Lost Pattern Found!

Trying to get back into writing crochet patterns again, I came across this pattern that I thought had long been lost! Oh happy day!

Baby Snowy Owlet

Materials needed:

small amount of 4 ply (ww) yarn, for body, eyes, wings and wing trim, and feet (I used Yarn Bee's Cameo ivory for the body and wings referred to in pattern as main color, Yarn Bee's Cameo black for the eye rings, Caron Simply Soft Shadows pearl frost for wing trim, and Caron Simply Soft mango for the feet)

size 3 crochet thread for beak (I used Senso Metallics black)

"G" hook

"C" hook

stitch markers

Darning needle

2 post eyes (I used the snap on post and back type eyes, don't know what they're typically called.)

fiberfill for stuffing

Abbreviations used:

sc = single crochet

st = stitch

ss = slip stitch

inc = increase (do 2 single crochets in one stitch)

dec = decrease ( insert hook into first stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook)

Body: (make one)

As amigurumi is made in spirals, do not join rounds. Use a stitch marker or a piece of thread or yarn to mark the end of your rounds.

With "G" hook, and main color:

Start 8 sc in a magic ring. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: *1 sc in first 2 st, 2 sc (inc) in third st* repeat from * to * around.  (16 sc)

Rnd 4: *1 sc in first 3 st, 2 sc (inc) in fourth st* repeat from * to * around.  (20 sc)

Rnd 5: *1 sc in first 4 st, 2 sc (inc) in fifth st* repeat from * to * around.  (24 sc)

Rnd 6: *1 sc in first 5 st, 2 sc (inc) in sixth st* repeat from * to * around.  (28 sc)

Rnd 7: *1 sc in first 6 st, 2 sc (inc) in seventh st* repeat from * to * around.  (32 sc)

Rnd 8: *1 sc in first 7 st, 2 sc (inc) in eighth st* repeat from * to * around.  (36 sc)

Rnd 9: *1 sc in first 8 st, 2 sc (inc) in nineth st* repeat from * to * around.  (40 sc)

Rnds 10 - 12: work even (40 sc)

Rnd 13: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 3 st* repeat from * to * around ( 32 sc)

Rnd 14: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 2 st* repeat from * to * around ( 24 sc)

Rnd 15: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 16 sc)

Rnd 16: *sc first 2 st together (dec)* repeat from * to * around. (8 sc) ss in next st and fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing and sewing.

Wings: (make two)

With "G" hook, and main color:

Work 8 sc in a magic ring (8 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (16 sc)

Rnd 3: * 1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in next (inc)* repeat from * to * around (24 sc)

Rnd 4: work even (24 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off

Rnd 5: attach new color in any st and work even around (24 sc) ss in next st and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Fold wing circle in half and sew edges together. Do not cut yarn, you'll use the remainder to sew the wing onto the body of the owlet.

Eye Rings: (make 2)

With "G" hook, and eye color:

Make 6 sc in a magic ring, join with a ss and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing eye rings to body.

Beak: (make 1)

With "C" hook, and size 3 hook:

Make 4 sc in a magic ring.

Rnd 2: *sc in first st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 6 sc)

Rnd 3: *sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 8 sc)

Rnd 4: *sc in first 3 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 10 sc)

Rnd 5: Work even (10 sc) ss into next st and fasten off, leaving long tail for weaving and sewing.  Weave yarn through the last row of stitches and pull to close. Flatten slightly to form beak shape.

Feet: (make 2)

With "C" hook, and 'feet' color yarn:

Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (9 sc)

Rnd 3 - 4: Work even around (10 sc)

Rnd 5: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 6 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing and weaving.

Assembly Instructions:

I find it easiest to sew the beaks and eye rings onto the body before stuffing it and sewing it closed. Referring to photo, sew beak in place, then eye rings. Attach the eye posts in the centers of the eye rings.

Stuff the body, and weave the long tail through the last row of stitches, pull tight to close, and sew the tail to secure. Bury thread through the center of the body.

Sew the wings onto each side of the body. Fold feet flat, and sew to bottom of the owlet (I placed them at the 3 row from the bottom.

Notes:

It's also easiest for me to pin my body parts into place before sewing them, to make sure they're balanced and in the correct position.

A good tutorial for making a magic ring can be found here:

http://crochetme.com/Dec_Jan_0405/reads_round.html

If you're not comfortable with using a magic ring, you can also start with the traditional method (chain two and work appropriate numbers of sc into second chain from the hook) but I find it leaves too big a hole for my tastes.