Saturday, March 16, 2013

Crocheted Easter Eggs



Introduction: We kid around in ravelry groups about “fiber therapy,” saying it's our way of dealing with stress. It's actually true. I guess you could call it "creative meditation" and in the process we make fun, unique, beautiful, interesting, huggable, and/or wearable items.

Recently crocheting Easter eggs has been my personal fiber therapy. I had so much fun doing them I thought I’d pass along this little how-to for others who may want to create—whether or not they seek fiber therapy. The results will be the same for everyone—lovely little eggs to bring out and enjoy year after year.

What: These are crocheted Easter eggs that cover the regular size plastic ones that measure about 5¾ inches (14.5 cm) around the middle and 3½ inches (9 cm) from top to bottom. These eggs are very simple to create because each is a continuous spiral of single crochet stitches using multi colored (ombre) yarn—no need to change colors.

Let’s get started!

Crocheted Easter Egg (Ombre)

What you will need:
• a G Hook (4.0 mm)
• ombre cotton yarn, such as Peaches & Crème or Sugar ‘n cream (4 ply)
• scissors
• a tapestry needle
• a plastic Easter egg
 

Start: ch 2
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd st from hook. Mark start of rounds but do not join on this or in future rounds.
Rnd 2: 2 scs in each st (12)
Rnd 3: *(1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st). Repeat from * around. (18)
Rnd 4: *(2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in each of next 3 st). Repeat from * around. (22)
Rnds 5-10: 1 sc in each st around.

Decreases start in round 11. To decrease, draw up yarn in each of the next 2 sc, YO and draw through all 3 loops (dec made).

Rnd 11: Dec 2 st in this round like this: sc 9, dec, sc until you reach the last 2 st and then dec. (20)
Rnd 12: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 13: Slip egg inside with pointed end up. With egg inside your work, sc in each st around being mindful to keep your stitches tight.
Rnd 14: *(Sc 4, dec). Repeat from * around.
Rnd 15: 2 scs *(dec, 4 sc). Repeat from * around.

From this point forward, repeat the following: 2 sc, dec until you have a ½ inch (1.5 cm) opening. Cut yarn leaving an 8-inch (20 cm) yarn tail. Using your tapestry needle, gather up your stitches to close up the hole. Secure and hide your yarn tail. 

Addendum: I've been making other crocheted eggs, too—in all 24 of them this year. Most require color/yarn changes. Using solid color cottons, these eggs feature stripes and other patterns. 

Here is one of the baskets of crocheted eggs. These eggs feature various patterns and a limited color palette: pink, cream and periwinkle. 




Here is another set of my crocheted eggs. These eggs also feature various patterns with an even more limited color palette, only two colors: cream and cornflower. 


10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. You are welcome. It is my pleasure. Thanks for your comment.

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  2. I love making Easter eggs and they are fun to bring out every year. Best of all they don't break!! I stuff mine though and they work fine.

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  3. These are great Claudia! I'm going to try making some for Easter at my home in snowy Norway. Thank you for the pattern! I was able to pick up some cotton yarn in Dec. while on vac. to Oregon. :) Looking forward to getting my home ready for Easter!

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  4. Lovely eggs! But it's your Easter chickens from a couple from a couple of years ago that have had me busy in every spare moment recently! Thank you so much for the pattern - it's great! Elizabeth x

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  5. What a delightful project! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern!

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  6. Thanks for sharing this cute pattern. I turned my 1 month old's first Easter egg into a rattle so he could get some enjoyment out of it this year using this pattern. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

    May I request a pattern for the egg in the upper left side of the bunny picture, too? I have been trying to make large Easter eggs using the tricolor alternating stitch, but I cannot seem to get the beginning to work out right.

    I don't know if it will make a difference, but the dimensions I am shooting for are 5.5 in. tall and 12 and quarter to 12.5 in. around the fattest part of the egg.

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  7. Maybe in plenty of time for next year I will write up a few more crocheted egg patterns with color changes for two and three color eggs. Thanks for your suggestion.

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  8. Ooo... love the idea of these crochet Easter Eggs, must get some yarn and have a little go at making one (or more!!!) Thanks very much for sharing, such a star!

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