Big Snowy Owl
There’s something about owls. Is it their baby-wide eyes? Their mysterious nighttime habits? Or their totemic gumdrop shape? I’m not sure, but owls somehow manage to be simultaneously enigmatic and totally lovable.
This one is heavy on the lovable! With a big, pudgy belly and a cozy soft alpaca-blend yarn, the Big Snowy Owl is one heck of a hugger. At a foot and a half tall and a yard around, he’s just right for little arms to squeeze and for young imaginations to love. Although, you’re never too old for an unconditionally amiable friend!
Making the Big Snowy Owl was probably the most fun knitting I’ve done all year. From easy stitch patterns to simple shaping, there’s never a dull moment! Plus I love just being around the downy softness of Blue Sky Bulky, big wonderful stitch after big wonderful stitch!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBigSnowyOwl. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- For the Main Yarn: 6 skeins of Blue Sky’s Bulky, 50% Alpaca and 50% Wool. I used the color Polar Bear. (Looking for another option? Try 2 skeins of Cascade’s Magnum.)
- For the Contrast Yarns: 3 skeins of Blue Sky’s Bulky. These colors are Silver Mink, Frost and Gray Wolf. (Want to save a little? Just one skein would be enough!)
- A set of US 15 (10 mm) double pointed needles.
- A US 15 (10 mm) 20- inch circular needle.
- A jumbo stitch marker (optional).
- 2 bags of stuffing.
Shop our wonderful collection of super bulky-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Gauge
2½ stitches = 1 inch in stockinette
Size
- From Ground to Top of Ear: 17 inches
- Circumference: 38 inches
Pattern
The Bottom
With the Main Yarn and the double pointed needles, cast on 8 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On. (NOTE: If you’re using Blue Sky Bulky and following this design exactly, you’ll end up using almost all of the 4 skeins. So to be on the safe side, don’t leave super long tails. Stick to 6 to 8 inch tails and you’ll be fine!)
Place a stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist your stitches.
Round 1: Knit into the front and back (kfb) 8 times. (16 stitches)
Round 2: Purl.
Round 3: *P1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)
Round 4: Purl.
Round 5: *P2, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)
Round 6: Purl.
Round 7: *P3, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)
Round 8: Purl.
Round 9: *P4, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)
Round 10: Purl.
Round 11: *P5, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (56 stitches)
Switching to the 20 inch circular needle…
Round 12: Purl.
Round 13: *P13, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (60 stitches)
Purl 6 rounds.
The Body
Round 1: *P1, k9, p1, k1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *K1, p1, k7, p1, k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1, k5, (p1, k1) 2 times, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *(K1, p1) 2 times, k3, p1, k1, p1, k2, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 5: *K2, (p1, k1) 3 times, p1, k3, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 6: *K3, (p1, k1) 2 times, p1, k4, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 7: *K4, p1, k1, p1, k5, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 8: Repeat Round 6.
Round 9: Repeat Round 5.
Round 10: Repeat Round 4.
Round 11: Repeat Round 3.
Round 12: Repeat Round 2.
Repeat Rounds 1-12 one more time.
Repeat Rounds 1-7.
The Head
Rounds 1-6: Knit.
Round 7: *K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (54 stitches)
Rounds 8 and 9: Knit.
Round 10: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)
Rounds 11 and 12: Knit.
Round 13: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (42 stitches)
Rounds 14 and 15: Knit.
Round 16: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (36 stitches)
Rounds 17 and 18: Knit.
Turn the piece inside out and weave in the ends. Then turn it right side out and fill the owl with a bag of stuffing.
The Ears
Remove the stitch marker, and slip the last 5 stitches you knit onto a double pointed needle.
With a second double pointed needle, knit the next 5 stitches.
Rearrange these 10 stitches onto three double pointed needles (3 stitches on two and 4 stitches on the third). Join for working in the round.
**Rounds 1-3: Knit.
Round 4: (K3, k2tog) 2 times. (8 stitches)
Round 5: (K2, k2tog) 2 times. (6 stitches)
Round 6: (K1, k2tog) 2 times. (4 stitches)
Cut the yarn and sew it through the remaining stitches.***
Orient your owl so the ear you just made is on the right (as in the above picture). Use the back circular needle to slip 8 stitches from the front needle.
Slip the next 10 stitches onto three double pointed needles (3 stitches on two and 4 stitches on the third).
Join new yarn, and repeat from ** to ***, joining into the round at the beginning of the second round.
Finish stuffing your owl, making it firm and plump. Don’t forget to stuff the ears too!
