Here is a knitting pattern for a Novelty Chicken Hat from the Nixneedles Novelty Knits Collection. The chicken hat is made using stocking stitch and chunky yarn. This is the perfect hat for a joke gift for a chicken lover, alternatively this would make an ideal alternative easter bonnet, or a joke hat for a stag do!!!
To make hat (make 1): Using 6.5mm needles and the brown yarn cast on 73 stitches. Row 1: [K1, P1] to last stitch, K1 Row 2: [P1, K1] to last stitch, P1 Repeat these row a further 7 times, working 16 rows in total. Starting with a knit row work in stocking stitch until work measures 8 inches ending with a purl row. Shape Crown: Row 1: K8, [S1, K1, PSSO, K6] twice S1, K1, PSSO, K21, [S1, K1, PSSO, K6] three times, K2 (67 sts) Row 2: Purl to end Row 3: K8, [S1, K1, PSSO, K5] twice S1, K1, PSSO, K19, [S1, K1, PSSO, K5] three times, K2 (61 sts) Row 4: Purl to end Row 5: K8, [S1, K1, PSSO, K4] twice S1, K1, PSSO, K17, [S1, K1, PSSO, K4] three times, K2 (55 sts) Row 6: Purl to end Row 7: K8, [S1, K1, PSSO, K3] twice S1, K1, PSSO, K15, [S1, K1, PSSO, K3] three times, K2 (49 sts) Row 8: Purl to end Row 9: K8, [S1, K1, PSSO, K2] twice S1, K1, PSSO, K13, [S1, K1, PSSO, K2] three times, K2 (43 sts) Row 10: Purl to end Row 11: Cast off 15 sts, K13 (including stitch on right had needle), cast off 15 sts. Make Neck: Rejoin the yarn. Row 1: Purl to end Row 2: K5, inc1, K3, inc1, K5 (15 sts) Row 3: Purl to end Row 4: K5, inc1, K5, inc1, K5 (17 sts) Row 5: Purl to end Row 6: K1, S1, K1, PSSO, K2, inc1, K7, inc1, K2, K2tog, K1 (17sts) Row 7: Purl to end Row 8: K1, S1, K1, PSSO, K1, inc1, K11, inc1, K1, K2tog, K1 (19 sts) Row 9: Purl to end Row 10: K1, S1, K1, PSSO, inc1, K3, MB, K3, MB, K3, inc1, K2tog, K1 (17 sts) Row 11: Purl to end Row 12: [K2tog] twice, knit to last 4 sts, [K2tog] twice (13 sts) Row 13: Purl to end Row 14: K2, [K3tog] three times, K2 (7 sts) Row 15: Purl to end Row 16: [K2tog] repeat to last stitch, K1 (4 sts) Cast Off. To make Wings (make 4): Using 6.5mm needles and brown yarn cast on 5 stitches. Row 1: Purl to end. Row 2: K1, [M1] three times, K1. (8 sts) Row 3: Purl to end. Row 4: K1, [M1] knit to last 2 stitches, M1, K1. (10 sts) Row 5: Purl to end. Row 6: K1, [M1] knit to last 2 stitches, M1, K1. (12 sts) Row 7: Purl to end. Row 8: K2, [M1] knit to last 2 stitches, M1, K2. (14 sts) Row 9: Purl to end. Row 10: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog. (12 sts) Row 11: Purl to end. Row 12: Knit to end. Row 13: Purl to end. Row 14: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog. (10 sts) Row 15: Purl to end. Row 16: [K2tog] twice, knit to last 4 stitches, [K2tog] twice. (6 sts) Row 17: Purl to end. Row 18: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog. (4 sts) Row 19: Purl to end. Row 20: K2tog, twice. (2 sts) Row 21: Purl to end. To make tail (make 2): Using 6.5mm needles and brown yarn cast on 9 stitches. Row 1: Knit to end. Row 2: Purl to end Row 3: K1, S1, K1, PSSO, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. (7 sts) Row 4: Purl to end Row 5: K1, S1, K1, PSSO, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. (5 sts) Row 6: Purl to end Row 7: S1, K1, PSSO, K1, K2tog. (3 sts) Row 8: Purl to end Row 9: K3tog. Break yarn, pull through the remaining stitch and secure. To make legs (make 2 optional) Using 6.5mm needles and cream yarn cast on 10stitches. Row 1: Knit to end. Row 2: Purl to end Row 3: Knit to end Row 4: Purl to end Row 5: Knit to end Row 6: Knit to end Repeat these 6 rows until piece measures 18 inches or desired length. Cast Off. To make comb (make 1): Using 4mm needles and red yarn cast on 30 stitches. Row 1: Knit to end. Row 2: [P1, P2tog] repeat to end. (20 sts) Row 3: Knit to end Row 4: [P2tog] repeat to end. (10 sts) Row 5: Knit to end Row 6: [P2tog] repeat to end. (5 sts) Cast Off. To make beak (make 1): Using 4mm needles and yellow yarn cast on 2 stitches. Row 1: Knit to end. Row 2: Purl to end. Row 3: [M1] repeat to end. (4 sts) Row 4: Purl to end. Row 5: M1, knit to last stitch, M1. (6 sts) Row 6: Purl to end. Row 7: M1, knit to last stitch, M1. (8 sts) Row 8: Purl to end. Row 9: M1, knit to last stitch, M1. (10 sts) Cast Off. To make up
Carefully sew the eyes onto the bobbles on either side of the head. Join the seam at the back of the head and the neck. Lightly stuff the head and neck, then stitch a line down the back of the neck to separate it from the main body of the hat. Carefully sew up the side and top of the hat. Once complete there should be a small point at the back of the hat to which the tail is attached.
With right sides facing join together the two knitted sides of the tail (not the cast on edges. Turn the tail the correct way out and slot the cast on edge over the small point at he back of the hat and sew on to secure.
With right sides facing join together long sides of the wings, leaving a small opening at the round edge of the ring. Turn the wing the correct way out and sew up remaining gap. Carefully position wings at an equal distance on both sides of the hat. Sew in place to secure.
Fold the beak into two and sew down the long side. Carefully position the beak at front of head just below the level of the eyes. Sew into place to secure. Position the comb onto the top of the head and secure in place.
If the legs are required attach on the inside of the hat just below the position of the wings. The hat is designed to allow the ribbing to be turned up, so the legs should be attached on the main body of the hat so the attachments cannot be seen if the ribbing is folded up. Finally to form the feet on the bottom of the legs, fold the legs back at the first ridge in the pattern sew around the edge leaving a small gap to allow a little light stuffing to be added before sewing up the rest of the foot. If claws are required secure a few threads of yarn to the base of the foot and trim off to form claws.