Snowy Owl PAGE 1

FINISHED SIZE 26cm/ 10in tall

YARN Aran/ worsted weight to chunky/ bulky weight, however to create the multi-

layering of colour I used groupings of the following shades, i.e two of three strands at a

time (the actual mixes are written within the pattern and the actual shades I used for this

owl are written in parenthesis):

Yarns A - off-white aran or chunky yarn (1 x 100 g ball James C Brett Chunky Merino

shade CM1); B - off-white kid-silk (Drops Kid-Silk shade 01); C - black kid-silk

(Drops Kid-silk shade 02); Beak - 1 metre/ yarn black DK cotton

NEEDLES Pair 6mm/ US 10 knitting needles

TENSION 10 rows and 7 sts over 5cm with suggested yarns and 6mm/ US 10 needles

EXTRAS Toy filling or scraps fabric or yarn for stuffing, stitch markers, 18mm yellow

toy safety eyes - however if the toy is intended for a very young child then please stay safe

and embroider eyes instead

Begin at the point beneath the beak, with yarns A, B - used double (A white
aran/chunky and B off-white kid-silk) cast on 2sts, with all 3 strands as foll:
Row 1 inc) Kfb, k1 - 3sts
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 P
Row 3 inc) K1, kfb, k1- 4sts
Row 5 inc) Kfb all sts - 8sts
Row 7 inc) Kfb all sts - 16sts
Snowy Owl Row 9 dec) Place marker (PM) for Head Back Marker [K1, k2 tog] 5 times, k1 -
11sts.
knitting pattern
by Claire Garland aka Dot Pebbles© Row 11 inc) Cast on 11 sts, k22 - 22sts. PM at each end last row for Neck Marker
(use a diff. colour from back head marker so not to cause confusion)
NOTE: to create the pattern in the feather join in single strands of yarn C -
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(black kid-silk) every knit row and at random places along the row - carrying BENEATH WINGS/ FLANK
black yarn across the back when not on use Side 1
Rows 12-30 Work 19 rows st st Beginning at Tail Marker, RS facing, with yarns A & B (white 4-ply and off-
Row 31 K1, kfb, k5, skpo, k4, k2 tog, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 white kid-silk), pick up and knit 23 sts evenly up to Neck Marker (see Row 11)
Row 32 P Row 1 P
Rows 33-40 Rep. last 2 rows four times ... short rows to shape Back
Row 41 dec) K1, kfb, k5, [skpo, k2 tog] twice, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 - 20sts Short row 1 K22, bring yarn to the front of the work, slip next st purl-wise
Rows 42, 44, 46, 48 & 50 P onto the RH needle, take working yarn to the back, slip the slipped stitch back
Row 43 dec) K1, kfb, k4, [skpo, k2 tog] twice, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 - 18sts onto the LH needle, turn the knitting = W+Tk (wrap and turn knit)
Row 45 dec) K1, kfb, k3, [skpo, k2 tog] twice, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 - 16sts Short row 2 P22
NECK
Row 47 dec) K1, kfb, k2, [skpo, k2 tog] twice, k2, kfb, k1 - 14sts Short row 3 dec) Skpo, k19, W+Tk
Row 49 dec) K1, skpo, [k3, k2 tog] twice, k1 - 11sts Short row 4 P20
Row 51 dec) K1, skpo, k to last 3 sts, k2 tog, k1 - 9sts Short row 5 dec) Skpo, k17, W+Tk
TAIL Short row 6 P18
Row 52 P. PM at each end last row for Tail Marker Short row 7 dec) Skpo, k15, W+Tk - 20sts
Cut one of the white kid-silk strands and join on yarn C (black kid-silk) Short row 8 P16
Row 53 inc) K1, kfb, k to last 2 sts kfb, k1 - 11sts Short row 9 K15, W+Tk
TAIL
Row 54 P Short row 10 P15
Rows 54-60 Rep. last 2 rows three times - 17sts
Rows 61-66 Work 6 rows st st Row 2 K20 sts
Row 67 dec) Skpo, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog - 15sts Row 3 P
