Butterball the Chicken: Free Crochet Pattern

This past summer, we had a tragedy occur at our house. Some of you may know that we have chickens back in Wyoming. Well, one of them died. That’s already sad, but what made it even worse was that it was everyone’s favorite chicken.

Her name was Butterball.

Butterball was best known for being fat, white, and squishy. She also wasn’t the best at laying eggs. But we kept her anyway, because the little kids loved her. Never in my life have I seen a chicken so loved.

Here’s an example: one day, my mom made some Indian butter chicken for dinner. If you don’t know what that is, you haven’t lived yet. It’s so delicious… but anyway. When my little sister heard the name of it, she freaked out because she thought we were eating Butterball. Get it? Butter chicken. Butterball. Pretty terrifying for a five-year-old.

But you get the picture. This was an important chicken. So it was a catastrophe when she died. My aforementioned sister was devastated. Her beloved pet was gone, snatched away by the cruel hand of fate. What was to be done? No one could bring back Butterball!

No one, that is, except yours truly. That’s right. I marched in with my crochet hook and saved the day by making this cute little chicken. Not exactly a perfect replica, but it did the job, and everyone was happy again.

By the way, this would be a great project for beginners who are interested in crocheting stuffed animals and amigurumi. It doesn’t take long to make, and the layout is pretty basic.

Butterball the Chicken: Free Crochet Pattern

Materials:

-Size G (4.25 mm) crochet hook

-Medium weight acrylic yarn in: white (about 115 yards), red (less than 100 yards), and orange (less than 100 yards)

-Two 6 mm plastic eyes

-stitch marker

-scissors and yarn needle

-stuffing

Stitches used/Abbreviations:

mc – magic circle

ch – chain

sl st – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

sc dec – single crochet decrease

Gauge (with a single strand of yarn): 16 sc x 17 rows = 4″ x 4″

Pattern Notes:

-I wrote it in with the pattern, but I’ll just say it now too: The entire project is worked holding 2 strands of yarn at once. You can use the same skein, just pull one end from the strand that wraps around the skein, and the other from the strand in the middle of the skein.

-Before you start decreasing with the body, do the beak and the comb, because they’ll be easier to attach before you stuff it. The wings I just sewed onto the body when I was done stuffing it.

-Do not join at the end of each round.

-Anything between the asterisks is repeated to the end of the round.

Body of Chicken:

With two strands of white yarn:

Mc.

Rnd 1) ch 1, 8 sc in ring, pull shut, do not join.

Rnd 2) 2 sc in each stitch around.

Rnd 3) *sc in 1st stitch, 2 sc in next* around.

Rnd 4) *1 sc in 1st 2 stitches, 2 sc in next* around.

Rnd 5) *1 sc in 1st 8 stitches, 2 sc in next*, 1 sc in last 5.

Rnds 6-13) sc in each stitch around.

At this point, skip ahead and make the beak and the comb. It will be easier than trying to sew them on at the end. Then continue with Rnd 14. Insert plastic eyes between Rnds 7 and 8, 6 stitches apart.

Rnd 14) *sc in 1st 7 stitches, sc dec*, 1 sc in last 8. Stuff as you go.

Rnd 15) *sc in 1st 2 stitches, sc dec in next* around. Stuff as you go.

Rnd 16) *sc in 1st stitch, sc dec in next* around. Stuff as you go.

Rnd 17) repeat Rnd 16. 1 sc in last st. Stuff as you go.

Rnd 18) sc dec around. Stuff as you go.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Make the wings and sew them on to the body of the chicken.

Comb (that red thing on chickens’ heads):

With 2 strands of red yarn:

Attach yarn to any stitch in Rnd 2 on top of the head.

Ch 6, and sl st in same.

Moving left, sl st in a stitch from Rnd 1, ch 6, and sl st in same.

Moving left again, sl st in the next stitch from Rnd 2, ch 6, and sl st in same.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Beak:

With 2 strands of orange yarn:

Mc, ch 1 , 2 sc, 1 dc, ch 1 , 1 dc, 2 sc. Pull ring shut.

Sew to face of chicken, below the eyes.

Wings (make 2):

With 2 strands of white yarn:

Mc.

Rnd 1) ch 1, 2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc, pull ring shut. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 2) 2 sc in 1st stitch, 1 sc in next, 1 sc in ch-1 space, 2 sc in last, ch 1, turn.

Rnd 3) 2 sc in 1st stitch, 1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in last, ch 1, turn.

Rnd 4) 2 sc in 1st stitch, 1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in last.

Fasten off, sew to body.

P.S. Here’s a picture of the real Butterball, in case you’re interested! 🙂

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