LGC kit, stuffing

Pick up your hook and usedouble crochet stitches to makePierre The ParrotPieces of eight! Stitch up this feathered critter andpractise stitching in the round with double crochetto create a solid fabric, similar to that used inamigurumi. The elements on this parrot are madeindividually so once you have made the body, addyour own flair such as embroidered detail or layers offeathers to make this project really stand out.

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Pierre theparrothead Round 1: Usingblue and a 3.5mmhook, make amagic ring for 6 sts.Round 2: 2 dcinto each st. (12 sts).Round 3: [1 dc infirst st, 2 dc in nextst] six times. (18 sts).Round 4: [1 dc in

first 2 sts, 2 dc in nextst] six times. (24 sts).Change to white.Round 5: [1 dc infirst 3 sts. 2 dc in nextst] six times. (30 sts).Round 6: [1dc in first4 sts, 2 dc in next st]six times. (36 sts).Round 7-9: 1 dc inea st around. Change to red.Round 10: 1 dc inea st around.Round 11-16: 1 dcin ea st around. Change to blue.Round 17: 2 dc infirst st, 1 dc in ea remst. (37 sts).Round 18: 1 dc inea st around. Round 19: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (36 sts).Round 20: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (35 sts).

Round 21: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (34 sts).Round 22: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (33 sts).Round 23: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (32 sts).Round 24: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (31 sts).Round 25: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (30 sts).Round 26: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (29 sts).Round 27: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (28 sts).Round 28: dc2tog, 1 dc in ea rem st. (27 sts).Round 29: Workingin front loops only,[dc2tog, 1 dc in next7sts] three times.

(24 sts).Round 30: Workingin both loops, [dc2tog,1 dc in next 2 sts] sixtimes. (18 sts).Round 31: [dc2tog, 1 dc in next st] sixtimes. (12 sts).Add stuffing.Round 32: [dc2tog]six times. (6 sts).Fasten off and sew upthe opening.

beak Round 1: Using pinkyarn and a 3.5mmhook, make a magicring for 6 sts. Round 2: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(7 sts).Round 3: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(8 sts).Round 4: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(9 sts).Round 5: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(10 sts).Round 6: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(11 sts).Round 7: 2 dc in firstst, 1 dc in ea next st.(12 sts).

Fasten off, add stuffing and sew ontothe head.

eyes Round 1: Using blueyarn and a 3.5mmhook, make a magicring for 6 sts. Round 2: 2 dc intoeach st. (12 sts).Change to green.Round 3: [1 dc infirst st, 2 dc in nextst] six stitches. (18 sts).Fasten off, sew onto the head oneither side.

top feathersUsing green yarn anda 3.5mm hook, makea ch for 7 sts, startthird st from hook,work the followingalong the ch: 1 htr infirst 2 sts, 1 dc innext 2 sts, 3 dc in lastst; working along theother side of the ch,1 dc in next 2 sts, 1 htr in next 2 sts. Carry on withoutcutting yarn, make 8 ch, start second chfrom hook, 1 dc in

first 3 sts, 1 htr innext 4 sts.Carry on withoutcutting yarn, make 9ch, start second chfrom hook, 1 dc infirst 3 sts, 1 htr innext 5 sts. Fasten off, iron flat ifneeded and sewalong the middle ofthe head, so thelongest feather is atthe front.

feetmake 2Using pink yarn and3.5mm hook, 6 ch.Start second ch fromhook, 1 dc in ea next4 sts, sl st into next st,5 ch. Start second chfrom hook, 1 dc in eanext 4 sts, sl st into thesame st as last time, 5 ch. Start second chfrom hook, 1 dc in eanext 4 sts, sl st intolast st and fasten off.

wingsmake 2 With green yarn and3.5mm hook 9 ch. Startthird ch from hook.Row 1: 3 htr in first

Stitches used:Chain (ch)Double crochet (dc)Double crochettwo together(dc2tog)Slip stitch (sl st)

and draw back through. Therewill be three loops of yarn onthe hook.

2Yarn over hook and drawthrough all three loops. This

will leave one loop on the hook.

DOUBLE CROCHETTWO TOGETHER (dc2tog)The double crochet decrease appears in patterns as dc2tog,but the number can change according to how manystitches you are crocheting together.

1Insert hook through the nextstitch. Yarn over the hook and

draw back through the work,there will be two loops of yarnon the hook. Insert the hook intothe next stitch, yarn over hook

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crochet

MEET OUR DESIGNER

“I often hear that peoplefind amigurumi toofiddly, so I designed thisparrot for those whoprefer bigger toys or justwant to get started withthe techniques involvedin the Japanese art”Irene Strange is a graphicdesigner and crochet expert. Shehappened upon amigurumi quiteaccidentally and it is now herfavourite technique. Visit herwebsite atwww.irenestrange.co.uk

letsgetcrafting.com 53

LGCsays...“This littleguy reallyshows off thebright coloursin this issue'skit and usesreally simplestitches togreat effect” Abbie Southern,Editorial Assistant

Toy stuffing £6.55 for 400gwww.knitwell.co.uk

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st, 1 htr in ea rem st.(9 sts).Row 2: 2 ch (doesnot count as st), 1 htrin ea first 6 sts, 3 tr innext st, miss last 2 sts.(9 sts).Row 3: 1 ch, 1 sl st inea first 3 sts, 2 ch, 3 trin next st, 1 htr in eanext 5 sts. (8 sts).Fasten off.

tail The tail is made of fivestrands, each thesame, which are thenconnected with a rowof dc, and sewn ontothe base. 7 ch, start third chfrom hook, 2 htr infirst st, 1 htr in ea next4 sts, [7 ch, start thirdch from hook, 2 htr infirst st, 1 htr in ea next4 sts] four times.1 ch, 1 dc into ea lasthtr of each repeat, slst into the first chainat the beginning oftail. (5 sts).Fasten off and sewonto the base. Sew on all the detailsand tuck in any loose ends.

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