Let me introduce you to your next Purrrrrfect Project, the Crochet Cat Egg! This feline friend will have you working through your scrap yarn as you make one for all the cat lovers in your life. You’ll love how quick, beginner-friendly, and customizable this design is too.
While it’s perfect for that everyday thoughtful handmade gift it’s also well suited for Easter baskets and Valentine’s Day projects. And while you’re at it, turn a few into keychains too!
Read on to learn more about the inspiration and yarn choice for the Crochet Cat Egg or scroll down to the bottom to find the free pattern.
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The Inspiration
The Crochet Cat Egg is part of an ongoing collection that I call Animal Eggs. They’re great for Easter and Spring, but don’t be fooled by the word egg in the name, they make great small gifts that can be given year-round.
When thinking of animals to create I knew that a feline friend had to be on the list. I’ve created mine in two different colors but feel free to add or subtract from this to create the feline creation you and your recipients will love most. If there’s an animal that you’d like to see made into an egg leave a comment and let me know!
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The Yarn
The Crochet Cat Egg was made using Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft, a lighter worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn that comes in a wide range of colors and styles.
Many of the feline friends I made include neutrals, but I also had to include my favorite, orange. I’ve always loved a good orange or grey tabby cat, especially if their markings are particularly pronounced.
Now, while I said that I stuck with neutrals I also added some play to this. Caron Simply Soft has some great solids, but I also chose to play around with the heathered, tweed, and speckled styles of yarns.
The tweed and heather yarns are great for producing fun texture and detail with no extra fuss. The speckled yarns add sporadic markings to the body. Again, no extra fuss, just all the fun you’d expect to find when making a feline friend!
Overall, these are the colors you’ll see featured in the images of the Crochet Cat Eggs. In Solid colors, Off White and Pumpkin. In the Heathers, Grey and Charcoal. For the Tweeds, Taupe Tweed. And for the Speckle, Honeycomb and Seashell.
Due to the fun and forgiving nature of this project feel free to try your hand at making cats in a rainbow of colors. Use up that scrap yarn, I’d love to see it!
Substitutions
Any brand of worsted-weight acrylic yarn should work well for making the Crochet Cat Egg but note that due to variations among brands, the finished size may vary slightly. Also note, if mixing yarn brands, that it’s important to ensure that the thickness of the yarns are the same to ensure consistency in stitching.
If cotton yarn is preferred, this too should work fine. You can see the miniature version of the Crochet Cat Egg in some of the images. He was made using the same pattern, a 1.50 mm hook, and size 10 cotton crochet thread.
I noted earlier in the post that the Crochet Cat Egg makes an adorable keychain. If you don’t mind bigger keychains (approx. 3 inches) worsted yarn is great but making him in a DK yarn would be a great option to shrink him a bit more too.
As always, I’d love to see/hear about your experiences with making the design and the products you chose to use. Tag me on social media @jenhayescreations and use the hashtag #jenhayescreations to share!
The Pattern
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
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Let’s Make Our Crochet Cat Egg!
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.
Reach Out, Share, and Follow Along!
As always, I’d love to see your creation if you’re willing to share! Comment below or tag me on social media. You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram (tag @jenhayescreations and use the hashtag #jenhayescreations to show off your work and have a chance to be featured), and stay tuned to find me in the future on YouTube!
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Copyright and Use Policy
This pattern and its photos are copyright of Jennifer Hayes (Jen Hayes Creations) and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not copy, sell, republish, distribute, or translate my patterns, photos, or tutorials in part or whole. Share this pattern on social media by using the social sharing buttons or a link to the pattern. You are welcome to sell any finished items produced from this pattern. Please credit Jen Hayes Creations as the designer and include a link to the pattern listing if selling the finished piece online. Thank you!
These cats are very cute. I am going to try one tonight. Thank you for sharing the pattern.
You’re so very welcome. Wishing you happy crocheting!