How Many Crochet Blackbirds

Special Stitches Fpsc (front post single crochet) = Insert hook from front to back and to front again around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook. sc2tog (single crochet 2 together) = [Draw up a loop in next st] 2 times, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Notes 1. Pie is made in two pieces: plate and crust. The plate is sewn to a disposable pie pan. The piece is then stuffed and the crust sewn to the top. 2. Three openings are worked into the crust. A small pocket is worked into each of these openings. A blackbird is placed in each pocket. Do not overstuff the pie to allow space for the pockets and blackbirds.

PIE PLATE Beginning at center bottom of plate, with B, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring. Round 1 (Right Side): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with slip st in top of beginning ch12 dc. Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each remaining dc around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch24 dc. Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch36 dc. Round 4: Ch 3, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch48 dc. Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch60 dc. Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch72 dc. Round 7: Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in same st as join, sc in each remaining st around; join with slip st in first sc. Round 8: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc78 sc. Rounds 9 and 10: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each remaining sc around; join with slip st in first sc. Round 11: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc84 sc. Round 12: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each remaining sc around; join with slip st in first sc. Round 13: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc90 sc. Round 14: Ch 3, working in front loops only, dc in next 8 sc, 2 dc in next sc, *dc in next 9 sc, 2 dc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch99 dc. Fasten off. Attach to Disposable Pie Pan: With sharp scissors, punch about 8 holes around bottom edge of disposable pie pan. Put disposable pan inside crocheted pie plate. With yarn needle and a long strand of B, begin at any hole in disposable pan, *insert needle from top to bottom through hole in disposable pan and through crocheted plate, skip one stitch of crocheted plate, insert needle from bottom to top through crocheted plate and same hole in disposable pan, move to next hole in disposable pan; repeat from * around. Tie the ends of the long strand of B together tightly. PIE CRUST With A, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring. Rounds 13: Work same as Rounds 13 of pie plate36 dc. Round 4 (make pocket opening): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 7 dc, ch 5, skip next 5 dc (for pocket opening), sc in last 23 dc; join with slip st in first sc31 sc and 1 ch-5 space. Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, work in each sc and in each ch of the ch-5 space, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc42 sc. Round 6: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc48 sc. Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next 2 sc, 2 dc in next sc, *dc in next 3 sc, 2 dc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch60 dc. Round 8 (make pocket openings): Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next dc, ch 5 , skip next 5 dc (for pocket opening), sc in next 33 dc, ch 5, skip next 5 dc (for pocket opening), sc in last 15 dc; join with slip st in first sc50 sc and 2 ch-5 spaces. Round 9: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, work in each sc and in each ch of the ch-5 spaces, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc66 sc.. Round 10: Ch 3, dc in next 4 sc, 2 dc in next sc, *dc in next 5 sc, 2 dc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch77 dc. Round 11: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sc, 2 dc in next sc, *dc in next 6 sc, 2 dc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch88 dc. Round 12: Ch 3, dc in each dc around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch. Round 13: Ch 3, dc in next 6 sc, 2 dc in next sc, *dc in next 7 sc, 2 dc in next sc; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch99 dc. Round 14: Ch 1, FPsc around each dc around; join with slip st in first st. Round 15 (crust edge): Ch 1, 3 sc in same st as join, 3 sc in next sc, slip st in next sc, *3 sc in each of next 2 sc, slip st in next sc; repeat from * around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. POCKET (work 1 into each pocket opening of crust) Round 1: With Wrong Side of crust facing, join A with sc in any sc of pocket opening, work 11 more sc evenly spaced around pocket opening; do not join, work in continuous rounds (spiral)12 sc. Place a marker for beginning of round. Move marker up as each round is completed. Round 2: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 4 times16 sc. Rounds 38: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off. Sew bottom opening flat. Hold pocket flat against underside of crust and sew bottom edge of pocket to crust, taking care that stitches do not show on right side. Attach Crust to Plate: Sew crust to plate, sewing through bottom of stitches of Round 14 of plate and top of dc stitches of Round 13 of crust. Stuff pie before sewing completely closed. Take care not to overstuff, allow for tucking birds into the pockets.

Head and Body (make 6 1 for each bird) Beginning at head, with D, ch 2. Round 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do not join, work in continuous rounds (spiral)6 sc. Place a marker for beginning of round. Move marker up as each round is completed. Round 2: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 3 times9 sc. Rounds 35: Sc in each sc around. Round 6 (shoulders): Work 2 sc in each of next 4 sc, sc in last 5 sc13 sc. Rounds 7 and 8: Sc in each sc around. Round 9: [Sc2tog] 4 times, sc in last 5 sc9 sc. Stuff piece to this point only. Do not stuff tail end of bird. Round 10: [Sc in next sc, sc2tog] 3 times6 sc. Rounds 1115 (tail): Sc in each sc around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. With tail, sew end of piece flat. Beak (make 6 1 for each bird) With C, ch 3. Row 1: Slip st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Fold piece in half and sew side edges together. Sew beak to front of head. Sew two beads to head on each side of beak for eyes. Wings (make 12 2 for each bird) With D, ch 5. Row 1: Slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch. Fasten off. Sew one wing to each side of body.

Weave in any remaining ends. Tuck a bird in each of the three pockets.