Mabel Mods – Rooster Edition!

Meet Marvin! This simple tutorial will show you step-by-step instructions to modify your sweet Mabel Chicken crochet pattern into an adorable little rooster!

Mabel Chicken has gained popularity within our crochet community for several reasons. She’s loved by kids, chicken enthusiasts and anyone that’s into cute, chubby chickens!  She has proven to be a great starting point for beginners and a perfect choice for those seeking to create quick and market-ready crochet items. If you haven’t yet picked up your copy of the original Mabel Chicken crochet pattern, you can download it HERE, or in my Etsy shop.

If you prefer a full, start-to-finish Marvin Rooster pattern, you can pick one up HERE, or in my Etsy shop.

After many requests for modifications and add-ons to the original Mabel Chicken pattern, I present to you the exciting world of ‘Mabel Mods.’ And guess who’s strutting into our crochet collection next? A proud and chunky little rooster!

Two soft crochet chickens sitting on a chair, one is a rooster with a feathery tail and wattle.
Two soft crochet chickens sitting on a chair, one is a rooster with a feathery tail and wattle.

For more upcoming Mabel Mods, check back often for new updates. And in the meantime, if you’d like to make a cozy nest for your Mabel Chicken, don’t forget to check out my blog post HERE.

This rooster modification begins with a completed Mabel body. We’ll add a fun, feathery tail, as well as a modified comb to the head. We’ll also include what is called a ‘wattle’ (that name makes me giggle) crocheted directly onto the body, just below the beak.

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SUPPLIES:

ABBREVIATIONS:

st – stitch(es)

sl st – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

FO – fasten off

ADDING THE WATTLE:

Place a slip knot on your hook, leaving approximately an 18” tail.

Insert your hook directly under the beak, place the slip knot over your hook and pull through. Yarn over with working yarn and pull through the loop on your hook.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Insert your hook into the st slightly to the left and below the first st, yo and complete a sc.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Next, insert your hook in the st below the last, and complete a sc, followed by a hdc into the same st.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Cut working yarn, pull through and leave the tail for now.

Insert hook back into the st under the beak, yo with the 18” tail and pull though. Yo, and complete a sc.

Insert your hook in the next st below, and slightly to the right, complete a sc. Next, insert your hook in the st below the last, and complete a sc, followed by a hdc into the same st. Check that each side of the wattle are level to each other.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Cut working yarn, pull through, FO and weave in both remaining tails.

ROOSTER COMB:

Starting with a slip knot on your hook, insert your hook into the st on front/top of the head.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Yo, and pull up a loop, completing 1 sc. Work 2 hdc into the same st.

Ch 1, then into the next st toward the back of the head, work 2 hdc into the st.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Weave front tail through to the back of the wattle, knot both ends together and weave into body.

Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster modification onto the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Your little rooster is already looking cute, but we need to add the tail!

Hands holding a Mabel chicken crocheted with a rooster wattle.
Hands holding a Mabel chicken crocheted with a rooster wattle.

The tail is made up of four little curved “feathers”. You can use fun, bright colors, or stick with neutrals. I chose to do a mix and used Bernat Blanket yarn in the colors Taupe, Birch, Baby Sand, and my favorute – Ocean Teal Ombre!

Cluster of multi colored Bernat blanket yarn.

ADDING THE TAIL:

Starting with a slip knot on your hook, insert your hook into a stitch at the tip of the tail. Complete a sl st, and ch 5.

Hands crocheting a rooster tail on the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster tail on the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Skipping the first ch from the hook, sc down the chain toward the body (4). Sl st back into the base of the first st to secure. Cut yarn and tie the two ends together. Ends will be woven in later.

Hands crocheting a rooster tail on the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Continue this process until you have added 4 “feathers”. Be sure to tuck them as close together as possible so they form a cluster.

Let’s hide all those tails! Insert your crochet hook into the body and grab the tails and pull them in to hide the ends, trim excess.

Hands crocheting a rooster tail on the original Mabel chicken pattern.
Hands crocheting a rooster tail on the original Mabel chicken pattern.

Your Mabel Rooster Mod is complete!

A completed rooster sitting on a table - made from the original Mabel chicken crochet pattern.
A completed rooster sitting on a table - made from the original Mabel chicken crochet pattern.
A completed rooster and chicken sitting on a table - made from the original Mabel chicken crochet pattern.

I would love to see your little Mabel and Marvin creations! Feel free to share on Instagram!

All patterns, designs and photographs included in this blog post are property of Oak and Marlow. This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, distributed, or transferred to any other person or website. Handmade items produced with this pattern may be sold as long as credit is given to the designer – Oak and Marlow. Copyright 2023.