Jane's Chicken Sweater

It was -14 degrees this morning when we left at 8:30 to take Abby to school. It's just a wee bit warmer in the chicken coop at 14 degrees above zero. Jane had a little problem - no feathers from mating and too cold to get herself warm. So today's project was making Jane a chicken sweater. Here's how we pulled it together.

Materials: 

Pattons Classic Wool (just ends of a skein - we used maybe 1/8th of a skein)

2 large and 1 small button

Size H crochet hook

Note: Jane is a frizzle cochin, so this pattern is fitted for a small bantam breed. This pattern will not fit onto a laying hen without some major modification.

A very naked chicken who really needed a sweater.

Pattern:

Row 1: Chain 40

Row 2: Double Crochet into 38 stitches, Chain 1, Double Crochet into last stitch

Rows 3-10: Double Crochet

After row 10 break wool and weave in ends.

Straps: 

Row 1: Double Crochet into the first five stitches.

Row 2: Turn work and Double Crochet into Row 1

Row 3-10: Double Crochet

Row 11: Chain 6 and join chain to opposite side of strap (making a loop for a large button).

Repeat for a second strap on the last five stitches of the cape.

Button Tab:

In the middle 10 stitches of the cape, Double Crochet for 5 rows. Attach two large buttons to secure the loops.

I also chained a strap 6 stitches long to go around behind Jane's legs. She did not appreciate it, but the sweater stays on better.

It also is very helpful to have a three year old who will "sort" your buttons and play with the chicken in between fittings. Thanks Olivia!

Evil Minion Ear Flap Hat

My daughter Melissa has been making crochet minion hats for her kids and friends, when she was home for Thanksgiving she was going through my stash and found a purple that was perfect for an evil minion hat.  She is very good at making hats but not fond of writing out patterns, so I am doing this one just for her.  You can use this pattern to make a yellow minion as well.  With the bulky yarn this hat works up very quickly.

For this hat you will need the following:
Size J or 6 mm hook
Size I or 5.5 mm hook
Lion Brand Hometown USA in the following colors:
Minneapolis purple or Denver Rocky Mountain Violet
Oakland Black
Lion Brand Homespun Yarn in Purple Haze
Lion Brand Vanna's choice in:
silver grey
white
chocolate

This pattern can also be used to make a regular minion by using the following colors:
Lion Brand Hometown USA:

Pittsburgh Yellow
Oakland Black
Fort Worth Blue
Lion Brand Vanna's choice in:
Silver grey
white
chocolate

For a preschool age size:
using your J hook, make a magic loop with Minneapolis purple.
Round 1:  10 DC in the loop, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2.
Round 2:  2 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (20 DC)
Round 3:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next st, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (30 DC)
Round 4:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 2 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (40 DC)
Round 5:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 3 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (50 DC)
Round 6:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first stitch, tie off and change to Oakland Black.
Round 7-8:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first stitch, ch 2, after round 8 tie off and switch back to Minneapolis purple.
Rounds 9-12: 1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first stitch, ch 2, after round 12 ch 1 and begin the first ear flap.

Ear flap 1:
Row 1: 1 SC in the next 10 sts., ch 1 and turn.
Row 2:  SCD in the first 2 stitches, 1 SC in the next 6 sts, SCD in the last two stitches, ch 1 and turn.
Row 3: 1 SC in each of the 8 stitches across, ch 1 turn.
Row 4:  SCD in the first 2 stitches, 1 SC in the next 4 sts, SCD in the last two stitches, ch 1 turn.
Row 5: 1 SC in each of the 6 stitches across, ch 1 turn.
Row 6:  SCD in the first 2 stitches, 1 SC in the next 2 sts, SCD in the last two stitches, ch 1 turn.
Row 7:  1 SC in each of the 4 stitches across, ch 1 turn.
Row 8:  make two SCD stitches, ch 1 turn.
Row 9: make one SCD and tie off.

for the second ear flap count over 19 stitches across the front and attach your yarn, ch 1 and use the instructions above.

