Free knitting pattern: Patterned Easter Egg Decorations
Updated: Apr 1, 2022
Looking for easy Easter crafts, specifically a knitted Easter Eggs pattern? Then look no further!
This free Easter egg knitting pattern provides comprehensive instructions to enable you to make your own stuffed Easter egg ornaments. What's more, these are infinitely reusable decorations you can bring out year after year, a far more sustainable (and less fattening!) option than chocolate eggs with all their single use packaging.
ABOUT THIS PATTERN
This pattern is for knitted Easter eggs in three different sizes, with optional decorative variations around the middle section.
The small size is slightly smaller than a hen's egg, the medium size slightly larger than a hen's egg. The large size is quite a bit bigger, around the size of a goose's egg.
These eggs make great chocolate-free Easter egg alternatives, or can be threaded with a ribbon to make hanging Easter egg tree decorations.
Each egg starts and finishes the same, but there are a variety of options for the 'flat' section in the middle between the increases and decreases. These are presented as coloured charts for ease.
I have been revamping and expanding this pattern and the expanded version is now available on Etsy, Ravelry, and LoveCrafts for a small fee, so I wanted to make the original free knitting pattern available here on my Blog.
The new and improved version includes alternative instructions for knitting the eggs flat on two needles, and plenty of tips on how to make zero waste Easter eggs using natural or recycled materials. It's also designed to be more easily printable than this web-based version.
You can also buy a ready-to-knit kit (including pattern, sustainable Eucalyptus yarn and wooden eggs plus optional needles) for Eco Easter Eggs in my Etsy store.
Patterned Easter Egg Decorations
MATERIALS
Yarn: a few grams of DK yarn (up to around 25g for a large egg)
Gauge: 25 st / 32 rows to 10cm / 4"
Needle size: US 3 / UK 10 / 3.25mm
Needle type:
double pointed needles; or
circular needle at least 23" / 60cm long (for magic loop) ; and
tapestry needle
Notions:
toy stuffing; or
large polystyrene egg (11cm / 4.25" long; 18cm / 7" circumference); or
medium polystyrene egg (6cm / 2.5" long; 11.5cm / 4.5" circumference); or
small polystyrene egg (5cm / 2" long; 9cm / 3.5" circumference)
SPECIFICATIONS
Finished size:
(slightly bigger if using toy stuffing)
Large: 11.5cm / 4.5" long; 19cm / 7.5" circumference
Medium: 7.5cm / 3" long; 12.5cm / 5" circumference
Small: 5cm / 2" long; 10.5cm / 4.25" circumference
Time required (per egg):
Large – 1½ to 4 hours
Medium – ¾ to 1½ hours
Small – ½ to 1 hour
Difficulty: advanced beginner to medium – knitting a small circumference in the round, plus optional colourwork
TIPS
There are a lot of different ways to personalise this pattern, for example:
Use the charts to make patterns by using purl stitches instead of a different colour
On the large size eggs, add lettering to the central band in chain stitch if desired (use thinner wool or separate out a strand or two of DK for this)
Or for the easiest pattern of all, use a self-striping yarn!
Make larger or smaller eggs by using thicker or thinner yarn (you can also vary the size a little by over- or under-stuffing the eggs)
You may also like to try steam blocking your egg prior to stuffing, which can help to even out the colourwork.
NOTES
All knitting is in the round on magic loop or double-pointed needles, in stocking stitch, i.e. all rows knitted, except where explicitly stated.
Stuffing
Filling with a solid egg gives a far better, defined shape than toy stuffing, but it can be a little tricky knitting around the top of it. It helps to pull up your knitting as far as you can, and after a couple of rows it should get easier. You may also find it easier to switch to circular needles with shorter straight sections, or double pointed needles.
Sewing in ends
Don't be tempted to just tie off or leave your yarn ends, just because they're going to be hidden inside the egg. You'll get a much, much neater pattern if you sew them in properly!
Increases and decreases
In each increase or decrease row you will need to increase or decrease by six stitches. It may help to think of the egg as having six vertical segments to it (like lines of longitude on a globe) and therefore in each increase or decrease row you will need to work one increase or decrease in each segment.
I find this easiest to do this at the start of each segment, but this does result in very definite 'seam' lines going up the egg (see turquoise egg below). If you're happy with this, fine! If you prefer it to look more even, it's best to do the increases at different points across the segment for each increase or increase row, even if it's just as basic as start of each segment for one row, then middle of each segment for the next (see pink egg below). The same goes for the decreases in the top section of the egg.
Which increase stitch?
You can use any increase you like. Right lifted increase is probably the least noticeable, but I do find it very fiddly on tiny, tight stitches like these, especially on the first few rows. I personally find knitting front and back a lot easier, but it does leave a little purl-like bar. See below for notes on how to create these stitches.
INCREASE AND DECREASE STITCH INSTRUCTIONS
Right lifted increase (RLI) – insert tip of right needle under the back/right arm of the stitch below the next stitch on the left needle and lift that stitch up onto the end of the left hand needle. Knit the lifted stitch and then the stich that was above it (increases 1 stitch).
