knitted easter egg decoration

This pattern uses oddments of  4 ply yarn (I usually work it in cotton - such as Rowan Cotton 4ply) and uses 2.75 mm needles. My tension works out to 8 stitches and 10 rows per inch.

The egg is knitted flat and then seamed using mattress stitch. You can stuff the finished egg with polyfil / wool / cotton wadding or it will fit around a polystyrene egg (see here for supplies within the UK).

Row 1: Cast on  11 stitches (leaving a length of yarn about 6 inches for sewing up later)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K2, (*M1, K1) 8 times, K1 (19 stitches) *M1=make one,
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2, (M1, K1) 16 times, K1 (35 stitches)
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: K3, M1, (K2, M1) 6 times, K3, M1 (K2, M1) 7 times, K3 (50 stitches)
Row 10: Purl

Row 11: Change to yarn colour for pattern band - work chosen pattern band over the next 12 rows (see charts below for pattern suggestions) or simply use a contrasting colour for middle 12 rows.

Zig zag pattern using 3 colours:

Polka dot pattern using 2 colours:

Stripe pattern using 2 or more colours:

gingham pattern using 3 colours:

Or why not design your own band (50 stitches x 12 rows):

Row 23: change yarn colour and work 2 rows without shaping
Row 25: K3, K2 tog, (K2, K2tog) 11 times, K1 (38 stitches)
Row 26: purl
Row 27: K2, K2 tog, (K1, K2tog) 11 times, K1 (26 stitches)
Row 28: purl
Row 29: knit
Row 30: purl
Row 31: K1, (K2 tog) 12 times, K1 (14 stitches)
Row 32: purl
Cut the work from the yarn leaving an end around 6 inches long, thread end through stitches on needle and pull up tight. Use this end to begin sewing up the seam. Sew around 1 inch of seam and then begin seaming at other end of egg.

If you want to hang the egg as a decoration then cut a length of ribbon and tie the ends together. Thread the loop through the gathered stitches at the pointed end of the egg leaving the knotted part inside.

At the other end of the egg thread the length of yarn left by the cast on and use to catch up the 11 stitch loops and up pull tight. Continue in mattress stitch to close the seam - leaving around 2 inches of unclosed seam to stuff the egg (if using polyfil or similar). If you are fitting it around a polystyrene egg just sew around half an inch of seam at either end and close the rest of the seam with the polystyrene egg in place.

When the seams meet tie off ends and thread inside trimming off any excess ends.

This pattern is an original design. You are welcome to knit up for personal use but please don't use it for commercial purposes, thanks. Copyright © Julie Williams 2008 - 2009.

 

Comments

[petite-maman]

hi,Your eggs are really cute! I made the translation in French.Do you agree if I post it in a french speaking forum?
Thanks

[Pamie G.]

I am not sure what M1 means (novice knitter here, I am so sorry!!) Pamie G.

[marmotte]

oh, it's so beautiful
and thanks for the explications
I've had your adress from a french forum of knitting: http://doudoumanya.easyforum.fr, you're mondialy knowed, now !!!!

[petite-maman]

I think M1 means increase 1

[Yasmin]

You are so talented and creative. Thank you. I have copied the eggs to print out for me to make them.

[Julie]

thank you so much for this wonderful pattern! i knew i wanted to knit some easter eggs, so i went directly to ravelry, typed in "easter" in the pattern search and came up with your site - a perfect match. i'm going to try to substitute part of the color designs on the eggs with family members' names and then use them as "place cards" for easter dinner at my house... thanks again. your designs are absolutely adorable!

[Louise]

M1 means 'make one' or increase one stitch. love the eggs! xx

[Linda]

Hi, cute site.

[a rose is a rose]

how cool is that? thanks so much for sharing!

[Annick]

Dear Julie,
I simply adore the things you make! As I am more into cross stitch, is it possible to order some/many of your Easter eggs. Nothing urgent, March next year will do, but please let me know
Kind regards, Annick

[Sheila Becousse]

having just taught my explorer scouts (boys and girls aged 14-18) how to knit this would have been a great follow on, but i have missed easter this year, lets hope they can remember till next year. thanks for sharing your skills

[Patoune62pdc]

I really like what you did

thanks a lot

Have a nice day

[Patoune62pdc]

I really like what you did

thanks a lot

Have a nice day

[Mrs Smiff]

These are a wonderful way to use up odd bits of 4ply baby wool or self striping sock wool. I knitted some last easter and put the photo's on my web site and had several comments. I directed them to your web site. However, I have copied the pattern for my friends at church but included the "for personal use" comment.

Many thanks

[judy clarke]

I love your patterns. I have made the stockings for gifts for my family. Can you tell me if I would be able to get the rabbit in the sweater pattern from you. Thank you!

[Margaret]

Beautiful, I am working to get rid of my odds an ends and they look great will send a pic as soon as I figure out how to do that. This should help me to learn to chang colors in avpatern I haven't done that yet. My finished one is all yellow. My next will be Yellow & orange. Thanks so much!

[Pati]

I made your Easter eggs last year and my grandchildren loved them.

Thank you, they are adorable.
Pati

[Sue Flanagan]

Hi Julie,

Hope you don't mind, but I have done another link on my website to your gorgeous eggs, they are beautiful. Your designs are superb I am so jealous...

[claire]

I just made one of these Easter Eggs and it was such a fun project-thanks for sharing! I noticed that you have different sizes of eggs in your picture above. Do you have a pattern for a smaller size? Or did they just turn out smaller/bigger from using different kinds of yarn? Thanks so much for sharing this project-I'm off to make some more!

[Tobie-Lynn]

Thanks so much for sharing this pattern! I have odds and ends of baby yarn that will look wonderful done up as eggs at Easter!

[Kamagra Discount]

how cute!!!

[Dorothy A. Benoit]

My 2 1/2 year old grandson is coming for Easter. Thank you SO MUCH for this pattern.

[Ann Marie]

This is the most perfectly lovely egg pattern! I've just made a felted version for my three-year-old's Easter basket, and I can't thank you enough for the excellent design and your generosity in sharing it.

[Nikki]

Thanks for sharing your pattern Julie. The eggs are just beautiful. Now my babies have their first Easter present.

[Julie]

These are fantastic. Thanks for sharing them!