Finishing the bottom of the hat:
Using Oakland Black and starting at the tip of the ear flap, ch 1 and SC evenly around the bottom edge of the hat, sl st to the top of the first stitch and tie off.  Braids can be made in your choice of color combinations of the purple, black, or purple haze, but if you use the thinner yarn (purple haze) just cut an extra strand to make your braids even.   Each braids is made with twelve strands cut at 36 inches each.

One eyed Minion:
using an I or 5.5mm hook, make a magic loop with Black for the pupil, ch 1 and make 10 HDC in the loop, pull it tight and sl st to the top of the first stitch and tie off the black, switch to chocolate brown.
Round 2:  Make 2 DC in each st around, (20 DC), tie off and switch to white.
Round 3:  Make 2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next, repeat around, (30 DC).  Tie off and switch to silver grey.
Round 4: 1 SC in each st around, (30 SC), ch 1.
Round 5 is worked on the inside loop only, make 1 HDC in each st around (30 HDC), tie off leaving a long tail to sew on the eye.

To make a two eyed Minion using the I or 5.5 mm hook, make a magic loop with black and ch 1, make 10 SC in the loop and pull it tight, sl st to the top of the first st and tie off, switch to chocolate brown.
Round 2: make 2 HDC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, tie off and switch to white. (20 HDC)
Round 3:  Make 2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, tie off and switch to silver grey.
Round 4: 1 SC in each st around, (30 SC), ch 1.
Round 5:  working in the inside loop only, make 1 HDC in each st around (30 HDC), tie off leaving a long tail to sew on the eye.  Since your tie off string is on the outside loop weave it back down to the base of the eye with your needle and sew the eye on the center front of the hat working in the outside loop of round 4.

Crazy Hair:
Using the Purple Haze and a dvd case, wrap the case 100 times and tie the yarn opposite the indent to open, (it will make it easier to cut there) tie the bundle with 2 long strands that will be used to tie the hair to the top of the hat then you can pull them up through with your hook, clip them down to match the rest.  Make sure to tie the bundle extra tight.  This yarn tends to fray so it looks better and better as the hat is worn.

Child Size:
Using Minneapolis Purple and a J hook,
Magic ring, chain 2 and make 10 DC in the ring, pull tight and sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2
Round 2:  2 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (20 DC)
Round 3:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (30 DC).
Round 4:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 2 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (40 DC).
Round 5:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 3 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (50 DC).
Round 6:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 9 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, tie off and switch to Oakland Black and ch 2(55 DC).
Rounds 7-8:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (55 DC).  After round 8 tie off and switch to Minneapolis purple.
Rounds 9-13:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (55 DC).  After round 13 start on the first ear flap.

For Child and Adult Ear flaps:
Row 1:  1 SC in the next 12 sts, ch 1 and turn.
Row 2:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 8 sts, SCD in the last two sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 3:  1 SC in the next 10 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 4:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 6 sts, SCD in the last two sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 5:  1 SC in the next 8 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 6:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 4 sts, SCD in the last two sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 7: 1 SC in the next 6 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 8:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 2 sts, SCD in the last two sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 9:  1 SC in the next 4 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 10: make 2 SCD, ch 1 turn.
Row 11: SCD, tie off and weave in the end.  To start the second ear flap count 22 sts across the front for child size and 25 sts across the front of the hat for adult and start the second ear flap using the above instructions.

Size Teen or Adult:
Magic ring, ch 2 and make 10 DC in the ring, pull tight and sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2.
Round 2:  2 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (20 DC).
Round 3:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (30 DC).
Round 4:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 2 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (40 DC).
Round 5:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 3 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (50 DC).
Round 6:  2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 4 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (60 DC).   Tie off and switch to Oakland Black.
Rounds 7-8:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (60 DC).  After round 8 tie off and switch to Minneapolis Purple.
Rounds 9-14: 1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2 (60 DC).  After round 13 start on first ear flap.