Crochet Sheep Egg | Jen Hayes Creations (2024)

The Crochet Sheep Egg is a quick, beginner-friendly project perfect for Easter and Spring decor or imaginative play any time of the year. They’re also a great way to use up scrap yarn and practice some simple embroidery techniques. Get ready for one of the cutest stash busters yet!

Read on to learn more about the inspiration and yarn choice for the Crochet Sheep Egg or scroll down to the bottom to find the free pattern.

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The Inspiration

Back in 2022, I began sharing my Animal Eggs starting with my Bunny Egg and a regular colored Easter Egg. At the time I had plans for several more animals and I even began making several of them, but the holiday moved on and I got busy with other design preparations.

In 2023, I pulled out my Animal Egg design list again and that year shared the Chick Egg and the Fox Egg with you.

Now in 2024, I’ve once again pulled out the list of Animal Eggs I want to create and we’ll see just how many of these cuties I can get published this year. At this point, I’m considering designing them past Easter to get them all up on the blog sooner rather than later. They’d be fun just for Spring too, right? At least for now, I present to you the Crochet Sheep Egg! This one has captured my heart. I hope that you enjoy it too!

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The Yarn

The Crochet Sheep Egg is made usingYarnspirations Caron Simply Soft. It is a well-known and widely available yarn both online and in many craft stores, long loved by many crafters because of its softness, ease of care, and wide selection of colors.

It’s a lighter worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn that comes in a wide range of colors and styles including the regular simply soft solids, collection, heathers, tweeds, ombres, brites, stripes, paints, speckles, camos, party, marled, and several more! Truly a wide variety to choose from for any project!

The biggest complaint that I hear aboutCaron Simply Soft yarnis that it can have a tendency to split. Honestly, I must agree that this can be the case. When I first started using the yarn I had more trouble than I do now.

Once I learned how my hook and crochet style interacted with the yarn I rarely have this issue. In fact, when it comes to acrylic yarns it has become one of my go-to yarns over the years for making amigurumi.

In this design, I specifically chose to use a variety of neutrals for the bodies paired with tweed and heather for the fleece. I just love the flecks and variations that the tweed and heather yarns offer. They add so much dimension to a project without any additional work.

With all of that said, perhaps it’s my color-loving, creative heart, but at some point, I would love to see these cuties made in a combination of colors. Is anyone else with me? I love making my designs in traditional colors, but there is always a part of me that then wants to explore more color possibilities.

That’s part of the reason I love when others share their work. Because, while the amount of time I spend on a specific design is limited if the goal is to also get more items designed and shared, I must stop at some point with all my creative imaginings. Thus, I live vicariously through your choice and use of color with the designs. I love seeing them both in traditional and not-so-traditional options, so thank you for sharing!

Substitutions. Any brand of worsted-weight acrylic yarn should work well for making the Crochet Sheep 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 a worsted cotton yarn is preferred, this too should work just fine. Making the Crochet Sheep Egg with different-sized yarns has not been tested, but should also likely work well, just make sure that any necessary hook size adjustments are made to accommodate the chosen yarn.

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)and D/3 (3.25 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)
• Embroidery Needle
• Coloring Items (optional) – colored pencil, pastels, blush, etc.
• 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: Bone
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Heathers (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors: Charcoal Heather and Grey Heather
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Tweeds (worsted 4-Medium, 97% acrylic, 3% viscose, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Colors: Gray Heather, Off White, and Taupe
  • Body, ears, and tail options shown in Color (A): Bone OR Grey Heather OR Charcoal Heather, used approx.25 yds/23 m
  • Fleece options shown in Color (B): Gray Heather Tweed OR Off White Tweed OR Taupe Tweed OR Charcoal Heather, used approx.20 yds/18 m for just the top covering and used approx.65 yds/59 m for the fuller body covering
  • Bow options shown in Color (C): Orchid OR Soft Pink OR Sunshine, used approx. 3 yds/3 m

Gauge

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the first 4 rounds of the body measure approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter.

