Chick, Hen - plastic egg cover

HEN/CHICK

Materials: much less than a skein of worsted weight yarn for body in white, gold, brown, yellow (your choice really; use leftover bits of yarn). Small bit of worsted wt. red yarn for comb; very small bit of yellow or gold for beak (so long as beak contrasts body of the chick/hen). Small amount worsted weight any shade of green or gold for nest. Size G hook (H if you crochet tight).

Leaving a 3 inch tail (for use later when sewing up the rear), chain 32 (30 2).

Body:

Row 1: Hdc into 3rd chain from hook. Hdc across to end, ch. 1, turn. 30 hdcs completed.

Rows 2 - 6: Ch 2, 1 Hdc in each stitch across to end, maintaining stitch count of 30.

Row 7: chain 1, fold piece in half and sc in first stitch and each stitch across from the open end leaving a TOTAL of 10 stitches unworked (this will form the head). Now, begin working in rounds to form the head.

Head:

Round 8: chain 2, Hdc completely around, placing a marker (piece of contrast color yarn) to mark end of 1st round. (Do not join rounds; just continue around through completion of Round 12.)

Rounds 9 - 12: Hdc completely around in every stitch, noting the end of each round where marker is placed. Fasten off, leaving the top of the head open.

Note: Top of head will be closed by crocheting the comb to join it closed.

Beak: See picture for placement. Using yellow, gold or orange (contrast your hen), join yarn at bottom front of head and make at least 2 dcs to fashion a beak. Finish off, leaving a small tail to work under the next yarn (red) to create comb.

Comb: Using red, join yarn at end of beak, crocheting over beak tail and comb joining tail, sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, etc.when it looks good to you with a number of stitches across the front and top of the head, also closing up the top of the hen's head, its done. Fasten off when satisfied with the comb, at the back of the hen's neck.

Rear of hen: Using the 3 inch starter tail, either sc or sew up the rear end of the hen.

TAIL OPTIONAL: Make a pompon and attach at corner where hen's back and rear meet.

GRASS/NEST: At rear bottom of hen, join green (or nest color of your choice) and work one sc, skip 2 sts, 4dc (or 5) in next stitch, skip 2 sts, sc in next st, repeating around. Join/fasten off. Add eyes to both sides of face.