You’re going to love making the Crochet Pig Egg. It’s beginner-friendly and just incase you’re not a fan of working on both sides of a chain to make an oval shape, it features two types of snouts, one round, and one oval. And let’s not forget the adorable curly tail.
Due to the smaller size, the Crochet Pig Egg is also great for using up scrap yarn and can be turned into a keychain as well. So many possibilities to choose from!
The Crochet Pig Egg is excellent for gifts, decor, pig lovers, imaginative play, keychains, and more!
Read on to learn more about the inspiration and yarn choice for the Crochet Pig Egg or scroll down to the bottom to find the free pattern.
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The Inspiration
The Crochet Pig Egg is part of a growing collection of designs that I call Animal Eggs. I originally started designing them around Easter, but since then I’ve branched out to making them for Valentine’s Day as well to go along with fun sayings like, “Hogs and Kisses,” “You’re hoggin all my love,” “Valentine, you make me squeal,” “You’re a pig deal,” and “Don’t go bacon my heart.” Honestly, they’re great anytime you want a quick, cute, handmade gift.
If you have a specific animal you’d like to see, leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to take it into consideration when I’m deciding what to design next.
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The Yarn
The Crochet Pig Eggs were made using Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft yarn. It’s a lighter worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn with a bit of a sheen, and comes in a wide range of colors and styles.
I mix and match the various styles of the yarns, the tweed, heather, speckled, party, and solids (and more) all the time, but in the end, for all of the pigs, I ended up staying with the Simply Soft Solid lines in various shades of pink. There were still several more pinks to choose from too if you want to branch into brights and neons.
The colors I used include Plum Wine, Soft Pink, and Strawberry, with Strawberry being the brightest and Soft Pink being the lightest.
Substitutions
Any brand of worsted weight acrylic or cotton yarn should work well for making the Crochet Pig 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.
In some of the pictures, you’ll find the Miniature Crochet Pig Egg. Shrinking my designs down by using a 1.5 mm hook and size 10 cotton has become one of my favorite things to do. It took the design from approx. 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall to approx. 1.25 inches (3 cm) tall. If you enjoy it too, you can find all the details in the “Materials” section of the pattern for the supplies I used. Enjoy!
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
Advanced 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)
- 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), Color (A) Plum Wine OR Soft Pink OR Strawberry, used approx. 32 yds/29 m
- The Miniature Crochet Pig Egg shown in some of the images was made using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread. Color (A): Hobby Lobby Artiste #10, Tropical Pink. The same pattern is used with a minor change: use 3.5mm safety eyes or embroider them.
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 Pig Egg measures approx. 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall.
- Using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread the Miniature Crochet Pig 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 primarily 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/row, 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.
- 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
- back bar of the ch/back ridge – horizontal bar on the backside of a ch
- BLO – work in the back loops only
- ch – chain
- MR – magic ring (aka. magic circle, adjustable ring)
- Rnd(s) – round(s)
- Row(s) – row(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 Pig Egg!
Snout
Make 1
>Design Options: Two variations of the snout are given, an oval version that involves working on both sides of a ch, and a round version that is worked in a continous Rnd. Only one snout is needed.
Oval Snout
Using Color (A)
>Design Note: The snout begins by working on both sides of the foundation ch.
- Ch 5
- Rnd 1: In the back bars of the ch: 2sc in the 2nd ch from the hook (mark the first st with a stitch marker as the starting st), sc in the next 2sts, 3sc in the next st (final st completed, corner rounded, and the first sts on the other side of the ch worked), Working on the other side of the ch: sc in the next 3sts. (10sts)
- Rnd 2: Working in BLO: 2sc in the next 2sts, sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next 3sts, sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next st. (16sts)
- Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (16sts)
- Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching the snout to the body.
Round Snout
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 3sts, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (15sts)
- Rnd 4: In BLO: Sc in each st around. (15sts)
- Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (15sts)
- Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching the snout to the body.
Embroider the Details on the Snout
Using embroidery floss and an embroidery needle, embroider the lines on the snout. It can also be left plain.
Embroidery Suggestions: Using black embroidery floss add two nostrils to the center of the snout, positioned parallel to each other, being on either side of the MR. Pictured, the nostrils were stitched using 6 strands of floss that are stitched twice for each nostril for thickness. For finer lines loop less, or use fewer strands. (>Design Tip: For thicker features use 6 strands of embroidery floss and 3 strands for thinner features.)
Ears
Make 2
Using Color (A)
- 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)
- 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.
Body
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)
- 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 7 and 8 approx. 5sts apart. (>Design Tip: Wait to add the backs to the eyes until the embroidery is completed in the next step. If needed, this makes it easier to make adjustments and get behind the eyes with the embroidery floss.)
Embroidery Suggestions: Using embroidery floss (black is shown) and an embroidery needle, add eyelashes or eyebrows as desired. (>Design Tip: For thicker features use 6 strands of embroidery floss and 3 strands for thinner features.)
- Remember to put the backs on the eyes once the embroidery is completed.
- 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 Pig Egg and stitch securely into place.
General placement and stitching suggestions:
- Snout (Oval or Round): Stuff the snout. Place the snout with the top centered and resting right under the eyes, over approx. Rnds 7-13. Stitch in place, but right before closing, add additional stuffing and shape the snout as needed.
- Ears: The top edge of the ear rests between approx. Rnds 1-2 of the body with the bottom edge of the ear at approx. Rnds 7-8.
- Curly Tail: >Design Tip: It may be helpful to look at the Crochet Pig Egg from the bottom when making the tail to ensure that it lines up with features on the front of the body. Using Color (A), fasten onto a post st using a sl st at the center back between Rnds 14 and 15, ch7. Working in the back bars of the ch: 2sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, sl st back into the post on the body. (12sts) Fasten off and weave in the ends. If the tail is stretched out, twist it back into a spiral.
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!
What a cutie, definitely pinned on ravelry. Thnx 🐷🥰😂
Thank you! 🐷💕