Embroidered Crochet Egg Decor Free Pattern + Video
I’ve always wanted to try marrying crochet and embroidery, and this project is exactly what I had in mind. A simple crochet egg decor is super easy and quick to make – perfect for using up leftover yarn. Then, the magic happens: colorful yarns create spring-inspired shapes on the surface.
If you’re not familiar with embroidery, don’t worry, because it’s not about perfection. I, too, am no pro at this, and my designs are the result of trial and error.
This project was designed for YourCrochet.com.
About The Project
We work this easy decoration in rows, using single crochet stitches. Once we have a flat egg shape, we add a crab stitch edging all around. You can add a loop for easier hanging if you want. Lastly, the most important thing – decorating the egg with embroidery.
The egg measures 7 cm (2.75 in) in height. Keep in mind that your style of crocheting and the choice of yarn and hook may affect the final size.
This free pattern uses standard US terms. Learn more about the differences between UK and US crochet terms in my article.
Video Tutorials
Let me lead you step by step through the whole process, whether you use your right or left hand to crochet.
Video for Right-Handed Crocheters
Video for Left-Handed Crocheters
If you like this video, please subscribe to my channel on YouTube, so that you won’t miss any tutorials!
Tools and Materials
- You need fingering weight cotton yarn, such as Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4. My project consists of small quantities of these colors: 04 Cream, 62 Plum, 79 Open Sea, 54 Pink Berry Smoothie, 108 Pistachio, and a random yellow yarn from my stash.
- crochet hook 3 mm
- scissors, yarn needle
Stitches and Abbreviations
- st – stitch
- ch – chain stitch
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase using single crochet = 2 sc in one st
- dec – decrease using single crochet = sc2tog
- sc3tog – decrease 3 single crochets
- crab stitch (reverse single crochet)
- decoration: surface crochet and simple embroidery
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Pattern Notes
- The number of stitches in each row is provided in brackets (#).
- The turning chain for single crochet (1 ch at the beginning of the round) isn’t included in the overall stitch count, because it doesn’t count as a stitch.
Remember, this project looks good only from one side! The wrong side is full of visible yarn ends. To make a two-sided decor, you have to join two eggs – this way the yarn ends won’t be visible.
Crochet Easter Egg Decor Free Pattern
To learn how to crochet basic stitches, please see my playlist for beginners on YouTube.
Start: 3 ch.
RS | Row 1: 1 ch, inc, 1 sc, inc (5) – Yes, we already make increases in the first row. The first increase goes in the 2nd chain stitch counting from the hook.
WS | Row 2: 1 ch, inc, 3 sc, inc (7)
RS | Row 3: 1 ch, inc, 5 sc, inc (9)
WS | Row 4: 1 ch, inc, 7 sc, inc (11)
RS | Row 5: 1 ch, inc, 9 sc, inc (13)
WS | Row 6: 1 ch, 13 sc (13)
RS | Row 7: 1 ch, 13 sc (13)
WS | Row 8: 1 ch, 13 sc (13)
RS | Row 9: 1 ch, dec, 9 sc, dec (11)
WS | Row 10: 1 ch, 11 sc (11)
RS | Row 11: 1 ch, dec, 7 sc, dec (9)
WS | Row 12: 1 ch, dec, 5 sc, dec (7)
RS | Row 13: 1 ch, dec, 3 sc, dec (5)
WS | Row 14: 1 ch, dec, 1 sc, dec (3)
RS | Row 15: 1 ch, sc3tog (1)
Edging
- Do not turn the work. Chain 1 and work crab stitches all around the edge of the egg, going clockwise. It translates to roughly 1 stitch per row. If the edges start to curl upward, you should add more stitches to the edging. Adjust the number of stitches, if the edge curls downward or ruffle. End in the sc3tog at the tip.
- (OPTIONAL) To make the loop, chain 3 or as many as you want to make the loop your desired size.
- Slip stitch back into the top of the egg and wave the end to the wrong side.
Adding Embroidery to Crochet Easter Egg Decor
Embroidery is what makes this project truly stand out, so put some time end effort into it. You can see I’m not a professional, but I like my crooked embroidered flowers. Copy one of my ideas, or listen to your own creative voice!
Design Your Own Easter Egg
Feel free to copy my spring-inspired designs. The backround color really helps to make the motifs visible, so experiment and decide which color palette is the right one for you.
How to Add Embroidery
Below you can see a comparison of the undecorated egg and decorated one. Quite a difference, huh?
I used surface crochet to hide the ugly holes near the crab stitch edging. I show how to do it in my video about slip stitches.
To decorate these eggs, you need basic embroidery techniques and a yarn needle. Be careful, though, because embroidery on crochet is much harder than on fabric. The needle goes between the stitches, which is not always optimal, so it’s not easy to create organic, rounded motifs.
I tried many designs and unraveled them many times. Finally, I figured out three designs with details such as using two yarn colors at once, tying a piece of yarn on top (the yellow bow), or embroidering over the surface crochet (two-toned border).
To have a place to start, you can learn basic embroidery on crochet with this video tutorial.
Finishing Tips and Tricks
It’s really difficult to keep the yarn ends organized and clean, especially with so many colors. Therefore, using these eggs as an applique or hanging them against the wall is the best way to hide the ugly back.
However, if you want the wrong side to look nice, you have basically two options:
- Sew a piece of colorful fabric on the back or use iron-on adhesive fabric used for sewing.
- Join two embroidered eggs and sew them together wrong sides inside to create a two-sided ornament. You can either sew the parts with yarn and needle or use the edging as a join, working it through both parts at once.
Disclaimer: I can’t guarantee the effect, as I haven’t tried any of these options.
How to Make an Easter Egg Garland
- Chain however many stitches you want to start. This piece will be used to tie the garland, and the length is totally up to you.
- Then, work a single crochet through the loop of the egg ornament.
- Continue making chain stitches until you’re ready to attach another egg.
- Keep an equal number of chain stitches in between the eggs for regular spacing.
- For a vertical garland (see below), attach the bottoms of the eggs to the chain as well – I used small pieces of yarn and tied them.
It’s done!
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If you happen to make this project, I would love to see it, so don’t hesitate to contact me! Feel free to share the results with me in the comments or on social media. Of course, if you find any mistakes in the pattern or find it hard to understand, please let me know, so I can learn and improve!
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