I first heard of prosperity hens almost 2 years ago, when reader Becky mentioned them in a comment, then sent me a photo of hers. Prosperity Hens originated in India where having a flock of chickens could make a difference for a poverty stricken family. They are meant to bring prosperity to a home and are generally hung near a doorway or window. I kept her photo, and the project stayed in the back of my mind. When the longarm went down again, and I found I had time on my hands, it seemed a perfect time to finally make a few. I looked around for patterns and found several. It seems like these can be made in whatever size makes sense to you. Most appear to start with a four inch square, and I found the beak squares were sized a bit large at 1-1/2 inches. So I made a four inch hen with the beak using a one-inch square. Then I made another one with a five inch square and a larger beak. The larger one is a bit easier to deal with and has the advantage of being able to use charm pack squares.

But you all know me by now, I had another idea for the chickens that would utilize some notions I had in the stash. I pulled out my bag of sewing theme fabrics and cut some 5-inch squares. I cut the beak squares at 1-1/2 inches square.

Fold the beak into a triangle wrong sides together, then fold one more time putting all the raw edges together on one edge. Fold the large square in half forming a triangle. I cut the tail at 1-inch x 2-inches. Then cut slits longways about 2/3 of the length.

Fold the tail in thirds, wrong sides together.

Set the beak and tail in the large triangle, with the raw edges to the edge of the base. Put both near the fold, on opposite ends, leaving a little more than 1/4-inch seam allowance at the fold. I did all six at the same time so I could sew them all at once.

Here’s my tip for sewing. There needs to be an opening on one side for turning. Mark where you want that to be. Sew from one end of the marked area to the point, pivoting at the corner.

Then, clip your threads, and sew from the other end of the marked opening to the other point. This will prevent the point from jamming down inside the throat plate.

Clip the corners and turn right side out.

Firmly stuff each one with your chosen stuffing. I use polyester fiber fill, mainly because I have a huge bag of it. You could use batting scraps.

Whip the openings closed by hand. I can see making a whole basket of these to do while watching sports on Sundays.

Here is what gave me the idea of doing them with sewing theme fabrics. I have these little antique wooden spools of thread that I have wanted to use in a project for a long time. I had five of them to go between six hens.

I pulled out my boxes of trims and beads to find more things to add to the project. I thought I had some larger wooden beads, but alas, they were all really small. I didn’t want shiny things, but I could cut some of the beads off this scrap of trim. I liked the bottom end bead in black with the metal top, so I snipped one for the bottom of the string.

Laying out the items, I started playing around with things to go on top of the thread spools, and deciding what to add. This is the perfect project for using some of the unique and special buttons and beads that you haven’t been able to use up to now.

This dark green bead is a one of a kind, and this is the perfect project for it. It resembles jade, and is carved with cherry blossoms. I put it just above the black bead on the bottom. The strand is assembled from the bottom up. I began stringing the beads by tying a knot and pulling the thread through the bottom point of the hen. I put the beads on, and then pulled the string back up through the beads and knotted it at the base of the chicken.

Insert the needle at the point on the bottom of the chicken, then bring it out in the middle of the top side. Press down just a little to give the chicken a bit more shape and put a tiny knot. Add beads and spools between each chicken.

I’m using a thicker black floss that I cut twice the length I would need for the whole string. This gives me some extra to tie knots and have a loop at the top. I’m using a very long tapestry needle for most of the work. For a couple of the beads, I had to change needles to get one thin enough to go through the bead, then put the longer one back on to add the chickens.

I used some wooden buttons I had, too.

This misshapen bead was perfect in this project. When I had all the chickens and beads threaded on the string, I made a loop at the top and tied it off with a knot. I threaded the excess string back down through the top beads and into the chicken, then cut off the excess.

I hung it in the corner of the sewing room, where I have a ceiling hook. It is next to the windows.

It is the perfect little decoration for that corner!

I can see these in fall colors for the autumn season, and of course holiday hens for prosperity in the new year. Make them in the colors of your kitchen to hang in the window. Make longer strands of 20 or more! It is a fun and quick project that I did in one day. I almost saved this for Fall Fortnight, and you might see it again then!

What do you think?