Step: 1

Each bird measures 5 1/4" long.

Step: 2

GAUGE: 7 sts = 1 1/4"; 8 rnds = 1 1/4". CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Step: 3

SPECIAL ABBREVIATION:

Step: 4

Dec (decrease) = draw up a loop in each of next 2 sc, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Step: 5

Bird Head and Body (Make 1 each CA, CB, CC, and CD)-Rnd 1: Beg at top of head ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do NOT join; put a length of contrast color yarn between first and last sts to mark beg and end of rnd; move marker up each rnd.

Step: 6

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around - 12 sc.

Step: 7

Rnd 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times - 18 sc.

Step: 8

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times - 24 sc.

Step: 9

Rnds 5-10: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 10

Rnd 11: [Sc in next 2 sc, dec] 6 times - 18 sc.

Step: 11

Rnd 12: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 12

Rnd 13: Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in each of next 6 sc for chest, sc in last 6 sc - 24 sc.

Step: 13

Rnd 14: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times - 30 sc.

Step: 14

Rnd 15: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 15

Rnd 16: [Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times - 36 sc.

Step: 16

Rnds 17-26: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 17

Rnd 27: [Sc in next 4 sc, dec] 6 times - 30 sc.

Step: 18

Rnd 28: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 19

Rnd 29: [Sc in next 3 sc, dec] 6 times - 24 sc.

Step: 20

Rnd 30: Sc in next 10 sc, [dec] 6 times, sc in last 2 sc - 18 sc. Stuff head and body.

Step: 21

Rnd 31: [Sc in next sc, dec] 6 times - 12 sc.

Step: 22

Rnd 32: [Dec] 6 times - 6 sc. Fasten off leaving a long end. Weave end through remaining sts; draw up firmly; fasten securely.

Step: 23

Wing (Make 2 in each Bird color)-Rnd 1: Ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do NOT join but work in continuous rnds as before.

Step: 24

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around 12 sc.

Step: 25

Rnd 3: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 26

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 3 times - 15 sc.

Step: 27

Rnd 5: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 28

Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 3 times - 18 sc.

Step: 29

Rnds 7 and 8: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off.

Step: 30

Stuff very lightly. Hold Rnd 8 flat and sew together. Sew wings in place on sides of bodies, matching colors.

Step: 31

Tail (Make one in each Bird color): Ch 12; join with a sl st to form a ring.

Step: 32

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same ch as joining and each ch around; do NOT join but work continuous rnds as before - 12 sc.

Step: 33

Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 34

Rnd 3: [Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice - 14 sc.

Step: 35

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice 16 sc.

Step: 36

Rnd 5: [Sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice - 18 sc.

Step: 37

Rnd 6: [Sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice - 20 sc.

Step: 38

Rnd 7: [Sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice - 22 sc.

Step: 39

Rnd 8: [Sc in next 9 sc, 2 hdc in each of next 2 sc] twice; join. Fasten off.

Step: 40

Hold tail flat with increases on the outside edges and sew top of tail together. Stuff lightly. Sew bottom opening closed and sew tail in place on top back of body, matching tail color to bird color.

Step: 41

Leg (Make 2 in each Bird color): Ch 13; sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 ch, [ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 3 ch] twice, sl st in last 8 ch. Fasten off.

Step: 42

Sew CA legs to CB bird; CD legs to CC bird; CB legs to CD bird; and CC legs to CA bird.

Step: 43

Beak (Make 1 in each Bird color)-Rnd 1: Ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do NOT join but work as before.

Step: 44

Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 45

Rnd 3: 2 Sc in first sc, sc in last 5 sc - 7 sc.

Step: 46

Rnd 4: 2 Sc in first sc, sc in last 6 sc - 8 sc. Fasten off.

Step: 47

Stuff beak. Sew CA beak to CB bird; CD beak to CC bird; CB beak to CD bird; and CC beak to CA bird.

Step: 48

Embroider Eyes: Use brown pearl cotton to embroider eyes: sew through head back and forth to make satin stitch eyes, indenting slightly.

Step: 49

Hanging Chains (Attach one to each bird): Join CE with a sl st on a st at center top back of any bird; make a long ch (about 80 ch). Fasten off. Tie chain to hoop having birds at different lengths as shown, arranging as you like and making sure they hang correctly with hoop balanced. Tie the tops of the 4 chains above hoop, centered, in a tight knot. Trim ends.

Step: 50

Curls: With CF, [ch 20, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across] 10 times; ch 30, skip 12 ch, sl st in next ch and each ch across for hanging loop. Fasten off. Gather tops of curls together, keeping hanging loop free above. Sew over CE knot.