I used the July Pattern Chicken kit from Chalk Couture to make two sweet farmhouse projects, and both gave me plenty of ideas for decorating a kitchen counter, basket or dough bowl. I created a patterned wooden chicken and used the same Chubby Chicken surface as a template for a fabric bowl filler.
My Chalk Couture Club chicken projects
The Pattern Chicken Club kit came with a Chubby Chicken surface, several reusable pattern transfers and two paste colors called Camel and Bumblebee. The patterns are what made this kit especially fun for me because they can work on so many projects beyond the chicken.
I used one of the patterns on fabric, then used another to give the wooden chicken a look inspired by the black and white Julia Child style kitchen pieces I love. The two finished chickens coordinate, but each one has its own personality.
Making the fabric chicken bowl filler
Trace the chicken on fabric
I started with a leftover Walmart dish towel that I already had in my craft supplies. Any fabric color or pattern you like could work for this project, especially scraps that are large enough to fit the chicken shape.
I placed the Chubby Chicken on the wrong side of the fabric and traced around it with a Sharpie pen. Then I cut outside the traced line so I would have a little extra fabric around the edge for gluing.
You need two matching pieces for each chicken. You can trace the surface twice, or fold your fabric so you can cut two layers at once. Pinking shears would give the edges a cute finish if you have a pair handy.
The wooden surface also makes a handy pattern even after you finish decorating it. You could trace it onto a brown paper bag and save that paper pattern for future fabric chickens.
Add a reusable transfer pattern
Before assembling the chicken, I placed one of the Pattern Chicken transfers over the front fabric piece. I used Camel paste and a squeegee to spread the color through the design, then lifted the transfer to reveal the pattern.
Ink is usually my choice for fabric that will be washed. Since this chicken is a decorative bowl filler and will stay out of the laundry, paste worked fine for my project. I dried the design before moving on so the paste stayed in place while I handled the fabric.
Glue and fill the chicken
You can sew the two fabric pieces together if you enjoy using your sewing machine. I used hot glue, working around the edges and leaving an opening for the filling.
My original plan called for regular stuffing, but shredded paper was nearby and worked just fine. I gently pushed it into the body and up into the smaller areas until the chicken had a soft, full shape. Then I glued the opening closed.
A scrap of brown ribbon became a simple shoestring style bow around the chicken. I save ribbon pieces for little details just like this because a small bow can finish a project without adding much time or cost.
Decorating the Chalk Couture Chubby Chicken
For the wooden Chubby Chicken, I wanted a neutral farmhouse look that would coordinate with a charcuterie board and some kitchen pieces I already had in mind.
I placed the repeating pattern transfer over part of the chicken and applied black paste with my squeegee. A repeating pattern gives you room to cover a larger surface because you can line it up again and continue the design. I only needed part of it for this chicken, but I can reuse the same transfer for plenty of other projects.
After lifting the transfer, I dried the paste and lightly sanded the surface. I like being able to change my mind as I create. If you try a look and want something different later, you can paint over the surface and chalk it again.
I decorated one side and saved the other side for another project idea. A little furry ribbon added a fun chick like detail and brought more texture to the finished piece.
Cleaning the transfer
The transfers are reusable, which makes the patterns useful long after this project is finished. I clean mine with water and a board eraser, then let them dry before putting them away.
Cleaning the transfer soon after using paste helps keep the small pattern openings clear. It also means the transfer is ready when another idea comes along.
Ways to display fabric chicken bowl fillers
These little fabric chickens would be darling grouped in a dough bowl or large decorative bowl. You could also tuck a few into a basket with eggs, place them inside a large glass jar or add a dowel to make a chicken pick for an arrangement.
Fabric gives you plenty of ways to change the look. Neutral fabric works well with farmhouse decor, while colorful scraps could fit a seasonal display. Make several in coordinating colors and mix the patterns so every chicken looks a little different.
The wooden chicken looks cute beside the fabric version, especially when the paste colors and ribbon coordinate. I displayed mine with a small basket left over from Easter, and the whole arrangement came together with supplies I already had around the house.
Chalk Couture supplies I used
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