Funny festive feathery friends

This year, give your Christmas tree some cute and crazy, quirky personality, with some of the coolest, most colorful birds from all over the world!

There are five wonderful, weird birds included in this pattern: the Andean cock-of-the-rock, quetzal, rhinoceros hornbill, Inca tern and Livingstone’s turaco.

Each bird is a small, medium difficult project, that can be finished in an evening or so and a great way to use up any scraps you have lying around. These birds measure 10 to 15 cm and were knitted on 2.00 mm double pointed needles (UK 14, US 0) in lace gauged yarn. The tiny beaks are done miniature, but can also be made out of scraps of felt. There is some intarsia work, short row and partial row knitting. All features can be done in a heavier yarn, then they turn out slightly larger. Some of the features are simple embroidery and the tern’s ‘stache is made as an i-cord.

These birds make fun hanging ornaments for your Christmas tree.

Happy holidays! Viv