My dearest creator,
Welcome back to the worktable. There is a profound quiet that settles over us when we work with velvet yarns—a softness that demands we slow down and appreciate every stitch. Oakley is not merely a toy; he is a keeper of hearth and home. Designed to use up those precious leftover skeins of berry red and forest green, he transforms “holiday” colors into a year-round woodland story. Let us begin this journey of texture and warmth.
About This Creation & The “Stash-Buster” Angle
We often find ourselves drowning in half-used skeins, do we not? Oakley was born from that very dilemma. By combining rich Cherry Red and Forest Sage, we create a “Cottagecore” aesthetic that feels right at home in a farmhouse kitchen or a nursery shelf. This project is your opportunity to practice clean color changes in velvet yarn—a skill that elevates a simple shape into a professional piece. He is a baker, a gardener, a friend.
Project Snapshot
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate (Color changes & texture management)
⏰ Est. Time: 5–7 Hours of focused craft
📏 Size: Approx. 22cm (8.5 inches) tall using super bulky yarn
“The magic lies not in the complexity of the stitch, but in the intention of the hand that casts it.” — Patricia Poltera
Materials & Tools Needed
🧶 Yarn: Super Bulky (Category 6) Velvet/Chenille Yarn. Colors: Cookie Dough (Light Brown) for head/wings/feet. Cream Puff (White) for face mask/heart. Cherry Jam (Red) for sweater. Forest Sage (Green) for shorts. Scraps of Orange (Beak/Feet) and Golden Brown (Cookie).
🪡 Hook: 4.5mm or 5.0mm (Go smaller than the label recommends to prevent holes).
✨ Other Materials: 16mm Safety Eyes (Black). Polyester Fiberfill (Stuff firmly). Yarn Needle (Large eye). Stitch Markers. Dark Brown embroidery thread (for cookie chips).
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
inc: increase (2 sc in one st)
dec: decrease (invisible decrease preferred)
BLO: back loop only
FLO: front loop only
hdc: half double crochet
The Complete Oakley Owl Pattern
The Head (In Cookie Dough Brown)
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6. (18)
R4: (Sc 2, inc) x 6. (24)
R5: (Sc 3, inc) x 6. (30)
R6: (Sc 4, inc) x 6. (36)
R7: (Sc 5, inc) x 6. (42)
R8: (Sc 6, inc) x 6. (48)
R9–R18: Sc in each st around. (48) Ten rounds of height create that youthful forehead.
R19: (Sc 6, dec) x 6. (42)
R20: (Sc 5, dec) x 6. (36)
R21: (Sc 4, dec) x 6. (30)
Artisan’s Note: Pause here. Insert safety eyes between R14 and R15, leaving 6 stitches visible between them. Do not fasten off; we continue into the body.
The Face Mask (Make 2 in Cream Puff)
These create the heart-shaped face. Work in joined rounds.
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6. (18)
R4: (Sc 2, inc) x 6. (24)
R5: (Hdc 1, 2 hdc in next st) x 6. (36)
Fasten off. Sew these onto the face before placing the safety eyes through both the mask and the head.
The Body & Sweater (Starting in Cherry Jam Red)
Join Red yarn to the last stitch of the Head.
R22: (Sc 4, inc) x 6. (36)
R23: (Sc 5, inc) x 6. (42)
R24–R26: Sc in each st around. (42)
Change to Cream Puff (White) for the sweater stripe.
R27: Sc in each st around. (42)
Change back to Cherry Jam (Red).
R28: (Sc 6, inc) x 6. (48)
R29–R30: Sc in each st around. (48)
The Shorts (Change to Forest Sage Green)
R31: Sc in each st around. (48)
R32: BLO sc in each st around. (48) This creates a rim to embroider later.
R33–R37: Sc in each st around. (48)
R38: (Sc 6, dec) x 6. (42)
R39: (Sc 5, dec) x 6. (36)
R40: (Sc 4, dec) x 6. (30)
R41: (Sc 3, dec) x 6. (24)
R42: (Sc 2, dec) x 6. (18)
R43: (Sc 1, dec) x 6. (12)
R44: Dec x 6. (6)
Fasten off and weave in end.
The Wings (Make 2 in Cookie Dough Brown)
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3: (Sc 5, inc) x 2. (14)
R4–R7: Sc in each st around. (14)
R8: Dec x 7. (7)
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
The Feet (Make 2 in Orange)
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3–R4: Sc in each st around. (12)
R5: Dec x 6. (6)
Fasten off. Sew to the bottom of the body for stability.
Accessories: The Baker’s Essentials
The Scarf (Striped Red & White)
Ch 6.
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (5)
R2–R40: Ch 1, turn, BLO sc across. Change colors every 2 rows.
The Cookie (Golden Brown)
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6. (18)
Fasten off. Embroider small “chips” with dark brown thread.
The Apple (Bright Red)
R1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
R2: Inc in every st. (12)
R3–R5: Sc in each st around. (12)
R6: Dec x 6. (6)
Fasten off. Add a small brown chain for the stem.
Assembly & Final Touches
- Face Definition: Sew the orange beak centered between the eyes, slightly overlapping the cream masks.
- Embroidery: On the Green Shorts, use Cream yarn to embroider small “V” shapes or lazy daisies. This mimics the vintage fabric look.
- Sweater Detail: Crochet a small flat heart in white (Magic Ring: ch 2, 3 tr, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 2, sl st) and sew it to the center of the chest.
- Ear Tufts: Cut 6 strands of brown yarn (3 inches long). Loop them through the top corners of the head like fringe and trim to shape.
Tips & FAQs
Q: My velvet yarn is “worming” (loops popping out). Help!
➡️ Keep your tension tighter than usual. If it persists, switch to a smaller hook (e.g., from 5.0mm to 4.5mm).
Q: Can I use worsted weight yarn?
➡️ Absolutely. Oakley will simply be smaller—a pocket-sized guardian! Use a 2.5mm or 3.0mm hook.
A Final Word
There is a quiet dignity in creating something with your own hands. Oakley is ready to sit upon your shelf or be gifted to a soul in need of comfort. He is proof that with a little patience and the right texture, we can craft pure joy.
Yours in creativity,
Patricia
