Atticus Owl: A Free Crochet Pattern For You

Atticus Owl

designed by Elizabeth Ann White

for BellaCrochet

Skill Level: Intermediate- for those who are familiar with working with size 10 thread and steel hooks, and who have a thorough understanding of the basics of crochet" 

Size: About 10 ½” long by 7” wide

Materials:

Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:

 50 yards each Dark Brown, Tan and Rust

 Small amount Gold

Spray Starch

Fabric Glue

Two ¾” Decorative Buttons (for Eyes)

Size 5 (1.90 mm) crochet hook

Special Stitches:

For Shell: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in st or ch sp indicated

For Small Shell (sm-shell): (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in st or ch sp indicated

For 3 dc cluster: Yo, insert hook in st or ch sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in same st or ch sp, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook

Head
Row 1: With dk brown, ch 4, sl st in first ch to from ring, ch 3, work 4 dc in ring, turn (Ch-3 counts as first dc; 5 dc made)

Row 2: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, dc in next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in last st, turn. (10 dc, 1 ch-2 sp made)

Row 3: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, dc in each of next 4 dc, ch 4, sc in ch-2 sp, ch 4, dc in each of next 4 dc, 2 dc in last dc, turn. (12 dc, 2 ch-4 sps made)

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 2 times, ch 4, dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in each of last 3 dc, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 3 times, ch 4, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in last 3 dc, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 4 times, ch 4, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in last 3 dc, turn.

Row 7: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 5 times, ch 4, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in last 3 dc, turn.

Row 8: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 6 times, ch 4, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in last 3 dc, turn. 

Row 9: Ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, dc in each of next 3 dc, (ch 4, sc in next ch-4 sp) 7 times, ch 4, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in last 3 dc, turn.

Row 10: For first Ear Tuft, ch 3 , dc in each of next 2 dc, skip ch-1 sp, dc in each of next 3 dc; leaving remaining sts unworked, turn. (6 dc made)

Row 11: Ch 2 (not worked in or counted as a st), dc in next st, (dc next 2 sts tog) 2 times, turn. (3 dc made)

Row 12: Ch 2, dc next 2 sts tog, turn. Fasten off. 

Row 10: For second Ear Tuft, working in unworked sts on opposite end of Row 9, join with sl st in first st at beginning of row, ch 3, dc in each of next 2 dc, skip ch-1, dc in each of next 3 dc; leaving remaining stitches unworked, turn.

Row 11: Ch 2, dc in next st, (dc next 2 sts tog) 2 times, turn. (3 dc made)

Row 12: Ch 2, dc next 2 sts tog, turn. Fasten off.

Body
Row 1: Working in opposite side of ch-4 ring of Row 1 on Head, join tan with sl st in ring, ch 3 for first dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ring, turn. (9 dc, 2 ch-2 sps made)

Row 2: Ch 3, shell (see Special Stitches) in first ch-2 sp, skip next dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next dc, shell in last ch-2 sp, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, 9 dc in ch-3 sp, ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, (dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc) 4 times, ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn. (2 shells, 2 ch-3 sps, 14 dc made)

Row 5: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, dc in next dc, (ch 1, dc in next dc) 13 times, ch 3, shell in last shell, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3) 13 times, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn. (14 ch-3 sps, 2 shells made)

Row 7: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 12 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 8: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 11 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 9: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 10 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 10: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 9 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 11: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 8 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 12: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 7 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 13: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 6 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 14: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 5 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 15: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 4 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 16: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 3 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 17: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 2 times, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 18: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip last ch-3 sp, shell in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn. Fasten off.

Tail

Row 19: Join rust with sl st in ch-2 sp of first shell, (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp as joining, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp of last shell, turn.

Row 20: Ch 3, small shell (see Special Stitches) in each of first 2 ch-2 sps, (tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch-2 sp, sm-shell in each of last 2 ch-2 sps, turn.

Row 21: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first 2 sm-shells, sm-shell in next ch-2 sp, sm-shell in each of last 2 sm-shells, turn. (5 sm-shells made)

Note: In Row 22 you will begin using Shells in place of the Small Shells used in Rows 20 & 21 

Row 22: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of each sm-shell across, turn. (5 shells)

Row 23: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, (ch 2, shell in ch-2 sp of next shell) across, turn.

