Life-long crocheter here. I really loved this knitted chicken, but I wasn't very crazy about the pictures of the crocheted version. After some internal debate, I decided to purchase the knit pattern, a pair of needles, and spent 4 days watching KZbin videos, learning basic knitting, and the specific stitches listed in the pattern. My first chicken took exactly one week to knit, and I'm currently working on the finishing touches of my 3rd chicken today. After watching your video, I'm so glad I didn't go with the crocheted pattern.
@cherylkines20765 ай бұрын
Gentle friend ❤ Safety eyes are not considered by most amigurumi makers as truly safe for children. We tend to favor embroidered eyes on the stuffies we make for our young people. Beautiful chicken, I love your small version 😊
@colleenwnek34043 ай бұрын
I am inspired to start every comment and email with Gentle friend ❤" from now on! ☺
@cball81605 ай бұрын
So cute, Mark! A wise woman once said “There are no mistakes in knitting with the exception of a split stitch. Everything else is a technique the knitter may choose or change.😉
@13ellamy5 ай бұрын
i’ve seen a few different people make the crocheted version of this chicken, and the knit version is SUPER cute too! i love how you placed the different scrap colors :-) also, while safety eyes are just fine for slightly older kids, unfortunately they are not safe for infants and very young children! the concern is that they could be choke-able. even if it’s extremely secure when first placed, the plastic could degrade over time and break, or the fabric around the eye could stretch or rip, especially for an extremely determined toddler. i think safety eyes are named that for the same reason a safety pin is called a safety pin! it’s secured in place, but that doesn’t mean it’s SAFE (safety pins are still sharp after all!)
@liesbethbos30495 ай бұрын
As another grown up watching this… man you make me laugh. Waiting to see if you are going to say that you need to crochet a mini support chicken for the bigger one in case you are going to rip their eyes out. I am not trolling, I am in love with your channel and your content, your matter of fact sense of humor makes me laugh. Thank you for being here 🙂
@lopezmariae6215 ай бұрын
Glad to see the support chicken comes in a smaller version than others that are full-size. Mark, I like that you changed the size of the eyes makes a big difference. I don't mind the finishing work and weaving ends in my knitting projects. Thank you, for sharing the process of making this small chicken.
@annalderman56125 ай бұрын
I love your emotional support chicken. When you mentioned that if you feel pain then check in with someone. I was having trouble with my fingers when I was purling. A dear friend told me about the Norwegian purl. After lots of practice I can purl without feeling the pain in my fingers. We all know what works for our bodies as we craft so I don’t feel another person should be telling anyone they are wrong. I asked my friend for advice and she was willing to help me which I was so grateful for. Thank you for sharing your crafting journey.
@sylviapadilla33633 ай бұрын
I really appreciated your commentary regarding the crochet version!! I was also disappointed at the lack of clarity on the pattern and thought maybe it was just me having problems! Thank you, also, for suggesting to look at the notes and tips on Ravelry. That was a HUGE help! And now, finally! The Knitting Tree LA came out with their CROCHET tutorial video on KZbin! 🙏
@wdbreezy5 ай бұрын
So cute !! You did a great job finishing. After knitting three worsted weight chickens, I can safely say I’m over the obsession. Your color choices and the smaller size are tempting…but no more chickens. A note to those looking at knitting the ESC, there’s a video tutorial walk-thru from The Knitting Tree LA on KZbin that’s helpful.
@mikelafiddle5 ай бұрын
Not sticking around for the chicken, I can't see myself ever making it. But always sticking around for a "chat" with you. Your content is very comforting. ❤
@mikelafiddle5 ай бұрын
Mark!!!! I yelled at the screen when you put on the second set of eyes, like a sports spectator 😂 you JUST said that the advice is to put on the eyes, meditate on it, and THEN put the backing on. And then you put the backs on so fast. But I totally feel the struggle with finishings. I have a scrunchie that I'm like 1/3 done seaming. Been in my desk for 2 years.
