Owl Family Portrait
This is a collection of my owl family appliques. There are 5 patterns to choose from. All of the patterns can be created using any weight yarn, embroidery thread or crochet thread to create adorable pins, hair accessories or appliques. I have written each pattern with the yarn and hook size I used to achieve that look.
add this pattern to your Ravelry que
The eyes for owls #2-4 are interchangeable and the eyes used on owl #1 can also be used on owl #2, so you can have lots of fun mixing and matching to come up with a variety of different designs.
Please note that all of the following patterns are written in the same way. There are no starting chains to begin a round. All rounds are done in sc, and the last sc is simply slip stitched into the first sc of each round.
Even though I have chosen to use Caron’s Simply Soft yarn for all of the owl patterns, with the exception of owl #5, which I have done in embroidery thread and turned into an adorable pin, you can use any yarn of choice. I do recommend using a smaller hook than what the yarn calls for, to obtain a tight crochet. I would use a 4.00mm-4.50mm with any worsted weight yarn and a hook approximately 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than the yarn you are using calls for . Different yarn weights will give you different finished dimensions.
I hope you enjoy my Owl Family Portrait patterns.
Abbreviations and Stitches used:
All Patterns
st(s)– stitch(es)
sp– space
mc/r– magic circle/ring
ch– chain
sl st– slip stitch
insert hook, yarn over, pull through, (two loops on hook), pull loop closest to hook through other loop
sc– single crochet
insert hook, yarn over, pull through (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops
sc2tog- sc two together
insert hook, yarn over, pull through, (two loops on hook), insert hook in next space, yarn over, pull through, (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops
All the Materials needed are listed for each pattern but if you would like to complete all 5 patterns you will require the following items:
- 4.00mm (G) hook
- 2.75mm (C) hook
- 1.50mm steel hook
- small embroidery needle
- wide eyed sewing needle
- pliers
- scissors
- bar pin (barrette or hair clip) (one for each small owl)
- embroidery thread in your choice of center color, brown or grey for outer color, white, and yellow
- seed beads for eyes (4 if doing one of each owl pattern)
- yarn of your choice, I used Caron’s Simply Soft but any worsted weight will do (you will need a larger hook, 4.50, if you use Red Heart, Vanna’s Choice, Caron’s One Pounder or any other thicker worsted weight)
- ½ ” white buttons (2 for each owl) only need two if doing one of each owl pattern
- ¼ ” black buttons (2 for each owl) doing one of each owl pattern will require 4 black buttons
Owl #1
Materials:
yarn in your choice, I used Caron’s Simply Soft
4.00mm (G) hook
2.75mm (C) hook
small embroidery needle
Finished Size:
3”wide by 3.5”tall
Pattern:
1. Using center owl color, leaving a 6-8” tail to begin. mc/r with 6sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round.
2. 2sc in every st. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <12>
3. 1sc in each of the next 4sts. 2sc in each of the next 2 sts. 1sc in each of the next 4sts. 2sc in each of the next 6sts. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <24>
4. 1sc in each of the next 3sts. 2sc in each of the next 4sts. 1sc in each of the next 8sts. 2sc in each of the next 4sts. 1sc in each of the next 5sts. sl st into 1st sc to join round and change to outside owl color (brown). <32>
5. *1sc in next st. 1sc in next st. 1sc in next st. 2sc in next st. Repeat from * around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <40>
6. 1sc in each of the next 3sts. Ch3 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in next st. 2sc in next st. 1sc in next 2sts. Ch3 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in each of the next 3sts. 2sc in next st. *1sc in each of the next 4sts. 2sc in next st. Repeat from * around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <38sts plus 2 ch3 spaces>
7. 1sl st into each of the next 2sts. 6sc into the ch3 sp. 1sl st into each of the next 6sts. 6sc into the ch3 sp. 1sl st into each of the remaining sts. sl st into 1st sl st to join round. Fasten off and leave 6-8” long tail. Use long center tail and long end tail to secure onto finished work.
