd 39: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc around (24 sc)

rd 40-43: sc in each sc around (24 sc)

rd 44: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc around (18 sc)

rd 45: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next sc around (12 sc)

rd 46: dec 1 sc in first 2 sc around (6 sc).

rd 47: dec sc around (if you can’t then just close up and finish off in rd 46.)

Beak: (switch to E hook)

6 sc in ring

rd 1: sc in each sc around (6 sc)

rd 2-20: sc in each sc around (6 sc)

rd 21: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)

rd 22: sc in each sc around (12 sc)

rd 23: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc around (18 sc)

rd 24: sc in each sc around (18 sc)

finish off.

Feet: (make 2)

(still using size E hook)

ch 31

rw 1: skip first chain, sl st in next 8 chains.

 

Then chain 9:

Next, skip 1st chain and sl st in next 8 chains, then sc across to end of beg chain:

At the end of the beginning chain, chain 9:

and once again, skip 1st ch, sl st in next 8.  Then you will sl st in the same space as your very first chain (over where the knot is) and fasten off. Leave a LONG tail for sewing. This is what you should have before you fasten off.

Then you’re gonna fold the foot in half so it will look like this:

Using a yarn needle, sew the two halves together, leaving the sl st dangly things free, and then sew that whole contraption onto the bottom the the bird.  Then start all over and make another foot!!!

More Finishing Stuff:

Obviously, you gotta stuff the bird.  What i did was stuff it in one of the first decrease rounds, and then again right before finishing off the body/head.  I also used a size K hook to stuff the fiberfill through the neck area.

Sew the beak onto the head, glue on the eyeballs. (or if you’re using embroidery floss or beads/buttons, sew those on around rd 40-43.)

weave in all ends. Enjoy your bird!!!

Nathalie

PS: I used the brown yarn and needle and did a couple stitches in the bottom of head and top of body (right before the neck decreases) to give him the ‘not looking up in the sky’ look.