Knit front & back (KFB) – knit into the front of the stitch then knit purl-wise into the back of it as well before pulling it off the left needle (increases 1 stitch)
Knit two together (K2tog) – knit two stitches together (decreases 1 stitch)
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS
LARGE EGG PATTERN
Bottom section (increases)
Cast on 6, divide onto DPNs/magic loop and join in the round
Row 1: Knit, increasing 6, i.e. in every stitch (12 st) (giving you 2 st per segment)
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit, increasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Knit, increasing 6 (24 st) (4 st per segment)
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Knit, increasing 6 (30 st) (5 st per segment)
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: Knit, increasing 6 (36 st) (6 st per segment)
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: Knit, increasing 6 (42 st) (7 st per segment)
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: Knit, increasing 6 (48 st) (8 st per segment)
Row 14: Knit
Middle section (add pattern or stripes if desired – see charts below)
Rows 15-24: Knit 10 rows
Top section (decreases)
Row 25: Knit
Row 26: Knit, decreasing 6 (42 st) (7 st per segment)
Rows 27-29: Knit 3 rows
Row 30: Knit, decreasing 6 (36 st) (6 st per segment)
Rows 31-32: Knit 2 rows
Row 33: Knit, decreasing 6 (30 st) (5 st per segment)
Rows 34-35: Knit 2 rows
Row 36: Knit, decreasing 6 (24 st) (4 st per segment)
Pause to sew in any ends (especially from other colours in middle section pattern band) and stuff the egg.
Rows 37-38: Knit 2 rows
Row 39: Knit, decreasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Row 40: Knit
Row 41: Knit, decreasing 6 (12 st) (2 st per segment)
Row 42: Knit, decreasing 6, i.e. K2tog on every stitch (6 st)
Cut yarn and pull tail through stitches, finish stuffing if using toy stuffing, gather up tight and sew in the loose end.
LARGE EGG MIDDLE SECTION CHARTS
All charts below are for half the width of the egg (24 stitches), so knit each row twice around the egg. On all charts, begin at the bottom and knit from right to left, i.e. as if you're looking at the knitting.
MEDIUM EGG PATTERN
Bottom section (increases)
Cast on 6, divide onto DPNs/magic loop and join in the round
Row 1: Knit, increasing 6, i.e. in every stitch (12 st) (giving you 2 st per segment)
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit, increasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Knit, increasing 6 (24 st) (4 st per segment)
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Knit, increasing 6 (30 st) (5 st per segment)
Row 8: Knit
Middle section (add pattern or stripes if desired – see charts below)
Rows 9-16:Knit 8 rows
Top section (decreases)
Row 17: Knit, decreasing 6 (24 st) (4 st per segment)
Rows 18-20: Knit 3 rows
Row 21: Knit, decreasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Pause to sew in any ends (especially from other colours in middle section pattern band) and stuff the egg.
Rows 22-23: Knit 2 rows
Row 24: Knit, decreasing 6 (12 st) (2 st per segment)
Row 25: Knit, decreasing 6, i.e. K2tog on every stitch (6 st)
Cut yarn and pull tail through stitches, finish stuffing if using toy stuffing, gather up tight and sew in the loose end.
MEDIUM EGG MIDDLE SECTION CHARTS
All charts below are for the whole width of the egg (30 stitches). On all charts, begin at the bottom and knit from right to left, i.e. as if you're looking at the knitting.
SMALL EGG PATTERN
Bottom section (increases)
Cast on 6, divide onto DPNs/magic loop and join in the round
Row 1: Knit, increasing 6, i.e. in every stitch (12 st) (giving you 2 st per segment)
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit, increasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Knit, increasing 6 (24 st) (4 st per segment)
Row 6: Knit
Middle section (add pattern or stripes if desired – see charts below)
Rows 7-13: Knit 7 rows
Top section (decreases)
Row 14: Knit, decreasing 6 (18 st) (3 st per segment)
Rows 15-16: Knit 2 rows
Row 17: Knit, decreasing 6 (12 st) (2 st per segment)
Rows 18-19: Knit 2 rows
Pause to sew in any ends (especially from other colours in middle section pattern band) and stuff the egg.
Row 20: Knit, decreasing 6, K2tog on every stitch (6 st)
Cut yarn and pull tail through stitches, gather up tight and sew in the loose end.
SMALL EGG MIDDLE SECTION CHARTS
All charts below are for the whole width of the egg (24 stitches). On all charts, begin at the bottom and knit from right to left, i.e. as if you're looking at the knitting.
Don't forget, you can buy the new expanded version of this pattern on Etsy, Ravelry, and LoveCrafts, giving you:
Slightly adjusted patterns for better shaping
New instructions to knit your eggs flat on straight needles as well as in the round
Tips on eco-conscious choices when making your knitted eggs
New middle section designs (19 in total)
Or you can take the easy option and buy pattern, eggs, needles and the exact amount of yarn you need with my Eco Easter Eggs kit!
However you choose to knit them, have fun making your Easter egg decorations, and do share them on social media, tagging @wombleknits! As a designer, there's nothing better than seeing what people have made with my designs!
If you enjoyed this free Easter Egg Knitting Pattern, check out www.wombleknits.com for more easy, sustainable knitting patterns.
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Questions? Issues? Let me know in the comments below. I'm always happy to help!
Anna