FinishedMeasurements

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the Crochet Sheep Egg measures approximately 3.25 inches (8.3 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/row, the number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses.
• Further design notes and tips will be provided throughout the pattern to help aid in construction.
• A variety of color combinations can be used to make the Crochet Sheep Egg when stitching their body parts, fleece, and bows. Find under the Materials section the various yarn color choices used for the sheep shown in the images.
• 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

• BLO – work in the back loops only
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• FLO – work in the front loop only
• 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 (use the invisible decrease unless directed otherwise)
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(s)
• [ ] / ( ) – work instructions between brackets as many times as directed
• * – repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed

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Let’sMakeOurCrochet Sheep Egg!

Ears

Make 2

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: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (9sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 3 times. (9sts)
• Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (9sts)
• Rnd 6: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 3 times. (6sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching the ear to the body. Leave the ears unstuffed.

Tail

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: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (9sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 3 times. (6sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching the tail to the body. Leave the tail unstuffed.

Body

Make 1

Using Color (A)

The body is made from the top down.

• Rnd 1: 6sc in MR. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: In BLO: 2sc in each st around. (12sts) Mark the front loop of the first st to return to later.
• Rnd 3: In BLO: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnd 4: In BLO: 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: In BLO: Sc in each st around. (24sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 7: In BLO: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 5sts, 2sc in the next st, In both loops: sc in the next 10sts, In BLO: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 6sts. (27sts)
• Rnd 8: In BLO: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in the next st, In both loops: sc in the next 10sts, In BLO: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 7sts. (30sts)
• Rnd 9: In BLO: Sc in the next 11sts, In both loops: sc in the next 10sts, In BLO: sc in the next 9sts. (30sts)
• Rnds 10-12: Repeat Rnd 9. (30sts for 3 Rnds)

Insert the safety eyes, then embroider and color the nose and other desired features. >Design Tip: Wait to add the backs to the eyes until the embroidery is completed. This makes it easier to make adjustments and get behind the eyes with the embroidery floss if needed.

Suggested Eye Placement: Place the eyes in the solid section of the body (where it was worked through both sts) between Rnds 8 and 9 approximately 4sts apart with two sts on the outer sides of the eyes.

Suggested Nose Placement: The top of the V-shaped nose is centered between the eyes between Rnds 8 and 9, about one st apart, the point meeting between Rnds 9 and 10 and the line under the V of the nose extending down two Rnds to between Rnds 11 and 12. Pictured, six strands of embroidery floss are used. For thinner lines, decrease the number of strands used.

Coloring Suggestions: Adding pink to the insides of the ears, cheeks, and nose can be done using embroidery, or colored using a preferred method such as colored pencils, blush, crayons, watercolor, acrylic paint, marker, and chalk or oil pastels. There are pros and cons to each coloring option. >Design Tip: Make a swatch to try out different coloring options, or for the Crochet Sheep Egg the test can be done on the very top of the head as it will be fully covered later when making the fleece.

• Remember to put the backs on the eyes once the embroidery is completed.

Firmly stuff and shape the body and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnds 13-16: In BLO: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 4 Rnds)

>Design Tip: When working in BLO use a regular sc decrease.

• Rnd 17: In BLO: [Sc in the next 3sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (24sts)

Firmly stuff and shape the Crochet Sheep Egg’s body and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnd 18: In BLO: Sc in the next st, sc2tog, [sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 5 times, sc in the next st. (18sts)
• Rnd 19: In BLO: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 20: In BLO: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. (8sts)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole with a tapestry needle stitching only through the back 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 Sheep Egg and stitch securely in place.

General placement and stitching suggestions:

• Ears: Pin the ears vertically over about Rnds 6-9 of the body right next to the solid face portion (which will cover some of the unworked front loops), making sure to leave the front loops of Rnd 5 untouched for adding the fleece, OR place the opening of the ears horizontally with the inside edge of the ear right next to the top of the solid face portion and stitch the ear to the body along Rnd 6 (which will cover some of the unworked front loops), again making sure to leave the front loops of Rnd 5 and the Rnd of loops under the ears untouched for adding the fleece.

• Tail: Center the tail at the bottom back of the body over about Rnds 14-17.

Adding Fleece to the Body

Using Color (B) and hook size D/3 (3.25 mm)

The fleece is added to the body using the unused front loops. Several looks can be achieved using the information below; covering just the top of the head, a fuller body covering, and covering the whole body.

