This Duckling has been one of my favourite things to design.
While it's not that different from my typical style, he's smaller and chubbier than my Cuddly Critters series, which can be found on Etsy. The Duckling was originally my friends idea, she has a love of ducks and wanted me to make her one. I'm not sure this little guy is exactly what she had in mind, but he's what came to mind when I started designing.
This is the first Duckling I made, he was the one my friend had originally talked about. He's coloured like a mallard duck, and has the first original designs. His beak is bigger and longer than the finalized pattern, and the positioning of his feet is different than what I do now. They are more under his body, which is absolutely fine if that's how you want your duck to look. But I put the feet up more to make it look like he's sitting completely on his bum with his feet sticking out.
Now the Duckling has evolved, and after several different times, I finalized his pattern. The thing I love most about him is playing with colour. I have made many brightly coloured Duckling's, and I love how each one is slightly different. I guess that's the beauty of handmade.
The body and head of this duck are one piece. They are worked in the round and begin with a magic ring. The head begins at row 20, with increases in all stitches. When you get to row 15, begin stuffing the body firmly, and continue stuffing as you go up. The safety eyes are placed between rows 27-28 approximately 10 stitches apart. Once the eyes are secured begin stuffing the head. At the end of the head, fasten off, sew the opening closed, and weave in your ends. To help your duck sit upright, cut out a small circle of cardboard that will go inside your duck. Once finished this will help your duck to balance and sit on its own.
The feet and wings are worked in rounds and begin with magic rings. Do not stuff these pieces. The feet should be folded together and sewn flat against the duck. Secure the feet to the body from the sides of the pieces, for extra support you can sew the middle down as well - see my placement of pins for where you should sew. Use a whip stitch for sewing. The wings should also be folded flat, the bottom of the wings should get a little pucker so they point upwards. Close the opening of the wings and sew securely at rows 19-20, right at the neck where the head begins.
The tail is worked in rounds and begins with a magic ring. Stuff the tail lightly, to help give it shape. Do not close the opening. Count from the starting magic ring of the body back 5 rows, this is where the bottom of the tail should sit. The top of the tail should sit 7 rows up from that.
The mouth begins with a chain, ch7 and then work in the round. Single crochet 6 stitches in the back loops, then continue in a circle and single crochet 6 stitches in the front loops of the chain. To get the desired shape of the mouth, fold the sides together and pin into place. Do not sew the sides together, instead sew them to the duck separately in a circle.
Materials
3.75mm F crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn, you will need a main colour and a contrast colour, I used Caron Simply Soft
10mm safety eyes
Polyester Fibre FIll
Tapestry needle
Stitch marker
Pattern
Body:
begin in main colour
Row 1. 6sc in magic ring
Row 2. Inc around (12)
Row 3. (1sc, 1inc) repeat around (18)
Row 4. (2sc, 1inc) repeat around (24)
Row 5. (3sc, 1inc) repeat around (30)
Row 6. (4sc, 1inc) repeat around (36)
Row 7-12. sc in all stitches around (36)
before you begin decreasing, cut out your cardboard circle and place it inside the duck now
Row 13. (4sc, 1dec) repeat around (30)
Row 14. sc in all stitches around (30)
Row 15. sc in all stitches around (30)
stuff the body firmly, making sure to push stuffing firmly down on cardboard circle
Row 16. (3sc, 1dec) repeat around (24)
Row 17. sc in all stitches around (24)
Row 18. (2sc, 1 dec) repeat around (18)
Row 19. sc in all stitches around (18)
this is where the head begins
Row 20. 1inc in all stitches around (36)
Row 21. sc in all stitches around (36)
Row 22. (5sc, 1inc) repeat around (42)
Row 23-28. sc in all stitches around (42)
insert eyes between row 27-28, 10 stitches apart
Row 29. (5sc, 1dec) repeat around (36)
Row 30. sc in all stitches around (36)
continue stuffing firmly as you go
Row 31. (4sc, 1dec) repeat around (30)
Row 32. sc in all stitches around (30)
Row 33. (3sc, 1dec) repeat around (24)
Row 34. (2sc, 1dec) repeat around (18)
Row 35. (1sc, 1dec) repeat around (12)
Row 36. dec around (6)
FO, sew opening shut, weave in ends
Feet (Make 2)
begin in contrast colour
Row 1. 6sc in magic ring
Row 2. inc in all stitches around (12)
Row 3. sc in all stitches around (12)
Row 4. (5sc, 1inc) x2 (14)
Row 5. sc in all stitches around (14)
Row 6. (1sc, 1dec) x4, 2sc (10)
Row 7. dec in all stitches around (5)
FO, sew opening shut, leave tail for sewing
Wings (Make 2)
begin in main colour
Row 1. 6sc in magic ring
Row 2. inc in all stitches around (12)
Row 3. (2sc, 1inc) in all stitches around (16)
Row 4-5. sc in all stitches around (16)
Row 6. (6sc, 1dec) in all sttiches around (14)
Row 7. sc in all stitches around (14)
Row 8. (1sc, 1dec) x4, 2sc (10)
Row 9. sc in all stitches around (10)
Row 10. (3sc, 1dec) around (8)
Row 11. sc in all stitches around (8)
FO, do not sew shut, leave tail for sewing
Mouth
begin in contrast colour
ch 7
Row 1. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loops across. Continue around chain, sc in front loops across (12)
Row 2. Sc in all stitches across (12)
FO, fold together and follow above steps to get desired shape
Tail
begin in main colour
Row 1. 4sc in magic ring
Row 2. inc in all stitches (8)
Row 3. (1sc, 1inc) around (12)
Row 4. (2sc, 1inc) around (18)
Row 5. sc in all stitches around (18)
FO, do not sew shut, leave tail for sewing
I hope you enjoy making your own Duckling, and I hope you experiment with colour and different yarn weights. This little one that's modelled after a rubber ducky was made with a heavy worsted weight, and while he's still small he's bigger than all the rest!
When you're done making your duck make sure to tag me on Instagram @twistandtwinedesigns and use the hashtag #twistedduckling so I can see your creations!
If you find any errors or have any trouble, please send me an email twistandtwine@yahoo.com so I can assist you.