Mother Hen Knitting Pattern by Susan B. Anderson: Everything You Need to Know Before You Cast On

If you have spent any time in the world of knitting, you have likely come across the delightful work of Susan B. Anderson. Known for her charming, approachable designs and her deep love for handcrafted toys, Anderson has built a devoted following among knitters who appreciate patterns that are both fun to make and genuinely beautiful to give. One of the most beloved pieces in her catalog is the Mother Hen pattern — a wonderfully detailed knitted chicken that has captured the hearts of makers around the world. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for a satisfying new project or a curious beginner wondering if this pattern is right for you, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Who Is Susan B. Anderson?

Before diving into the pattern itself, it helps to understand the creative mind behind it. Susan B. Anderson is an American author, knitting designer, and educator who has published multiple books dedicated to knitted toys, accessories, and gifts for children. Her books, including titles like Itty-Bitty Nursery, Itty-Bitty Toys, and Spud & Chloë at the Farm, have introduced thousands of knitters to the joy of making three-dimensional stuffed animals and soft toys using simple, well-explained techniques.

Anderson’s style is recognizable for several reasons. She tends to favor knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, which creates seamless, neatly finished pieces without the need for excessive sewing. Her patterns include detailed photo tutorials and written instructions that walk knitters through every step, making them accessible to people at varying skill levels. Her characters have personality — they are not stiff or flat, but expressive, plump, and full of life. The Mother Hen is a perfect example of everything that makes her work so appealing.

What Is the Mother Hen Pattern?

The Mother Hen is a knitted stuffed chicken designed to look warm, round, and perfectly maternal. She sits in a nesting position with a full, rounded body, defined wings, a beak, a wattle, and a comb. She has the kind of charming, slightly ruffled dignity you might expect from a hen who takes her egg-sitting responsibilities very seriously.

What makes the Mother Hen especially delightful as a project is that she is often paired with a set of knitted chicks and eggs that can tuck beneath her wings or nestle close to her body. This makes her not just a toy, but a little scene — a miniature farmyard moment you can hold in your hands. The completed set is one of the most popular handmade gift ideas in the knitting community, particularly for Easter, baby showers, and gifts for young children who love imaginative play.

The pattern appears in Anderson’s book Spud & Chloë at the Farm, which also includes patterns for other farm animals like a sheep, a pig, and a dog. Many knitters purchase the book specifically for the Mother Hen and end up falling in love with the entire collection.

Skill Level and Who This Pattern Is For

The Mother Hen pattern is generally considered an intermediate-level project. That said, Anderson is known for writing her patterns in an exceptionally clear and encouraging way, so even confident beginners who are comfortable with double-pointed needles and basic shaping have successfully completed this project.

To feel prepared for this pattern, you should be comfortable with the following techniques. You will need to know how to cast on, knit in the round on double-pointed needles, purl, work increases (such as the make one or knit front and back), work decreases (like knit two together and slip, slip, knit), and pick up stitches. You will also need to be comfortable with basic finishing, which includes stuffing a knitted piece and using a tapestry needle to close openings and sew on small pieces like the beak, comb, and wattle.

If you have made a knitted stuffed animal or toy before — even something simple like a basic ball or a small bunny — you will likely find the Mother Hen to be a satisfying step up in complexity without feeling overwhelming. If this is your first stuffed animal, take your time with the pattern instructions and lean on the photographs in the book, which Anderson uses generously to guide you through tricky moments.

Materials and Supplies You Will Need

Like most of Anderson’s patterns, the Mother Hen is designed to be made with a relatively small amount of yarn, which makes it an excellent stash-busting project. Here is a general overview of what you will need to gather before you begin.

The original pattern calls for Spud & Chloë Sweater yarn, a worsted-weight yarn that is a blend of wool and organic cotton. This yarn is soft enough to be child-safe and has just enough body to create a nicely defined fabric for a stuffed toy. Of course, many knitters substitute their own preferred worsted-weight yarn, and the pattern works well with a wide range of choices. If you are making the hen as a gift for a baby or very young child, look for a yarn that is machine washable and free of synthetic fibers that might irritate sensitive skin.

For the main body of the hen, you will need a primary color — typically a warm tan, rusty orange, golden yellow, or rich brown that reads as chicken-like. The wings, beak, comb, and wattle each require small amounts of contrasting colors, so this is a wonderful way to use up leftover bits from other projects. Many knitters find that they can complete the entire hen and her accessories using only partial skeins.

You will need a set of double-pointed needles in the size recommended by the pattern, along with a tapestry needle for finishing, a small amount of polyester fiberfill for stuffing, and either safety eyes or embroidered eyes depending on the age of the intended recipient. For toys given to children under three, embroidered eyes are always the safer choice, as safety eyes can pose a choking hazard.

A stitch marker or two will help you keep track of the beginning of rounds, and locking markers are useful for marking specific stitches you will need to return to during shaping.

Understanding the Construction

Part of what makes the Mother Hen pattern so satisfying is that it is constructed in a logical, intuitive way once you understand the overall approach. Anderson typically begins with the body, working in the round from the base upward. The body is shaped through strategic increases and decreases that give it that rounded, puffed-up silhouette that makes the hen look so cozy and content.

