spring chicken

I must be feeling seasonal:

Recently, I have found myself cooing stupidly at a number of toys and softies, in particular this reversable chicken and egg toy from mochimochi, which appears in the current issue of CRAFT magazine. But when I saw Kate’s amazing square chickens I just couldn’t resist (with her permission) attempting one of my own.

Despite its rather wonky appearance, this is a very luxe chicken. The stocking-stitch body is knitted in mirasol baby llama, and the garter stitch contrast in artesano alpaca ‘hummingbird’ in the pheasant colourway. I embroidered on a beak with some crewel wool, and the crest is made from scraps of yellow roving that I felted as per knitty’s instructions for felted beads .

My sister is the creature-making expert in our family, and she designs some fantastic sock monsters and softies. This chicken is the first creature I’ve made and, as usual, one was not enough. . . my chicken soon found itself joined by a couple of wee pals:

I think I’ll stop at three, though. Beyond that, madness lies.