15 Delightful Bird Knitting Patterns to Make Hearts Soar
If you love birds, or have bird lovers in your life, you’ll find these adorable patterns outright addictive
The first toys I ever knitted were a pair of owls.
Believe it or not, they were not for me. π They were, instead, for my children, who at the time were huge fans of Harry Potter, and so they loved Hedwig the Snowy Owl and Pigwidgeon, the (rather hopeless) Little Owl. They came from the first knitting book I ever owned (that was not a teach-yourself-to-knit book, that is!), Charmed Knits.
They made wonderful birthday presents that my kids cherished for many years.
While I think it’s safe to say that both of my kids inherited my love for birds, they’re not quite the bird-brains that their mother is. π They love birds; I’m slightly obsessed with them.
And so it probably won’t surprise you that I originally created this list more for me than anyone else!
Of course, many other bird lovers exist; one or two of them may live in your own family. Or your own circle of friends. Or even as beneficiaries of one of your favorite knitting charities.
Believe me, once you start knitting a bird pattern, it’s very difficult to stop at just one. You may find yourself knitting a bird menagerie in no time!
And so, I present to you 13 knitted bird patterns and two paid patterns. I couldn’t resist adding the two paid patterns for reasons I hope you’ll understand. π
**Note: if you have occasion to knit for Native Americans, don’t knit owls. In many indigenous cultures, they are symbols of death. Stick to other varieties–there are so many others to choose from!
Free to Good Home
1. Owl Puffs
- What you’ll need to make one: 15 to 25 yards of yarn (anywhere from fingering weight to heavy-worsted); a size of circular needles and/or DPNs two sizes smaller than usual, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; yellow and white felt (optional); safety or googly eyes (optional); sewing needle and thread (optional)
- Why you’ll want to make one (and probably more): This is one of the most popular owl patterns on Ravelry, and certainly one of the oldest. I love how quickly this little guy comes together. You could easily fill a nest (real or man-made) with these cuties!
- What you’ll need to make one: 30 to 40 yards fingering to heavy worsted weight yarn; circular needles and/or DPNs in a size two smaller than usual, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; safety eyes or embroidery floss; embroidery needle (optional); tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to make one (and probably more): Another completely irresistible bird pattern. They come together so quickly that one month, I knitted three of them and had a blast doing so.
- What you’ll need to make one: 20 to 30 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 4 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice
- Why you’ll want to make one (and probably more): Who couldn’t use one of these in their lives?
Photo: Lion Brand
4. Blue Tit
- What you’ll need to make one: Small amounts of fingering to worsted weight white yarn, blue yarn, black yarn, olive green yarn, and yellow yarn; circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; soft jewelry-making wire (optional); small needle-nose pliers (optional); small black beads (optional); tapestry and/or sewing needle
- Why you’ll want to: This has to be the most realistic-looking knitted bird design I’ve ever seen. You half expect this one to fly away once you’re finished making it.
5. Angry Birds
- What you’ll need to make one: About 200 yards DK-weight yarn, mostly in red or yellow but also white, brown, and black in small amounts; US Size 3 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; black buttons for eyes; stitch marker; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to: Patterns are available for both a yellow and a red Angry Bird. Perfect for the addict of the computer/phone game in your life. Or just anyone who enjoys overly-expressive birds.
Photo: Susan B. Anderson
6. Flamingo
- What you’ll need to make one: About 160 yards heavy worsted weight yarn in light pink, with small amounts of dark pink, white, and black; US Size 5 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing and/or ball (if you want to make it bounce!); tapestry needle; stitch markers; 2 pipe cleaners; black embroidery floss
- Why you’ll want to: Of course, this Susan B. Anderson-designed pattern is adorable (she’s incapable of designing anything else!) However, here’s an added bonus: you can also place a bouncy ball inside of it and make it a bouncy toy, too.
7. Kiwi
- What you’ll need to make one:
- For small Kiwi: 35 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 3 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round
- For large Kiwi: 50 yards super bulky yarn; US Size 11 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round
- For both sizes: safety pin or split-ring marker; black embroidery floss; stuffing; tapestry needle; embroidery needle
- Why you’ll want to: Kiwis have to be the strangest-looking birds in nature! Even so, I can’t help loving this little bug-eyed cutie. Sometimes you simply need a perpetually-surprised bird in your life.