@angelacarnes28944 ай бұрын
Just found your video and just finished my first chicken a couple of days ago. I’m a knitter of 45+ years, taught classes and worked in a yarn shop for 5 years, and even the knit pattern gave me a fit. I’m a visual person, and if the pictures in the pattern had been better I would have been happier. I also had struggles with the bottom gusset placement and got the comb too far back on the head, but overall my chicken at least looks cute. I’m going to try the next one on sock yarn and loved seeing yours. Thanks for this video!
@denubug13 күн бұрын
I think shr looks great! Her eyes are fine!
@colleenwnek34043 ай бұрын
Okay Mark, I enjoyed the chicken clarification but ... but ... the knitting with lambs intro clip?! New knitting goal unlocked! 😍
@cherylkoch64385 ай бұрын
I like the crocheted seaming you used to on your chicken.🐓❤️🧶
@ginnerlucreates18845 ай бұрын
Thanks for this video Mark. I’ve knit 2 of these in worsted weight (Beak-on-ce & Tailfeather Swift). I used mattress stitch to sew together & found it easy enough but tedious. I’m currently working on a sport weight chicken for my craft room and will try the single crochet to seam it. I also didn’t bind off each of the tailfeather sides. I left the stitches live, knit them together and then did the bind off row. I also did French knot eyes with the yarn doubled. And once my chicken is finished, I have 2 more to knit in worsted weight 😂
@MakerMarkKnits5 ай бұрын
I'd love to see those chickens! What great names :) And great idea to bind off the tail feathers together as one!
@amanda314295 ай бұрын
I did the opposite- started with the worsted chicken, and now I want to make a smaller one! Adding a bean bag is a terrific idea. Chickens aside, I just love your intro music and the background music for this video!
@renemccoy23183 ай бұрын
I love your color choices for your chicken!
@thizizliz5 ай бұрын
It's really cute. Good points on the crochet version. Yours is the 2nd knit one that I've seen and both look fine, but those crochet hens on Ravelry are perfect examples of why tests should be done on new patterns - especially a 3D item.
@GreenParlour07495 ай бұрын
Henrietta Cluckington is what I thought of. Came out looking great.
@spinningloft5 ай бұрын
Great video, thanks! I had chickens in the past, and they are intelligent and funny creatures. I had a sad dream once where a chicken was looking me right in the eye and telepathically begging, "Can you get them to turn off the lights--we don't want to lay eggs all night."😢😢🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚
@nancyhill77943 ай бұрын
Just twist! Hold the back still and twist the eye. The eye is like a screw! Easy peasy! Another tip…after you have the backing on the eye, carefully dab the pointy end of eye with a hot cigarette lighter and melt that point down. Gets rid of point and holds the backing on more firmly. I have also seen a circle of felt added on the front, then push the eye through.
@pegpage86185 ай бұрын
Cute chicken - I think Henrietta would be a good name. It would be too fiddly for me to make too, but it’s a really cute way to use up scraps. Good job and another fun video. Thanks.
@Ann-ed1bq5 ай бұрын
Chicken is adorable 🥰 I love the eye placement, I think it’s perfect and gives her the right character.
@JenniferPage5 ай бұрын
Definitely no wrong way, just a variation of it....and I still wholeheartedly agree with variety is the spice of life
@mollybloom89915 ай бұрын
My Eleanor Roost-evelt was followed by a far more diminutive Franklin in Woolstok Tynd scraps with Suri held double as the contrast, it makes for the world’s softest chicken and the marling in the Tynd meant the seaming looked impeccable - thank you busy yarn!
@netty0624 ай бұрын
What a great video Mark, thank you!! I saw at my local yarn store (True North Yarn in Barrie) that they stuffed their aran weight chicken with memory foam pieces, ordered off Amazon I think. What a squishy feel! I'm going to get some and knit up a ESC!!
@debbyflowers14885 ай бұрын
Fun fact, many chickens have red eyes! I have over 40 chickens pecking around the farm, love them but haven't knitted one. Yet! Your eye placement looks good to me. If I do make one I like your idea of weighting it, I will probably just use rocks. Around our place those wire cutters are called side cutters (hubs is an electronic tech).
@creative27162 ай бұрын
Henrietta Clucksalot. Very cute!
