A Funny, Feathered Friend!

I recently realized that I worry more about friends who are going through some physical or emotional crisis at this time of year than at any other. Somehow, when the sky is bluebird blue and people are traipsing off on vacations and zucchini is taking over gardens and kitchens everywhere, I am more likely to forget to check in on friends who may be struggling. I know there's a far greater chance I'll bring soup to a pal with a new knee...if it's soup-making season. I accept that I'm a better correspondent when I am spending a greater percent of my time indoors, near paper and pen and stamps. And I can carve out time for an evening phone chat at a reasonable hour...when dusk comes on well before bedtime.

But something that I can wrap my arms around---even in zucchini season---is an Emotional Support Chicken, created for someone who could use a physical reminder that they are loved.

Because the making and the giving, the receiving and the naming, the snuggling and the squishing are all bound to be highly therapeutic.

What, you may very well ask, is an Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)? Well, friend, these chickens---which may be knitted or crocheted---are some of the hottest projects around. They typically use worsted weight yarn, but that's not set in stone. Use what you love. And the designer (Annette Corsino) wrote stripes into the pattern which are, again, up to you.

The photo above is of Elsiee's ESC #8. First, let's have a round of applause for Elsiee, who has obviously made seven chickens before this one was created by her talented hands (and several more afterward). Whoa! I show it to you because---well, because it's beautiful---and because we just got this fabulous yarn called Sesame in the shop. It's the yarn used for ESC #8 (colorway: Fruit Salad) and it's a magical chicken-making yarn. No need to make stripes or change colors. It does all of the heavy lifting---regardless of whether you are knitting or crocheting your ESC.

Here are the five chicken colors we have in the shop: Fruit Salad is at the top, Ube is the cool multi below it, Fireworks is in the lower right, Party Popper is in the lower left, and Panettone is the reddish one in the upper left. All are listed online, but I wanted you to see the whole flock together!

I'm currently fretting over a) which Sesame yarn to use first and b) whether to make a traditional red comb for my chicken (I think I have some red yarn in my stash) or to find a funny pom-pom for the top of her head instead. She is, after all, meant to be a bit of a goofball.

Most ESC makers add either stick-on eyes, safety eyes, or shiny dark buttons. (Please choose safety eyes or buttons, if the ESC will go to a household with small kiddos). If you don't have any random eyeball materials at home, they can quickly be ordered online. The same goes for polyfill or wool stuffing.

One skein per Emotional Support Chicken. No gauge swatch necessary, but make sure your fabric is dense enough that the filling won't show through. Use the hook/needle size that suits your yarn and creates fabric you love.

Can you imagine the trail of smiles you'll leave in your wake if you head off to the coffee shop with an Emotional Support Chicken tucked under your arm? Or the reaction of a far-away friend when they open a package from sweet you and find a crazy chicken inside?

Flippin' priceless.

Cheers,

Gaby