Christmas isn't all reds and greens, decorate your tree with some bright and colourful crochet with the help of this free crochet bird decoration pattern! This cute and colourful bird decoration by Sarah-Jane Hicks uses clever stripes and shapes to create a unique ornament that is also super-fun to hook up!
This free crochet bird pattern was designed to accompany the collection of festive decoration ideas from issue 90 of Simply Crochet magazine, which says goodbye to boring baubles and tacky tinsel and says hello to bright and colourful designs to give your Christmas a twist! If you'd like to catch up on the collection this Christmas you can still buy issue 90 as a digital issue or find it on Ravelry.
You will need
Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton, 50g/125m), or alternative 4ply cotton, 1 ball of each:
- Shocking Pink (114)
- Tulip (222)
- Hot Red (115)
- Lime (512
- Vivid Blue (146)
- Old Lace (130)
- Jet Black (110)
Note Yarn is enough to make all 5 Birds
Tension
Tension is not critical for this project but it may affect the yarn quantities required
Measurements
Each bird decoration measures 9 x 10cm (3½ x 4in) excluding hanger
Abbreviations
You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This free crochet bird pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.
Notes
All seven colours of yarn are needed for each bird decoration and the back of the bird is worked in a single colour (this is the same colour as front tail feathers).
The instructions in this free crochet bird pattern are given for the Lime Bird - work other birds as pictured, maintaining the Jet Black and Old Lace colours for every bird, but using different combinations for the other colours.
When changing colour, pick up the new colour on the last yrh of the previous stitch. If you are new to colourwork take a look at our How to join yarn and change colours in crochet tutorial.
When working Black and White section, carry unused strands of yarn along work, working sts over these strands.
For other sections always carry the unused strands of yarn across the WS of the work.
Free crochet bird pattern
Front
Using Lime, ch2.
Row 1 (RS) 2dc in second ch from hook, join Jet Black, 2dc in same ch, turn. [4 sts]
Row 2 (WS) Join Old Lace, ch1 (does not count as st here and throughout), dc in first st, 2dc in next st, in Lime dc in next st, 2dc in last st, turn. [6 sts]
Row 3 Using Lime ch1, 2dc in first st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next st, 2dc in next 2 sts, turn. [10 sts]
Row 4 Using Old Lace ch1, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, join Shocking Pink, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, turn. [12 sts]
Row 5 Using Shocking Pink ch1, dc in first st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, turn. [16 sts]
Row 6 Using Old Lace ch1, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, in Shocking Pink, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, turn. [18 sts]
Row 7 Using Lime, ch1, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, turn. [22 sts]
Row 8 Using Old Lace ch1, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, in Lime dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, turn. [24 sts]
Row 9 Using Lime, ch1, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, turn. [28 sts]
Fasten off.
With RS facing, join Vivid Blue and work across the straight section of the body as folows:
Row 10 Ch1, 18dc evenly along straight edge, turn. [18 sts]
Row 11 Ch1, dc in each st to end.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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Head
Row 1 With RS facing, join Jet Black to tenth st along previous row, ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc2tog over same st as join and next st, dc in next st, join Tulip, dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next 2 sts, in Tulip dc in next st, in Jet Black dc in next 2 sts, turn. [8 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, in Jet Black dc in first st, in Tulip dc in next 2 sts, in Jet Black dc in next st, in Tulip dc in next 2 sts, in Jet Black dc2tog, turn. [7 sts]
Rows 3-4 Change to Hot Red, ch1, dc in next 7 sts, turn.
Rows 5-9 Change to Shocking Pink, ch1, dc in next 7 sts, turn.
Row 10 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, turn. [5 sts]
Row 11 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next st, dc2tog, turn. [3 sts]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Tail
Row 1 With RS facing, join Hot Red to first st on body, ch1, dc in next 9 sts, turn. [9 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.
Rows 3-4 Change to Shocking Pink, ch1, dc in next 9 sts, turn.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Tail feather
To make first feather:
Row 1 With RS facing, join Lime to first st on Tail, ch1, dc in first st, dc2tog, turn. [2 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc2tog. [1 st]
Fasten off.
Start working second feather in third st along Row 4 of Tail where first feather finished (this is the same st as the dc2tog and not the next st along).
Row 1 Join Lime, ch1, dc2tog over same st as join and next st, dc in next st, dc2tog, turn. [3 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc3tog. [1 st]
Fasten off.
Work third feather in seventh st along Row 4.
Row 1 Join Lime, ch1, dc2tog over same st as join and next st, dc in last st, turn. [2 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc2tog. [1 st]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Eye
Using Tulip, ch2.
Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook, turn. [1 st]
Row 2 Ch1, 2dc in first st, turn. [2 sts]
Row 3 Ch1, dc2tog. [1 st]
Fasten off. Sew Eye to Head. Using Jet Black, sew on a pupil.
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Bird Back
Using Lime, ch2.
Row 1 (WS) 4dc in second ch from hook, turn. [4 sts]
Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st here and throughout), dc in first st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, turn. [6 sts]
Row 3 Ch1, 2dc in first st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next 2 sts, turn. [10 sts]
Row 4 Ch1, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, turn. [12 sts]
Row 5 Ch1, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, turn. [16 sts]
Row 6 Ch1, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, turn. [18 sts]
Row 7 Ch1, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, turn. [22 sts]
Row 8 Ch1, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, turn. [24 sts]
Row 9 Ch1, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, turn. [28 sts]
With RS facing, work across the straight section of the body:
Row 10 Ch1, dc 18 sts evenly along straight edge, turn. [18 sts]
Row 11 Ch1, dc in each st to end.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Head
Row 1 With WS facing and using Lime, join yarn to tenth st along previous row, ch1, dc2tog over same st as join and next st, dc in next 7 sts, turn. [8 sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog, turn. [7 sts]
Rows 3-9 Ch1, dc in next 7 sts, turn.
Row 10 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, turn. [5 sts]
Row 11 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next st, dc2tog, turn. [3 sts]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Tail and Tail Feather
Work as given for Front Tail and Tail Feather, using Lime throughout (and therefore ignoring any colour change).
To finish
Place front and back panels together with RS facing out and Front panel facing you. Join Lime to any st on edge.
Round 1 Ch1, dc evenly around bird to join panels together, working ch2 at tip of each tail feather, to make beak between Rows 8 and 9 of Head (ch3, dc in second ch from hook, htr in third ch), dc in next st along main body and continue working around edge, stuff lightly as you work, ss to beg dc to join.
To make hanging loop, join Lime with ss to centre stitch between Tail and Head, ch40, ss to same st.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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We hope you’ve enjoyed this free crochet bird pattern, don’t forget if you need any help with your crochet stitches you can always check out our crochet for beginners guide. And if you’re looking to treat yourself, check out our list of the best crochet hooks and the best crochet kits for beginners.