Separate the 16 remaining stitches so that there are 8 stitches at each end of the needle.
Cut a piece of the Main Yarn about 24 inches long. Thread it onto a tapestry needle and graft the two sides of the owl’s head together using the Kitchener Stitch.
As you weave in the tails, sew closed the holes.
The Eyes
With Color A (Frost), cast 8 stitches onto the double pointed needles.
Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Round 1: Kfb 8 times. (16 stitches)
Round 2: *K1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)
Change to Color B (Polar Bear).
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: *K2, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)
Change to Color C (Silver Mink).
Round 5: Knit.
Round 6: *K3, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)
Bind off, leaving a 24 inch tail. Weave in all the ends, except the tail. Use the tail to close the circle.
Make another eye identical to the first.
Place the edge of one eye half way between the ears and down at the center of the head. Use the tail to sew the outside edge of the eye to the head. To do this, I sewed under a ladder stitch of the head…
…then up through a bind off stitch…
…and down through the adjacent bind off stitch, ready to sew under the next ladder stitch.
Sew the second eye down also, lining up the outside edge so that the two eyes meet in the middle of the head.
Cut a 30 inch piece of Color D (I used Gray Wolf) and thread it onto a tapestry needle. Embroider around the inside of the first eye by bringing the needle down through the center of the eye and up through the first round of knitting, then back down through the center…
…until you have gone all the way around the center of the eye. Weave in the ends.
Embroider around the second eye in the same way.
The Beak
With Color D and a double pointed needle, pick up 6 stitches along the inside curve of the owl’s left eye.
Flip the owl upside down, and with a second double pointed needle, pick up 6 stitches down the inside of the right eye. (12 stitches)
For the beak, you’ll work back and forth in rows, working across the first double pointed needle and then the second. Turn the work over between rows.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3. (10 stitches)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2. (8 stitches)
Now, with 4 stitches on each needle, cut the yarn, leaving an 18 inch tail.
Hold the two needles parallel to each other, and graft them together using the Kitchener Stitch.
Weave in the ends.
If you have any ends left over, weave them in. Then give your Big Snowy owl a big squeeze!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
This could also easily be adapted to make a Totoro, if one was so inclined.
WOW!!! This is incredible and I just can't wait to have one on my couch! As always, purl bee and staff have outdone themselves…again.
Awww, this is too cute. Just in time to make for nieces and nephews for Christmas. Thank you!
Beautiful ! So cute ! Thanks for this pattern !
Love it! I am going through an owl fetish at the moment, I am knitting little baby 10cm tall owls at the moment, and just made my daughter a big owl cushion to snuggle up with. Can't wait to start this one!
So, cute. I am amazed that you come up with always wonderful projects. Thank you for sharing.
I have been following purlbee for years – i think this project may be the cutest I have ever seen on it's pages. how creative you are whitney!
This is so cute I can't wait to knit it! I love purlbee!
Thanks! : )
This is SOOOOOO cute! I really want to make a pair of these. Thanks for keeping these amazing patterns coming to us. Very inspiring!!
I can't find 20-inch #15 circular needles. Is that a standard size? Should it be 16-inch or 24-inch?
HI Vero-
The 20″ size is a standard size that we carry. It's available here (towards the bottom of the page): https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8-Skacel-Addi-Turbo-Circular-Needles
Thank you for your question!
– Molly
if i wanted to try this in crochet, how many skeins do you think it would take? also, what stitch would you suggest using? I've made stuffed animals before using a single-crochet, but I'd like to still achieve this look with the bulky yarn.
Can this be done in a worsted weight yarn with appropriate-size needles? i realize it will be smailer, but . . . I already bought some pink malabrigo that my granddaughter (a harry potter fanatic) requested and would like to be able to use it.
Hi Stacey-
I would guess that 7 skeins of the Blue Sky Bulky would be enough (crochet generally uses about a third more yarn than knitting). I think that most crocheted animals are made out of single crochet because it's the tightest stitch and won't allow the stuffing to show through. If you like the diamond pattern of the knit version, it might be cool achieve the same thing using two colors!
Thanks for your question and good luck!
Whitney
HI Judy,
Yes, definitely! Since the owl doesn't have to fit anybody, it can be done with absolutely any size yarn! Pink Malabrigo sounds like a wonderful choice!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
Thanks, Whitney! I cannot wait to get started . . .
Just finished this sweet owl and shipped it to my newly expectant daughter. I loved working on it and was so happy with all your instructions. Thanks so much.
Susan
This is sooooo gorgeous! I must do two of them: one for an auntie and the other for me. It will be my first attempt with so many knitting needles at a time! Thanks, purl bee!
