Tutorial: Silly Duck Beak

(This tutorial was originally published on my old blog in April, 2014).

While my Silly Duck pattern is not a difficult design to knit, there are a couple key places where your finishing skills make all the difference in the final look of the toy. I've put together two photo tutorials to show you how I attach the duck's beak (below), and how I finish the feet.

Step 1: The head has been stuffed (the arrow shows the seam). The beak has been seamed, and stuffed. There is very little stuffing in the beak - just enough to hold its shape. Note that there are 2 yarn ends attached to the beak - one from the cast-on, and one from sewing the seam. These will be used to attach the beak.

Step 2: Line up the beak to where you will sew it to the head. The dots show where to match up the center and sides of the beak. The center of the beak will be just above the gathered stitches. The sides match up with the decreases you made on Row 20.

Step 3: Use safety or straight pins to hold in the beak in place.

Step 4: On the underside of the head, the beak seam will match up with the head seam. The underside of the beak will be a straight line between the sides (don't pull it down so it's curved). A horizontal to horizontal seam stitch works best to attach the beak.

Step 5: Start at the centre seam with one yarn end, and work towards one side of the beak. Start at the centre seam with the second yarn end, and work towards the other side of the beak. (If your yarn ends are not long enough, you can use a separate length of yarn, beginning in the middle of the seam and yarn, and working to each side as above).

Step 6: Turn the head over, and use the same method to sew the upper-side of the beak to the head. You may find it easier to make a couple stitches at a time on each side, to get a more symmetrical placement.

Step 7: The beak is now attached to the head. Thread both yarn ends to the same location, and knot them together. Weave the ends through the head 2-3 times, pulling on the knot so it slips inside the head. Your yarn ends should now be secure, and can be trimmed close to the head, so the ends slip under the fabric.

Finished head from the front. I've done some soft-sculpture to adjust the eye direction and define the cheeks, like I show in this post.

Finished head from the side, ready to be attached to the body. Check out this other tutorial, or tips on how to finish the duck's feet.

This is the only photo of the finished duck made for the original tutorial in 2014. I have no idea what I did with the toy - I suppose I must have given it to someone. The shawl was an improvised accessory. I think it might be time to knit a new silly duck!