This little owl hangs on the wall beside an outlet and holds your phone while it charges. The body is sage green, the deep front pocket is cream, and the face has big cream eyes with black pupils and a mustard beak. Leaf-shaped wings frame the pocket, two mustard feet peek out below, and a green strap loops over a wall peg.
The fabric is firm, tight single crochet, so the owl keeps its shape under the weight of a phone. All instructions use US crochet terms.
The finished owl measures 7 in (17.8 cm) wide and 9.6 in (24.4 cm) tall to the ear tips, not counting the hanging loop.
You work one flat body panel in rows from the bottom up, shape two ears, and add a single crochet border. Then you make the pocket, eyes, beak, wings, feet, and strap, and sew them on to create one finished holder.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 9.6 in (24.4 cm) tall, plus loop
- Skill level: Easy / advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 finished holder: 1 body panel plus sewn-on parts (1 pocket, 2 eyes, 1 beak, 2 wings, 2 feet, 1 strap)
- Layout: Single owl, hung on a wall peg
- Body size before border: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) x 9.1 in (23.1 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm), 1 round of sc
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton. It holds its shape, resists stretching, and shows stitch texture clearly. Acrylic also works, but the pocket may stretch over time.
- Color A, sage green (body, wings, strap): 50 g, about 95 m
- Color B, cream (pocket, eye rings): 25 g, about 48 m
- Color C, mustard (beak, feet): 5 g, about 10 m
- Color D, black (pupils): 3 g, about 6 m
These quantities include a margin of about 15 to 20 percent for swatching and differences in tension.
Tools: 4.0 mm (US G-6) hook, tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, rust-proof pins, measuring tape, spray bottle, and a blocking mat or folded towel.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- MR – magic ring
Special stitch – sc2tog: Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop. Repeat in the following st. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
Note: The ch 1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Work a 4 in (10.2 cm) swatch first. Loose fabric lets the pocket bulge, so aim for firm stitches. Then treat the body panel as your test piece and measure it at these points:
- After Row 1: 12 sts = 3 in (7.6 cm) wide
- After Row 10: 26 sts = 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide, 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall
- After Row 34: 7.6 in (19.3 cm) tall
- After Row 37: 8.2 in (20.8 cm) tall
- After the ears: 9.1 in (23.1 cm) tall
- After the border: 7 in (17.8 cm) x 9.6 in (24.4 cm)
Too big: go down to a 3.75 mm (US F-5) hook. Too small: go up to a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. Don’t change the stitch counts, because they control the curves and ears.
Body Panel
Make 1 with Color A.
Row 1: Ch 13. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 10 sts, inc, turn. (14 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 12 sts, inc, turn. (16 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 14 sts, inc, turn. (18 sts)
Row 5: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 16 sts, inc, turn. (20 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 18 sts, inc, turn. (22 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (22 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 20 sts, inc, turn. (24 sts)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (24 sts)
Row 10: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 22 sts, inc, turn. (26 sts)
Fast increases followed by slower ones create the rounded bottom.
Rows 11–34: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (26 sts)
Row 35: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 22 sts, sc2tog, turn. (24 sts)
Rows 36–37: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (24 sts)
Ears
First ear, Row 1: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sts only, turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (4 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog twice, turn. (2 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog. (1 st) Fasten off.
Second ear: Skip the next 12 sts of Row 37 and join Color A in the following st. Repeat Rows 1–4 over the last 6 sts. Fasten off.
Check: 6 + 12 skipped + 6 = 24 sts, which matches Row 37. The 12 skipped stitches form the dip between the ears.
Make 1 with Color B.
Row 1: Ch 13. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 10 sts, inc, turn. (14 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 12 sts, inc, turn. (16 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 14 sts, inc, turn. (18 sts)
Row 5: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 16 sts, inc, turn. (20 sts)
Rows 6–21: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (20 sts)
Checkpoint: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide x 4.7 in (11.9 cm) tall. Do not fasten off.
Edging round: Ch 1.
- Top: 3 sc in first st, sc in next 18 sts, 3 sc in last st (24 sc).
- Side: 1 sc in each row end (21 sc).
- Bottom: 3 sc in first foundation ch, sc in next 10 ch, 3 sc in last ch (16 sc).
- Other side: 1 sc in each row end (21 sc).
Sl st to first sc. (82 sts: 24 + 21 + 16 + 21)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The pocket measures about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 5.2 in (13.2 cm) tall.
Eyes
Make 2.
Rnd 1: With Color D, MR, 6 sc in ring. Sl st to first sc. Change to Color B. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, inc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, inc 6 times, sl st to first sc. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, inc 6 times, sl st to first sc. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, inc 6 times, sl st to first sc. (30 sts)
Fasten off with a long tail. Each eye is about 2.1 in (5.3 cm) across: a small black pupil inside a wide cream ring.
Beak
Make 1 with Color C.
Row 1: Ch 5. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (4 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog twice, turn. (2 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog. (1 st)
Fasten off with a long tail. The triangle is about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 0.7 in (1.8 cm) tall. Sew it on with the point facing down.
Wings
Make 2 with Color A.