Favoloso! Bravissima!
<3
Love this owl! One question: when you embroider around the center of the eye with the dark grey yarn, did you only stitch around the inside edge of the eye itself, or did you loop it through a few of the stitches from the body of the owl underneath the eye so the stitches are attached to the body?
Hi Rachel,
I just embroidered around the edge of the eye without actually attaching it the body…
Thanks for the great question!
I do not know how to knit…even a little bit. I came across this adorable owl and fell in LOVE. This is my first time on the site and I saw hours and shipping. Is this something that would be available for purchase or would you only sell the materials to knit with the instructions above? I really love the ideas on the site. May take up knitting just yet! Thanks for posting such great things!
Made this for Christmas and it was the most-envied gift ever! Thanks for the wonderful pattern!
I absolutely love this pattern! I am at the part where I transfer the bottom onto the circular needles… I have a size 15, 24″ will this work? Or do I really need a 20″? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hello,
I love your Snowy Owl pattern! So cute! I'm looking forward to knitting a Snowy Owl in the near future. 🙂
I did have a question. Are the Purl Bee patterns copyrighted? I do not have any interest in selling items made from them! I am a designer myself and use my own patterns. But the reason I ask is because I have encountered your Snowy Owl for sale on etsy. Prices range from $40-$75. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
Hi Holly-
Our patterns are copyrighted and cannot be re-sold like this. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. If you wouldn't mind could you send us a link to where it's being sold to Molly AT purlsoho DOT com?
Thanks again for the heads up!
Molly
HI Brittany,
I think that you'll get away with the 24 inch needle. I'd definitely give it a try. You'll probably need to knit the head with double pointed needles, but that's not the end of the world!
Thanks for asking and good luck!
Whitney
I love this! I want to make this but only half the size. I want to use the same yarn you chose, but I'm not positive how to half it. The bottom is simple, but the body I'm thinking I can start with round 3. What is your opinion?
Thank you!
Marie
Just finished this owl and I LOVE it! What a well written pattern and great up close pictures to guide you through. The only hard part was waiting for the 20 inch #15 needles to be delivered but wow your shipping on those was very fast too! Thanks for sharing this pattern!
Hi Marie,
I would actually just knit Rounds 1 through 12 one time (without repeating them the way the pattern does). This will give you exactly half the height!
Good luck!
Whitney
Hi,
I'm a beginner in knitting and as I loved your owl and the pattern in crosses, I tried it (the belly part) before getting to the owl part and I'm having some problems. I'm french so I'm not used to US knitting standarts and I can't get the pattern right. As a matter of fact, I can't really see it, although I'm using the same yarn and US 17 needles (French 12 mm). Do you have an idea of what is wrong with my interpretation (maybe a misinterpretation in the abbreviations K, p, k…) ?
Really love what you're doing, this is what gave me the final push to start learning to knit !
Best,
Emmanuelle
Hi Emmanuelle,
I'd have to know more specifically what kind of problems you're having in order to fix them, but it sounds like you may need some help translating the pattern from English into French. Check out these sites for some commonly used terms: http://mybev.perso.neuf.fr/dico.html and http://www.heirloomknits.com/translations3_french.shtml . Here also is a list of standard knitting abbreviations in English: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit.html .
I hope this helps!
Thanks for your questions and good luck
Whitney
A question: I want to make this owl, but I don't like to knit with metal needles, and cannot seem to locate a set of wooden #15s @ 20″ length. I note that you recommended using the 24″ circulars to another knitter. Could one use the 16″ or will that be too much yarn to deal with on the needle? It appears that 16″ wooden circulars are readily available…
This owl is so cute, my daughter would adore it. I really wish I knew how to knit! Maybe someday I will learn and get to make it for her. Adorable!
Hi Kathy,
I do think that 60 bulky stitches on a 16 inch needle would be challenging, but probably not impossible. If avoiding a metal needle is important to you (and it sounds like it is!), then I would go ahead and try it. Another option might be to knit the owl on 4 double pointed needles, using the fifth as the working needle.
Thanks for your question and good luck!
Whitney
This pattern and a tutorial are really great! Thank you so much for sharing this. I've finished the owl and it's so cute and adorable ^_^
Hi, I have just completed the body of this owl, and even though I followed the directions to a t regarding not leaving more than a tiny tail on any joined yarn, I have run out. I ordered exactly what was suggested for the pattern. I am really disappointed! I have about a foot of polar bear yarn left, and still have to do the eyes. I would really rather not buy another skein for just a few rows for the eyes, particularly since the yarn is rather pricey. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hello,
Does anyone have any tricks to start the kfb in the round? I start off with a crossover join and kfb all 8 stitches. My problem comes when I get to the first purl row. When I get to the end of the first needle, I purl the 4th stitch and as I slide it off the left needle, it untwists into a huge loop. It's like it was never a real stitch.
