My dear creator, the time has come to bring our vision to life. Barnaby and Beatrice are waiting in the yarn, ready to emerge as the softest, most charming companions you have ever hooked. Let us begin this beautiful work.
About This Creation & Angle
There is a profound magic in combining textures. This project explores the sensory delight of mixing plush, cloud-like velvet yarn for the bodies with crisp, structured cotton for the accessories. By exaggerating their proportions—giving them massive, rounded heads and low-set eyes—we tap into the very essence of comfort. These heritage geese are designed to capture hearts instantly. They are a testament to the power of thoughtful shaping and material contrast.
Project Snapshot:
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate
⏰ Est. Time: 12-15 hours per goose
📏 Size: Approximately 22cm tall
“When you hold a finished piece and it begs to be squeezed, you know you have succeeded.” – Patricia Poltera
Materials & Tools Needed
🧶 Yarn: Cream Velvet Yarn (Bulky weight). Orange, Soft Brown, Black, Grey, Beige, White, Vintage Cream, and Rose Cotton Yarn (Sport weight).
🪡 Hook: 4.5mm for Velvet Yarn. 2.5mm for Cotton Yarn.
✨ Other Materials: 10mm safety eyes. Fiberfill stuffing. Yarn needle. Stitch markers.
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
inc: increase (2 sc in one stitch)
dec: invisible decrease (sc 2 together)
BLO: back loops only
FLO: front loops only
The Complete Barnaby & Beatrice Pattern
Head & Plump Body (Make 2 – Cream Velvet Yarn)
Artisan’s Note: Velvet yarn requires tight, even tension to prevent the stuffing from peeking through. Use stitch markers diligently.
Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times (36)
Round 7: [5 sc, inc] 6 times (42)
Round 8: [6 sc, inc] 6 times (48)
Round 9: [7 sc, inc] 6 times (54)
Rounds 10-18: sc in each st around (54)
Artisan’s Note: Insert safety eyes between rounds 15 and 16, leaving 12 stitches between them. This wide placement is crucial for their innocent gaze.
Round 19: [7 sc, dec] 6 times (48)
Round 20: [6 sc, dec] 6 times (42)
Round 21: [5 sc, dec] 6 times (36)
Round 22: [4 sc, dec] 6 times (30)
Round 23: [3 sc, dec] 6 times (24)
Round 24: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Artisan’s Note: Stuff the head firmly. We now begin the neck and body shaping.
Rounds 25-28: sc in each st around (18)
Round 29: [2 sc, inc] 6 times (24)
Round 30: [3 sc, inc] 6 times (30)
Round 31: sc in each st around (30)
Round 32: [4 sc, inc] 6 times (36)
Round 33: sc in each st around (36)
Round 34: [5 sc, inc] 6 times (42)
Round 35: [6 sc, inc] 6 times (48)
Round 36: [7 sc, inc] 6 times (54)
Rounds 37-44: sc in each st around (54)
Round 45: [7 sc, dec] 6 times (48)
Round 46: [6 sc, dec] 6 times (42)
Round 47: [5 sc, dec] 6 times (36)
Round 48: [4 sc, dec] 6 times (30)
Round 49: [3 sc, dec] 6 times (24)
Round 50: [2 sc, dec] 6 times (18)
Round 51: [1 sc, dec] 6 times (12)
Round 52: dec 6 times (6)
Fasten off, close the remaining hole, and weave in the end.
Chubby Cheeks (Make 4 – Cream Velvet Yarn)
Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Short, Rounded Beak (Make 2 – Orange Cotton Yarn)
Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: [1 sc, inc] 3 times (9)
Round 3: [2 sc, inc] 3 times (12)
Round 4: [3 sc, inc] 3 times (15)
Rounds 5-7: sc in each st around (15)
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff lightly.
Soft Wings (Make 4 – Cream Velvet Yarn)
Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: [1 sc, inc] 3 times (9)
Round 3: [2 sc, inc] 3 times (12)
Round 4: [3 sc, inc] 3 times (15)
Round 5: [4 sc, inc] 3 times (18)
Rounds 6-12: sc in each st around (18)
Round 13: [4 sc, dec] 3 times (15)
Round 14: [3 sc, dec] 3 times (12)
Do not stuff. Flatten the opening and sc through both layers to close.
Chunky Legs & Webbed Feet (Make 4 – Orange Cotton Yarn)
Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: [1 sc, inc] 3 times (9)
Rounds 3-8: sc in each st around (9)
Artisan’s Note: We now shape the webbed foot.