@gardenplots2835 ай бұрын
I made the crocheted version. I bought the pattern from the designer's Etsy site. I only had a few problems where there seemed to be mistakes in the pattern but figured them out for myself fairly quickly. The chicken came out looking great and it did not have the wonky look of the photos on Ravelry.
@krisvanallen5 ай бұрын
The detail of the crochet seams up the front is a wonderful detail!
@paulaknit2 ай бұрын
I enjoyed your video and will watch more of your content. I will definitely try the smaller size. There are utube video for the knitted and crochet version for persons having difficulty by the designers. I must say for 2 small pieces, I didn't find it fiddly at all. I knit or crochet practically everyday. I can make the knitted chicken in 2 days. I also lined the chicken, so not to have stuffing seepage. I realize everyone comes to their craft with different approaches ,but when I embark on a new idea or totally new design or concept, I follow the pattern (if it's correct) before making my changes.
@cwolf445 ай бұрын
Great video Mark. So enjoying your channel.
@JenniferPage5 ай бұрын
Hahaha when you're talking about "bean bags" I thought of my crochet friends who just made a stuffed wolf and wanted the same, but found quite a bit old bag of navy/kidney dry beans in her pantry and stuffed them into an old section of pantyhose for her 'bean bag' base lol so at first I thought you meant making your own "bean bag" and not just purchasing one lol Love to your gorgeous chicken, she's such a fanciful fowl.
@chrissy24-75 ай бұрын
I adore the smaller chicken and now I'm truly inspired 🐔 Also, get bolt cutters, they are super handy for all kinds of things
@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts5 ай бұрын
Henry is adorable. Thank you for sharing your finishing process. ♥️ I appreciate the heads up regarding the crochet version. I will have to make the knit version once I get some time. I’ve been avoiding making a “toy” with knit or crochet, but I’ve been forced by the crafty universe to take the dive.
@deborahking78734 ай бұрын
I love your finishing crochet, I have knitted 4 chickens but each time absolutely hated finishing it.your crochet finish is super.I will now make 1 more .🤣❤
@cherylkines20765 ай бұрын
Totally agree with you about the crochet chicken pattern. I gave up on it and felt like I'd wasted money on the pattern 😢
@meganlefebvre24915 ай бұрын
Another great video! You explain everything so well and we makers are fortunate to have a voice such as yours. Your videos are well thought out, helpful, and comforting. Can't wait to see your next one!
@marycase93525 ай бұрын
Thanks Mark! I just happened to be assembling my 2 chickens today. Your tips on the eyes and crocheting the seams are great. Yes, assembly of any toy or figure is always quite fiddly! 💜🧶🐓
@wendyltwice41565 ай бұрын
I offer you two chicken names inspired by well known singers...Orville Peck or Roger Poultry. Love your videos!
@wdbreezy5 ай бұрын
Orville Peck !! Yes!!
@LindaNixon-ws4ge5 ай бұрын
If Orville Peck is chosen, the chicken will need a mask😂
@Schatzie3015 ай бұрын
I love him. Absolutely precious!
@mendyviola5 ай бұрын
She’s adorable!
@darlareed33912 ай бұрын
Henrietta Vogelstein...... Nice work. Enjoyed your tutorial. Thanks!
@nelundtimmys.40325 ай бұрын
Love your finishing - its a great design feature to crochet borders. 🐔🐔🐔Yes I agree, when I pay for a design, it had to work!!! Until now I have 3 knitted chickens - there will be definitely a X-Mas chicken!!!
@purrlee24675 ай бұрын
Good color choices. You can always keep the bugeyed safety eyes and use a strong glue as backings for the future. I don't use any safety eyes for amigurumi and substitute with mini elastics or pony beads over a regular stitch, or embroider them.
@r.mcd29214 ай бұрын
Cute, but so fiddly. Not for me, but I was happy watching you work this project. I probably would have embroidered the eyes rather than using the little plastic ones. Thanks Mark!
@robinmanly73815 ай бұрын
So sweet! The crochet and your colors give a homespun look in the best way! Now I'm tempted to make one!
@kcfield6015 ай бұрын
I have made 5 of them for Christmas. I really want to go smaller using the sock yarn. I like that idea. Beautiful work.