<38sts, plus 2 ch3 spaces>
Eyes
1. with white yarn, ch2
2. 5sc in 1st ch sp. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <5>
3. 2sc into every st. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <10>
4. Fasten off leaving 6-8” long tail
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for second eye
6. Stitch eyes together using long tails (two stitch spaces)
7. Change hook to 2.75mm and pick up eye border color (green). In back loops only, 2sc in every st around, sc2tog in center/indents.
8. Sew buttons, beads or sequins into center of eyes and stitch onto applique, above the center (hole) in owl body and right at where center color (orange) meets outer color (brown).
Beak:
1. Using yellow or orange yarn approx. 12” long, thread (one strand) embroidery needle. Insert needle (from back to front) at right lower “corner” of the left eye. And insert (from front to back) into the center/hole.
2. Insert needle (from back to front) at left lower “corner” of right eye. And insert (from front to back) into the center/hole.
3. Insert needle (from back to front) into the beginning space (right lower corner of left eye) and insert (from front to back) into the space directly across (left lower corner of right eye).
4. Continue to insert needle (from back to front) into the center/hole to each corner above to fill in the entire beak space.
This completes your first owl. Alternately you can use any of the eyes from patterns #2-4 on this owl as well. (If you use buttons for complete eyes, stitch beak on first at approximately the same areas).
Owl #2
Materials:
yarn in your choice, I used Caron’s Simply Soft
4.00mm (G) hook
small embroidery needle
two medium (approx ½ ‘’) white buttons
two small (approx ¼ ‘’) black buttons
Finished Size:
2.5”wide by 3”tall
Pattern:
1. Using center owl color, leaving a 6-8” tail to begin. mc/r with 5sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round.
2. 2sc in every st. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <10>
3. 2sc in every st. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <20>
4. 1sc in 1st 3sts. 2sc in each of the next 5sts. 1sc in each of the next 5sts. 2sc in each of the next 5sts. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. sl st into the 1st sc to join round and change to outer owl color (brown) <30>
5. *1sc in next st. 1sc in next st. 2sc in next st. Repeat from * around. <40>
6. 1sc in each of the next 23sts. 4hdc, ch2 3hdc in the next st. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. 1sl st into the next st. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. 3hdc, ch2, 4hdc in the next st. 1sc in each st around. sl st into the 1st sc to join round. <52>
Eyes:
1. Stitch two white buttons with smaller black buttons in center into place. *stich beak on first using the same method described in Owl #1 (same general placement).
Alternately you can use any of the other eyes from Owl #1, 3 or 4.
Owl #3
Materials:
yarn of your choice, I used Caron’s Simply Soft
4.00mm (G) hook
small embroidery needle
2 small (approx. ¼ ‘’) black buttons
Finished Size:
2.0”wide by 2.75”tall
Pattern:
1. Using center owl color, leaving a 6-8” tail to begin. mc/r with 6sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <6>
2. 2sc in every st around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <12>
3. 1sc in each of the next 3sts. 2sc in each of the next 2sts. 1sc in each of the next 4sts. 2sc in each of the next 2sts. 1sc in the next st. sl st into the 1st sc to join round. <16>
4. 1sc in each of the next 3sts. 2sc in each of the next 3sts. 1sc in each of the next 5sts. 2sc in each of the next 3sts. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. sl st into the 1st sc to join round and change to outer owl color (grey). <22>
5. 1sc in each of the next 3sts. 2sc in each of the net 4sts. 1sc in each of the next 7sts. 2sc in each of the net 4sts. 1sc in each of the next 4sts. sl st into the 1st sc to join round. <30>
6. 1sl st into the next 4sts. 2hdc, ch2 3hdc into the next st. 1sl st into each of the net 4sts. 3hdc, ch2, 2hdc into the next st. 1sl st in every remaining st around. <38>
Eyes:
1. Using white. Leave 4-6” long tail. mc/r with 8sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round. Fasten off and leave 6-8” tail, secure to back of eye, tighten center tail and tie both tails together. Cut center tail short and leave long tail to weave eyes onto owl.
2. Repeat and use the long tail to secure both eyes together as in Owl #1
3. Stitch black buttons onto eyes and stitch finished eyes on to owl applique
Alternately you can use the eyes from owl #2 or owl #4 instead.