The head is usually worked as a continuation of the body or picked up and worked separately, depending on the specific instructions. As you knit, you will stuff the body before closing it, which gives you control over how plump and firm the final hen feels. Some knitters prefer a very full, firm stuffing for a hen that holds its shape proudly, while others prefer a softer, squishier result that is more huggable.

The wings are knitted separately and then sewn onto the body, giving them a realistic, slightly raised appearance. The comb and wattle are small, fiddly pieces that require attention but are enormously rewarding when finished — they are the details that bring the hen’s personality to life. The beak is typically a tiny knitted triangle that gets sewn into place with just a few stitches.

If you are making the matching chicks and eggs, those are worked in a similarly straightforward construction. The chicks are tiny little versions of the hen in miniature, and the eggs are simple oval shapes. Together, the set creates a genuinely charming display.

Tips for Success With This Pattern

Over the years, knitters who have made the Mother Hen have gathered a body of collective wisdom about how to get the best results. Here are some of the most useful tips to keep in mind as you work through the project.

Swatch before you begin, even for a toy. Gauge matters in stuffed animals because if your fabric is too loose, the stuffing will show through and the toy will have a sloppy, unfinished look. You want a relatively tight, dense fabric that holds its shape and hides the white of the polyfill inside.

When stuffing, use small pieces of fiberfill rather than large handfuls. This prevents lumpy spots and helps you achieve a smooth, evenly rounded shape. Take your time with the stuffing process — it is one of the most important steps in getting a professional-looking result.

When sewing on the small pieces like the beak and wattle, use the same yarn you knitted them with and a tapestry needle. Make sure the pieces are pinned or held in position before you commit to sewing, so you can step back and assess the placement. The positioning of the beak and eyes dramatically affects the hen’s expression, and it is worth taking a moment to experiment before stitching.

If you are using safety eyes, insert them before you close up the head, since you will not be able to get them in afterward. Mark the placement with pins and step back to check that both eyes look balanced and give the hen the friendly expression you are going for.

For the comb, do not skip the wire or stuffing that gives it structure if the pattern calls for it. A floppy comb that lies flat instead of standing up will make the hen look less finished.

Why Knitters Love This Pattern

The Mother Hen has been in the knitting community long enough to have built an enthusiastic fan base, and it is not hard to understand why. Projects like this one offer something rare in the crafting world: a design that is genuinely fun to make and results in something genuinely beautiful to give or keep.

There is something deeply satisfying about knitting a three-dimensional creature that begins as a simple ball of yarn and gradually takes on personality and form. With every round you complete, the hen becomes more recognizable. The moment you stuff and close the body, add the wings, and sew on that tiny beak, you have created something with real presence — a small handmade object that feels alive.

Knitters also love this pattern because of how well it photographs. The Mother Hen is a favorite on social media and in knitting community groups, where finished objects are shared and celebrated. If you make the full set with chicks and eggs, the photo opportunities are almost irresistible.

Gift givers particularly appreciate the pattern because it produces something that cannot be found in a store. A handknitted Mother Hen with her brood of chicks is the kind of gift that gets kept for years, passed from child to child, and eventually becomes a cherished family keepsake. Many knitters report that they have made multiple versions of this set — one for every grandchild, niece, or friend’s new baby.

Where to Find the Pattern

The Mother Hen pattern is published in Susan B. Anderson’s book Spud & Chloë at the Farm. This book is available through most major booksellers, both online and in physical stores, and can also often be found at your local yarn shop. Many libraries carry it as well, so it is worth checking your local system before purchasing.

The book is worth owning even if you initially buy it only for the Mother Hen pattern. Once you have finished the hen, you will likely find yourself drawn to the other animals in the collection, and having the full book on hand means you can return to it again and again across different seasons and occasions.

If you prefer digital access, some of Anderson’s patterns are available through Ravelry, the popular online knitting and crochet database. It is worth searching there to see what is currently available in digital format, particularly if you want to begin a project right away without waiting for a book to arrive.

Making the Most of Your Finished Hen

Once your Mother Hen is complete, there are so many ways to enjoy and share her. She makes a lovely centerpiece for an Easter basket, especially when nestled in a bed of soft tissue paper with her chicks arranged around her. She is a perfect addition to a nursery shelf or a child’s play collection. She can be used as a prop for storytelling or puppet play, or simply displayed as a piece of handmade art.

Many knitters who make this pattern end up knitting multiples over time, gifting hens to loved ones on various occasions and keeping one for themselves. It is the kind of pattern that never quite loses its appeal, because the result is always so warm and endearing.

If you share your finished project on social media, be sure to tag Susan B. Anderson and use community hashtags for knitted toys. The knitting community is an enthusiastic and generous one, and sharing your work is a great way to connect with other makers who love this kind of project.

Final Thoughts

The Mother Hen pattern by Susan B. Anderson is one of those rare designs that delivers on every level. It is thoughtfully constructed, clearly written, satisfying to knit, and results in a finished object that practically any recipient would love. Whether you are new to knitting stuffed animals or an experienced toy maker looking for a project with real character, this pattern has something to offer.

If you have been considering casting on for this project, let this be your encouragement to go ahead and do it. Gather your yarn, find your double-pointed needles, and sit down with Susan B. Anderson’s clear and encouraging instructions. Before long, you will have a plump, dignified little hen perched in your hands, ready to take her place in someone’s heart.