Crochet Dog Egg

Crochet Dog Egg is a charming and whimsical craft project that combines the cuteness of a dog with the fun of crochet! This adorable creation brings a unique twist to traditional egg designs and is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. Whether you're a crochet enthusiast looking for a new challenge or just want to add a touch of playfulness to your decor, Crochet Dog Egg is a delightful choice that will spark joy and creativity in your crafting endeavors. So go ahead, grab your yarn and hook, and let's get crocheting - because who can resist the irresistible charm of a Crochet Dog Egg!

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) OR 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: Bone, Chocolate, and Off White
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Heathers (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors shown include: Charcoal Heather
• 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 Dog Egg shown in some of the images was made using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread. Color (A): Royale #10 thread, Natural, Color (B) Hobby Lobby Artiste #10 thread, Tawny. The same pattern is used with a minor change: use 3.5mm safety eyes or embroider them.

Three Variations of the Crochet Dog Egg are Shown

• Color (A) for all variations uses approx. 29 yds/26.5 m
• Color (B) for all variations uses approx. 20 yds/18 m

• Variation 1 (Dual-Toned Ear): Color (A) Bone, Color (B) Chocolate

• Variation 2 (Black & White): Color (A) Off White, Color (B) Charcoal Heather

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

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 Dog Egg measures approx. 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall.
• Using hook size 1.50 mm and size 10 crochet thread the Miniature Crochet Dog 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
• 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

Muzzle:

An outline of the nose is made using embroidery floss.

The nose is fully embroidered on the muzzle.

Make 1

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)
• Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around. (15sts for 2 Rnds)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching the muzzle to the body.
• Using embroidery floss (Black or Dark Brown) and an embroidery needle stitch the nose on the snout.

  • Suggested Nose Placement: As shown, the top of the inverted triangle is stitched between Rnds 2 and 3 with a st between points, meeting in the center of the MR. The line down from the point of the triangle goes to between Rnds 2 and 3. >Design Tip: Start by stitching an outline of the 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.

Ears:

Make 2

>Design Note: The ears can be made in a solid color or dual-toned. If making a solid colored ear ignore the color change at Rnd 7.

Using Color (B)

• 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 5sts, 2sc in the next st] 2 times. (14sts)
• Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 6sts, 2sc in the next st] 2 times. (16sts)
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next 6sts, sc2tog] 2 times. (14sts)
• Rnd 6: Sc in each st around. (14sts)

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

• Rnd 7: Sc in the next 6sts, sc2tog, sc in the next 6sts. (13sts)
• Rnd 8: Sc2tog, sc in the next 11sts. (12sts)
• Rnds 9-10: Sc in each st around. (12sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 11: Sc in the next 5sts, sc2tog, sc in the next 5sts. (11sts)
• Rnd 12: Sc2tog, sc in the next 9sts. (10sts)
• Rnd 13: Sc in the next 4sts, sc2tog, sc in the next 4sts. (9sts)
• Rnd 14: Sc2tog, sc in the next 7sts. (8sts)

The hook is inserted through a st on each side of the ear to sc both edges of the ear together.

• Press the top edges together so the starting st is at the right side of the ear and sc both sides together. (4sts)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching the ear to the body.
• The ears are not stuffed.

Tail:

Make 1

Using Color (B)

• 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 each st around. (4sts)
• Rnd 3: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 3sts. (5sts)
• Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around. (5sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 6: Sc in the next 4sts, 2sc in the next st. (6sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching 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)
• Rnds 9-13: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 5 Rnds)

Insert the safety eyes and 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.) It may also be helpful to hold the muzzle up to the body to ensure the desired eye placement is achieved.
• Embroidery Suggestions: Using embroidery floss and an embroidery needle, add eyelashes, eyebrows, cheeks, eye accents, etc. 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 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 Dog Egg and stitch securely into place.

General placement and stitching suggestions:

• Muzzle: Stuff the muzzle. Place the muzzle with the top at approx. Rnds 8 of the body and the bottom at approx. Rnd 15 making sure that the nose is centered correctly on the face, stitch in place, adding additional stuffing and shaping right before closing, as needed.
• Ears: The top edge of the ears rest between approx. Rnds 3 and 4 on either side of the body.
• Tail: Center the tail at the back of the body over approx. Rnds 14-16. 
• Design Tip: It may be helpful to look at the Crochet Dog Egg from the bottom when pinning the tail to ensure that it lines up with features on the front of the body.