1. Stitch beak on using the method in Owl #1.
Owl #4
Materials:
yarn of your choice, I used Caron’s Simply Soft
4.00mm (G) hook
small embroidery needle
Finished Size:
2”wide by 2.5”tall
Pattern:
1. Using center owl color, leaving a 6-8” tail to begin. mc/r with 5sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <5>
2. 2sc in every st around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <10>
3. 2sc in each of the next 4sts. 1sc in the next st. 2sc in each of the next 4sts. 1sc in the next st. sl st into 1st sc to join round and change to outer owl color (grey). <18>
4. 2sc in every st around. Sl st into the 1st sc to join round. <36>
5. 1sc in each of the 1st 2sts. Ch2 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in each of the next 4sts. Ch3 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in every remaining st around. <34sts + 2 ch2 spaces)
6. 1sl st in the next st. 3hdc, ch2, 3hdc in the ch2 sp. 1sl st in each of the next 4sts. 3hdc, ch2, 3hdc in the ch2 sp. 1sl st in each remaining st around. <46>
Eyes:
1. Starting with black, leaving a 4-6”long tail. mc/r with 5sc. sl st into 1st sc to join round and change to white. Tie short tails of white and black together to secure.
2. Using the white yarn, 2sc in every st around. <10>. Fasten off leaving 6-8” long tail. Pull center (black)tail tight and tie to other black tail to secure. Cut all tails (except the last long white tail) short.
3. Repeat for other eye
4. Stitch both eyes together at two st spaces and secure finished eyes onto owl, at the space where the inner and outer colors meet, above the center.
Alternately you can use the eyes from Owl #2 & 3 instead.
1. Stitch beak on using the method in Owl #1.
Owl #5
Pin or Hair Clip/Barrette
Materials:
1 skein each of embroidery thread in inner and outer owl colors, white and yellow
1 bar pin or hair barrette
1.50mm thread hook (you could also use a 1.35 or 1.75)
small wide eyed craft needle
needle nose pliers
Finished Size:
approx. 1”wide by 1.25”tall
Pattern:
1. Leaving a 6-8” long tail and starting with center owl color. ch2. 8sc in 1st ch. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <8>
2. 2sc in every st around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <16>
3. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. 2sc in each of the next 5sts. 1sc in each of the next 2sts. 2sc in each of the next 5sts. sl st into 1st sc to join round and change to outer (brown) owl color. Tie short tails of inner and outer colors together to secure <26>
4. 1sc in each of the next 10sts.
2sc in the next st
1sc in the next st
2sc in the next st
1sc in the next st
2sc in the next st
1sc in the next st
2sc in each of the next 4sts
1sc in the next st
2sc in the next st
1sc in the next st
2sc in the next st
1sc in the next st
2sc in the next st
sl st into the 1st sc to join round. <36>
5. 1sc in each of the next 2ts. Ch3 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in each of the next 4sts. Ch3 (skip 1 st) and 1sc in the next st (leaving the one empty st). 1sc in each of the remaining sts around. <34sts + 2 ch3 spaces>
6. 1sl st in the 1st sp. 5sc in the ch3 sp. 1sl st in each of the next 4sts. 5sc in the ch3 sp. 1sl st in every remaining st around. <44>
7. Fasten off and weave in tail to where the tied inner and outer tails are. Tie all three tails together (leaving center tail) and cut short.
Eyes:
You can use buttons with a seed bead in the center or:
1. Using white thread. ch2. 5sc in 1st ch. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <5>
2. 2sc in every st around. sl st into 1st sc to join round. <10>
3. Fasten off leaving a 8-10” tail
4. Repeat for other eye
5. Stitch both eyes together using two spaces and sew seed beads into centers
6. Stitch eyes onto owl where outer and inner colors meet, above center/hole.
Stitch beak on using the method described in Owl #1.
Fasten pin to center back and stitch on using long center tail, or stitch onto a hair barrette or clip.
This is completes all of the owl patterns! If you have any questions please feel free to comment on my bellow, or to email me at [email protected]. I hope you have enjoyed making the Owl Family Portrait patterns.
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Also check out my Owl Stuffy and Winky Winky the Owl Hat (multiple sizes)
Have fun and as always…
happy hookin’
