‘It’s a Hoot’ Owl Applique

I love appliques. They are always adorable and add the perfect accent to whatever project you are working on. When I think ‘applique’, flowers typically spring to mind–but today we’re going to explore a different take and create a cute owl face!

This applique would look adorable stitched onto a hat or a blanket, a sweater or a purse! The possibilities are endless.

This owl applique is a lovely finishing accent to the Baby’s Best Bumpy Blanket!

Materials Needed:

• Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook. Note: You can really use any size hook you want with this applique. Using a size I/5.5 mm will produce a finished applique that measures approximately 5 inches wide by 4.5 inches high.
• 3 colors of any type of yarn. I typically use Red Heart Super Saver but it’s a lot of fun to mix it up and blend different yarn weights. You will need one color each for the center, the outline, and the border. You will also need a small amount of white, black, and yellow for the eyes and beak.
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and for attaching the features to the owl.

Stitches Used:

• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st/sts = stitch/stitches
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• lsc = long single crochet: Insert your hook in the next st two rounds below the round you are working and work a sc, bringing your loop up to the same height as previous sts
• picot = ch 4, 1 sc in first ch
• sc2tog = single crochet two together

Using your chosen center color, begin with a magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count as sc). Work 10 sc in center. Pull ring closed. DO NOT join.

Rnd 1: 2 sc in the 1st sc, 1 dc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 dc in next 4 sc. (12 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in next 2 sts, 1 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 hdc in next st, 2 sc in next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of the next st, 2 hdc in next 2 sts, 1 hdc in next st. (20 sts)

Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st] 10 times. (30 sc)

Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in the next 2 sts] 10 times. Sl st in the next st and finish off. (40 sc)

Change color to your outline color.

Note: This part is important to get correct because it will affect how your project looks when you are finished! 

Join your new color with a sl st in the stitch directly in front of the one you finished off in the last round.

Ch 1 (does not count as a sc), 1 sc in same space as join. 1 sc in next 2 sts, picot (ch 4, slip stitch in 1st ch)–ear made.

1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, [1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, 1 sc in next 2 sts, picot (ch 4, slip stitch in 1st ch)–ear made.

1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts, [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts] 3 times, join with a sl st in the beginning sc. Finish off. (47 sts)

Change color to your border color.

Note: This part is also important to get correct because it will affect how your project looks when you are finished! 

Sl st with your new color into the 1st st directly behind the first picot you made in the last round. (You will begin your crochet working around that first picot).

Ear: Ch 1 (does not count as sc), sc in join, sc in 1st chain (this is the first chain that makes up the picot), (sc, ch 1, sc) in st at top of picot, sc in next ch, sc in next st on head (this is the last st that was slip stitched into for the picot in the round before.) Ear complete.

Top of head: 1 sc in next 8 sts, l sc in next st, 1 long sc in next (insert the hook into the next stitch two rounds below, yarn over, pull up a long loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook–long sc made), 1 sc in next 8 sts–top of head complete.

Ear: sc in 1st chain (this is the first chain that makes up the picot), (sc, ch 1, sc) in st at top of picot, sc in next ch, sc in next st on head (this is the last st that was slip stitched into for the picot in the round before.) Ear complete.

Bottom of head: 1 sc in each st around. Join with a sl st in the beginning sc. Finish off and weave in all ends. (56 sts)

All that is left are the eyes and beak!

Eyes (make 2 of each color)

With white, ch 3. 10 dc in 1st ch. Join with a sl st to top of first dc. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

With black, ch 2. 6 sc in 1st ch. Join with a sl st to the top of first sc. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Beak

With yellow, ch 6. Turn.

Row 1: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hk, 1 sc in each ch across, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)

Row 2: Sk 1st sc, [sc2tog] twice, ch 1, turn. (2 sc)

Row 3: sc2tog, finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Arrange your eyes and beak and sew as shown in the picture using your tails.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this cute little project. If you’ve made one and want to show your stuff, mosey on over to HodgePodge on facebook and post a pic!

Tagged: applique, HodgePodge Crochet, owl, Shop HodgePodge Crochet