I've also tried to isolate the problem by knitting the first 8 stitches and then starting the kfb, but I hit the same problem when I start to purl. So I'm thinking it's got to be my kfb.
Sorry this might sound weird, but I thought maybe someone else might have had the same problem at some point.
Thanks!
Hi,
I was wondering how much the yarn all together would cost to make one of these cuties? I want to learn knitting specfically to make this owl! I love owls and want to make one of my own. If anyone could give me an estimate of how much it costs that would be great! Also, is knitting really hard to learn???
Hi Casi-
You can knit this with a few different combinations of yarn. If you did it with the lowest priced option (2 skeins of Magnum and 1 skein of Blue Sky Bulky in a contrasting color) it would be $58.90 or, with the most expensive option (4 skeins of Blue Sky Bulky for the body and 3 skeins for the contrast) it would be $95.90.
Knitting is not hard to learn but this is not a good first project for a beginner. We would recommend completing a simple scarf and then a pair of mittens or a hat before starting on this owl.
Thank you!
Molly
Hi Angela,
I'm not really sure what could be going wrong. It could just be the normal looseness that occurs between double pointed needles when you work the first round. This tightens up as you continue to knit. Or, as you suggest, it is sounds possible that the problem is with your kfb. Have you checked out our Increase Tutorial? It has photos of how to knit into the front and back and might clear up your problem: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/increase-tutorial/
Please let us know if you still have trouble and we'll try again to pinpoint the problem!
Good luck!
Whitney
Hey Whitney, thanks for the reply. I actually ended up figuring out where I was going wrong and finished the owl (minus eyes and beak) today.
Thanks for the great pattern! I can't wait to give my owl as a gift to a friend's new baby boy.
Angela
You probably hear this a lot….but sooo sweet…I wish this big guy was a crochet pattern…looks super simple to make in that regard…especially the eyes…No jumbo size snowy owl patterns…
I just completed this adorable guy for my first grandchild. It was the most popular gift at the baby shower and so much fun to watch it come together! Thanks for sharing the darling pattern
Bonnie
Finally made this and I love it. Great instructions and photos helped!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23684549@N05/8067292352/
Love this pattern, i'm almost done making my own owl but wanted to ask a question. Is the beak left open at the bottom? Not stitched onto the owl body?
Thanks
I just finished this owl for my sister. Used yarn out of my stash so mine is a sort of variegated grey. It looks awesome!!! Thank you for the pattern.
I made this owl for my daughter's owl-themed baby shower. Today, he sits on a perch in my granddaughter's room, keeping a wise, loving, careful look-out! It was one of the most well-written patterns – and so fun to make. The suggested yarn is perfect for this project – a little pricey, but worth it.
Hi Purl Bee! I am currently making this owl as a present. I am having trouble with the Kitchener stitch. I have never done this stitch before and I am using your tutorial. I got to the very end and my needles slipped and now I have one stitch left on the back needle without any idea of how to weave it in! Do you have any ideas? Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
If you're overwhelmed by backtracking (which, honestly, is a little tricky with the Kitchener Stitch), then I would suggest just threading your tail through the remaining stitch purlwise. Then, use the tail to sew up the holes. Should work fine!
Thanks for asking and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
I made one for my sister in law who loves owls but when my 8 year old grand daughter saw him it was love at first sight, she calls him Chubby and I have now made a second one. SO easy it can be made in a day or 2 . Thanks for the great pattern.
I just got all of the materials to make this awesome owl pillow! It took me a while but I finally found equivalent yarn that was a little more in my price range right now. I am all too eager, however, to buy yarn from purl soho as there are many modestly priced skeins made of amazing materials! I can't wait to knit this up after so long of coming back and planning. His name will be Herbert the 2nd and he is my birthday present to myself! Thank you for this adorable pattern!
what yarn did you use that wasn’t quite as pricey?
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for writing in! We are happy to recommend less pricey but still lovely options for yarn! For the main color, you can use just 2 skeins of Cascade Magnum. For the contrast color, you can buy 1 skein of Bulky of each of the 3 colors or you can use 1 skein for a solid color eye!
I hope that this helps
I've admired this owl for well over a year, and I have finally started to knit it. How wide in diameter should the eyes be?
