Welcome to the cozy world of “Farmhouse Living” with this delightful crochet project, “The Chicken Keeper.” Backyard chickens are a beloved trend in the countryside, and this character captures that rustic charm perfectly. The star of this pattern is a sweet Calico Cat, featuring an artistic coat of white, black, and orange mottled fur. She is posed in a natural, dynamic stance, waving her paw to scatter grain for her feathered friends.

She is dressed for her morning chores in a warm Mustard Yellow dress that reflects the morning sun. Protecting her dress is a crisp white bib apron, lovingly embroidered with wildflowers and featuring two large front pockets overflowing with grain. On her feet, she wears practical brown garden clogs, and a classic headscarf is tied Babushka-style under her chin to keep her fur tidy. The scene is completed with three plump, round hens—one brown, one white, and one black—pecking at the ground, alongside a ceramic-style bowl of feed and a rustic basket containing three tiny fresh eggs.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR – Magic Ring
• ch – Chain
• sc – Single Crochet
• hdc – Half Double Crochet
• dc – Double Crochet
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• […] – Total stitch count at the end of the round

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK or Sport weight cotton/acrylic yarn in the following colors:
  • White (Main body color)
  • Black & Burnt Orange/Rust (For Calico spots)
  • Mustard Yellow (Dress)
  • Dark Brown (Clogs)
  • Beige/Cream (Headscarf, Bowl, Grain, Basket)
  • Red (Hen combs)
  • Scrap yarn in Green, Pink, Yellow (Wildflower embroidery)
• Hook: 2.5 mm crochet hook (for tight stitches).
• Eyes: 10mm Black Safety Eyes (for Cat), 6mm eyes or beads (for Hens).
• Embroidery Floss: Pink (Nose/Mouth), Yellow (Hen beaks).
• Stuffing: High-quality polyester fiberfill.
• Tools: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, pins.

Gauge & Size

The finished cat stands approximately 26 cm (10 inches) tall. The gauge should be tight to ensure the stuffing does not show through the fabric. The hens are miniature sized, approximately 4 cm tall.

Pattern Instructions: The Calico Cat

Note on Calico Colorwork: The beauty of a calico cat is the random patches. Work the head and body primarily in White, but randomly switch to Black or Orange for 3-5 stitches at a time to create spots. Carry the unused yarn behind the work.

Head

Start with White (adding spots randomly).

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18]
• Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) x 6 [24]
• Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 [30]
• Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) x 6 [36]
• Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) x 6 [42]
• Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) x 6 [48]
• Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) x 6 [54]
• Rnds 10–18: sc in each st around [54]
• Rnd 19: (sc 8, inc) x 6 [60] (Cheek shaping)
• Rnds 20–23: sc in each st around [60]
• Insert safety eyes between Rnds 17 and 18, approx 10 sts apart. Embroider a pink nose.
• Rnd 24: (sc 8, dec) x 6 [54]
• Rnd 25: (sc 7, dec) x 6 [48]
• Rnd 26: (sc 6, dec) x 6 [42]
• Rnd 27: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36]
• Rnd 28: (sc 4, dec) x 6 [30]
• Rnd 29: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24]
• Stuff the head firmly.
• Rnd 30: (sc 2, dec) x 6 [18]
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ears (Make 2)

Make one Black and one Orange for the Calico look.

• Rnd 1: 5 sc in MR [5]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [10]
• Rnd 3: sc around [10]
• Rnd 4: (sc 1, inc) x 5 [15]
• Rnd 5: sc around [15]
• Rnd 6: (sc 2, inc) x 5 [20]
• Rnds 7-8: sc around [20]
• Flatten and sew to the top of the head.

Legs (Make 2) and Body

Start with White (add spots on legs if desired).

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18]
• Rnds 4-12: sc in each st around [18]
• Fasten off first leg. Make second leg, do not fasten off. Ch 3, join to first leg.
• Rnd 13: sc 18 (leg 1), sc 3 (chain), sc 18 (leg 2), sc 3 (chain) [42]
• Rnd 14: (sc 6, inc) x 6 [48]
• Rnds 15-22: sc around [48] (Add large patches of Orange/Black on the back/belly).
• Rnd 23: (sc 6, dec) x 6 [42]
• Rnds 24-26: sc around [42]
• Rnd 27: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36]
• Rnds 28-30: sc around [36]
• Rnd 31: (sc 4, dec) x 6 [30]
• Rnds 32-34: sc around [30]
• Rnd 35: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24]
• Rnd 36: (sc 2, dec) x 6 [18]
• Stuff body firmly. Sew Head to Body.

