5 Little Monsters: Crocheted Surprise Eggs

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12 Days of Crocheted Stocking Stuffers

DAY 8

Today is day 8, 2/3 of the way through. Today's project was inspired by my kids. My kids are obsessed with blind bags, surprise eggs, or whatever else you call those little toys that you don't know what you are getting until you open it. So for this project I made a crocheted version of those toys.

For my crocheted version of blind bags, or surprise eggs, I decided to make little animals. Each one fits inside a crocheted "egg" so that you can't see which animal is in which one.
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I wanted to keep it pretty simple so I made a basic egg shaped body, with little arms and legs. I thought that could be used a a starting place for lots of different animals by just changing the ears and the faces. Or in the case of the bird, adding little wings instead of arms.

I made long ears, for a bunny, round ears for a bear, and pointy ears for a cat, as well as the wings for the bird. By mixing and matching these elements, and changing the colors, you can make a lot of different animals.

The eggs are crocheted in 2 halves, top and bottom, one with a loop and one with a button. They are stitched together along the back. I made mine all different colors but you could make them all the same color too. The little stuffed animals fit inside the egg and then you can button it closed. Not only does the egg make what is inside a surprise but it also gives you a place to store the little toy.

How to Make Crocheted Surprise Eggs

Finished Size: finished egg with animal inside is about 4" tall

You will need:

worsted weight yarn in a variety of colors (I used scraps from my stash including Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart With Love, Loops & Threads Impeccable, and All Things You Essential Acrylic
G crochet hook
yarn needle
scissors
embroidery floss in colors needed for faces
embroidery needle
buttons
fiberfill

Instructions:

Most of the pieces (egg halves, body, arms, legs) are made by starting with a magic ring and working in a spiral, you do not need to join rounds

Animals

Basic Body-

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)
Round 3: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)
Round 4: 1 sc in each stitch (18 sc)
Round 5: 1 sc in each stitch (18 sc)
Round 6: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 5 stitches] repeat around (21 dc)
Round 7: 1 sc in each stitch (21 sc)

Round 8: 1 sc in each stitch (21 sc)
Round 9: 1 sc in each stitch (21 sc)
Round 10: [sc2tog, 1sc in next 5] repeat around (18 sc)
Stuff with fiberfill, continue adding stuffing as needed as you work
Round 11: [sc2tog, 1sc in next] repeat around (12 sc)
Round 12: sc2tog around (6 sc)

Finish off, thread yarn on needle and weave through last row, pull to cinch and stitch to secure, weave in end

Arms (make 2)-

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: sc in each st (6 sc)
Round 3: sc in each st (6 sc)

sl st to next stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Stitch arms to side of body about halfway down

Legs (make 2)-

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: sc in each st (6 sc)

sl st to next stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Stitch legs to bottom of body

Long Ears (bunny)-

ch 7, sc in second ch from hook and each ch to the end (6 sc)

finish off, cut yarn leaving tail, stitch in place on top of head

Round Ears (bear)-

in mr, ch 1, 4 sc (4 sc)

pull center yarn to tighten and make a semicircle shape, stitch in place on top of head

Pointy Ears (cat)-

ch 3, sl st in ch closest to hook, sc in next ch, dc in last ch

finish off, cut yarn leaving long tail, stitch in place on top of head

Wings (bird)-

in mr, ch 2, 6 dc (6 dc)

pull center yarn to tighten and make a semicircle shape, stitch in place on side of body

Finishing:

Embroider faces onto the animals

Eggs

Top Half:

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)
Round 3: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)
Round 4: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2] repeat around (24 sc)
Round 5: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 3] repeat around (30 sc)

Round 6-9: 1 sc in each stitch (30 sc)

sl sl to next stitch, ch 10, sl st to same stitch, finish off weave in ends

Bottom Half:

Round 6-10: 1 sc in each stitch (30 sc)

Sl st to next stitch, finish off, cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Find the center back of the top half directly opposite the ch loop (you can just fold the top in half to find it), count 5 stitches to the side of this stitch, using the yarn left on the bottom half stitch together the 2 halves across 10 stitches (5 on either side of the center back), weave in ends

Sew a button to the bottom half (measure the location by folding down the top and seeing where the loop hits)