What a wise idea! This special blanket features a whimsical owl perched on a tree branch. Crochet it for a cutie in your life!
Supplies & Tools
RED HEART® Super Saver®: 2 skeins each 316 Soft White A and 505 Aruba Sea B, 1 skein each 400 Grey Heather C, 668 Honeydew D, 365 Coffee E, 320 Cornmeal F, 706 Perfect Pink G, and 672 Spring Green H
Note Only small quantities of F and G are needed for this project.
Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 5mm [H-8 US]
Yarn needle
GAUGE: 10 dc = 4” (10 cm) in pattern; 7 rounds = 4” (10 cm). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any hook to obtain the gauge.
Blanket measures 40” (101.5 cm) diameter
Special Stitches
fpdc (front post double crochet) = Yarn over, insert hook from front side of work to back and to front again around post of indicated stitch; yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (1 loop on hook).
Notes
1.Blanket, eye sections, beak, flower, and leafare worked in joined rounds with right sidefacing at all times.
2.Increases are made by working into the topof the indicated stitch and then by workingaround the post of the same stitch.
3.Rounds 1–6 of blanket are the owl’s body.Owl’s body parts, branches, leaves, andflowers are worked separately and sewn toblanket. Leave long tails for sewing whenfastening off.
4.When sewing pieces to blanket, insert theneedle horizontally through the top of thestitches on the right side of the blanket soyour stitching doesn’t show on the wrongside.
BLANKET
With C, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—12 dc.
Round 2: Ch 3, fpdc around same dc as joining, *dc in next dc, fpdc around same dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st to top of beginning ch—12 dc and 12 fpdc.
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in first fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc , *dc in next dc, dc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc; repeat from * around; join with slip st to top of beginning ch—24 dc and 12 fpdc.
Round 4: Ch 3, dc in first dc, dc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc, *dc in next 2 dc, dc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc; repeat from *around; join with slip st to top of beginningch—36 dc and 12 fpdc.
Round 5: Ch 3, *dc in each dc to next fpdc,dc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc;repeat from * around; join with slip st to top ofbeginning ch—48 dc and 12 fpdc.
Round 6: Repeat Round 5; change to B—60dc and 12 fpdc.
Rounds 7–19: Repeat Round 5 thirteen times;change to A at end of Round 19—216 dc and12 fpdc.
Rounds 20–31: Repeat Round 5 twelve times;change to D at end of Round 31—360 dc and12 fpdc.
Round 32: Repeat Round 5—372 dc and 12fpdc.Round 33: Ch 1, sc in same dc as join, skipnext st, 5 dc in next st, *skip next st, sc in nextst, skip next st, 5 dc in next st; repeat from *to last st, skip last st; join with slip st to firstsc. Fasten off
OWL
Eye (make 2)
With A, ch 4.
Round 1: Work 11 dc in 4th ch from hook (beginning ch count as first dc); join with slip st to top of beginning ch—12 dc.
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each dc around; join with slip st to top of beginning ch—24 dc.
2Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same dc as join, ch 2, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, *sc in next dc, ch 2, slip st in 2nd ch from hook; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first st. Fasten off.
Iris (make 2)
With D, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; join with slip st in first st—6 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around; join with slip st in first st—12 sc. Fasten off.
Pupil (make 2)
With E, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; join with slip st in first st—6 sc. Fasten off.
Beak
With F, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; join with slip st in first st—6 sc.
Round 2: Sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first st—9 sc.
Round 3: Sc in each sc around.
Round 4: Sc in first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first st—12 sc.
Rounds 5 and 6: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off.
Foot (make 2)
With F, ch 7.
Row 1 (right side): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch, turn—6 sc.
Row 2: Ch 5, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in last 3 ch, sc in first 2 sc, *ch 5, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in last 3 ch, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * once. Fasten off.
BRANCHES
Note Row 1 of all branches is the right side. Branch 1With E, ch 41.Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 8 ch, hdc in next 16 ch, dc in last 15 ch, turn.
Row 2: Slip st in first 25 sts, turn.
Row 3: Ch 25, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 13 ch, hdc in next 10 ch, skip next 2 sts, slip st in next st. Fasten off.
Branch 2
With E, ch 30.
Row 1: Slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 12 ch, hdc in next 16 ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 10, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 8 ch, skip next 3 hdc, slip st in next hdc. Fasten off.
Branch 3 (make 2)
With E, ch 20.
Row 1: Slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 7, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 5 ch, sc in next sc. Fasten off.
FLOWER (make 8)
With G, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in ring, join with slip st to first sc—10 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in same sc as join, 2 hdc in next sc, *(slip st, ch 1, 2 hdc) in next sc, (2 hdc, ch 1) in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st to first ch—5 petals made. Fasten off.
LEAF (make 12)
With H, ch 6.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, 5 dc in last ch; working on opposite side of foundation ch, 2 dc in first ch, hdc in next ch, (2 sc, ch 1, sc) in last ch; join with slip st in first st.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in first 5 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 3, slip st in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook, 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 5 sts, slip st in ch-1 space. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Use photograph as a guide for placement of all pieces. See Notes for sewing “invisibly”.Owl face Sew pupils to irises, sew irises to center of eyes, and sew eyes to upper half of Rounds 1–6. With wrong side facing, weave tail through Round 6 of beak, pull gently to gather, and sew beak between eyes.Branches Sew branch 1 directly under owl. Sew remaining branches in place as shown in photograph or as desired.
Feet Weave tail through wrong side of Row 1 and gather edge slightly. Place Row 1 on lower edge of Round 6 of blanket, wrap claws around branch 1, and sew in place.Flowers and Leaves Arrange at ends of branches and elsewhere as desired; sew in place.
Weave in ends.
ABBREVIATIONS
A, B, C = Color A, Color B, Color C, etc.;
ch = chain;
dc = double crochet;
hdc = half double crochet;
sc = single crochet;
sp(s) = space(s);
st(s) = stitch(es);
( ) = work directions in parentheses into same st;
* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.
