Hoot Owl Knitting Pattern

This easy owl knitting pattern is a blast to make because it’s so quick and simple! You can make “Hoot” the owl in any color you’d like and customize him with your scrap yarn.

See the full, free pattern below, or you may choose to purchase the ad-free printable pattern from my Etsy shop HERE.

Does anyone else like owls? We have an owl that comes around our home every now and then, and we just love when we get to see him.

After making Poppy The Chicken, I realized the same body could be used to create a cute owl. Poppy is still super popular! This is literally the same body as Poppy, but it has different detailing to make it the owl. What else could we make with this easy body? Hmm..

I enjoy this pattern because it’s an instant gratification project since it works up so quickly. You also don’t have to go buy any yarn if you’ve got some super bulky and worsted weight on hand. Yay!

Description:

Bright eyed little “Hoot” The Owl will cheer up any space with his wide eyes and chunky body! This super easy pattern works up quickly and is simple enough for new knitters. Photos are also included to help you along. Pick your favorite yarn shades, or grab a variety from your stash and go!

Materials:

Note: This is a great stash buster! Feel free to sub with any comparable weight yarns.

1 skein Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick super bulky yarn in Fisherman or preferred color for the body 170 g/skein & 106 yds/skein Pattern uses 85 g

Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton or comparable dk or worsted in Pure White for eyes

Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Butterscotch for beak

Paintbox Yarn Light DK (can use worsted weight also) in Coffee Bean for eyes

Optional Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Barley for chest detail and ears

US Size 15 10.0mm, 16” inch circular knitting needles

Large black safety eyes or black yarn for eyes (if being used by children)

Fiber fill for stuffing (5-10 oz)

Scissors

Tapestry needle to seam and weave in ends

Measuring Tape

US Size G Crochet hook if crocheting the eyes

Note: Eyes are crocheted. If you choose not to crochet, you may purchase felt in white and brown. Cut circles to make the eyes and sew onto body with needle and thread.

Finished Size (approximate):

6.5” wide x 8.5” long x 8” tall at crest

Gauge:

Not important for this pattern

Pattern Notes:

You will begin by knitting a flat square base for your owl in garter stitch. Next, you’ll pick up stitches evenly around the base to knit the owl in the round. You’ll simply knit until the specified height. The stuffing, beak, eyes and wings are then added. The owl is closed up on the top with a simple whip stitch seam. There is no shaping in the pattern except for the wings (which are optional!). While this owl has safety eyes, you may also use black yarn to create eyes. If “Hoot” will be around little ones or small children, black yarn secured tightly should be used for safety reasons. See the photos at the end of the pattern for additional assistance.

Have fun!

Abbreviations (US) & Skills:

The owl body section is knit in the round.

You should know how to pick up stitches. (tutorials can be found online with a simple search)

k – knit

p – purl

st – stitch

sts – stitches

K2tog – knit two stitches together (decrease)

P2tog – purl two stitches together (decrease)

Just a reminder that you may purchase the full printable, ad-free pattern from my Etsy shop HERE (includes full picture tutorial for the body)

Hoot The Owl Knitting Pattern

Square Base of Owl

Cast on 10 sts

Row 1 Knit each st across the row.

Rows 2 – 21 Repeat row 1, working knit stitches across each row.

Do not cast off. You should have 10 stitches on your needles. Next, work the Owl Body Section.

Owl Body Section

You’ll now pick up stitches on each side of your square base. Pick up one stitch between each “ridge” of garter stitches, for a total of 10 stitches on each side. This will equal a total of 40 stitches around. (see photo at end of pattern)

Next, knit in the round. Mark your first round if needed with a stitch marker.

Round 1 Knit each st around.

Repeat Round 1, knitting until entire piece measures approximately 9” inches from top to bottom when laid flat.

Cast off with a knit cast off.

Stuff Your Owl

Here’s the fun part!

Next, fill your owl evenly with stuffing ensuring that the shaping looks good. Your fat owl shouldn’t look bumpy!

Seam

With a length of yarn and your tapestry needle, close the opening at the top of the owl. Sew with whip stitch seam from back to front working through one “leg” of each stitch on either side.

Don’t finish seaming until you’ve added the beak and eyes for ease of sewing.

Beak

With a length of yellow yarn and your tapestry needle, create a beak with simple whip stitches in the shape of a “V” between the eyes.

Eyes

Feel free to customize the eyes to your liking! You may choose any size, shape, or color. You may also use yarn rather than toy eyes. If your owl is decorative, you have more flexibility with the eyes. If children will be playing with the owl, black yarn should be used as the stitches are large and the safety eyes may come loose from the fabric.

Felt may be used if you don’t want to crochet the eyes. Simply cut circles from brown and white felt for the eyes. Sew onto body with a needle and thread.

Crochet Round Eyes

White of Eyes:

With your size G hook, ch 4, work 11 dc into 1^st ch stitch (total of 12 sts). For round 2, make 2dc in each st around for (24 sts). Tie off and weave in ends.

Place white eyes so they are centered and seam to the body as pictured.

Place safety eyes in center of the brown eyes, or use black yarn to make an eye detail.

Place the brown circle on the inner lower section of the white circle. Whip stitch to attach.

Brown Body Details (optional): With a length of brown yarn and your tapestry needle, use the duplicate stitch to add the small details on the chest with the super bulky yarn in Barley. Tie a short length of yarn to each ear and fluff.

Wings (optional)

Wing 1

Cast on 6 sts

Row 1 Knit each st across the row.

Row 2 Knit each st across the row.

Row 3 Purl each st across the row.

Row 4 Knit each st across the row.

Row 5 Purl each st across the row.

Row 6 Knit each st across the row.

Row 7 P2tog, p2tog, purl to end.

Row 8 Knit across to last 2 sts, k2tog.

Row 9 P2tog, purl last st.