Chunky Hen and Chick Crochet Kit by Wizardi F07N8-M147

A big, squishy hen in chunky cream yarn with a red comb sits beside her little yellow chick. It is a complete amigurumi crochet kit for beginners: you crochet the pieces, stuff them and stitch them together into a little keepsake you made yourself.

Chickens have been kept in backyards for thousands of years, and a mother hen with her chick is the classic farmhouse kitchen motif. Amigurumi took off in Japan and spread around the world through craft blogs and video tutorials, and today it is one of the most popular ways to learn to crochet.

Why this kit: chunky yarn that works up quickly and is easy to see stitch by stitch; a big, squishy finished piece with real presence on a shelf; and practice yarn and video tutorials for beginners.

Kit includes: chunky cream, red, yellow and black yarn, practice yarn, two crochet hooks, a plastic yarn needle, stitch markers, fiberfill, safety eyes with backs, a basic brochure and crocheting instructions, in a gift box. Video tutorials are available to follow along. Not included: scissors.

Start with the video tutorials and practice the basic stitches on the practice yarn, then follow the pattern one piece at a time: crochet each part in rounds, mark the start of every round with a stitch marker, stuff it with fiberfill and sew the parts together with the yarn needle. The finished pieces are decorations for adults and teens, not toys for young children, as safety eyes and small parts can be a choking hazard.

Finished size: hen about 7 x 7.4 x 4.1 in (18 x 19 x 10.5 cm), chick about 3.7 x 3.3 x 2.9 in. It is a natural fit for a farmhouse kitchen, a spring table or an Easter display, and makes a thoughtful gift for a backyard chicken keeper or a farmhouse-decor fan.