Crochet Cat Egg

The Crochet Cat Egg is a charming and whimsical creation that brings together two adorable things in one delightful package! Imagine a cute cat nestled inside a cozy crocheted egg, sure to bring a smile to your face. This unique combination is perfect for adding a touch of playfulness and creativity to your home decor or as a fun gift for any cat lover. With its quirky and lovable design, the Crochet Cat Egg is sure to spark joy and brighten up any space it graces.

Difficulty: Beginner

Materials

• Crochet Hook, Size E/4 (3.5 mm) (I use Clover Amour hooks)
• Stitch Marker(s)
• Scissors
• Stuffing
• Pins
• Tapestry Needle
• Safety eyes, 8 mm
• Embroidery Floss, Black (DMC 310), Pink (DMC 776), Dark Brown (DMC 838)
• Embroidery Needle
• Dritz Disc Needle Pullers (optional)
• Chopstick, dowel, or something similar to help with stuffing small parts
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 315 yds/288 m, 6 oz/170 g), Colors shown include: Off White, Pumpkin, Taupe
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Heathers (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors shown include: Charcoal Heather, Grey Heather
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Speckle (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 235 yds/215 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors shown include: Honeycomb, Seashell
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Tweeds (worsted 4-Medium, 97% acrylic, 3% viscose, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors shown include: Taupe Tweed

• The Miniature Crochet Cat Egg shown in some of the images was made using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread. Color (A): Curio #10 thread, Hawk, Color (B): Curio #10 thread, Whisker, and some substitutions were made with Curio #10 thread, Natural. The same pattern is used with a minor change: use 3.5mm safety eyes or embroider them.

Four Variations of the Crochet Cat Egg are Shown

• Color (A) for all variations uses approx. 15 yds/13.7 m
• Color (B) for all variations uses approx. 20 yds/18 m

• Variation 1 (Grey & White): Color (A) Grey Heather, Color (B) Off White

• Variation 2 (Orange & Speckled): Color (A) Pumpkin, Color (B) Honeycomb Speckle

• Variation 3 (Brown Tweed): Color (A) Charcoal Heather, Color (B) Taupe Tweed

• Variation 4 (Brown & Speckled): Color (A) Taupe, Color (B) Seashell Speckle

Gauge

• Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) and worsted yarn the first 4 Rnds of the body measure approx.1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter.
• Using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread the first 4 Rnds of the body measure approx. 9/16 inch (1.4 cm) in diameter.

Finished Measurements

• Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) and worsted yarn the Crochet Cat Egg measures approx. 3.25 inches (8.3 cm) tall including the ears.
• Using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread the Miniature Crochet Cat Egg measures approx. 1.25 inches (3.1 cm) tall.

Design Notes

• The pattern is written in English using US crochet terminology.
• The pattern is written in continuous rounds, it will be helpful to place a stitch marker at the beginning stitch of the round and move it up at the start of each additional round.
• At the end of each round, the number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses.
• Further design notes, tips, and options will be provided throughout the pattern to help aid in construction.
• Color changes in the pattern should be made during the last step of the stitch prior to the noted color change throughout the pattern.
• Caution! If using safety eyes, take into consideration who will be using the item. The use of safety eyes is not recommended for children under the age of three or for those prone to putting things in their mouths as they may cause a choking hazard. Crocheted or hand-embroidered eyes are a great alternative!

Abbreviations/Stitches Used

• approx. – approximately
• ch – chain
• MR – magic ring (aka. magic circle, adjustable ring)
• Rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together (invisible decrease)
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• [ ] / ( ) – work instructions between brackets/parenthesis as many times as directed
• Some hand embroidery

Ears:

Make 2

>Design Options: The ear colors can be made as written, with the colors swapped, or in a solid color of choice.

Using Color (A) for the solid-colored ear.

Using Color (B) for the dual-toned ear.

• Rnd 1: 4sc in MR. (4sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch 2 and then 4sc in 2nd chain from hook. (4sts)
• Rnd 2: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 2 times. (6sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in next st] 2 times. (8sts)

For the dual-toned ear, Switch to Color (A) for the remainder of the ear.

• Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 3sts, 2sc in next st] 2 times. (10sts)
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next 4sts, 2sc in next st] 2 times. (12sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching the ear to the body.
• The ears are not stuffed.

Tail:

Make 1

Design Options: The tail colors can be made as written, with the colors swapped, or in a solid color of choice.

Using Color (B)

• Rnd 1: 5sc in MR. (5sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch2 and then 5sc in 2nd chain from hook. (5sts)
• Rnds 2-3: Sc in each st around. (5sts for 2 Rnds)

Switch to Color (A)

• Rnds 4-9: Sc in each st around. (5sts for 6 Rnds)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching the tail to the body.
• The tail is not stuffed.

Body:

Design Note: The body is made from the top down.

Using Color (A)

• Rnd 1: 6sc in MR. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnd 4: Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st, [sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next st] 5 times, sc in the next st. (24sts)
• Rnds 5-6: Sc in each st around. (24sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 7: [Sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (27sts)
• Rnd 8: Sc in the next 4sts, 2sc in the next st, [sc in the next 8sts, 2sc in the next st] 2 times, sc in the next 4sts. (30sts)

Switch to Color (B)

• Rnds 9-13: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 5 Rnds)

Insert the safety eyes, then embroider the other desired features.

• Suggested Eye Placement: Place the eyes between Rnds 8 and 9 approx. 5sts apart. (>Design Tip: It may be helpful to wait to add the backs to the eyes until some parts of the embroidery are complete (like eyelashes). This makes it easier to make adjustments and get behind the eyes with the embroidery floss if needed.)

• Suggested Nose Placement: As shown, pink embroidery floss is used for the nose. The top of the inverted triangle is centered between the eyes, between Rnds 8 and 9 with a st between points, the triangle meets at a point between Rnds 9 and 10. 
• Design Tip: When making the nose, start by stitching the original triangle and then fill it in with additional stitches, stitching from directly above the top line of the triangle back down into the center each time. Then add the line down from the bottom of the nose.

• Additional Embroidery Suggestions: The line down from the point of the triangle nose is made in Black or Dark Brown and goes to between Rnds 11 and 12. From there add a mouth, whiskers, eyebrows, eyelashes, eye accents, etc. as desired. Pictured, the whiskers are straight out from the line approx. 1st away from the line on either side, each for the length of approx. 2-3sts, placed between Rnds 10 and 11 and 11 and 12 on either side for a total of 4 whiskers. (>Design Tip: For thicker features use 6 strands of floss and 3 strands for thinner features.)
• Remember to put the backs on the eyes once the embroidery is complete.

Continuing with the Body

• Rnds 14-16: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 3 Rnds)
• Rnd 17: [Sc in the next 3sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (24sts)

Firmly stuff and shape the body and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnd 18: Sc in the next st, sc2tog, [sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 5 times, sc in the next st. (18sts)
• Rnd 19: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 20: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. (8sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole with a tapestry needle stitching only through the front loops until the hole pulls nicely closed, secure, and weave in the end.

Assembly:

Pin all the pieces together to determine the desired placement for the entire Crochet Cat Egg and stitch securely into place.

General placement and stitching suggestions:

• Ears: The top edge of the ear rests between approx. Rnds 2 and 3 of the body with the bottom edge of the ear at approx. Rnd 7.
• Tail: Center the tail at the back of the body over approx. Rnds 15-17. >Design Tip: It may be helpful to look at the Crochet Cat Egg from the bottom when pinning the tail to ensure that it lines up with features on the front of the body.