Designed and Released in 2026
The first of the Bottleneck Birds Collection…meet Chuckle Chicken!! (I have plans for more Bottleneck Birds!)
There are so many fun fabric combinations, patterns and colors you can use to make your chicken one-of-kind.
As per usual, there are options to level up your chicken or keep it basic.
Need some inspiration? Check out the chickens I made and all the creative, fun and awesome chickens the pattern testers made below!
Includes:
Full Size Templates
Three Tail Options
Jointed Head/Neck Option
Armature Neck Option
Two Comb Options
Two Wattle Options
Hen and Rooster Options!
Wired Wings and Tail Option
Easy to Follow Bite-Size Instructions
Photos Accompany Each Step
A separate premium add-on Video Tutorial is available for purchase.
If you need the Project Planner PDF, you’ll find it at the bottom of this page.
Skill Level: Adventurous Beginner to Intermediate - Advanced Options
Skills and Techniques Used
- Fundamental Sewing Basics
- Sewing Moderate and tight Curves
- Clipping Curved Seams
- Attaching Safety Eyes
- Hand Sewing (to close openings and attach head plus to add optional eyelids)
- Stuffing
- Using Stabilizer (wings & tail)
- Adding Wire to Wings & Tail (optional)
- Soft Sculpting/Thread Sculpting (optional)
- Applying Joint Hardware (optional – jointed neck/head)
- Applying Neck Support (armature, wire, etc)
Photo Gallery
Materials and Tools Needed
- 1/2 yard minky
- 6″ x 6″ piece of fabric for beak
- 15″ wide by 7″ long piece of fabric for hen tail
- 10″ wide by 13″ long piece of fabric for feet
- 10″ wide by 7″ long piece of fabric for legs
- 11″ by 18″ piece of ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable, batting or felt for wings and tail
- 12″ by 12″ felt AND fabric for comb and wattles
- 9″ wide by 11″ tail piece of fabric x2 AND foam for fanned rooster tail
- ~12-14 oz fiber filling
- 3 – 12″ chenille stems for tail support and shaping (wings, too) (plus 5 for rooster options)
- 1 pair 30mm, 24mm, or 20mm safety bolted eyes (or make them from fabric) *30mm shown
- 55mm AND 35mm doll joints for jointed neck option
- 14″ of 1/8″ or 3/16″ lock joint armature or 16 gauge wire for neck support
- Notions: scissors, thread, sewing machine, etc.
*Minky is the suggested fabric, but so many other fabrics work well, too. Alternative fabrics include: faux fur, fleece, quilting cotton, tweed, corduroy, repurposed clothing, etc.
Pattern Testers' Chuckle Chicken Gallery
While the testing phase of a pattern is just the beginning to seeing what others make with my design…it is the first time anyone but me has made it…and that is so exciting!! It is such a joy to see the different fabrics, embellishments and ideas other makers put into their own plushie…truly demonstrating how each one is one-of-a-kind even when they are made with the same templates.
The testers provide the polish to the pattern and tutorial. They give of their valuable time and talents and I appreciate them immensely! A huge thank you to each one of them!
Makers joined in the pattern testing from around the globe, from several states within the USA to England, Australia, South Africa, Canada and South India!
Pattern testers used a variety of fabrics, including: cotton, fleece, minky, tweed, corduroy, faux fur, long pile minky (Luxe Cuddle®), curly faux fur, etc.
Testers made their chickens with standard plastic safety eyes, sinker safety eyes, and fabric applique eyes…and, the crazy fun pop-up eyes! (find that tutorial here)
Testers’ skill levels ranged from 2-5 (confident beginner to very advanced). One pattern tester (plus myself) sewed a chicken entirely by hand. Testers’ voted on the skill level they believed best fit the tutorial and the general consensus was confident beginner to intermediate.
I’d love to see your finished chicken! You can share your makes in my Facebook Group or even email them to me.
The Rear Views, Side Views and Close Ups
The pattern includes three different tail options: hen tail, individual rooster tail feathers (3 sizes) and a fanned solid rooster tail.
Eyelashes were also used…from standard fake lashes to fringe and even faux fur. One tester used long faux fur and omitted the comb to make a silkie breed chicken. Another tester used small tubular beads for the nostrils and another used real feathers for the tail.
The rubber chicken plushies are so fun! One tester also make a ‘naked’ chicken by using a light pink dimple dot minky and sewed patches of long pile faux fur in various spots to represent patches of feathers.
The creativity doesn’t stop there!
Fun Embellishments, Ideas and Variations!
There was definitely no lack of creativity in this group of testers! One tester made a worm friend for the chicken and another used the body panel template, enlarged a little and adjusted to top, to create an open egg for the chicken to sit in.
Another created a scarf and one chicken got a whole lot of “punk junk” strung through his comb and draped across his chest, etc.
Then, there are those cute little turkeys…made by choosing appropriate colors, using the rooster tail and only one wattle. (side note: I will be making and sharing a free turkey hack soon! This will include a turkey wattle, turkey tail and instructions on how to use them with the Chuckle Chicken to make yourself a turkey)
The images with their dogs, chickens and a horse are just cool…I love seeing that!
Want to know what happens when a tester sent her husband with the task of taking the chicken she made out for a photo shoot? Well, I’m sure you can pick out those four photos below (there were more…but I am limited on space).
You’re only limited by your creativity! What kind of chicken will you make?
Why Make a Chuckle Chicken?
Everyone can use a good chuckle.
Inspires active play and imagination.
Makes a memorable and fun gift.
A memory chicken is so much more unique than a memory bear!
You will tap into your own creativity when you make it.
Sewing and crafting are therapeutic.
Thoughtful gift.
Wonderful addition to any toy room.
Sell finished chickens at handmade markets.
You’ll love watching it come to life as you make it.
You’re never too old to cuddle a soft toy.
Grab the Project Planner PDF!
It is difficult to accurately describe the skill level needed for each project as the skill level itself can be quite subjective. Each traditional skill level has a wide spectrum of ability associated with it. I have tried to assign a general skill level to each pattern, however, please review specific techniques used in the pattern to determine if it is a good fit for you to try. Keep in mind I write my tutorials in bite-sized easy to follow steps, each accompanied with photos.
I aim to have each pattern attainable for a confident beginner and some have variations that may be more advanced, but they are optional. You’ll be provided with all the instructions, tips and material list to create a plush toy just like those pictured in the tutorial…I keep nothing secret. Each pattern and tutorial provides the blueprint for you to make it just like I have. An easy to make pattern doesn’t have to be simplistic looking…it can look amazing!