Row 24: Ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of first shell, (ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp of next shell) across, turn.

Row 25: Ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc, ch 7, sc, ch 5, sc) in ch-2 sp of first shell, *ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, (sc, ch 5, sc, ch 7, sc, ch 5, sc) in ch-2 sp of next shell; repeat from * across, ch 3, sl st in last st of last shell. Fasten off.

Tester Debbie Bigley's owl in progress.
Thank you for letting me share your photo, Debbie!

Here is Carolyn Hirning-Edelen's Atticus in progress.
Thank you for allowing me to use your photo, Carolyn!

Eye (make 2)
Rnd 1: With rust, ch 15, sl st in first ch to form a ring, ch 3 for first dc, 29 dc in ring, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (30 dc made)

Rnd 2: Ch 6, skip next st, (dc in next st, ch 3, skip next st) around, join with sl st in 3^rd ch of ch-6. (15 ch-3 sps made)

Rnd 3: (Sl st, ch 1, sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in first ch-3 sp, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in each ch-3 sp around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Wing (make 2)

Row 1: With dark brown, ch 4, dc in 4^th ch from hook, (ch 2, 2 dc in same ch first dc was worked in) 2 times, turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, sm-shell in first ch-2 sp, ch 3, sm-shell in last ch-2 sp, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, 6 dc in ch-3 sp, ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip ch-3 sp, dc in next dc, (ch 1, dc in next dc) 5 times, ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3) 5 times, skip last ch-3 sp, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 4 times, skip last ch-3 sp, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 7: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 3 times, skip last ch-3 sp, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 8: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 2 times, skip last ch-3 sp, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 9: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 3, skip first ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip last ch-3 sp, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Rows 10 & 11: Ch 3, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, sm-shell in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, turn.

Row 12: Ch 3, 3 dc cl (see Special Stitches) in ch-2 sp of first sm-shell, ch 6, sl st in 6^th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in same ch last sl st was worked in, ch 5, sl st in same ch last sl st was worked in, 3 dc cl in ch-2 sp of last sm-shell, ch 3, sl st in last st of last sm-shell. Fasten off. 

Beak

Row 1: With Gold, ch 4, 2 dc in 4^th ch from hook, turn. (First 3 chs count as first dc; 3 dc made)

Row 2: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, dc in next dc, 2 dc in last dc, turn. (5 dc made)

Row 3: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, dc in each of next 3 dc, 2 dc in last dc, turn. (7 dc made)

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in each dc across, turn.

Row 5: Sl st in each st across, turn. Fasten off. (7 sl sts made)

My what big eyes you have, Atticus!
"Whooo, me?"

Close up of Wing

Close up of Tail

Finishing

1: Place all pieces on blocking surface. Spray with starch, shape as desired and allow to dry.

Tip: when blocking two identical pieces (such as the wings or eyes) place one on top of the other and block them together as one, so they will be the exact same shape and size.

2: Glue Eyes to Head as shown in photo. Glue Beak between Eyes as shown. Glue Wings to sides of Body as shown. Allow to dry.

3: Glue buttons to centers of Eyes as shown. Allow to dry.

Special thanks go to my fabulous pattern testers, Debbie Bigley, Jolene Ortiz, and Carolyn Hirning-Edelen for helping me get Atticus ready for publication! I don't know what I would do without these fabulous ladies! 

If you would like to purchase an ad-free copy of the pattern for Atticus and his companion Ariadne for a small fee, please visit my Etsy shop:  Atticus
I am offering a paid version of this pattern for the convenience of  my customers who prefer an easy to read, printable and ad-free PDF. You will be able to save the pattern to your Etsy account as well as your computer or other device.

Copyright BellaCrochet 2018. All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute or share this pattern; do not post it (or any portion of it) on any website. DO NOT make videos or tutorials of it for distribution on YouTube or any other site. You may share the link to the pattern only (and link shares are greatly appreciated, please tell your crocheting friends who might enjoy this pattern!) This pattern has been tested for accuracy and clarity, and I can offer no additional information, photos or help with it.

If you have enjoyed this design, I hope you will check out my other free patterns: