Creme Egg Creatures

This is my first go at writing a pattern down, so I hope it makes sense! I am a self-taught crocheter so some of the terminology may not be quite right, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

These creatures are fairly forgiving so pretty much any yarn/hook combination that works for you is fine - I used some DK and 3.5 mm hook.

To get started:

Buy a creme egg. In fact, buy a pack with several in it because the temptation to eat them will get to you at some point - just remember to wash your sticky fingers afterwards as creme egg filling and yarn do not go well together!

To make the body:

Step 1: Use a magic loop with 6 sc and pull it tight

Step 2: Chain 1 to start the round, then 2sc into each sc and join with a slip stitch - 12 sc


Step 3: Chain 1 to start the round, then repeat [1 sc, 2 sc into the next sc] all the way round and join with a slip stitch - 18 sc. Do one more increase round - chain 1 to start the round, then repeat [1sc, 1sc, 2sc into the next sc] around, but this time do not join to the start of the round. 24 sc.



This picture shows the completed base, before starting to work upwards to form the body.






Step 4: For the next few rows you need to work back and forth, rather than joining the round. This will create a slot in the back of the creature into which you can push the creme egg when you're finished. So, sc into each sc until you have run out of stitches, then chain 1 and turn the work and sc into each sc again. Repeat this until you are about 2/3rds the way up the egg - I did about 6 rows.

Step 5: Repeat Step 4 to work one more row, but this time don't turn the work, join across the gap by continuing to sc for a couple of stitches.

Step 6: Now you need to decrease to close up the top of the creature, which will involve crocheting 2 sc together:

• hook through next sc and yarn over and pull through as normal, but then
  
• hook through the next sc, yarn over and pull through (you should have 3 stitches on your hook)


• yarn over again and pull through all 3 stitches

Repeat [sc2tog, sc] until you have completed a round and gone past the point at which you joined the gap together on the last round. Now change to repeating the sc2tog decrease over again and again.

Check against the creme egg to see how the sizing compares - if you think it is getting too small too quickly you could switch to alternating the decrease with a sc for a while. When it is too fiddly to continue decreasing any more, pull the yarn tightly through the remaining stitches and sew in the ends.


To make feet:

Feet are useful as they give the egg something to balance on and stop it rolling away, but you could make a nest as an alternative - follow the instructions for making the bottom of the body and keep working up a few rows in rounds. If you use a slighly larger hook than used for the body the nest should be big enough to put the chick inside.






Step 1: Use a magic loop with 6 sc and pull it tight

Step 2: Chain 1 to start the round, then 2sc into each sc and join with a slip stitch - 12 sc

Step 3: Chain 3, tc into next sc, tc into next sc, chain 3, slip stitch into the same sc as the tc you have just made, slip stitch in the next sc - repeat again to make the second foot and fasten off.



To make wings:

Step 1: Use a magic loop with 6 sc and pull it tight

Step 2: Chain 1 to start the round, then 2sc into each sc and join with a slip stitch - 12 sc

Step 3: Chain 1 to start the round, then sc, 2 x hdc into next sc, 2 x dc into next sc, 2 x tc into next sc, 2 x dc into next sc, 2 x hdc into next sc, sc and fasten off.


To make a beak:

I found this the hardest bit to get right - it kept coming out way too big! If you have a smaller hook and some thinner yarn it might be useful for this - or you could use some felt if you have some instead.

Step 1: Chain 4

Step 2: Pull a loop through second chain from the hook, and pull another loop through the third (last) chain - you have three loops on the hook. Yarn over the hook again and pull through all three loops. Fasten off.


To make a chicken's comb:

Step 1: Chain 4

Step 2: Sc in second chain from hook, sc in each chain = 3 sc

Repeat the above 2 steps twice more (you should end up with something like the picture)!



To finish off:

Use pins to position all the various extra parts on the body and keep adjusting until it looks right. I embroidered the eyes using black yarn and I found that this is the one bit that can complete ruin the whole thing! Again, use pins to work out where the eyes look best and then take care not to pull too tightly when embroidering.


Gently push the creme egg through the hole in the back - voila!