Cozy Knits for Chickens

Red Heart Design Team icon By: Red Heart Design Team
Knit

Why do chickens cross the road? To get a sweater, of course!

One of my friends, Kristie Mach, has a friend who lives in Canada named Libby who keeps pet Silkie chickens. Libby jokingly asked Kristie if she could make some sweaters to keep her chickens warm, and Kristie decided to, in order to thank Libby for her good friendship. Yes, you read that correctly, my friend had a special request to knit chicken sweaters!

chickens-4

Having never made a chicken sweater, Kristie wrote out a pattern. It wasn't very difficult, since chicken bodies are shaped differently from a dog or a cat.

Read my interview with Kristie below, or skip to the bottom for the free patterns for chicken sweaters.

Interview


1) Why did your friend want chicken sweaters? According to Libby, it was a long cold winter and Easter was coming, so not only would they be warm, but very festive as well!
2) How do you get a sweater on a chicken? Hold the hen and slip it over her head. Silkie chickens are docile and easy to handle.
3) How long does it take you to make one sweater? 2-3 hours
4) Did you choose Red Heart Classic because it is sturdy and comes in many colors? I used it because it's affordable, sturdy, and easy wash.
chickens-35) How many sweaters did your friend request? 5
6) How much did you sell them for? I made them for Libby because it was a fun idea and I wanted to thank her for being a good friend. If someone should like to order one, it would be $35 plus shipping.
7) Does Libby think there is a great need for chicken sweaters? She thinks chicken lovers and enthusiasts would buy them, especially for shows! There would also be a need for chickens who had lost their feathers and needed them to stay warm.
8) Have you gotten any more orders for chicken sweaters? I haven't shopped around to get more orders.
9) If asked, will you make sweaters for other animals? Possibly. It depends on how difficult it would be to figure out the schematic.

You may contact Kristie Mach via her email: me1717@hotmail.com or Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/people/Doberwoman

Free Chicken Sweater Patterns

chicken-sweater---plain-sweaterBasic Chicken Sweater

Designed by Kristie Mach

Required Supplies

Red Heart Classic;: 1 ball 03 White
Susan Bates; Knitting Needles: 5mm (US 8)
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
6 inches hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro;
Sewing needle
Thread (to match hook-and-loop fastener)

GAUGE: 17 sts = 4 (10 cm); 23 rows = 4 (10 cm) in pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Finished Size
Length (from one end to the other, laid flat): 17.75
Width, at bottom (folded in half): 5
Width, at neck (folded in half): 3
Special Stitches

kfb (knit into front and back) = Knit next st but do not remove from needle, knit into back loop of same st and remove from needle.
pfb (purl into front and back) = Purl next st but do not remove from needle, purl into back loop of same st and remove from needle.
ssk (slip, slip, knit) = Slip next two stitches knitwise to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop.

Notes: Starting with Row 44, you will start working the neck, turning in the mi Addle instead of working all the way across.

Pattern

Cast on 28.
Row 1: K4, place marker, k20, place marker, k4.
Rows 2-3: Knit.
Row 4: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (26 sts)
Row 5, 7, 9, 11: K4, p18, k4.
Rows 6, 8, 10: Knit.
Row 12: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (24 sts)
Rows 13, 15, 17, 19: K4, p16, k4.
Rows 14, 16, 18: Knit.
Row 20: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (22 sts)
Rows 21, 23, 25, 27: K4, p14, k4.
Rows 22, 24, 26: Knit.
Row 28: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (20 sts)
Rows 29, 31, 33, 35: K4, p12, k4.
Rows 30, 32, 34: Knit.
Row 36: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (18 sts)
Rows 37, 39, 41: K4, p10, k4.
Rows 38, 40, 42: Knit.
Row 43: K4, p4, (slip 1, p1, psso) twice, p3, k4. (16 st)
Right side of neck

Row 44: Knit to marker, k2tog twice, turn. (6 sts)
Row 45: P2tog, k4, turn. (5 sts)
Row 46: K3, k2tog (lay marker aside). (4 sts)
Rows 47-51: Knit.
Row 52: Kfb, k3. (5 sts)
Row 53: K4, place marker, kfb. (6 sts)
Row 54: Pfb twice, k4. (8 sts)
Row 55: K7, kfb. Cut yarn. (9 sts)
Left side of neck

Row 44: Attach yarn. Ssk twice, k4. (6 sts)
Row 45: K4, p2tog. (5 sts)
Row 46: Ssk, k3 (lay marker aside). (4 sts)
Rows 47-51: Knit.
Row 52: K3, kfb. (5 sts)
Row 53: Kfb, place marker, k4. (6 sts)
Row 54: K4, kfb twice. (8 sts)
Row 55: Kfb, k7. (9 sts)

You will now connect both sides, working all the way across. (18 sts)
Rows 56, 58, 60: K4, p10, k4.
Rows 57, 59: Knit.
Row 61: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (20 sts)
Rows 62, 64, 66, 68: K4, p12, k4.
Rows 63, 65, 67: Knit.
Row 69: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (22 sts)
Rows 70, 72, 74, 76: K4, p14, k4.
Rows 71, 73, 75: Knit.
Row 77: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (24 sts)
Rows 78, 80, 82, 84: K4, p16, k4.
Rows 79, 81, 83: Knit.
Row 85: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (26 sts)
Rows 86, 88, 90: K4, p18, k4.
Rows 87, 89, 91, 92: Knit.
Row 93: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (28 sts)
Rows 94-96: Knit.

