Knitted Bird: Free Knitting Pattern

This adorable knitted bird is sure to brighten your day! This quick knitting project is done with simple straight needles only, and has minimal seams to sew at the end. With a detailed photo tutorial, you’re sure to quickly add this new knitted friend to your collection!

Knitted Bird brown and white with toulouse geese in background and wooden gate

Knitting pattern for beautiful knitted bird toy. This sweet bird knitting pattern is free with a fully photographed tutorial!

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Supplies needed for knitted bird:

Stitches Used for this knitted bird:

  • Knit
  • Purl
  • KLL (knit left loop)
  • KFB (knit front and back)
  • SSK (slip slip knit)
  • K2TOG (knit two together)
  • P2TOG (purl two together)
  • K3TOG (knit three together)

Note: Although I used what is technically bulky yarn, I feel that the “bulky” Wonderfluff yarn I used should really be classified more as a worsted weight yarn. In other words — if you use all worsted weight yarn for this project, it should all turn out just fine.

Without further ado, let’s begin!

Want to print this pattern for free? Get it below!

Step 1: Knit the Body

With 3.75 straight needles and bulky yarn, cast on 8 stitches.

Row 1: (K1, P1) to end

Row 2: (K1, P1) to end

Row 3: (K1, P1) to end

Row 4: (K1, P1) to end

Row 5: (K1, P1) to end

Row 6: (K1, P1) to end

Row 7: (K1, P1) to end

Row 8: (K1, P1) to end

Row 9: K1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, K1 (10 stitches total)

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: K1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, K1 (12 stitches total)

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: K1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, K1 (14 stitches total)

Row 14: Purl

Row 15: K 4, KFB, K 5, KFB, K 4 (16 stitches total)

Row 16: Purl

Row 17: K 4, KFB, K 6, KFB, K 4 (18 stitches total)

Row 18: Purl

Row 19: K 4, KFB, K 8, KFB, K 4 (20 stitches total)

Row 20: Purl

Row 21: K 4, KFB, K 10, KFB, K 4 (22 stitches total)

Row 22: Purl

Row 23: K 4, KFB, K 12, KFB, K 4 (24 stitches total)

Row 24: Purl

Row 25: K 4, KFB, K14, KFB, K 4 (26 stitches total)

Row 26: Purl

Row 27: K 4, KFB, K 16, KFB, K4 (28 stitches total)

Row 28: Purl

Row 29: Knit

Row 30: Purl

Row 31: Knit

Row 32: Purl

Row 33: Knit

Row 34: Purl

Row 35: K 4, SSK, K 16, K2TOG, K 4 (26 stitches total)

Row 36: Purl

Row 37: K 4, SSK, K 14, K2TOG, K 4 (24 stitches total)

Row 38: Purl

Row 39: K 4, SSK, K 12, K2TOG, K 4 (22 stitches total)

Row 40: Purl

Row 41: K 4, SSK, K 10, K2TOG, K 4 (20 stitches total)

Row 42: Purl

Row 43: K 4, SSK, K 8, K2TOG, K 4 (18 stitches total)

Row 44: Purl

Row 45: K 4, SSK, K 6, K2TOG, K 4 (16 stitches total)

Row 46: Purl

Row 47: K 4, SSK, K 4, K2TOG, K 4 (14 stitches total)

Row 48: Purl

Row 49: K 4, SSK, K 2, K2TOG, K 4 (12 stitches total)

Row 50: Purl

Row 51: K 4, SSK, K2TOG, K 4 (10 stitches total)

Row 52: Purl

Row 53: K 3, (KFB) four times, K 3 (14 stitches)

Row 54: Purl

Row 55: K 3, (KFB, K 1) four times, K 3 (18 stitches total)

Row 56: Purl

Row 57: K 3, (KFB, K 2) four times, K 3 (22 stitches total)

Row 58: Purl

Row 59: K 3, (KFB, K 3) four times, K 3 (26 stitches total)

Row 60: Purl

Row 61: K 3, (K2TOG, K 3) four times, K 3 (22 stitches total)

Row 62: Purl

Row 63: K 3, (K2TOG, K 2) four times, K 3 (18 stitches total)

Row 64: Purl

Row 65: K 3, (K2TOG, K 1) four times, K 3 (14 stitches total)

Row 66: Purl

Row 67: K 3, (K2TOG) four times, K 3 (10 stitches total)

Row 68: Purl

Row 69: (K2TOG) five times (5 stitches total)

Row 70: K5TOG, break yarn and secure

Step 2: Knit Bird Belly

Next, we will knit the bird’s underbelly.

I used white Wonderfluff yarn.

With bulky yarn and 3.75mm knitting needles, cast on 8 stitches.