Also, I'm not sure about the beak. Do I treat the two DPNs as one needle, and use a third needle to knit the picked up stitches? Thanks!
Hi Tricia,
The finished eyes measure 6 inches in diameter.
And, yes, you have the right idea for the beak! You just work the stitches of one double pointed needle using a third needle, then move on to the second double pointed needle, using the newly freed needle. Once you're actually doing it, this will make more sense!
Thanks for your questions and good luck!
Whitney
Awesome site! Love all of your free patterns… I'm a beginning knitter and I've gotten to the beak portion but I don't really know what you mean by picking up stitches? How do I do this?
Hi Ann,
"Picking up stitches" is a very useful knitting technique that involves dipping your needle into the knitting, wrapping the yarn around the needle, and pulling out a new stitch. We sadly don't have a tutorial on the subject quite yet, but there is a very useful one right here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/FEATwin04TT.html .
I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
I'm a knitting beginner that decided to start with the owl as one of my first projects. My knitting friends are not available and I don't have anyone else to ask… I'm stuck when I need to add new yarn to make the second ear. Where can I find a tutorial for this. Sorry for the (maybe) stupid question!
Hi Ale,
We don't have a tutorial for that (yet!), but what you do is insert the right needle into the first stitch, wrap the new yarn counter clockwise around the right needle (just like a normal knit stitch), and pull the yarn through the stitch (again, just like a knit a normal knit stitch). Then continue to knit!
Make sure when you do start the new yarn that you leave at least an eight-inch tail so that you have plenty of length to weave in at the end.
Thanks so much for asking and please let us know if you run into any more questions. None are "stupid"!
Whitney
I made this for my nephew before he was born; his mama loves loves owls.
It turned out perfectly, so wonderfully fluffy and adorable. Now it's being used as a prop in his monthly photos to show how much he's growing and changing.
Thanks for a great pattern!
Love this! I am at the ears, not sure I get what I am supposed to do. How many stiches am I knitting on rows 1, 2 and 3. I had 36 when I finished the head, then slipped last 5 to dble-pt., then knit the next 5 on 2nd dble. pt., leaving me with 26. Am I to knit the 26 on rnds. 1-3?
Thank you so much for this pretty pattern. I made the owl as a Christmas-present fo my adult daughter who loves owls so much.
Because of her joy and because some wool was left I made a second owl. I used the same pattern but a smaller needle (US 7 – 4.5 mm). Mama owl an babyowl are so cute!
If you like to see them you should visit my account (luna-berlin) at ravelry.
And I hope you'll enjoy it too.
Hi Ann J,
You should be knitting the first ear on 10 stitches, leaving the remaining 26 stitches on hold. The 10 stitches come from having slipped 5 onto a double pointed needle and then having knit 5 with a second dpn, which it sounds like you already did!
I hope this clarifies things for you. Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks so much for this one!
Whitney
I love your website. So many wonderful free patterns. Thanks for sharing all the great patterns. I'm working on the owl. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. She will look great on my bed. I've made the hedgehog and the mushrooms. Looking forward to working on the snowman family and the felted trees.
Could you tell me what circular needles are in the pictures, I have been looking for those very ones, are they by Skacel, when I click on your link the needles look different but I could be wrong so I would appreciate your response…I cant wait to make this beautiful owl!
Hello
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome pattern.
I'm a newbie for knitting a doll and stuck at the end of the head. The pattern described to turn the piece inside out and weave in the ends. Does this mean to use a tapestry needle or continue to knit in the wrong side?
Thank you ^^
Hi Sheyla-
The circular needles used in this project are Addi Turbo's. Here's a direct link: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8-Skacel-Addi-Turbo-Circular-Needles
Thank you!
Molly
Hi Chally,
It does mean to use a tapestry needle but not to continue to knit in the wrong side. What the pattern is talking about there is neatly sewing in the tails of yarn you have from casting on and from starting new balls of yarn. We have a tutorial that explains it all right here: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/knitting-tutorials-finishing/2011/7/14/weaving-in-your-ends.html
I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions and thank you for this one!
Whitney
Hi Whitney,
I was confused because the picture below this sentence of the head pattern "Turn the piece inside out and weave in the ends…". It shows a long tail of yarn that allows to continue to make the ears. I totally forgot the tail of yarn from casting on. lol. Thank you so much.
Hi!
Thank you for this lovely owl. Will make one now!!
greetings from germany
Love this! My one question is about the size of the eyes. . .im wondering if you could tell me the approximate size. Thanks for sharing such amazing patterns!
Hi Melissa!