Round 9: FLO inc in each st around (18)
Round 10: [1 sc, inc] 9 times (27)
Round 11: sc in each st around (27)
Round 12: Flatten the foot. Working through both layers, [sc in next st, in the next st work (hdc, dc, hdc), sc in next st] 4 times across.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the leg tube firmly.
BARNABY’S ACCESSORIES
Aviator Cap with Ear Flaps (Soft Brown Cotton Yarn)
Round 1: 8 sc in magic ring (8)
Round 2: inc in each st around (16)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 8 times (24)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 8 times (32)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 8 times (40)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] 8 times (48)
Round 7: [5 sc, inc] 8 times (56)
Rounds 8-14: sc in each st around (56)
Artisan’s Note: Ear flap 1.
Row 15: sc 10, ch 1, turn (10)
Row 16: dec, sc 6, dec, ch 1, turn (8)
Row 17: dec, sc 4, dec, ch 1, turn (6)
Row 18: dec, sc 2, dec, ch 1, turn (4)
Row 19: dec twice. Fasten off.
Reattach yarn 18 stitches away for the second ear flap. Repeat Rows 15-19.
Sc evenly around the entire edge of the cap to finish.
Goggle Appliques (Make 2 – Black and Grey Cotton Yarn)
With Black, Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around (12)
Change to Grey, Round 3: sl st in each st around (12)
Fasten off. Sew these to the front of the Aviator Cap, connecting them with a chain of 4 in Black.
Striped Scarf (Beige and White Cotton Yarn)
With Beige, ch 81.
Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across (79).
Change to White, Row 2: ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across (79).
Alternate Beige and White for 5 total rows. Fasten off and add small fringe to the ends.
Satchel Bag with Strap (Dark Brown Cotton Yarn)
Bag Base: ch 11.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (10)
Rows 2-8: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (10)
Bag Flap: Rows 9-12: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (10)
Row 13: dec, sc 6, dec (8). Fasten off.
Strap: ch 45, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Sew strap to the sides of the folded bag base. Add a small French knot for the buckle.
BEATRICE’S ACCESSORIES
Ruffled Bonnet (Cream Cotton Yarn)
Round 1: 8 sc in magic ring (8)
Round 2: inc in each st around (16)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] 8 times (24)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] 8 times (32)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] 8 times (40)
Rounds 6-10: sc in each st around (40)
Round 11: FLO, [inc, sc in next st] repeat around (60)
Round 12: [inc, 2 sc] repeat around (80)
Round 13: [inc, 3 sc] repeat around (100)
Fasten off. Attach a chain of 30 on each side for ties.
Crossed Shawl (Brown and Beige Cotton Yarn)
With Brown, ch 3.
Row 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in last ch, ch 1, turn (4)
Row 2: inc, sc 2, inc, ch 1, turn (6)
Continue increasing at the beginning and end of every row, alternating Brown and Beige every 2 rows, until you have 24 stitches across. Fasten off.
Pinafore Apron with Picot Edging (Vintage Cream & Rose Cotton Yarn)
With Vintage Cream, ch 41.
Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across (39).
Row 2: ch 2, turn. [dc in next 2 sts, inc] across (52).
Rows 3-6: ch 2, turn, dc in each st across (52).
Change to Rose, Row 7: [sc, ch 3, sl st in 1st ch (picot), skip 1 st] repeat across. Fasten off. Add two chain-15 straps at the top edge.
Miniature Mixing Spoon Applique (Dark Brown Cotton Yarn)
ch 6. sc in 2nd ch from hook. sl st in next 4 ch. Fasten off and sew onto the apron pocket.
Assembly & Final Touches
➡️ Sew the beak exactly between the eyes.
➡️ Attach the chubby cheeks just below and slightly behind the eyes.
➡️ Sew the wings firmly to the sides of the body, just below the neck curve.
➡️ Attach the chunky legs to the bottom center of the body so the goose can stand balanced.
➡️ Dress Barnaby in his cap, scarf, and satchel. Dress Beatrice in her bonnet, shawl, and apron.
Tips & FAQs
Q: My velvet yarn is shedding when I cut it. How do I stop this?
A: Carefully singe the very tip of the cut velvet yarn with a lighter to melt the fibers together, or tie a tight knot at the very end.
Q: Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton for the accessories?
A: You certainly can, though the crisp stitch definition of cotton provides the most striking visual contrast against the plush velvet bodies.
A Final Word
Your hands have shaped something truly special today. May Barnaby and Beatrice bring immense joy to your heart and inspire countless moments of creativity in your journey ahead.