Rnd 1: Ch 17. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sc in 1 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 10 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last ch (16 sts). Ch 2 for the first tip. Working into the free loops on the other side of the same chains: sc in 1 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 10 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last ch (16 sts). Ch 2 for the second tip. Sl st to first sc. (32 sts + 2 ch-2 sps)
Checkpoint: about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) long and 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working (sc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-2 sp. Sl st to first sc. (32 sc worked 1 per existing st + 4 sc added at the tips = 36 sc, plus 2 ch-2 sps)
Fasten off with a long tail. Each wing is a pointed leaf shape, about 4.6 in (11.7 cm) long and 1.6 in (4.1 cm) wide.
Feet
Make 2 with Color C.
Row 1: Ch 8. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 4 hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch 3 times. (16 sts: 4 sl st + 12 hdc)
Fasten off with a long tail. Each foot has 3 rounded toes and is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
Hanging Strap
Make 1 with Color A.
Row 1: Ch 41. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (40 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (40 sts)
Fasten off with a long tail. The strap measures 10 in (25.4 cm) x 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Assembly
Work the body border first (see Border below). Pin each part, check the placement, then whip stitch it in place with matching yarn.
- Pocket: Center it on the front, with its bottom edge 1 in (2.5 cm) above the bottom of the body. Sew the sides and curved bottom through the edging only. Leave the top 24 sts open.
- Wings: Place one on each side, with the upper tip level with the top of the pocket. Let the outer edge extend slightly past the body. Sew only the inner long edge, overlapping the pocket seam by about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- Eyes: Place them just above the pocket, 0.3 in (0.8 cm) apart, with their tops reaching the base of the ears. Sew around Rnd 5.
- Beak: Center it between the eyes, point down, and sew all 3 sides.
- Feet: Sew the chain edge of each foot behind the bottom border, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) from the center, so only the toes show.
- Strap: On the back, sew 1 in (2.5 cm) of each end behind the ear dip, with the ends about 2 in (5.1 cm) apart.
Border
Work this on the body panel with Color A after finishing the ears.
Border gauge: 1 sc per row end on the sides and 1 sc per st or ch on the top and bottom. This makes a 0.25 in (0.6 cm) border.
Border round: With the right side facing, join at the left ear tip.
- Left ear tip: 3 sc in tip st (3 sc)
- Left side: 1 sc in each of 3 ear row ends and 37 body row ends (40 sc)
- Bottom: 3 sc in first foundation ch, sc in next 10 ch, 3 sc in last ch (16 sc)
- Right side: 1 sc in each of 37 body row ends and 3 ear row ends (40 sc)
- Right ear tip: 3 sc in tip st (3 sc)
- Top: 1 sc in each of the 3 inner row ends of the right ear, the 12 skipped sts of Row 37, and the 3 inner row ends of the left ear (18 sc)
Sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (120 sts)
Why the math works: 3 + 40 + 16 + 40 + 3 + 18 = 120. Three sc at each ear tip keep the points sharp, and three at each bottom corner ease the curve. Since 18 rows fit in 4 in (10.2 cm), 1 sc per row end sits slightly closer than stitch gauge, so the sides stay firm instead of rippling. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) becomes 7 in (17.8 cm), and 9.1 in (23.1 cm) becomes 9.6 in (24.4 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the back.
- Lay the owl face up on a mat or towel.
- Pin it to 7 in (17.8 cm) x 9.6 in (24.4 cm), with the ear tips pinned to points.
- Mist evenly until damp.
- Flatten the wings and feet with your fingers.
- Slip a phone-sized piece of card into the pocket.
- Let it dry completely, then remove the pins and card.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The body measures 7 in (17.8 cm) x 9.6 in (24.4 cm).
- The border has 120 sts and both ears are pointed.
- The pocket is open only at the top, and a phone slides in easily.
- The eyes are level and 0.3 in (0.8 cm) apart.
- The beak is centered and points down.
- The wings are symmetrical.
- Both feet show 3 toes.
- The strap holds the weight without distorting the head.
- No ends show on the front.
Troubleshooting
The bottom curve looks pointy or flat: Recount Rows 2–10. Each increase row adds exactly 2 sts.
The ears lean inward: Check that you skipped exactly 12 sts, and pin the tips straight while blocking.
The side border ripples: Redo it with a smaller hook.
The pocket sags: Remake it with a smaller hook for firmer fabric.
The phone doesn’t fit: Resew the pocket right along the edging stitches.
The owl tips forward: Move the strap ends about 1 in (2.5 cm) lower on the back.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel to remove the water, and lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. Row 1 is 12 sts, or 3 in (7.6 cm). Row 10 reaches 26 sts, or 6.5 in (16.5 cm). The ears bring the panel to 9.1 in (23.1 cm), and the 120-stitch border finishes it at 7 in (17.8 cm) x 9.6 in (24.4 cm). The 5.5 in (14.0 cm) pocket, 2.1 in (5.3 cm) eyes, and 4.6 in (11.7 cm) wings all fit inside that frame. Check each measurement as you go, and your owl will hold its shape for years.
Happy crocheting!