The sample has eyes that are almost exactly 6 inches in diameter.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
I just finished knitting this for my niece – I wanted a smaller version, so used Berkshire Bulky yarn and size 6 needles. What a wonderful pattern! The finished result is just adorable and I imagine it would be equally sweet at any gauge. Thanks for continuing to provide beautiful patterns that inspire.
Hello! I’ve started this beautiful project but I have a question: can I keep knitting in the round with my four needles or I really need to switch to the circular needle?
Thank you
Hi Gen!
You will probably find that the round is too big to fit on the double pointed needles for the entire project. I think it would be much more comfortable to switch to the circular needle when appropriate.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
My owl, made with Wool Ease Thick n’ Quick, has gotten so much attention that he needs a bath. Do you have any experience or tips on washing? I’ll put him in a sink with cold water and Eucalan, but will the clothes dryer on low restore the fluffiness of the polyfill stuffing? Thanks for your help.
Hi Sharon!
Your plan of hand washing sounds great! The polyfil stuffing should bounce back on its own! I wouldn’t put this yarn in the dryer for any period of time.
Thanks for your question!
Thomas
Love this snowy and am looking forward to giving it a try. My question is relating to different yarn weight and needle sizes. I purchased an aran weight yarn in error and want to know if I follow the pattern as is with appropriate size needles, will it just turn out smaller? Would hate to put all that work into it for it to turn out super wonky 🙂
Thanks in advance, Marcy
Hi Marcy!
I had a colleague do just this a while back. You’re right! As long as you use the appropriate needle size, and even perhaps a little small for the yarn (so no stuffing pokes through), the owl will just turn out smaller! This is possible, because the entire pattern is based off of numbers of rows, or numbers of stitches – no where in the pattern does it tell you to knit for a certain number of inches.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
I’m just wondering after you finish with Kitchener on the nose it’s just like that? Open under? Or you stuff it too? I’m confused coz based on the pattern it’s just gonna be open under thank you
Hi Cat!
As written, the bottom of the nose is open! You’re totally right, and I think it’s intended to be that way.
Thanks for your question!
Thomas
Love your pattern and I can’t wait to knit it. However, I’ll have to call it a Great Horned Owl or the birders here in the Yukon will be up in arms. Technically snowys don’t have the same ear tufts. But all is fair in love and knitting and are so generous to have shared your pattern.
Thank you! lg
Such a lovely pattern! And so easy to knit. I used slightly thinner wool which yielded a smaller owl, but he is still gorgeous. Made one for my little boy, but now I am going to make more for friend’s babies!
Thank you so much for this wonderful pattern! I just finished my first one and I’m so pleased with it that I will have to make another for my little nephew.
Hello Clarissa!
We’re so glad this worked out for you! We love this squishy owl as well! Keep up the good work! -Alyson
Hello, is there any way that a kit with the pattern can be put together for the Big Snowy Owl? It is adorable and of course Ive got a teenage daughter who “must ” have one!!1 thank you for your assistance,
suzanne Riley
Renton, Washington
Hello, Suzanne!
Thank you so much for writing in! We are so glad that you like the Big Snowy Owl! One of our store associates is going to reach out to you regarding putting together a kit for this cuddly owl. If you have further questions please reach out again!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Love this owl but have no idea where to start as I can only knit flat! is there a way to adapt it from round to flat knitting? Thanks
Hi Paula,
Thanks for writing in and my apologies for the delayed response! Unfortunately, it would take a lot of work to re-work the pattern to be knit on straight needles as even the details are knit on circular needles. However, ff you are interested in dipping your toe into knitting in the round, we do have a kit that teaches you how to do so. It can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/kits/knitting/learn-to-knit-a-hat-in-the-round-kit.html
I hope that this information helps!
Cassy
Hi.I’m a knitting befinner and really don’t understand the english terms.Do you know any norwegian translation?
Hi, Nina!
Thank you so much for writing in! Unfortunately we don’t have any Norwegian translations. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
Best,
Kumeko
Hi and greetings from Manchester!I want to make this for my niece who loves owls! Took me ages to find the right pattern for her. But I’m struggling with the needle size… could you advise me on UK equivalent please?? I have tried myself-! I could only find US 19 (which are v tricky to find in stock in UK) and the wool itself suggests what is UK 10mm. I wondered how the pattern would turn out if I used size 10mm…Her birthday is not until April!
Thanks, Andrea
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for writing in! A US 15 is the equivalent of a 10mm needle so it sounds like you are right on with your yarn and needle choice!
Happy knitting!
