Rainbow Chicken is just your average, ordinary, everyday chicken, except that she developed a striped pastel pattern to her plumage after a rainbow fell on her one day. Can you imagine that? I want a rainbow to fall on me too!

She lives in the woods near the picnic and lays pastel-colored eggs in springtime. These eggs look a lot like candy. But are they? You’ll have to stayed tuned for Part 2 of “The Mystery of the Rainbow Chicken” to find out! In the meantime, crochet a rainbow chicken. She’d look super cute in someone’s Easter basket.

Rainbow Chicken Crochet Pattern

Finished size: 7″ tall and 13″ around at the widest point

Materials

(A) 50 yds worsted-weight yarn in white (Caron Simply Soft in White, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(B) small amounts of worsted-weight yarn in 4 pastel colors:
Caron Simply Soft in Soft Pink, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m]
Caron Simply Soft in Orchid, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m]
Caron Simply Soft in Soft Green, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m]
Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m]
(C) small amount of worsted-weight yarn in yellow (Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(D) small amount of worsted-weight yarn in red (Caron Simply Soft in Red, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
1 set of size 12 mm safety eyes (if you are making this for a child, please embroider eyes)
White felt
Polyester Fiberfill
Tapestry needle

Gauge

5 sts = 1″
5 rows = 1″

Instructions

Eyes

Cut two 1″ squares out of white felt. Fold in half and snip a small hole in the center. Insert post of a safety eye into each hole. Cut the square into a circle about 1/4″ larger than the eye, using the eye as a guide. Set eyes aside for now.

Body

Note for changing color: This chicken is crocheted in joined rounds in order to create almost perfect jogless stripes. In other words, each round ends with “join with slst, ch 1.” On the rounds with a color change, join with slst as usual, but use the next color to ch 1.

Of course, you could always fasten off each color and reattach the new color. This will give you a more precise stripe, but you’ll have to weave in some ends, which could be annoying… unless it’s your favorite part, then by all means, knock yourself out!

With A, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1. (12)

Rnd 3: * Sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst. Switch to yarn in one of the B pastel yarns. Ch 1. (24)

From this point forward for rest of the body, alternate 3 rnds of white with 1 rnd of a pastel color, alternating between the colors.

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (36)

Rnds 7-15: Sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1.

Rnd 16: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (42)

Rnd 17: Sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1.

Rnd 18: * 6 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (48)

Rnd 19: Sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1.

Rnd 20: * 7 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (54)

Rnds 21-30: Sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1.

Rnd 31: * 7 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (48)

Rnd 32: * 6 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (42)

Rnd 33: * 5 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (36)

Rnd 34: * 4 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (30)

Rnd 35: * 3 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (24)

Insert safety eyes between stitches in Rnds 9 and 10 and pop on the backs to secure.

Stuff chicken firmly.

Rnd 36: * 2 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (18)

Rnd 37: * Sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (12)

Rnd 38: * Sk, sc, rep from * 5 more times. Join with slst. (6)

FO, leaving a tail. Thread tail through remaining sts and pull to close. Weave in end.

Wings (Make 2)

With A, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (8)

Rnd 3: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 4: Switch to one of the B pastel yarns. Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 5: Sc in ea sc around.

Tuck in ends and press flat, lining up 3 sets of sts in the middle.

Row 6: Sc this closed with 3 scs (skipping the sts on either end where it is folded). Turn. (3)

Row 7: Ch 2, 2 dc in each of next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 2, slst) in last sc.

FO, leaving a tail for sewing.

Sew wings to the sides of the chicken.

Feet (Make 2)

With C, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (8)

Rnds 3-5: Sc in ea sc around.

Tuck in ends and press flat, lining up 3 sets of sts in the middle.

Row 6: Sc this closed with 3 scs (skipping the sts on either end where it is folded). Turn. (3)

Row 7: Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, hdc in next 2 chs, slst in sc at base of 5-ch. (Slst in next sc, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, hdc in next 2 chs, slst) 2 times.

Sew these to the bottom of the chicken so that the toes stick out from under her belly.

Beak

With C, ch 9.

Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, slst in end ch. FO, leaving a long tail. Weave in short end. Fold beak in half and use long tail to sew beak to head along the fold.

Comb

On top of head, follow an imaginary line from the beak to the back of the head. Pull up a loop of D at the back of the head along this line. Any stitch toward the back of the head will do. I counted 2 back from the center of the head.

Ch 2, dc, ch 2, and slst in this same st.

Ch 2 and dc in next st.

2 dc in next st.

Dc, ch 2, and slst in next st.

Ch 2, dc, ch 2, and slst in next st.

FO. Weave in ends.