Soft Egg with Knitted Leaf Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This soft knitted egg is the perfect little project for anyone who has just learned to knit and purl and wants to make something adorable. Worked flat in squishy chenille yarn, it uses simple linen stitch to create a lovely woven texture that looks far more complicated than it really is. The body is white with a butter yellow section toward one end, and a tiny flat-knitted leaf is sewn on top to finish it off. The result is a plump, huggable egg about 4.5 inches tall that feels velvety in the hand and makes a sweet Easter decoration, a baby-safe-ish shelf toy, or a handmade gift.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Super bulky (weight 6) chenille plush yarn, polyester. Color A (white): approx 25 yd. Color B (butter yellow): approx 8 yd. Color C (butter yellow or soft green) for the leaf: approx 3 yd.
• Needles: 5.5 mm (US 9) single-point needles (used for both the egg and the leaf).
• Notions: Tapestry needle, small amount of polyester fiberfill, scissors, a stitch marker or two if you like to mark your slip-stitch column.
• Finished size: Approx 4.5 in / 11.5 cm tall and 3.25 in / 8 cm wide; leaf approx 2 in / 5 cm long.

Abbreviations

• CO – cast on.
• BO – bind off.
• RS – right side (the outside of the egg).
• WS – wrong side (the inside of the egg).
• st(s) – stitch(es).
• k – knit.
• p – purl.
• sl1 wyif – slip one stitch purlwise with the yarn held in front of the work.
• w&t – wrap and turn: bring the yarn to the front, slip the next stitch, bring the yarn to the back, slip the stitch back, then turn your work to go the other way.
• M1L – make one left: lift the bar between stitches from front to back and knit it through the back loop.
• M1R – make one right: lift the bar between stitches from back to front and knit it through the front loop.
• k2tog – knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease).
• ssk – slip, slip, knit: slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops (a left-leaning decrease).
• rep – repeat.

Gauge

12 sts and 20 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in linen stitch, measured unstretched. Knit a small swatch in linen stitch, lay it flat without pulling, and count your stitches and rows over 4 inches to check before you begin.

Tips Before You Start

• Linen stitch only works if you always slip the same stitch column. Keep an eye on your slipped stitches so the little horizontal bars line up neatly up the fabric.
• Chenille yarn can shed and is slippery, so use a slightly blunt tapestry needle for seaming and leave generous tails when you change colors.
• Short rows create the egg's tapered ends. When you pick up the wraps on Rows 13 and 28, work each wrap together with its stitch so no holes show.
• Stuff firmly but in small handfuls, adding fiberfill a little at a time so the egg stays smooth and egg-shaped rather than lumpy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: The egg is worked flat in linen stitch, side to side, with short-row shaping at each end. Linen stitch pattern: RS rows: k1, [sl1 wyif, k1] to end. WS rows: p1, [sl1 wyif, p1] to end, always slipping the same stitch column.

Egg (Color A, then B, then A)

With Color A, CO 24 sts.

Row 1 (RS): k1, [sl1 wyif, k1] to end (24 sts).

Row 2 (WS): p1, [sl1 wyif, p1] to end (24 sts).

Rows 3-6: rep Rows 1-2 twice (24 sts).

Row 7 (RS): work 18 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 8 (WS): work 18 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 9: work 12 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 10: work 12 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 11: work 6 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 12: work 6 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 13: work to end, picking up wraps (24 sts).

Rows 14-17: rep Rows 1-2 twice (24 sts).

Change to Color B.

Rows 18-21: rep Rows 1-2 twice (24 sts).

Row 22 (RS): work 18 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 23 (WS): work 18 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 24: work 12 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 25: work 12 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 26: work 6 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 27: work 6 sts, w&t (24 sts).

Row 28: work to end, picking up wraps (24 sts).

Rows 29-32: rep Rows 1-2 twice (24 sts).

Change to Color A.

Rows 33-36: rep Rows 1-2 twice (24 sts).

BO all sts.

Leaf (Color C)

CO 3 sts.

Row 1 (RS): k1, sl1 wyif, k1 (3 sts).

Row 2 (WS): p1, sl1 wyif, p1 (3 sts).

Row 3: k1, M1L, sl1 wyif, M1R, k1 (5 sts).

Row 4: p1, sl1 wyif, p1, sl1 wyif, p1 (5 sts).

Row 5: k1, M1L, work to last 2 sts, M1R, k1 (7 sts).

Row 6: work even in linen st (7 sts).

Rows 7-8: rep Rows 5-6 (9 sts).

Rows 9-12: work even in linen st (9 sts).

Row 11: k1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (7 sts).

Row 12: work even (7 sts).

Row 13: k1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (5 sts).

Row 14: work even (5 sts).

Row 15: k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1 (3 sts).

Row 16: p1, sl1 wyif, p1 (3 sts).

BO all sts.

Assembly and Finishing

Fold the egg in half with the right side facing out, matching the cast-on and bind-off edges. Seam the side edges with mattress stitch, leaving a 2 in / 5 cm opening. Turn the egg right side out. Stuff firmly with fiberfill, shaping it into an egg as you go. Close the opening with mattress stitch. Sew the leaf flat at the top of the egg with a few stitches through its center vein, leaving the leaf tip free. Weave in all ends. To block, mist lightly with water and pat into shape, then let it dry fully away from direct heat.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the butter yellow band for a soft pastel pink or mint to make a whole basket of eggs in different colors.
• For a hanging decoration, sew a small loop of yarn to the top before attaching the leaf.
• Make the leaf in soft green instead of yellow for a more natural, spring-like look.