For All Options:

• Starting at the top of the Crochet Sheep Egg’s body with the first st (marked with a stitch marker), fasten on, *[ch6, sl st in the next unused front loop] repeat from * as many times as needed to continue around the body for as long as the fleece covering is desired (see options below).

>Design Note: The MR at the top center will get covered as more loops are added to the body. If needed, when weaving in the ends, the starting tail can also be used to pull the first loop over to cover the MR.

Option 1 – Covering the Top of the Head:

• Continue making loops in the continuous spiral for a total of 5 Rnds. This will be down to where the solid face portion is and there are no longer any front loops for several Rnds. Continue around the back of the body to finish the Rnd until you come to the left ear and can go no further. (>Design Note: If the ears were stitched horizontally to the body along Rnd 6 instead of vertically there may be a couple of sts under the ear at this last part that could be worked. Leave these sts under the ear unworked or the fleece will be under one ear but not the other.)
• Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Option 2 – For the Fuller Body Covering:

• Complete the directions for Option 1, but do not fasten off. If the ears were stitched vertically the ear created a natural stopping point. If the ears were stitched horizontally, finish off the Rnd working the sts under the ear (told to omit in Option 1). This will leave the work at the edge of the solid portion of the face.

• Complete the directions for Option 1, but do not fasten off when indicated. If the ears were stitched vertically the ear created a natural stopping point. If the ears were stitched horizontally, finish off the Rnd working the sts under the ear (told to omit in Option 1). This will leave the work at the edge of the solid portion of the face.
• When a stopping point is reached, ch 6 and move down a Rnd and continue making loops in the opposite direction. This working back and forth will occur for several Rnds while working between the ears and the solid portion of the face, but it will eventually begin to spiral again. (>Design Note: For ease, the hook can be inserted into the st from either direction when working back and forth, but remain consistent during that Rnd.)

>Design Tip: If a tricky spot arises the yarn can always be fastened off after a sl st and rejoined again to complete the process. If rejoining, do it a few sts away from the face so the loops remain consistent near the face.

• Complete a total of 5 Rnds of front loops under the face leaving about the bottom 3-4 Rnds unworked. During this process, when the tail is reached, begin working in the opposite direction as done previously with the ears and face. The final sl st should be at the back of the body near the base of the tail if the tail was placed over Rnds 14-17.
• Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Option 3 – Covering the Whole Body

• Complete the directions for Option 2, but do not fasten off when indicated. Continue to create loops until all of the Rnds are complete.
• Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Bow

(Optional)

There are two options to choose from when making the bow. One starts with a ch and the other in a MR. Either option works great as a hair bow or bowtie.

Bow Made Starting With Chains

Using Color (C)

• Ch 4, [dc in the 4th ch from the hook] 2 times, ch 3, sl st in the same st, ch 4, [dc in the 4th ch from the hook] 2 times, ch 3, sl st in the same st.
• Fasten off leaving a long tail (15+ in/38+ cm) for wrapping several times around the middle and securing the bow to the project.
• Using a tapestry needle, weave in the starting tail through the center sts of the bow on both sides (this will also tighten up the center of the bow).
• Wrap the center of the bow with part of the long tail leaving enough length to sew the bow to the body.
• Using a tapestry needle and the same yarn tail secure the wraps at the back of the bow.
• Stitch the bow on the Crochet Sheep Egg in the desired location.

Bow Made Starting with the MR

(Optional)

Using Color (C)

• In MR: [Ch3, 2dc, ch3, sl st] 2 times.
• Pull the starting tail to close the MR, which will shape the sides of the bow at the same time.
• Fasten off leaving a long tail (15+ in/38+ cm) for wrapping several times around the middle and securing the bow to the project.
• Using a tapestry needle, weave in the starting tail through the center sts of the bow on both sides (this will also tighten up the center of the bow).
• Wrap the center of the bow with part of the long tail leaving enough length to sew the bow to the body.
• Using a tapestry needle and the same yarn tail secure the wraps at the back of the bow.
• Stitch the bow on the Crochet Sheep Egg in the desired location.

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 onPinterest,Facebook,and Instagram (tag @jenhayescreationsand use the hashtag #jenhayescreationsto show off your work and have a chance to be featured), and stay tuned to find me in the future onYouTube!

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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!