Row 1: (K1, P1) to end

Row 2: (K1, P1) to end

Row 3: (K1, P1) to end

Row 4: (K1, P1) to end

Row 5: (K1, P1) to end

Row 6: (K1, P1) to end

Row 7: (K1, P1) to end

Row 8: (K1, P1) to end

Row 9: K 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, K1 (10 stitches total)

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: K 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, K1 (12 stitches total)

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: K 5, KFB, KFB, K 5 (14 stitches total)

Row 14: Purl

Row 15: K 5, (KFB, K 1) twice, K 5 (16 stitches total)

Rows 16 – 34: Work in Straight Stitch (Purl one row, knit the next)

Row 35: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (14 stitches total)

Row 36: Purl

Row 37: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (12 stitches total)

Row 38: Purl

Row 39: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (10 stitches total)

Row 40: Purl

Row 41: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (8 stitches total)

Row 42: Purl

Row 43: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (6 stitches total)

Row 44: Purl

Row 45: K 1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2TOG, K 1 (4 stitches total)

Row 46: Purl

Row 47: SSK, K2TOG (2 stitches total)

Row 48: P2TOG, break yarn and tie off

Step 3: Knit the Wings

Next, your little bird needs some wings!

I used brown Wonderfluff yarn to match the body.

With bulky yarn and 3.75mm knitting needles, cast on 8 stitches.

Rows 1 – 8: Work in garter stitch (knit every row)

Row 9: K2TOG, K 4, K2TOG

Row 10: Knit

Row 11: K2TOG, K 2, K2TOG

Row 12: Knit

Row 13: K2TOG, K2TOG

Row 14: Knit

Row 15: K2TOG, Break yarn and tie off

Step 4: Knit Bird’s Legs

Your bird needs some cute little legs/feet!

With worsted weight yarn and 3.75mm knitting needles, cast on 6 stitches.

Rows 1 – 14: Straight stitch (knit one row, purl the next)

Row 15: K 2, Turn. Work on these two stitches only for next 4 rows.

Row 16: P 2

Row 17: K 2

Row 18: P 2

Row 19: K2TOG, break yarn. Reattach to middle 2 stitches

Row 20: K 2, turn. Work on these two stitches only for next 4 rows.

Row 21: P 2

Row 22: K 2

Row 23: P 2

Row 24: K2TOG, Break yarn. Reattach to remaining 2 stitches.

Row 25: K 2, turn. Work on these two stitches only for next 4 rows.

Row 26: P 2

Row 27: K 2

Row 28: P 2

Row 29: K2TOG, break yarn. Weave in all ends and make a seam up the back of the legs.

Step 5: Beak

The last piece of our bird to knit up is the little beak.

Knit the beak as one piece, then fold in half and sew up to create the triangle shape. Do not stuff.

With worsted weight yarn and 3.75 mm stitches, cast on 3 stitches.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: K1, KLL, K1, KLL, K1 (5 stitches)

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: Knit

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: Knit

Row 8: Purl

Row 9: K2TOG, K1, K2TOG

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: Knit

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: K3TOG, break yarn

Final Step: Assembly

Lastly, it’s time to assemble your sweet little bird!

First, sew the head.

Next, starting at the top end of the underside body, attach the underside of the body to the top body. Leave the tail open to stuff.

Using the hole at the tail, fill the bird with wool (or the fiberfill of your choice). Do not stuff the tail.

Now, sew the tail closed.

Lastly, attach the wings, beak, legs, and embroider little eyes on your knitted bird.

Enjoy your knitted bird!

I hope you enjoyed this free knitting pattern.

Please comment below if you did.

I would love to hear from you!

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6 Comments

  1. Wow! So cute. I wish all patterns were written out so clearly. Your instructions look so easy to follow. Looking forward to making this sweet little creature. Thank you.

    1. Ich bin in der 15 Reihe und ich verstehe nicht das ist nicht Gut ich weiß nicht wie ich weiter machen vielleicht können sie mir helfen…. danke ❤️

      1. Hello, Streier!
        Perhaps I can help you with row 15.
        Knit 4 stitches. Then, Knit the front and the back of your next stitch. This will increase the amount of stitches in your row. Next, Knit 5 stitches. Then, knit the front and back of your next stitch (again, this will increase your stitches on your needles). Lastly, knit the last 4 stitches. This will make 16 total stitches on your needles. I hope this helps!

        Hallo Streier!
        Vielleicht kann ich Ihnen bei Zeile 15 helfen.
        4 Maschen stricken. Stricken Sie dann die Vorder- und Rückseite Ihrer nächsten Masche. Dadurch erhöht sich die Anzahl der Maschen in Ihrer Reihe. Als nächstes stricken Sie 5 Maschen. Stricken Sie dann die Vorder- und Rückseite Ihrer nächsten Masche rechts (auch hierdurch erhöhen Sie die Anzahl der Maschen auf Ihren Nadeln). Zum Schluss die letzten 4 Maschen rechts stricken. Dadurch ergeben sich insgesamt 16 Maschen auf Ihren Nadeln. Ich hoffe das hilft!

  2. Thank you so much for sharing your bird pattern.
    I hate paying for patterns
    And I love to support people
    Who give patterns free.
    I shall definately knit this