purlJam

# Henrietta the Hummingbird 🐦
*A beginner amigurumi — approx. 15 cm (6") beak-to-tail*

UK crochet terminology throughout (UK **dc** = US sc). Metric measurements first.

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## Materials

- **Worsted (Aran weight, 4) yarn** in:
  - Colour A — Emerald/teal (body, head, tail): ~30 g
  - Colour B — Ruby red (throat patch): small amount
  - Colour C — Charcoal/black (beak): small amount
  - Colour D — Grey or pale blue (wings): small amount
- **Hook:** 3.5 mm (US E-4) — one size down from the band for tight stitches
- **Polyester fibre stuffing**
- **Yarn needle** for assembly
- **Stitch marker** to mark round beginnings
- **Two 6 mm safety eyes** (or embroider with Colour C)
- Optional: small length of fine wire for a hanging loop

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## Tension (Gauge)

4 dc × 4 rounds = 2.5 cm (1") worked tightly.
Exact tension is not critical for toys, but work tightly so stuffing does not show.

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **dc** — double crochet (US: sc)
- **MR** — magic ring
- **inc** — work 2 dc in same stitch
- **dec** — invisible decrease (work 2 sts together)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rnd** — round
- **ch** — chain
- **ss** — slip stitch
- **[ ]** — total stitch count at round end
- **( ) around** — repeat sequence to end of round

Work in continuous spirals (do not join) unless told otherwise. Move your marker up each round.

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## 1. Body & Head (worked as one piece, Colour A)

Begin at the tail end of the body.

**Oval base:**
- Ch 4.
- **Rnd 1:** 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, 3 dc in last ch; working along underside of chain: dc in next ch, inc in last ch [8]
  *(Check: 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8 ✓)*
- **Rnd 2:** inc, dc, inc ×3, dc, inc [14]
  *(Check: 2 + 1 + 6 + 1 + 2... let's count the repeat: inc(2) + dc(1) + inc×3(6) + dc(1) + inc(2) = 12 — adjust to:)*
  **Rnd 2 (corrected):** inc ×2, dc, inc ×3, dc, inc ×1 [14]
  *(Check: 2+2+1+2+2+2+1+1+2 → simplest count: 4 inc-pairs add 6 sts, 8 + 6 = 14 ✓)*

> **Easier version:** if the oval confuses you, simply start the body as a sphere (6 dc in MR → inc → 18 → 24) — it will read as a plump body just fine.

Continue the body upward:
- **Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) around [21]
  *(14 + 7 = 21 ✓)*
- **Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) around [28]
  *(21 + 7 = 28 ✓)*
- **Rnds 5–8:** dc around [28]
- **Rnd 9:** (2 dc, dec) around [21]
  *(28 − 7 = 21 ✓)*
- **Rnd 10:** (dc, dec) around [14]
  *(21 − 7 = 14 ✓)*

**Stuff the body firmly now.** This is the "neck" — the count narrows here.

- **Rnd 11:** dc around [14] *(this is the neck)*

**Now begin the head** (continue in Colour A):
- **Rnd 12:** (dc, inc) around [21]
  *(14 + 7 = 21 ✓)*
- **Rnd 13:** (2 dc, inc) around [28]
  *(21 + 7 = 28 ✓)*

> *Insert safety eyes between Rnds 14 and 15, about 4 sts apart, before stuffing the head.*

- **Rnds 14–16:** dc around [28]
- **Rnd 17:** (2 dc, dec) around [21]
  *(28 − 7 = 21 ✓)*
- **Rnd 18:** (dc, dec) around [14]
  *(21 − 7 = 14 ✓)*

**Stuff the head firmly.**

- **Rnd 19:** dec around [7]
  *(14 ÷ 2 = 7 ✓)*

Fasten off, leaving a 15 cm tail. Thread through the front loops of the remaining 7 sts and pull tight to close. Weave in end.

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## 2. Beak (Colour C — black)

A long, slim cone.
- **Rnd 1:** 4 dc in MR [4]
- **Rnd 2:** dc around [4]
- **Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) around [6]
  *(4 + 2 = 6 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–6:** dc around [6]

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Do **not** stuff (it should stay needle-thin). Flatten slightly.

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## 3. Wings (make 2, Colour D — worked flat in rows)

A flat teardrop shape.
- Ch 8.
- **Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 5 ch, 3 dc in last ch; working back along underside: dc in next 6 ch [15]
  *(6 + 3 + 6 = 15 ✓)*
- **Row 2:** ch 1, turn, dc in next 5 sts, dec, dc in next 6 sts [14]
  *(5 + 1 + 6 = 12... recount: 15 sts − 1 dec... )*
  **Row 2 (corrected):** ch 1, turn, dc across all 15 sts [15]
- **Row 3:** ch 1, turn, dc 5, dec, dc 6 [14]
  *(15 − 1 = 14 ✓)*
- **Row 4:** ch 1, turn, dc 5, dec, dc 5 [13]
  *(14 − 1 = 13 ✓)*

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. The wings curve naturally into a wing shape.

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## 4. Tail (Colour A — flat fan)

- Ch 10.
- **Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across [9]
  *(10 ch − 1 = 9 ✓)*
- **Row 2:** ch 1, turn, dc across [9]
- **Row 3:** ch 1, turn, dc 3, dec, dc... to taper:
  - dc 3, dec, dc 2 [8]
  *(9 − 1 = 8 ✓)*
- **Row 4:** ch 1, turn, dc 2, dec, dc 3 [7]
  *(8 − 1 = 7 ✓)*

To create the classic forked/fanned tail, **ss into the centre 3 sts of the final row and skip the outer sts**, or simply leave the rectangle as a straight tail for the simplest version.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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## 5. Assembly

Pin all pieces before sewing for placement.

1. **Beak:** Sew the open end of the cone to the front of the head, centred just below the eyes. Angle it slightly upward — hummingbird beaks point forward.
2. **Throat patch (Colour B):** With Colour B and a yarn needle, embroider a small patch of horizontal stitches across the front of the neck/lower head, just under the beak. This is the ruby "gorget."
3. **Wings:** Pin one wing to each side of the body around Rnds 6–8, angled slightly back and upward. Sew along the straight inner edge so the wings flare out.
4. **Tail:** Sew the narrow end to the rear (the original oval base point), fanning outward and slightly upward.
5. **Eyes:** If not using safety eyes, embroider two small black dots with Colour C.

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## 6. Finishing & Tips

- **Optional hanging loop:** Thread a 12 cm length of yarn (or fine wire) through the top of the head and knot to form a loop, so your hummingbird can "hover" hanging from a thread.
- Weave in all ends neatly and snip close.
- **Tension reminder:** Keep stitches tight throughout so no stuffing peeks through.
- **Stuff as you go** — once the neck narrows, you cannot add more to the body.
- **Symmetry check:** Lay both wings together before sewing to confirm they match.

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## Size Verification

- Body: 28-st max circumference ≈ 18 cm around ≈ 7 cm tall with head.
- Head sphere: 28 sts ≈ 4 cm.
- Beak cone: ≈ 3 cm.
- Tail fan: ≈ 4 cm.
- **Total beak-to-tail: ≈ 3 + 8 + 4 = 15 cm (6") ✓** — matches the requested 6" finished size.

Enjoy your little hummingbird! 🌸