Materials Needed:

2 orange pipe cleaners 12" long (or white can be used and covered)
Thin cardboard about 6"x 6"
1 skein Rachel Sun Orange (only needed if you're using white pipe cleaners)
2-3 skeins Watercolours Buttercup or other similar theread or yarn
Compass
Ruler
1 Moderately sharp needle and one blunt yarn needle
2 small buttons (to be used for the eyes)
Matknife or Exacto knife

Instructions:

Step 1 - Using the compass on the cardboard draw 4 circles: 2 each 2" wide and 2 - 1 1/2" wide

Step 2 - Cut out these circles using mat knife or exacto knife

Step 3 - Cut a circular opening in the middle of all discs: on the larger 2 make the center opening 3/4" wide, on the smaller 2 discs make the center opening 1/2" wide

Step 4 - Thread approximately 50" of the Buttercup thread into blunt needle. (If you double up the strands of thread, this part will take less time).

Step 5 - Put the 2 smaller circles face to face and bring thread through center and around the edge and then back through the center, moving around the disk and covering the cardboard disc as you go around. Make about 3 or more layers around the disc. The more layer you do the fuller the pom-pom will be. When you are done, you should have almost no opening in the center.

 

Step 6 - If you do not have orange pipe cleaners, take 4 pipe cleaners and wrap each one all the way around with the Rachel thread - sun orange, covering all the white.(You can also wrap the pipe cleaners at the very end after the last step)

 

Step 7 - Pass one pipe cleaner through the middle of your thread covered disc, so that it extends out from one side approximately 2-2 1/2". Fold this part of the pipe cleaner in half, pointed on the end, to make the beak.

 

Step 8 - Slip a sharp scissors point between the 2 cardboard discs and cut the threads all around the edge of the circles. Wind and tie with a separate thread between the 2 discs. Pull this tight before tying the knot. Then pull the discs off over the thread ends or cut the cardboard on one side to remove.

 

Step 9 - Fluff the pom-pom making a puffy ball shape. This is the chick's head and the pipe cleaner beak should extend beyond the pompom about 3/4". Attach the buttons in the middle part, one on each side of the beak by using one of the strands to tie a knot. (You'll be able to tell where it looks best.)

 

Step 10 - Repeat Step 5 with the 2 larger discs. Then slip the end of the pipe cleaner opposite from the head through the middle of these discs. Position it about 1 1/2" down from the head of the chick.

Step 11- Attach a second pipe cleaner to the first one about 1" below the larger discs. Then repeat Step 8 creating a fluffy pom-pom to make up the body of the bird.

 

Step 12 - Cut the second piece of pipe cleaner (attached below the larger pompom) to the same size as the other pipe cleaner (going through the body and head.

Step 13 - Starting about 5" from the ends of the 2 pipe cleaners make the webbed feet, by forming a sort of 3 leafed clover shape and then squeezing these together creating a 3 toed foot out of each pipe cleaner.

 

Your chick has hatched! Already he's pecking around with his beak looking for food!

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