@jenniferbarrett32725 ай бұрын
I made an ESC and loved the process and the result. I usually don’t enjoy toy making, but, aside from sewing the bottom on, the rest was really enjoyable and not too fiddly. Yours turned out great with fingering yarn, although it may not be as cuddly as the bigger chicken, that is very nice to snuggle up with. The crochet seams look great. Nice mod.
@KimClinger5 ай бұрын
I have 3 support chickens in various stages of competition. I need to get mine finished before starting any more. You could name her Helen Muir-hen.
@BitchinStitchez5 ай бұрын
OMG! 😂😂😭😭😭 your sense of humor is my twinflame! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Paula-tf3zv5 ай бұрын
Great name!
@annzbikowski41985 ай бұрын
I think a pattern is just a suggestion of how something should be made. Love the way you finished your chicken. I think I will try that. Thanks. I use uncooked rice for weight.
@khabsamum60745 ай бұрын
Celine Dehen inspired by your latest video , the crochet join looks so good. Will now have to learn crochet as I too am not a fan or that neat at sewing together
@sueshapiro45465 ай бұрын
Your Emotional Support chicken is adorable! I might have to make one in fingering weight to go with the worsted weight one I made. I also hate seaming so I’ll crochet the next one. Thank you!!
@audraforbes5 ай бұрын
I never thought to crochet the pieces together - what a great idea! I’ve made 2, and am on my 3rd, but I have issues with stuffing knit projects. (Ive only ever knit washcloths and a couple of scarves before doing the chickens!) Do you have a video on how to stuff knit toys? The stuffing always shows through when I do it the way I do my crochet projects.
@lillian70355 ай бұрын
Hey Mark, love your chicken! He/she reminds me of a varsity jock donning all the school colors. Bad ass little chicken! I used mattress seaming for my chickens-the joins were nearly invisible. Thank you for another great one!
@karenmoody70115 ай бұрын
Love the sock chick ! Well done on the crochet finish. As its may 4th maybe Hen solo a star wars reference 😂
@anndunn67755 ай бұрын
Your yarn choices, eyes and seam treatment are wonderful. Cute chicken
@gillshand58205 ай бұрын
I love how you have seamed it. I’ll try that thanks.
@bayareaknitter5 ай бұрын
Love how your little chicken turned out! I just finished my 4th. I gifted the first three but needed one for me! That said, I also hate seaming, so they were a true labor of love. 😅🐔
@kimberlysmiley47323 ай бұрын
Soooo cute!
@gunvorstorck5 ай бұрын
I love your version of the chicken! Thanks for the warning about the crochet pattern. I was thinking of making the crochet version of the chicken but after hearing what you shared I won't.
@siobhanyamada-gu8dr5 ай бұрын
I love your emotional support chicken!!! 🐔 I just ordered two kits from the originator of the pattern, The Knitting Tree, LA: Tailfeather Seift and Prince and the RevolusHEN. They should arrive tomorrow! 🎉 I’m not all that creative with names, so I don’t really have any recommendations for yours, but it really is beautiful! 🤩 I think when it comes to seaming mine, I may end up using your crochet method. It looks way more fun.
@krisvanallen5 ай бұрын
Stuffing the chicken reminded me of one thanksgiving with our grandparents, and I was about 12. My sweet grandma asked me I knew what we do with the turkey. I responded tentatively with a “no.” She said “we stuff his a$&!” Struck me funny!
@kellygonio38295 ай бұрын
Your chicken turned out so cute that I think I will give it a go!!
@paulinehakeney70685 ай бұрын
Hi, I have just watched your video, really enjoyed it, and love your chicken. I am halfway through making the crochet version. Before I started I took notice of the different comments by other makers on Ravelry about errors in the crochet pattern. I must say though, upto now at least, I am finding that my pattern has most, if not all, of the corrections now in place. I am just starting the chest section and no problems with the pattern so far. Hopefully this will continue.
@AlisonOlds5 ай бұрын
Yes! I also dislike the finishing work. I quilt as well and feel the same about doing the binding.