-Cassy
Your photos are no longer loading and I’m almost done the project! They’d be really helpful :(. My husband says you changed your domain but didn’t update your image paths and that’s why they aren’t loading anymore. (The embedded link to Kitchener stitch isn’t working either; probably a related issue).
Hi Nadia,
Thank you so much for alerting us about this! I’m so sorry about this! We are on it and will resolve the situation soon!
Best,
Adam
do you have this snowy owl pattern for crochet?
Hi Denise,
Thanks for writing in! At the moment, we only have this pattern available for knitting! We will certainly keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Cassy
I’ve just finished up this adorable owl. I’m a relatively advanced knitter and am typically very conservative with my tails. Even so, I was only able to get through the first ear before running out of yarn. There was no way to finish the other ear and the eyes, even if I’d had no tails at all from the beginning. I ordered another skein and it was fine, but I would really consider this a 5 skein project of the Polar Bear yarn.
Also, when it comes to stuffing, I knew better, but just grabbed a hand full of stuffing from the bag and put it into the owl’s body – one at a time. The owl ended up being lumpy and uneven and looking not great. It could be useful to include a note that the stuffing should be broken up when filling the owl for the best result. I took it all out and did it the right way the second time and it looks much, much better!
Hey, Melissa!
Thank you so much for writing in! I am so glad that you were able to finish the project! We appreciate your insight and I am certain our readers will benefit from your experience!
Again, thank you!
Best,
Kumeko
Such a fantastic pattern – thanks so much for sharing it! Your owl looks perfectly stuffed – mine looks lumpy! Can you give some tips for putting in the stuffing so that it looks smooth and not overstuffed?
Hi Jill,
Thank you for writing in and for your kind words! The best advice that I can give for stuffing an animal like our Snowy Owl is to tear up your stuffing as you are putting it in. By tearing the stuffing into smaller, fluffier pieces, you can place it into the owl and create a more even, less over stuffed appearance.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi there, I am up to knitting the second ear and I’m stuck. My first attempt ended up with the ear inside out! I have undone that ear and I realise I must be knitting it the wrong way somehow, but I can’t figure out how to knit it the right way. I have the 10 stitches split across my DPN’s but it’s not like I can turn the work inside out as it’s all attached the stuffed owl. Does this make sense? Am I the only one who had this problem? I would love some help.
Hi Katia,
Thanks for the question. I hope I can clear this up for you! Since your purls are on the outside of the ear, this means that you are knitting counter clockwise. When starting the ear, you should have three DPNs. Your working yarn should be coming from the end of one DPN and you’ll want to join in the round immediately. Make sure the outside of the ear, that is the knit side, is facing you at all times and that your first stitch is in order to join in the round. I hope this makes sense and that you’ll be able to work it out!
-Adam
I’ve been wanting to make this for a long time and finally got yarn that would be perfect for it. However, I don’t have any dpns large enough for my yarn. Would this work with the “magic loop” on the appropriate sized circular needles, or is it best to use the dpns?
Hi Heather,
Thanks for writing in! If you know how to do magic loop, you can certainly use this technique instead of using DPNs.
All the best,
Adam
Hello! I have just finished my first owl and am already in love with it. I know that I will definitely need to make another. I was thinking of trying other colors (maybe a gray or brown body with green eyes). I was wondering if you have any suggestions. Thank you for posting the pattern for free! Any chance you’ll post a similar pattern for a cat?
Thanks, again!
Jess
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for the lovely comment! I’m so happy you are pleased with the result. I suggest using the Blue Sky Bulky yarn again and substituting the body color with the color “Porcupine”. For green eyes, I suggest the color “Atlantis”. Online “Atlantis” looks bluer but it’s really a teal-y green. Hope you like the suggestion!
-Adam
Hi there – quick question: I’m making this owl to look like Hedwig from Harry Potter. There are black speckles in her feathers and I’m considering doing the seed stitch-looking portions in black while the rest of the body would be white. Any suggestions for how to best do this? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kadija,
What a delightful idea! Completing the seed stitch sections in an alternate color would be possible though perhaps a bit of a challenge. I think that the best method would be intarsia. We have a great intarsia tutorial available! You could also omit the seed stitch portions while knitting and then add some alternate color detail in duplicate stitch! Either method should create a charming result! Please do let us know how it turns out!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Casey,
Thanks so much for your help! I decided to do duplicate stitch on some parts of the stockinette stitch sections to get a sort of speckled effect. It’s turning out great and I really think my little one is going to love it!
XO,
Kadija
I’ve made 4. Three at full scale using Berett blanket yarn. The other was with size 2 needles and sport weight wool/silk blend yarn. All great!
