So Many Birds - Interlocking Crochet Square - Day 14 - 2025 Unhinged Christmas CAL
This pattern is available for free on below, or you may purchase an ad free pdf in my Ravelry store.
Day 14 is here!
This square is inspired by the 184 birds in The Twelve Days of Christmas
(12 partridges, 22 turtle doves, 30 French hens, 36 calling birds, 42 geese a-laying, and 42 swans a-swimming).
While I do think birds are interesting, I very much appreciate them from a distance. I enjoy bird-watching, learning about them, googling ones I see and don’t know, and occasionally falling into a bird TikTok rabbit hole. I refuse to own one as a pet though after having to care for birds when I was an activity director for a few years.
This has absolutely nothing to do with the song, but somewhere in the TikTok rabbit hole I learned about the Shoebill, and now you have to know about it too, because I have ADHD.
Shoebills live in freshwater swamps in East and Central Africa, can grow over five feet tall, and have a massive prehistoric-looking beak strong enough to crush fish, frogs, and small crocodiles. They hunt by standing completely motionless for long periods of time and then striking suddenly. Their eyes also face forward instead of on the sides of their head like most birds, giving them a wider range of vision.
Instead of singing, they communicate by clattering their beaks together, a sound often compared to a machine gun. They are solitary, extremely serious birds with the general vibe of something that should be guarding an ancient library.
Here’s a picture:
Back to the song and the pattern: Watch this scene from The Office. This is why 184 birds is too much for anyone.
As another side note, I think a part of the reason The Office is such a great show is because there are characters we all can relate to to a degree, or know someone who can relate to that character. I have enjoyed this show for 10 years or so, and I have always tried to figure out which character I am most like. I always thought I was Holly, but last week while I was eating breakfast with my husband, I had the realization I am, unfortunately, Andy. That may be another blog post later… I am still unpacking it, but wanted to share.
Anyway, here is the pattern. As always, ad free is for sale on my Ravelry store, and there are bonus squares included if you decide to purchase the entire CAL.
Enjoy!
Material
2 contrasting worsted weight yarns - approx 200 yards of each
Worsted weight yarn for border (amount will depend on if you are participating in the CAL)
5 mm Crochet hook
Yarn Needle/Scissors
Gauge:
Gauge is not important for this project.
Pattern notes:
This project is done using “Interlocking Crochet” techniques. This is two mesh squares of slightly different sizes, worked around each other simultaneously. The mesh is created by alternating between double crocheting and ch1 to create a grid, or “windows.” The foundation rows are the hardest, but I have tried to make mine relatively simple to follow. I have also included links to a few videos to get you past the hardest parts. Here is a short video on what interlocking crochet is.
After the foundation rows, ch stitches will not be noted and will just be implied. There will always be a ch between every dc. Chs on the side of the work count as a dc throughout the pattern.
IF YOU ARE LEFT HANDED you will need to mirror the stitch counts in each row, beginning at the side stitches.
For example:
As written: SB, 2B, 6F, 16B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Left Handed: SB, 16B, 6F, 2B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Key:
CH - Chain
DC - Double Crochet
SC - Single Crochet
F- Double Crochet to the Front
B- Double Crochet to the Back
OS- Outside Stitch (Color A)
SF- Side Front Stitch (Color B)
SB- Side Back Stitch (Color B)
Standing SC – with slip knot on hook, put hook in indicated stitch, yo and pull through stitch, yo and pull through booth loops on hook
Foundation Rows:
Color A:
ch 55, turn.
Row 1 – Right Side:
Dc in 5th ch from hook (counts as ch 1, dc, ch 1), *ch 1, sk 1, dc in next st* 25 times, ch 4. Do not turn. (27 dc, 26 “windows” made)
Color B:
Foundation chain: ch 53, turn.
Row 2 - Color B - Foundation row:
Hold Color B chain in front of Color A Foundation Row. Dc in 5th chain from hook through the back of the second window in the Color A Foundation row by inserting hook through the back of the second window, and picking up the chain through the front of the window. Use the hook to bring chain loop through to the back of the window, and work DC like normal. Complete the stitch through the back of the window. *Ch 1, SK 1 CH, DC through next window* 23 times, DC in front of Color A foundation row in the last stitch . Ch 4, Turn. (26 dc, 25 windows made.)
Note: Your work is now “interlocked” and you will follow the pattern of filet crochet (dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc to end of row) from here forward. Dc’s and chains will not be indicated from this point forward as they are implied. The only thing that will change is if you crochet in front or back of the previous row in the opposite color. This is indicated in the rest of the pattern with F for front, and B for back. The number of dc’s in the front or back are before the F or B (ex. 3B = *1 dc, ch 1, sk 1* 3 times behind previous row). The wrong side is indicated by italics. You will always complete two rows before turning.
