How to make cheeky little birds

Their wire legs, wrapped in bright embroidery thread, help them stand on their own or perch on the edge of someone’s present.

Gather your supplies

Cream yarn; thin card; pompom maker or stiff card; coloured felt and matching thread (for hat); white felt; coloured felt or yarns and knitting needles (for scarf); black seed beads; coloured felt and matching DMC Perle Cotton No. 5 thread and acrylic paint (for beak and feet); craft glue; paper-covered wire, wire cutters; paintbrush

Here’s how

Step 1 Using a pompom maker or two 5cm diameter rings of stiff card, make 2 pompoms from cream yarn (see below for diagram). Glue 1 on top of the other.

Step 2 Using a photocopier, enlarge Bird Talk Diagrams to 215%. Trace Large Wing, Small Wing, Hat Centre and Hat Side onto thin card, then cut out to make templates.

Step 3 To make hat, trace hat templates onto coloured felt. Cut out quantities as directed. Pin 1 Hat Side onto side of Hat Centre and machine or hand stitch together. Repeat for other side. Turn through. Fold front of hat up and tack in position.

Step 4 To make wings, trace templates onto white felt and cut out quantities as directed. Trace Wing Diagrams onto white felt and cut out. Glue Small Wings onto Large Wings, then glue finished wings to sides of body.

Step 5 To make beak, glue 2 pieces of felt together and leave to dry. Cut 2 triangles from doubled felt. Glue beak and 2 seed bead eyes to bird’s face.

Step 6 To make scarf, use a strip of felt or cast on 5 stitches and work a stocking stitch or i-cord scarf for 30cm, changing colours every 3cm, or as desired. Cast off and sew in ends.

Step 7 Make legs in colour to match beak. Cut 6 pieces of wire, two 9.5cm, two 5cm and two 1.5cm long. Apply 2 coats of paint; leave to dry. Glue and wrap each piece with Perle Cotton No. 5 thread. Using Diagrams (left) as a guide, bend each 9.5cm length into a right angle at 3cm from 1 end. Bend each 5cm length into a ‘V’. Glue each right angle into each ‘V’ (to make toes). Glue the 1.5cm lengths to the back of each foot. Glue the top of the legs into the pompom body. Dress the bird with scarf and hat.