Digger the Burrowing Owl

I've been very busy lately, but I've managed to make Digger.  His pattern is actually very similar to Soren's pattern, only I didn't give Digger the head piece that Soren has.  The thing that was very difficult about this guy is that he has so many white stripes and spots on his mostly brown feathers.  If you don't like them, you can crochet them in.

Materials:
F hook
Brown yarn
White yarn
Grey yarn
Light green felt
8mm black eyes
White thread and needle (optional)
Plastic needle (optional, but recommended)

Head/Body (use brown yarn, F hook)

1. ch 6 in ring-6
2. 2sc in each st around-12
3. (sc in first st, 2sc in next st) around-12
4. (sc in first 2st, 2sc in next st) around-24
5. sc in each st around-24
6. sc in first 12st, 2sc in next st, sc in last 11st-25
7-11. sc in each sc around-25
12. sc in first 6st, 2sc in next st, sc in next 12st, 2sc in next st, sc in last 5st-27
13-15. sc in each st around-27
16. sc in first 2st, 2sc in next st, sc in next 9st, sk next st, sc in next 3st, sk next st, sc in next 9st, 2sc in last st-27
17-18. sc in each st around-27(Be sure to take a look at assembly before finishing)
19. sc in first 10st, sk next st, sc in next 11st, sk next st, sc in last 4st-25
20-22. sc in each st around-25
23. sc in first 12st, sk next st, sc in next 5st, sk next st, sc in last 6st-23
24. BLO in next 7st, sc in first 2st, sk next st, sc in next 4st, sk next st, sc in next 4st, sk next st, sc in next 2st, BLO in last st-20
25. (sc in next 4st, sk next st) around-16
26. (sc in next 3st, sk next st) around-12
27. (sc in next 2st, sk next st) around-8 slst in beg of next round F/O

Left Wing (use brown yarn, F hook)

(always sc in 2nd st from hook at beg of each round)

1. ch 6; turn, (FLO) sc across-5
2. ch 2, turn, sc in next 7st-6
3. ch 2, turn, sc in next 7st-7
4-7. ch 1, turn, sc in next 7st-7
8. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 6st-6
9-11. ch 1, turn, sc in next 6st-6
12. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 5st-5
13. ch 1, turn, sc in next 5st-5
14. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 4st-4
15. ch 1, turn, sc in next 4st-4
16. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 3st-3
17. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 2st-2 F/O

Right Wing (use brown yarn, F hook)

(always sc in 2nd st from hook at beg of each round)

1. ch 6; turn, (FLO) sc across-5
2. ch 2, turn, sc in next 7st-6
3. ch 2, turn, sc in next 7st-7
4-7. ch 1, turn, sc in next 7st-7
8. ch 1, turn, sc in next 5st, sk 1, sc in last st-6
9-11. ch 1, turn, sc in next 6st-6
12. ch 1, turn, sc in next 4st, sk 1, sc in last st-5
13.  ch 1, turn, sc in next 5st-5
14. ch 1, turn, sc in next 3st, sk 1, sc in last st-4
15. ch 1, turn, sc in next 4st-4
16. ch 1, turn, sc in next 2st, sk 1, sc in last st-3
17. ch 1, turn, sk 1, sc in next 2st-2 F/O

Tail (use brown and white yarn, F hook)

1-5. In FLs from Head/Body (Rnd 24), sc 8st, ch 1, turn-8 
6. sk 1, sc in next 5st, sk 1, sc in last st, ch 1, turn-6
7. (change to white) sc across, ch 1, turn-6
8. BLO- sc across, ch 1, turn-6
9-12. sc across, ch 1, turn-6
13. sc across-6 F/O
Legs (use white and grey yarn, F hook, make two)

1. ch 4 in ring-4
2. sc in first 2st, 2sc in next st, sc in last st-5
3-5. sc in each st around-5
6. (change to grey) BLO- slst in next st, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and down, (slst in same st, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and down) twice, sc in next st, sk 1, slst in next st, ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and down, slst in same st, sc in last st F/O


Assembly:
This is where it gets tricky. Sew with thread or yarn. On the head/body, (putting the first st in the back) slst or embroidery (I used embroidery) the heart around his face using white yarn. Then embroidery beak just above bottom middle of heart. Cut out green felt and place around eyes. Place black 8mm eyes in head a little above beak.  Embroidery all spots and stripes on Head/Body, Wings, and Tail with white yarn. Sew wings onto sides of Head/Body. Sew end of Tail back to beg of Tail.  Embroidery brown stripes onto legs and tail.  Then sew legs on bottom of body.

Digger the character belongs to Kathryn Lasky, but the pattern belongs to me.