Row 3 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 23F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 4 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 8B, 1F, 4B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 8B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 5 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 2B, 2F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 4F, 3B, 2F, 2B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 6 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 3F, 3B, 2F, 1B, 9F, 3B, 3F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 7 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 2F, 3B, 2F, 4B, 1F, 3B, 3F, 3B, 2F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 8 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 3B, 2F, 3B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 3B, 2F, 3B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 9 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 2B, 2F, 5B, 1F, 5B, 1F, 3B, 2F, 2B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 10 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 1F, 3B, 16F, 3B, 1F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 11 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 1F, 2B, 17F, 2B, 1F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 12 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 2B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 7B, 1F, 2B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 13 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 4B, 3F, 1B, 11F, 4B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 14 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 10F, 1B, 13F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 15 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 4F, 1B, 1F, 6B, 1F, 6B, 4F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 16 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 7B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 5B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 17 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 11B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 4B, 1F, 4B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 18 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 2F, 1B, 15F, 1B, 5F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 19 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 21F, 1B, 1F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 20 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 2B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 5B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 2B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 21 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 1B, 7F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 3F, 2B, 6F, 1B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 22 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 6F, 1B, 7F, 1B, 6F, 1B, 2F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 23 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 2F, 5B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 5B, 1F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 24 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 2B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 4B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 25 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 16B, 1F, 6B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 26 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 24F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 27 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 23F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 28 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 8B, 2F, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3F, 5B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 29 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 4B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 3B, 5F, 7B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 30 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 4F, 1B, 2F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 7F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 31 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 6F, 2B, 1F, 2B, 2F, 3B, 2F, 2B, 3F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 32 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 7B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 3B, 2F, 3B, 1F, 4B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 33 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 3B, 2F, 7B, 2F, 1B, 2F, 6B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 34 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 3F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 7F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 35 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 1B, 6F, 2B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 4B, 2F, 4B, 1F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 36 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 1B, 1F, 1B, 3F, 1B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 3B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 37 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 2F, 2B, 2F, 2B, 2F, 1B, 4F, 1B, 9F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 38 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 1F, 2B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 1F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 39 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 5B, 3F, 1B, 1F, 4B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 4B, 1F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 40 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 4B, 3F, 1B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 2B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 41 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 1B, 4F, 1B, 3F, 1B, 4F, 5B, 5F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 42 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 4F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 1F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 43 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 3B, 2F, 2B, 3F, 2B, 1F, 5B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 3B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 44 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 1B, 1F, 3B, 1F, 4B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 2B, 1F, 1B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 45 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 3B, 2F, 1B, 2F, 4B, 2F, 3B, 2F, 2B, 3F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 46 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 4F, 1B, 2F, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 2B, 4F, 3B, 1F, 1B, 1F, SF, CH 4, TURN
Row 47 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 6B, 5F, 2B, 1F, 1B, 4F, 2B, 3F, 1B, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 48 - Wrong Side, Color B:
SB, 1B, 1F, 1B, 2F, 6B, 3F, 5B, 1F, 4B, SB, CH 4, TURN
Row 49 - Right Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in front):
OS, 1F, 23B, 1F, OS, CH 4, DO NOT TURN
Row 50 - Right Side, Color B:
SF, 24B, SF, Cut and bind off, TURN
Row 51 - Wrong Side, Color A (Color B tail hanging in back):
OS, 25F, OS, Cut, Fasten off, weave ends.
Border – Right side, border color (If participating in the CAL)
Join with standing sc in any corner space, ch 2, 2 sc, *2 sc in each ch space/dc bar on edge of work across until corner (24), in corner {2sc, 2ch, 2sc}* 3 times, 2 sc in each ch space/dc bar on edge of work across until corner (24), sc one in corner, slip stitch to first sc. Fasten off and weave ends.
Previous Days
Day 1 - Abstinence is 99.99% Effective
Day 2 - Four Fucks to Give this Christmas
Day 3 - All I Want for Christmas is an Impeachment
Day 3 - Snow’s Coming Down (Bonus Square - only available with CAL Purchase on Ravelry)
Day 5 - Happy Seasonal Depression Month!
Day 6 - Phallic Flurries (Bonus Square - only available with CAL Purchase on Ravelry)
Day 7 - I <3 Snow but Fuck ICE
Day 10 - Wanted - Grandma Killer
See you tomorrow!
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Copyright © 2025 Hey Duke Designs
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Pattern by: Hey Duke Designs