Arms (Make 2)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: (sc 1, inc) x 3 [9]
• Rnds 3-15: sc in each st around [9]
• Stuff lightly. Pinch closed and sc across. Sew to shoulders.

Tail

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (Use Black or Orange).
• Rnds 2-20: sc around [6]. Change colors randomly.
• Sew to the back of the body.

Outfit Instructions

Mustard Yellow Dress

Worked from the neck down.

• Row 1: Ch 27. sc in 2nd ch and across [26]. Turn.
• Row 2: (sc 1, inc) x 13 [39]. Turn.
• Row 3: sc 6, ch 6 (skip 7 sts), sc 13, ch 6 (skip 7 sts), sc 6 [37]. Turn.
• Row 4: sc across all sts and chains [37]. Turn.
• Row 5: (sc 4, inc) x 7, sc 2 [44]. Join to first st to work in rounds.
• Rnd 6: Ch 2, dc in each st around [44].
• Rnd 7: (dc 3, inc) around [55].
• Rnds 8-14: dc in each st around [55].
• Fasten off. Weave in ends. Put on the cat.

White Wildflower Apron

Worked flat.

• Waistband: Ch 30 (measure around cat’s waist). sc back. Fasten off.
• Apron Skirt: Join White yarn to the center 14 stitches of the waistband.
  • Row 1: (inc, sc 1) across [21]. Turn.
  • Row 2-8: sc across [21]. Fasten off.
• Bib: Join yarn to center 8 stitches of waistband (top side).
  • Rows 1-5: sc across [8].
  • Straps: Ch 15 from corners of bib, cross at back and sew to waistband.
• Pockets (Make 2): Ch 6, sc 5 rows. Sew to the front of the apron skirt. Before closing the top of the pockets, stuff them with scraps of beige yarn to look like overflowing grain.
• Embroidery: Use colored floss to stitch tiny flowers on the bib and skirt hem.

Brown Garden Clogs (Make 2)

• Rnd 1: Ch 7. Oval start: sc 5, 3 sc in last, sc 4, inc [14].
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 4, inc x 3, sc 4, inc x 2 [20].
• Rnd 3: BLO sc around [20].
• Rnds 4-5: sc around [20].
• Rnd 6: sc 6, dec x 4, sc 6 [16]. (Front enclosed).
• Fasten off. Slide onto the cat’s feet.

Babushka Headscarf

Use Beige/Cream yarn.

• Row 1: Ch 40. dc in 3rd ch from hook and across. Turn.
• Row 2: dec, dc across until last 2 sts, dec. Turn.
• Rows 3-8: Repeat Row 2 until a triangle forms.
• Fasten off. Tie under the cat’s chin.

Miniature Accessories

Plump Hens (Make 3: White, Black, Brown)

The body is a simple round shape.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR.
• Rnd 2: inc around [12].
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) around [18].
• Rnds 4-7: sc around [18].
• Rnd 8: (sc 1, dec) around [12]. Stuff firmly.
• Rnd 9: dec around [6]. Fasten off.
• Beak: Embroider yellow V.
• Comb: Join Red yarn to top of head. (ch 2, sl st in next st) x 3.
• Tail: Join yarn to back. (ch 3, sl st in same st) x 3 to create tail feathers.

Feed Bowl & Grain

• Bowl: With Beige yarn. 6 sc in MR, inc to 12, inc to 18. BLO sc around. sc around. Fasten off.
• Grain: Fill the bowl with beige yarn scraps or French knots in light brown yarn.

Basket & Eggs

• Basket: With Beige. 6 sc in MR, inc to 12. BLO sc around. sc 2 rounds. Handle: Ch 8, attach to opposite side.
• Eggs (Make 3): White yarn. Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch. Rnd 2: sc around. Rnd 3: dec x 2. Fasten off. (Tiny ovals). Glue into basket.

Assembly

1. Dress the cat in the yellow dress and embroidered apron.
2. Put on the clogs and tie the headscarf.
3. Scattering Pose: Sew the right arm in a raised position (as if throwing). You can stitch a few “grains” (beige knots) suspended on a thin invisible thread from her paw or simply embroider grain falling on the dress.
4. Stitch the feed bowl to the left hand.
5. Arrange the three hens at her feet, pecking at the ground. Scatter some yarn scraps (grain) on the surface around them.
6. Place the egg basket near the hens.

Your “Chicken Keeper” Calico Cat is ready for her farm life! This charming scene brings the joy of a country morning into your home.