Photo: tanneimtee
8. Flock
- What you’ll need to make it: A total of about 350 yards worsted weight yarn, split into 50 yards each of 5 colors for each bird, and 100 yards for the “branch” and “leaves”; US Size 5 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; US Size 4 needles; black embroidery floss and embroidery needle; crochet hook US Size I; scrap yarn; stuffing of your choice; total of 48 inches wooden dowel, to be cut into lengths of 15 inches, 12 inches, 10 inches and 7.5 inches; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to: Not just a single bird but a whole flock of them, designed to be hung over a baby’s crib as the perfect hand-made mobile. What an amazing baby shower gift this would make!
Photo: Alexandra Virgiel
9. Pasha
- What you’ll need to make it: About 50 yards worsted weight black yarn, 50 yards worsted weight white yarn, and 112 yards worsted weight yellow yarn (to be held double); US Size 6 needles; buttons or beads for eyes; black sewing needle and thread; stuffing of your choice; stitch marker; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to: Pasha is the cutest knitted penguin you ever will see.
10. Chick & Egg
- What you’ll need to make one: About 100 yards DK weight yarn in different colors; US Size 2.5 needles; stuffing of your choice; tapestry needle; hair spray (optional)
- Why you’ll want to: Got a hankering for spring? Knit up some of these cuties to bring the joy of springtime into your home no matter how cold it is outside. (Note: you’ll be prompted to “add to basket” and “checkout,” but you’ll get your download right away and will never be asked for a payment method.)
11. Tiny Turkey
- What you’ll need to make one: About 200 yards heavy worsted weight yarn, mostly in brown with assorted other autumn colors; US Size 7 and 6 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to: Or, you could embrace autumn and knit this adorable little turkey!
Photo: Frankie Brown
12. Ducks
- What you’ll need to make one: 100 to 200 yards fingering or DK weight yarn; US Size 0 (for fingering weight) or 3 (for DK weight) needles; small amount of black yarn for eyes; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to make one (and probably more): Those rubber duckies enjoyed by children aren’t really that cuddly, but these sure are.
13. Betsy’s Goose
- What you’ll need to make one: About 150 yards worsted weight yarn in appropriate colors; US Size 4 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing of your choice; black yarn for embroidering eyes (optional); tapestry needle; two matchstick-sized pieces of wood to stabilize legs
- Why you’ll want to: Fancy a goose or two? You can create a Canada goose or a white goose depending on your fancy (and the yarn you have available). I find these strikingly realistic.
Not Free, but Still Irresistible
14. Emotional Support Chicken & 15. Emotional Support Chicken Little Chickie
- What you’ll need to make one:
- For the Chicken: 200 to 250 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 7 needles; 12 or 15 mm safety eyes
- For the Chickie: 25 to 30 yards worsted or heavy worsted weight yarn; US Size 7 needles; 10 or 12 mm safety eyes
- For either: locking stitch markers; stuffing of your choice; tapestry needle
- Why you’ll want to make one (and probably more):
In the not-so-distant past, there was a time when I couldn’t go anywhere online without hearing about Emotional Support Chickens. A slightly silly concept? Of course. Delightful all the same? Also, of course.
I love how versatile the Emotional Support Chicken is; you can use so many different colors and textures to make your chicken truly unique. In addition to the pattern alone, you can also purchase kits with the name of one of many celebrities or fictional characters (and styled to look like him or her. Sort of).
Not long after it was released, I discovered the existence of the Little Chickies–a very similar design but on a much smaller scale. A satisfying knit for someone who wanted instant-gratification projects.
I ended up instantly gratifying my desire for many little chickies, to the point where I created four of them. I called them my Sense & Sensibility chickies: Shellinor Dashwood, Marihen Dashwood, Eggward Ferrars, and Colonel Sanders Brandon.
There you go. More evidence than you ever needed of my love of birds. π
These knitted birds make great gifts for cats (just add some catnip!), children, or anyone who loves birds. Why not pick a few patterns and enjoy knitting adorable birds!
