These cute little turkeys are designed to slip over a jar with a battery operated tea light. They are cute in everyday colors without the turkey parts too.
They also would be fun containers to hold silverware, fall flowers, potpourri, or colored pencils for guests to decorate paper placemats while they wait.
Free printable placemats: Several to choose from at each of the links below.
- Skip to My Lou: Offers both 8.5 x 11 and 11 x 17 – https://www.skiptomylou.org/thanksgiving-placemats
- Printabulls: 11 x17 – https://www.printabulls.com/holidays/thanksgiving/printable-thanksgiving-placemats/
- Trail of Colors: https://trailofcolors.com/free-printable-thanksgiving-placemats-to-color/
Bottled Turkey Crochet Pattern
“Make Ahead Monday” project. Get this pattern FREE for a limited time: CLICK HERE to download the pdf of this pattern for free until 11/30/23 with coupon code: mam23
Make sure you enter the coupon code and it changes to free BEFORE checking out.
Materials and Details
- Yarn: 75-100 yards worsted weight yarn in color(s) of choice. Samples: Red Heart Soft Toast, RHSS Gold, Cherry, White, Burgundy; Red Heart With Love Mango
- Crochet Hook: H (5mm)
- Miscellaneous: yarn needle, glass jar, 2 small black buttons, sewing needle, black thread
- Optional: Wire for hanger, scissors, tape measure
- Sizes: Pint, Quart, Custom (I prefer the wide mouth jars, but the quart jar in my sample is a regular mouth to show either will work).
- Gauge: not needed for this project
Tips
- The number at the beginning of each line refers to the step and not the number of rows.
- Stitch counts remain the same unless noted at end of row.
- Substitute colors as desired.
Jar Size
I have included instructions for making a cover to fit pint jars, quart jars and how to customize those to fit any misfit, “cute” jars.
I have used the middle jar below for many luminary covers, always assuming it was a pint size.
I needed a few more jars for this project and picked some up at the store. When I got home, I was surprised to find out that “cute” jar has been tricking me all along!
Thanks to helpful friends, it was determined to probably be a mayo jar. Whatever it is, I really like that size. If you have an odd sized jar, use the pattern closest in size (pint or quart) and follow the instructions for customizing it to fit.
Pint
6.25” long x 5.5” across
1. With an H hook and ww yarn, start with a magic circle of 8 sc sts (or preferred method for creating a circle of 8 sc sts), pull closed and place a marker for working in the round. (8sts)
2. 2sc in each st to end of round. (16sts)
3. *hdc, 2hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (24sts)
4. *hdc 2, 2hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (32sts)
5. *hdc 7, 2hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (36sts)
6. Sc in next st, sl st in next st. This is to shorten the round height. This is now the beginning of the round. Ch 1, (sc, 2dc) in the same st, sk 2, *(sc, 2hdc) in the next st, sk 2*, repeat to the end of the round, sl st to join.
7. Ch 1, TURN, (sc, 2hdc) in the space below (from the “sk 2” in the previous round), (sc, 2hdc) in each space to the end of the round, sl st to join.
8. Repeat the previous round for an additional 8 rounds (10 cluster rounds in total).
Customization Option: “Cute” jar: If your jar is not a true pint size, work 5 cluster rounds. Slip the cover over the jar and determine how many more cluster rounds are needed. Keep in mind there is a 2” band at the top after the cluster rounds.
9. This step starts a band of sc sts at the top of the cover. Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st in first st to join.
10. Ch 1, *sc 7, sc2tog*, repeat to end of round, sl st to join. (32sts)
11. Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
12. Repeat previous round for an additional 4 rounds. Finish off and weave in ends.
Features
See the main photos for placement.
Small Turkey (pint)
Eyes (make 1)
1. With an H hook and white yarn, ch 4, sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc 2. (3sts)
2. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc. (2sts)
3. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing in place.
With a yarn needle, use the yarn tail to sew the eye piece to the top band.
With a sewing needle and black yarn, sew 2 black buttons in place.
Waddle: With an H hook and red yarn, ch 6, 2hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next ch, sl st in each remaining ch. Finish off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing in place.
With a yarn needle, use the yarn tail from the waddle to sew the small end next to the bottom right corner of the eye.
Beak
1. Leave a yarn tail in the beginning for sewing the beak in place. With an H hook and yellow yarn, ch 5, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (4sts)
2. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc2tog. (2sts)
3. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. Finish off and weave in end.
With a yarn needle, use the beginning yarn tail to sew the beginning edge of the beak in place, overlapping the bottom edge of the eye piece and top of waddle.
“Hair”: Cut 3 strands of yarn (various colors) 6” long. Fold the strand in half and pull the center loops through a st at the top edge of the turkey, right above the eyes. Pull the ends through the loops until snug. Pull the yarn tails apart for a frizzy look.