@dianathorpe22805 ай бұрын
I think you did a great job on your chicken. The colors are lovely together and I really like how you did the crochet joins. Really set off the chicken and made it so cute! I'm glad you changed out the eyes. The other ones were definitely too big and dark and buggy looking. Yes you maybe put the eyes a little too high and a little too close to the beak but other than that I think she is pretty perfect. She is definitely a she!!! Thanks so much for the critique on the crochet version. I was thinking of buying that pattern but now I will definitely get the knit version instead. I will be making a worsted version as I have lots of worsted wool leftovers especially in chicken like colors. I love the intro music so much. Really sets the tone of your videos. :)
@pathowes323 ай бұрын
Love your crochet finishing
@shellyhughes72705 ай бұрын
I love your chicken! I recently took a knitting class at Around the Table Yarns. I started on the emotional support chicken but I’ve only gotten one side of the tail feathers done.
@catherinen.77055 ай бұрын
🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔 Nice work! Five chicken rating. 🙂
@tea3ali8 күн бұрын
I'm currently working on the knitted version, calling it my "emotional frustration chicken". 4th attempt! Knits up fast, but something goes wrong when I get to the instructions for the 3rd point on the tail. I just found a row-by-row instructional video. I'm not giving up. Yet. -
@j_filippo5 ай бұрын
I like the crochet seams. I made on in February for a gift and my seaming wasn’t as neat as I wanted. I will do your way in the future.
@kaizma885 ай бұрын
I love her - the smaller version is adorable 😍 Aren't chickens female and roosters male?
@sunnystitcher54005 ай бұрын
I have made 3 chickens so far.... And um .... I have plans to make at least one more, in fingering weight yarn to have a bebeh chicken. Hope you find the perfect name for your hen. And I know you'll probably get this explanation a lot from this video, but the reason safety eyes are not safe, is that the young children who chew the eyes/are still oral explorers can deteriorate the fibers the eye is anchored to, causing the eye to fall out. If you're giving it to an older younger person, that doesn't have the oral fixations/explorations then they are perfectly fine to use.
@TheSablelou5 ай бұрын
So glad you are going this! I need to make two of these!
@krisvanallen5 ай бұрын
I wonder if stuffing the head, or even more, then placing the eyes would work. You can just then remove the stuffing to seam.
@carolhudak31735 ай бұрын
Thanks Mark!
@JeaWis5 ай бұрын
I put safety eyes on my sock weight ESC and I was able to just pop the eye through the stitches. Then I embroidered eyes on.
@melissa_pup5 ай бұрын
Oh my goodness! Not another paid pattern that's frustrating due to errors! 🤬 I have had my fair share of wasted money for paid patterns that have left me so frustrated that I purchased it! This is why I decided to become a pattern tester... I am so tired of unchecked patterns and the designer just doesn't really care to take that extra step.
@daniellem9055 ай бұрын
These crack me up. Tempted to make a few.
@belindatownshend38045 ай бұрын
Try using the “JIM HENSON” stitch for seaming…puppet makers use it to hide seams… never tried it on knitting but you never know
@kimberlysmiley47323 ай бұрын
I love the Banty better than a larger chicken
@3rdand1055 ай бұрын
Your pliers remind me of toenail clippers, the old-school variety. I was thinking you could use those if you don't have pliers in the house. I find the clippers that are a larger version of fingernail clippers just don't do the job as well, but maybe that's just me...
@kaitlyndzikman35795 ай бұрын
Henrietta and the Prisoner of Eggzkaban 😆
@KarenStrickholm4 ай бұрын
Hi Mark, love your KZbins, thank you! Since you are drawn to calling your chicken he/him/ Henry, and this is Pride Month, I suggest you may have birthed a delightfully trans Emotional Support Chicken. Welcome to the world, Henry!
@CinSpain5 ай бұрын
Maybe you should make a rooster in worsted, as they apparently become male during the process 😂😂😂 Cute chick 😊 I don't think, I'll ever make one, though...
@debwaterman49185 ай бұрын
I’ve been thinking about making this chicken! Love the scrap colors you chose and I have lots of sock yarn scraps! Not sure if I’m just in FOMO or really want one.
@margali6665 ай бұрын
Maybe next time stuff the head first and then put the eyes on so you have a full visual picture of the end result before committing? I love to accompany you on your endeavours 😊
@christenagervais73035 ай бұрын
I think you should name your chicken, Chick Corea! (Olé)
@JConklin52804 ай бұрын
I just found your podcast. As I'm watching I'm knitting ESC #6. I know. Crazy. The only small safety eyes I've been able to find were in my local Michael's and the only choice was brown. Where did you find yours? I really enjoyed your podcast and I've subscribed. Joanne in Alberta, Canada
@lan77665 ай бұрын
I tend to have to take a break between crocheting amigurumi to do simpler/more repetitive projects, because I get sick of sewing things together! I’m pretty confused by your name choices, though, haha… Why Henry Kissinger?
@evelyngorfram93065 ай бұрын
Name suggestion: Gordito/a. Because he/she is small, & they're plump.
@pattigolden15 ай бұрын
I HAVE make a chicken!! FrankHENstein!!! Which is no longer available..... He's neon green. 😁 (He's on my ravelry page). It really wasn't available when I went to order, emailed & told them why I REALLY needed that one (my bff of forEVer had a stroke), within a couple hours I got a return email asking for my address & billing info!! They made a kit just for me!!!!! My BFF loved him....its like a damnit doll, only cuter!!! I opted for a kit because I couldn't find the yarn colors I needed. LOVE seeing the chicken in fingering, I want to make her "the Sanderson sisters". Now I'm hoping the eyes i got are small enough. What needle size did you use?? I too hate seaming!!! I was happy that FrankHENstein WAS mostly crocheted together, the contrasting "seam" showing was part of the design.... which of course, had a different pattern than the standard chicken...it didn't include the comb & wattles. 🤷🏻♀️ So now I have to get 2 different patterns. 🙄 I also think it recommended seaming the tail first, then the bottom actually matched row for row.
@paulaknit2 ай бұрын
I was able to get the eyes off several times by just slowly twisting and pulling up at small angles. Hopefully this helps.
@teresac.m.3555 ай бұрын
The first version of the knitting chicken was full of issues as well. If she had not made the video to follow I could not have made the original knitted version. Hopefully the pattern will be updated soon.
@avrilcrisp57254 ай бұрын
Freeze a 2 litre bottle of water and stand it in front of an electric fan, it will help keep you cool.
@MakerMarkKnits4 ай бұрын
I've never tried that, thank you for the idea!
@shellyhughes72705 ай бұрын
I have the knit and the crochet patterns. I’m a brand new knitter but I decided to knit it since I heard the crochet pattern had issues. I’m almost finished and it looks like a chicken! Anyways, I just got an email from Ravelry that there were corrections made to the crochet pattern so maybe it’s better now? I haven’t tried the crochet version yet though.
@evelyngorfram93065 ай бұрын
Thank you! I had assumed the problems with the crochet ESC were all my fault (see also: Everything That Goes Wrong Is My Fault, under the category of Every Feminist Thing Ever). I automatically forgave errors like the extra Row 5s & Row 3s, the omission of what would have been some very helpful stitch counts, & the missed opportunity to use the word "spatchcock" in describing the flattened chicken as mostly a matter of pattern-writing style. [gettin' rant-ey with it] Not only is this a paid pattern, but $6.50 is more than twice as mush as the customary $2-$3. And *it's from a yarn store*. Which means it's at least partly a promotional item, representing a professional endeavor at which the author expects to make money & perhaps even turn a profit. And you know, if that LYS is kept as well as the crochet pattern is written; I'm not at all sure I'd want to shop there.
@krisvanallen5 ай бұрын
What if you crocheted a sc down each side then seam with a mattress stitch the two rows of sc?
@ThirdStreetCreates5 ай бұрын
I bought the pattern through ravelry and there was an update offered.
@joycecampbell73405 ай бұрын
Thanks for the info about the crochet version. I bought the pattern and was very disappointed 4 rows in. There should be a video that helps with the written instructions. They weren't very clear to me.
@MaryAnnSweetAngel5 ай бұрын
In india it's around 95°F or 35°C in May as it's the hottest month here. 😅. We have access and ceiling fans. But I only have ceiling fans because I'm poor 🥲