I’ve made the big snowy owl in Blue Sky Bulky and did not run out of the main color; there is a little left over. I am looking for an alternative less expensive yarn to use for the eyes and beak because 3 more skeins of blue sky bulky is pricey for the minimal amount of each skein that will be needed for those features.
Hello Barbara,
Thank you for reaching out and congratulations on being almost done with your project! I totally hear you, unfortunately we do not currently have a more affordable yarn at this gauge, but if you are interested in just using one color all these details, a beautiful option in my opinion, one skein of the Blue Sky Bulky would be enough.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Excited to knit this adorable pattern. Question, looking for the Blue Sky bulky in Frost but Purl Soho seems to be out. Any options for an alternate?
Hello Beverly,
Thanks for writing and for your kind words! Cascade Magnum knits up at a similar gauge and would be a great substitute for this project. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Just started on the body and the pattern is knitting up well. However I am confused on Row 5 of the body, the stitches add up to 16 before the repeat for a total of 64 stitches? All other rows are either 12 or 15 which evenly didvde into 60. Am I misreading the pattern?
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for writing in! The repeat for Round 5 – K2, (p1, k1) 3 times, p1, k3 – should add up to 12 stitches as well. Whenever you see parentheses those indicate a repeat within the repeat, so you will be working just (p1, k1) 3 times each time you are working the full repeat.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello. Can you use fluffy wool please?
Hello Clare,
Thank you for reaching out! Any Bulky weight yarn that knits up to a similar gauge can be sed for this pattern.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi!
I just made this owl with yarn from my stash and although it turned out cute it’s a little loose and you can see the stuffing. Would you have a suggestion of a tarn I could get from my local yarn store that would work? It’s more of a high end store like yours!
Thanks!
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for writing in! While I’m not sure what yarns your local shop may carry, it sounds like this is a gauge issue. We used a super bulky weight yarn, but whatever you select, I would definitely recommend knitting a gauge swatch before beginning. Rather than looking for the exact gauge of 2.5 stitches per inch, when knitting stuffed animals, you want to evaluate your swatch for density to make sure the stuffing won’t show through, and go down a needle size or two if necessary when starting the owl.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi! It looks like the Blue Sky Bulky is out of stock….what do you recommend for the MC (2 skeins of Cascade Magnum is enough?) and CC?
Thank you!
Courtney
Hi Courtney,
Thanks for writing in! Cascade Magnum has very generous yardage, so yes, two skeins would be enough for the owl! Another option would be four skeins of Gentle Giant. For either yarn, you will need one skein of each contrast color.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi! I’ve just started this owl and it is turning out so cute! My question is whether you closed the hole at the bottom of the owl (from where you started on DPN) or just left it?
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful patterns!!
Hi Courtney,
Thanks so much for the kind words! If you do have a hole left where you started, I would recommend closing it up when you weave in your ends before stuffing the owl.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
hello
Please advise me if i can knit (right handed) the rounds as a row in standard needles and then saw it together to the owl shape
It is to difficult to me to use circular needles….
best regards
Michal
Hi Michal,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, it would take a lot of work to re-work the pattern to be knit on straight needles in rows as even the details are knit on circular needles. However, if you are interested in dipping your toe into knitting in the round, we do have a kit that teaches you how to do so. It can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/kits/knitting/learn-to-knit-a-hat-in-the-round-kit.html
I hope that this information helps!
Cassy
Can this be done using two circular needles instead of DPN?
Hi Luk,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes you can use two circular needle instead of DPNs or even one long pair of circular needles via the Magic Loop method!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Hello! Just wanted to say that this was a fun project to do! I turned my owl into a pirate owl. I made an eyepatch and only knit one eye. Thanks for the posting the pattern!
Hi Dannie,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this pattern and I love that you made your owl into a pirate! That is such a creative idea, we would love to see how it turned out so feel free to send a picture to our email [email protected] or use the hashtag #purlsohobusyhands on Instagram!
All the best,
Gianna
Good morning,
I am just starting the left ear and have my stitches separated onto 3 DPK. Can you explain how I join in the round using a new piece of yarn? I’m totally blanking on how to do this. Thanks for your help, Mary Ellen
Hi Mary Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! To begin knitting with a new piece of yarn, you can just begin knitting with it as if it was your previous working yarn. It won’t be attached to anything on the other side, but don’t worry, once you knit a round or two, it will be perfectly secure, and you can weave in the end later!
Once you’ve knit across all the DPNs, do not turn your work. Just begin knitting the stitches on the first DPN again, and you’ll automatically be joined in the round!
All the best,
Lili