Feathers (make 3)
1. With an H hook and yarn, ch 13, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (12sts)
2. Ch 1, turn, sc 4, hdc 4, dc 4.
3. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row. Finish off and weave in ends.
When all of the feathers are complete, overlap the skinny ends and sew together with matching yarn and a yarn needle.
Place the feathers on the back of the turkey (opposite of the face). Check placement to make sure you can see the top ⅓ of the feathers from the front. NOTE: If you sew the bottom edge of the feathers too high on the turkey they will flop over.
With a yarn needle and matching yarn, sew the bottom ½ of the tail feathers to the turkey.
See feather placement photos at the end of this pattern for an example.
Quart
7.5” long x 6.5” across
1. With an H hook and brown ww yarn, start with a magic circle of 8 sc sts (or preferred method for creating a circle of 8 sc sts), pull closed and place a marker for working in the round. (8sts)
2. 2sc in each st to end of round. (16sts)
3. *hdc, 2hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (24sts)
4. *hdc 2, 2hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (32sts)
5. Hdc 2, *2hdc in next st, hdc 2*, repeat to end of round. (42sts)
6. Sc in next st, sl st in next st. This is to shorten the round height. This is now the beginning of the round. Ch 1, (sc, 2dc) in the same st, sk 2, *(sc, 2hdc) in the next st, sk 2*, repeat to the end of the round, sl st to join.
7. Ch 1, TURN, (sc, 2hdc) in the space below (from the “sk 2” in the previous round), (sc, 2hdc) in each space to the end of the round, sl st to join.
8. Repeat the previous round for an additional 10 rounds (12 cluster rounds in total).
Customization Option: “Cute” jar:
If your jar is not a true pint size, work 5 cluster rounds. Slip the cover over the jar and determine how many more cluster rounds are needed. Keep in mind there is a 2” band at the top after the cluster rounds.
9. This step starts a band of sc sts at the top of the cover. Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st in first st to join. (42sts)
10. Ch 1, *sc 7, sc2tog*, repeat to end of round, sl st to join. (32sts)
11. Ch 1, sc 2, *sc2tog, sc 8*, repeat to the end of the round, sl st to join. (38sts)
12. Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
13. Repeat previous round for an additional 6 rounds. Finish off and weave in ends.
Features
See the main photos for placement.
Big Turkey (quart)
Eyes (make 1)
1. With an H hook and white yarn, ch 5, sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc 2. (4sts)
2-3. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.
4. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc2tog. (2sts)
5. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing in place.
With a yarn needle, use the yarn tail to sew the eye piece to the top band.
With a sewing needle and black yarn, sew 2 black buttons in place.
Waddle: With an H hook and red yarn, ch 8, 2hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in the next ch, sl st in each remaining ch. Finish off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing in place.
With a yarn needle, use the yarn tail from the waddle to sew the small end next to the bottom right corner of the eye.
Beak
1. Leave a yarn tail in the beginning for sewing the beak in place. With an H hook and yellow yarn, ch 6, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (5sts)
2. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc 3. (4sts)
3. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc2tog. (2sts)
4. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. Finish off and weave in end.
With a yarn needle, use the beginning yarn tail to sew the beginning edge of the beak in place, overlapping the bottom edge of the eye piece and top of waddle.
“Hair”: Cut 5 strands of yarn (various colors) 6” long. Fold the strand in half and pull the center loops through a st at the top edge of the turkey, right above the eyes. Pull the ends through the loops until snug. Pull the yarn tails apart for a frizzy look.
Feathers (make 3-5)
1. With an H hook and yarn, ch 16, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (15sts)
2. Ch 1, turn, sc 7, hdc 5, dc 2, 3dc in the last st. (17sts)
3. Ch 2, turn, dc, 2dc in the next st, dc, 2dc in the next st, 2dc in the next st, hdc 5, sc 7. (20sts)
4. Ch 1, turn, sc 14, 2sc in the next st, sl st 4, (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in the last st. At this point, do not turn the piece. Working to the left, sl st 3 sts evenly across the edges of the rows. This helps create the tip of the feather. You should now be headed down the first chain sts. 2sc in the next st, sc 14. Finish off and weave in ends.
When all of the feathers are complete, overlap the skinny ends and sew together with matching yarn and a yarn needle.
Place the feathers on the back of the turkey (opposite of the face). Check placement to make sure you can see the top ⅓ of the feathers from the front. NOTE: If you sew the bottom edge of the feathers too high on the turkey they will flop over.
With a yarn needle and matching yarn, sew the bottom ½ of the tail feathers to the turkey.
Since the middle/burgundy feather is at the back and will be seen from the back of the turkey, I used burgundy yarn to sew the bottom sections together. If the yarn will show from the back make sure to match the yarn to the feather color.
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