Cast off. Weave in ends. Sew 3 of hook-and-loop fastener on sides, as seen in photo below.

Abbreviations: k = knit; k2tog = knit next 2 stitches together; p = purl; p2tog = purl next 2 stitches together; psso = pass slipped stitch over; st(s)

= stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified

chicken-sweater---heart-sweaterHeart Chicken Sweater

Designed by Kristie Mach

Required Supplies
Red Heart Classic;: 1 ball each 03 White A, 730 Grenadine B
Susan Bates; Knitting Needles: 5mm (US 8)
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
6 inches hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro;
Sewing needle
Thread (to match hook-and-loop fastener)

GAUGE: 17 sts = 4 (10 cm); 23 rows = 4 (10 cm) in pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Finished Size
Length (from one end to the other, laid flat): 17.75
Width, at bottom (folded in half): 5

chicken-sweater---open

Width, at neck (folded in half):

 3

Notes

  • Starting with Row 10, you will work the chart across the mi Addle of the sweater.
  • Starting with Row 44, you will start working the neck, turning in the middle instead of working all the way across.

With A, cast on 28.
Row 1: With B, k4, place marker, k20, place marker, k4.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: With A, knit.
Row 4: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 st before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (26 sts)
Row 5: With B, k4, p19, k4.
Row 6: Knit.
Rows 7, 9, 11: With A, k4, p18, k4.
Rows 8: Knit
Row 10: Knit. Work chart over center 10 sts. Continue working chart through Row 36.
Row 12: Knit to marker, k2tog, while knitting to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (24 sts)
Rows 13, 15, 17, 19: K4, p16, k4.
Rows 14, 16, 18: Knit.
Row 20: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (22 sts)
Rows 21, 23, 25, 27: K4, p14, k4.
Rows 22, 24, 26: Knit.
Row 28: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (20 sts)
Rows 29, 31, 33, 35: K4, p12, k4.
Rows 30, 32, 34: Knit.
Row 36: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, knit to end. (18 sts)
Rows 37, 39, 41: K4, p10, k4.
Rows 38, 40, 42: Knit.
Row 43: K4, p4, (sl1, p1, psso) twice, p3, k4. (16 sts)

hearts with numbers 2

Chart starts on wrong side. Read even rows left-to-right and read o Add rows right-to-left.

Right side of neck:
Row 44: Knit to marker, k2tog twice, turn. (6 sts)
Row 45: P2tog, k4, turn. (5 sts)
Row 46: K3, k2tog (lay marker aside). (4 sts)
Rows 47-51: Knit.
Row 52: Kfb, k3. (5 sts)
Row 53: K4, pm, kfb. (6 sts)
Row 54: Pfb twice, k4. (8 sts)
Row 55: K7, kfb. Cut yarn. (9 sts)

Left side of neck:
Row 44: Attach yarn. Ssk twice, k4. (6 sts)
Row 45: K4, p2tog. (5 sts)
Row 46: Ssk, k3 (lay marker aside). (4 sts)
Rows 47-51: Knit.
Row 52: K3, kfb. (5 sts)
Row 53: Kfb, pm, k4. (6 sts)
Row 54: K4, kfb twice. (8 sts)
Row 55: Kfb, k7. (9 sts)

You will now connect both sides, working all the way across. (18 sts)
Rows 56, 58, 60: K4, p10, k4.
Rows 57, 59: Knit.
Row 61: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (20 sts)
Rows 62, 64, 66, 68: K4, p12, k4.
Rows 63, 65, 67: Knit.
Row 69: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (22 sts)
Rows 70, 72, 74, 76: K4, p14, k4.
Rows 71, 73, 75: Knit.
Row 77: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (24 sts)
Rows 78, 80, 82, 84: K4, p16, k4.
Rows 79, 81, 83: Knit.
Row 85: Knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (26 sts)
Rows 86, 88, 90: K4, p18, k4.
Rows 87, 89: Knit.
Row 91: With B, k4, p18, k4.
Row 92: Knit.
Row 93: With A, knit to marker, kfb, knit to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, knit to end. (28 sts)
Rows 94: Knit.
Rows 95-96: With B, knit.

With A, cast off. Weave in ends. Sew 3 of hook-and-loop fastener on sides, as seen in photos. With B, sc around neck. Embroider flowers, referring to photo and using lazy daisy stitches.

Abbreviations: A, B = Color A, Color B; k = knit; k2tog = knit next 2 stitches together; p = purl; p2tog = purl next 2 stitches together; psso = pass slipped stitch over; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified