Tiny Christmas Robin - free crochet pattern

Apparently, robins are associated with Christmas, at least in Britain, because of Victorian postmen, who wore bright red jackets and were nicknamed ‘Robins’. As they were a welcome sight, delivering the newly invented Christmas cards, their feathered namesakes soon became popular in the designs of the cards. Of course, robins are also delightful birds, easily visible and seemingly friendly (especially if you’re doing some gardening, when they swoop in and devour any bugs you’ve unearthed), who look particularly striking against a snowy backdrop with their bright red breasts.

With this crochet pattern you can make yourself a tiny little robin, only about 3 cm/1.5" tall. Simple and quick to make, with minimal sewing, he’s perfect to hang on your tree, or decorate anywhere else you like.

 

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
ss = slipstitch
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FO = fasten off

General instructions:

Work in rounds unless otherwise stated and do not join rounds unless told to. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do. To start a round, you can use the magic ring method, but I prefer to ch 2, and work the appropriate number of sc into 1^st ch. If you work the sc over the tail of yarn as well you can use that to pull the hole tight.

When changing from one colour of yarn to another work the stitch before the change until there are two loops left on the hook. Then use the new colour for the final yarn over hook and pull through.

Work through both loops of stitches unless otherwise indicated.

Special stitch instructions:

3 dc bob: bobble stitch. YOH (yarn over hook), insert hook into next stitch, YOH and pull through loop, YOH, pull through 2 loops, *YOH, insert hook into same stitch, YOH and pull through loop, YOH, pull through 2 loops, repeat once from*, YOH, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

You will need:

Small amounts of red, brown and white yarn, double knitting or worsted weight.
Small amount of black yarn for the eyes and beak.
A length of cotton yarn to hang as a decoration.
Small amount of stuffing.
3.5mm (E) hook.
Tapestry needle.

Pattern:

Start with red yarn.
Round 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc into 1^st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around - 12 st.
Round 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times – 18 st.
Round 4: Sc in next 8 st, change to white yarn, sc in next 10 st – 18 st.
Change to brown yarn
Round 5: Sc in each st around - 18 st.
Round 6: Sc in next st, [wing: ss in next st, ch 4, miss ch next to hook, sc in next ch, dc in next ch, sc in next ch, ss back into original st], sc in next st, [3dc bob] 3 times, sc in next st, [wing: as before], sc in next 10 st – 18 st.
Push bobbles from the inside out, they will form the head.
Round 7: Sc in each st around - 18 st.
Round 8: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 4 times, sc2tog, [tail: ss in next st, ch 4, miss ch next to hook, sc in next 3 ch, ss back into original st], sc2tog, sc in next st – 12 st.
Round 9: Sc2tog 6 times – 6 st.
FO, leaving a length of yarn.

Embroider the eyes using three short lines of black yarn for each eye. Make the beak by sewing a French knot with the black yarn. To do this, take the yarn out between the eyes and, with the needle held close to this point, wrap the yarn three times around the needle. Sew back into the head very close to the point where the yarn came out.

Using cotton yarn, sew a loop at the top of the head if you want to hang your robin as a decoration. Finish stuffing and neatly sew up the hole at the back. Don’t cut the brown yarn but use it to keep the wings in place. Sew one or two stitches in the middle of each wing to attach it to the back.