Row 68 P Row 4 dec) K to last 2 sts, k2 tog - 19sts
Rows 69-72 Rep. last 2 rows twice - 11sts Rows 5-6 Rep. last 2 rows once - 18sts
Rows 73-78 Work 6 rows st st. Cast off. Cast off p-wise at back seam.
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BENEATH WINGS/ FLANK Join cast off edges for Back with mattress stitch.
Side 2 Fold the tail up, WS facing, so that the cast off edge aligns with where
Beginning at Neck Marker (see Row 11), RS facing, with yarns A & B (white you added the black. Mattress sew along the row ends so joining the
4-ply and off-white kid-silk), pick up and knit 23 sts evenly down to Tail Marker tail sides - leave the cast off edge un-sewn.
Row 1 P
Row 2 K HEAD BACK
... short rows to shape Back Beginning at Head Back Marker (see Row 9), RS facing, with yarns A & B (B
Short row 1 P22, take yarn to the back of the work, slip next st knit-wise onto used double), with all 3 strands, pick up and knit 11 sts evenly along that cast
the RH needle, bring working yarn to the front, slip the slipped stitch back onto on edge (from Row 11).
the LH needle, turn the knitting = W+Tp (wrap and turn purl) Remove head back marker.
Short row 2 K22 Row 1 inc) Cast on 15sts, PM new marker for Mantle/ Neck. P across all
Short row 3 dec) P2 tog, p19, W+Tp 26sts
Short row 4 K20 NOTE: to create the pattern in the feather join in single strands of yarn C -
Short row 5 dec) P2 tog, p17, W+Tp (black kid-silk) every knit row and at random places along the row - carrying
Short row 6 K18 black yarn across the back when not on use
Short row 7 dec) P2 tog, p15, W+Tp - 20sts Rows 2-9 Work 8 rows st st
Short row 8 K16 Row 10 dec) K2, [k2 tog, k3] four times, k2 tog, k2 - 21sts
Short row 9 P15, W+Tk Rows 11, 13 & 15 P
Short row 10 K15 Row 12 K
Row 14 dec) [K1, k2 tog] seven times - 14sts
Row 3 P Row 16 dec) K2 tog seven times - 7sts
Row 4 dec) Skpo, k to end - 19sts Row 17 dec) P2, p3 tog, p2 - 5sts
Rows 5-6 Rep. last 2 rows once - 18sts Cut yarn and thread through all 5 sts and pull up tight before securing yarn
Cast off p-wise at back seam. Remove both neck and tail markers. end - this becomes Top of Head Point.
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MANTLE & NECK EYE SOCKET FEATHERS
Beginning at Mantle/ neck marker (see Row 1 HEAD BACK), RS facing, with Right Eye
yarns A & B (B used double) and one strand yarn C (white 4-ply, 2 x off-white Beginning at the Under Beak Tip (the cast on from the very beginning of
kid-silk and black), with all 4 strands, pick up and knit 15 sts evenly along that the pattern) with two strands yarn B (off-white kid-silk) pick up and knit 18
cast on edge. stitches evenly up to the fastened off Top of Head Point
Row 1 P NOTE: The tension will be quite loose - this is what you want
Row 2 dec) K1, skpo, k to last 3 sts, k2 tog, k1 - 13sts Rows 1, 3 & 5 P
Rows 3-10 dec) Rep last 2 rows four times - 5sts Row 2 inc) [Kfb, k1] across all sts - 27sts TOP OF HEAD POINT
Row 11 P1, p3 tog, p1 - 3sts Row 4 dec) [K2 tog, k1] across all sts - 18sts
UNDER
Row 12 dec) K3 tog. Fasten off. ... short rows to shape right eye socket feathers
BEAK TIP
Short row 1 K10, W+Tk
RS facing up, pin the triangular shaped ‘mantle’ in place against the Short row 2 P10
short rows ‘triangle’ that’s created at the back - the fastened off point Short row 3 K9, W+Tk
should align with the back seam. Short row 4 P9.
Join mantle to back with mattress stitch. Cast off all sts loosely.

EYE SOCKET
EYE SOCKET
ROW ENDS
HEAD BACK

Fold the cast off edge in half with RS facing and back sew to join the
MANTLE
cast off edge halves tog. Turn out to RS. Then match the row ends
and mattress join together - this will leave you with a kind of pocket/
bulge which sits proud of the eye socket and which you will push into
BACK SEAM the eye socket after completing the left eye **.
Snowy Owl PAGE 8 Snowy Owl PAGE 9
Left Eye May I also add - It’s really worth getting this bit right - I took ages
Beginning at the Top of Head Point, with two strands yarn B, pick up and with mine!
knit 18 stitches evenly down to the Under Beak Tip
Rows 1-5 As right eye - 18sts
Rows 6 K
... short rows to shape left eye socket feathers
Short row 1 P10, W+Tp
Short row 2 K10
Short row 3 P9, W+Tp
Short row 4 K9.
Cast off all sts p-wise, loosely.

Make up the eye socket as per right eye.

To complete the seam between the eye socket, join the under beak
tip with the top of head point - it’s down from here that you’ll join
the beak ***.
**Stuff the head then push your ‘pockets’ into their sockets with
your thumbs - refer to the picture for accurate shaping. Then add
the eyes - it’s a little more fiddly doing it this way but it helps with
the correct placement of the eyes and once the eyes are in placed BEAK
with their backs fastened on then the pockets are also secured Work a couple of long stitches with the black cotton yarn and secure the
within the sockets. end.
I like to carefully tease the fibres of the kid-silk ‘feathers’ with a Join a few stitches in kid-silk across the top of the beak to cpmplete the eye
sharp sewing needle to create extra fluffiness... socket effect.
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WING PRIMARIES - these refer to the wings above the tail Finish stuffing the body of the owl. NOTE: - the tail and under the
Side 1 wing primaries are not stuffed.
Beginning just above the tail where the colour change begins, with yarns A & Sew the triangular tip over onto the tail - either squared up or set at a
B (white 4-ply and off-white kid-silk), pick up and knit 13 sts up to the back jaunty angle, like I did, if you wish.
seam
Row 1 P WINGS
... short rows to shape tips The wings are knitted then sewn on independently as foll:
Short row 1 inc) Kfb, k9, W+Tk Begin at the edge of the wing - the part that will align with the trianglular
Short row 2 P11 shape created at the mantle/ back of the neck, with yarn A - used double, so
Short rows 3-6 Rep last 2 rows twice - 16sts with 2 strands cast on 5sts
Cast off 16sts. WING PRIMARIES NOTE: to create the pattern in the feather join in single strands of yarn C -
(black kid-silk) every knit row and at random places along the row - carrying
Side 2 black yarn across the back when not on use
With with yarns A & B, beginning at the back seam pick up and knit 13 sts Left wing
down to just above the tail where the colour change begins Row 1 inc) Kfb, k to last st, kfb - 7sts
... short rows to shape tips Row 2 P
Short row 1 inc) Pfb, p9, W+Tk Rows 3-4 inc) Rep last 2 rows once 9sts
Short row 2 K11 Row 5 inc) K2, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 11sts
Short rows 3-6 Rep last 2 rows twice - 16sts Rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 P
Cast off 16sts p-wise. Row 7 inc) K3, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 13sts
Row 9 inc) K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 16sts
Have RS facing - can be a little tricky to twist the knitting so that the Row 11 inc) K2, kfb, k3, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 19sts
knit sides are facing, back sew the cast off edges together right down to Row 13 inc) K3, kfb, k4, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 22sts
the tips. - This seam creates a kind of valley - this is how it should look. Row 15 inc) K4, kfb, k5, kfb, k to last st, kfb - 25sts
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Row 17 dec) K1, skpo, k to end - 24sts
Row 18 dec) P to last 2 sts, p2 tog - 23sts
Rows 19-30 dec) Rep last 2 rows six times - 11sts
Row 31 dec) K1, skpo, k to last 2sts, k2 tog - 9sts
Row 32 dec) P to last 2 sts, p2 tog - 8sts
Rows 33-34 dec) Rep last 2 rows once - 5sts
Row 35 dec) K1, skpo, k2 - 4sts
Row 36 dec) P2, p2 tog - 3sts
Row 37 dec) K1, skpo - 2sts
Row 38 dec) P2 tog. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Right wing
Rows 1-4 As left wing - 9sts
Row 5 inc) Kfb, k to last 3 sts, kfb, k2 - 11sts
Rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 P
Row 7 inc) Kfb, k6, kfb, k3 - 13sts
Row 9 inc) Kfb, k7, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 - 16sts
Row 11 inc) Kfb, k8, kfb, k3, kfb, k2 - 19sts
Row 13 inc) Kfb, k9, kfb, k4, kfb, k3 - 22sts
Row 15 inc) Kfb, k10, kfb, k5, kfb, k4 - 25sts
Row 17 dec) K to last 3 sts, k2 tog, k1 - 24sts
Row 18 dec) P2 tog, p to end - 23sts
Rows 19-30 dec) Rep last 2 rows six times - 11sts
Row 31 dec) Skpo, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog, k1 - 9sts
Snowy Owl PAGE 13
Row 32 dec) P2 tog, p to end - 8sts
Rows 33-34 dec) Rep last 2 rows once - 5sts
Row 35 dec) K2, k2 tog, k1- 4sts
Row 36 dec) P2 tog, p2 - 3sts
Row 37 dec) K2 tog, k1 - 2sts
Row 38 dec) P2 tog. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Working with one wing at a time, RS of wing facing up, align the
cast on edge to the diagonal created at the mantle. Oversew to join
along that cast on edge.
Then align the straight edge of the wing to the back seam and
oversew in place as far as the back seam.
Work a couple of stitches to hold the very top of each wing in place
against the neck.
Allow the fronts of the wings to follow the shaping created along the
picked up stitches between breast and back and oversew in place.
Sew the wing tips down over the top of the tail.
Lightly stuff the under the tops and fronts of the wings before
completing joining the backs - where both wings meet - notice that
the edges curve in where they meet - try and sew in place at the same
time retaining this curve.
Snowy Owl PAGE 14
LEGS AND CLAWS make 2 alike
The legs and claws are knitted then sewn on independantly as foll:
with yarns A, B - used double (A white 4-ply and B off-white kid-silk) cast on
10sts, with all 3 strands cont. as foll:
Rows 1-6 Work 6 rows st st
*Row 7 K3, Turn and work on last 3 sts only.
1st claw
Rows 1-3 Work 3 rows st st
Cut yarn, thread end through all 3 sts**.
2nd claw
Rejoin yarn
Row 1 inc) K4, Turn and work on last 4 sts only.
Rows 2-4 Work 3 rows st st
Cut yarn, thread end through all 3 sts.
3rd claw
Rejoin yarn
As 1st claw from * to **.

Fold each claw in half and join by oversewing along the row ends.
Join the leg similarly, then, if you like, insert a pipecleaner into each claw
and foot before stuffing the leg with the yarn ends.To complete each leg
and claws wrap kid-silk around and around to completely cover claws and
foot. Secure the end - add a single black stitch.
Join around each leg onto the body.
*AND A BIT OF SELF PROMOTION....
I am on Instagram @dotpebbles_knits #freebeefridayknits
And I blog over here - http://dotpebbles.blogspot.co.uk
And have patterns here - http://www.ravelry.com/people/dotpebbles
You’re welcome to knit with me anytime! *