Egg Cosy Part 2 - The Extra's Bird/Owl Pattern

This is the follow on to Egg Cosy Part 1.

Extras

If you want to continue to add the extras to make a more advanced Egg Cosy here are the instructions. First of all I found it easier to check placement if I had a model to place the Egg Cosy upon. It isn’t strictly necessary but useful. Here is a picture of what I used but normal Hard Boiled Eggs are fine.

Bird (Owl) Pattern

This pattern is designed to be used with the Bell Shaped Cosy. I have used 3mm Double Ended Needles although ordinary needles are fine.

Tip

Before you start if you leave a reasonable long tail when casting on it will help with the attachment – I found out this the hard way!

Cast on 10 stitches

Green Stitches 10          

Purple Stitches 10

Row 1 Knit

Row 2 Purl

Row 3 Knit

Row 4 Purl

Green 4 Rows

Purple 4 Rows 

Row 5 Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2tog, Knit 4 stitches, Knit 2tog, Knit 1 stitch

Green Decrease to 9

Purple Decrease to 9

Green Decrease to 8 

Purple Decrease to 8

Row 6 Purl

Row 7 Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2tog, Knit 2 stitches, Knit 2tog, Knit 1 stitch (6 stitches)

Row 8 Purl

Row 9 Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2tog, Knit 2tog, Knit 1 stitch, (4 stitches)

Row 10 Purl

Row 11 Knit 2tog, Knit 2tog, (2 stitches)

Row 12 Purl

Row 13 Cast Off

Green Cast Off

  

Purple Cast Off

      

You now have completed one wing.

Green Wing

 

Purple Wing

Repeat the process for the second wing. To attach the wings simply sew on (this is where the long tail you left is helpful).

Green Single Wing

Purple Single Wing

Green Double Wing

Purple Double Wing

For the Eyes just sew on two circles.

Green Eyes 

Purple Eyes

For the Beak sew in a V shape.

Green Beak

Purple Beak

The next part is the addition of the Ears.

Cast on 4 Stitches

  

G Cast On

P Cast On 

Row 1 Knit

Row 2 Purl

Row 3 K2tog, K2tog,

Row 4 Purl

Row 5 K2tog

Cast Off

G Cast Off

P Cast Off

If you notice I have left a small piece of Bamboo Cotton and spread it out to give it a tufted look. Sew onto owl. Repeat for 2^nd ear.

Green Owl Egg Cosy

Purple Owl Egg Cosy

The next blog will be instructions for the Dragon Pattern Egg Cosy

Project Egg Cosy - Part 1

Project Egg Cosy - Part 1

This blog is to show you how to knit two different types of Egg Cosies. This is a self-made pattern and assumes that the reader has some knowledge of basic knitting. This is a pretty easy pattern to follow as apart from Casting on and Casting off, it only uses:

Garter Stitch (Plain)

Slip Stitch

Knit two stitches together (K2tog)

If you are not sure about these stitches stop now and look them up.

One point I have to make is that although we are using Garter Stitch (Plain) because we are working in a circular movement the end result will look like Stocking Stitch (Knit 1 Row, Purl 1 Row).

The Equipment required for a Basic Cosy is as follows.

4 Double ended needles

Yarn

Needle

Scissors

Marker (Optional)

Extras -

Creature Cosy Designs Equipment

You may need a selection of smaller Knitting Needles and knowledge of how to do Stocking Stitch (Knit 1 Row Purl 1 Row).

Equipment

 

I will show you how to make the 'Basic Cosy' first of all. Then it is up to you whether or not you add the extras. I am making 2 Cosies of each design, one purple and one green.

I am using Bamboo Cotton but you can use a different kind of yarn. Both patterns start exactly the same for the cast on and on the same size knitting needles. The needles for the basic pattern are size 4 mm by 20 cm.

If a good knitter you can jump to Quick Basic Pattern *(Twisted), (Bell) at the bottom of the page.

Take 1st needle and cast on one stitch using whatever method you prefer.

One Stitch Green

One Stitch Purple

Then cast on another 13 stitches making 14 stitches in total.

14 Stitches Green

14 Stitches Purple

Take the 2nd needle and cast on 13 stitches.

13 Stitches Green

13 Stitches Purple

Take the 3rd needle and cast on 13 stitches. You should now have 40 stitches spread over the 3 needles.

40 stitches Green

40 stitches Purple

 

Knit one complete row.

  

You will now have the free yarn at the same end as the Tail*. Do not worry about this as it is deliberate.

Take the 1st needle (The one with the 14 stitches on). Slip the 1^st loop onto the 3rd needle.

Slip onto 1^st needle Green

Slip onto 1^st needle Purple

 

Important

At this point you take a 4th needle.

Slip the 4th needle through both the 1^st stitch of the 3rd needle and the stitch you have just slipped from the 1^st needle.

4^th needle through both stitches

Knit the two stitches together (K2tog).

You can add a marker here if you wish so you can keep track of your rows. However as this is an easy pattern I haven't really bothered as the Tail* acts as a marker in itself.

Marker and Tail

Using the 4^th needle carry on knitting the rest of the stitches from the 3^rd needle. Then with the spare needle knit all the stitches from the 2nd needle. Then when the needle is empty knit all the stitches from the final needle. You will find that you have knitted one complete round (rows are called rounds when knitting is joined) and have 39 stitches (13 stitches on each needle).

That is the start for both the Bell shaped and Twisted shaped cosy. From now on the patterns will be different.

Twisted Pattern

At this point you have joined the stitches and have knitted 1 Round.

Now with the 4^th needle knit the 1^st 2 stitches together (K2tog).

K2tog 1st Needle

Knit the rest of the stitches on that needle. You now have decreased by 1 stitch and should have a knitted section of 12 stitches.

K2tog. Knit the rest of the stitches on that needle. You now have decreased by 1 stitch and should have another knitted section of 12 stitches. 

K2tog 2nd Needle

Repeat process for the last needle

K2tog 3rd Needle

This completes this round and you should have 36 stitches left – 12 per needle.

Knit one complete Round. (36 stitches)

Decrease 1 stitch per needle using the same technique as before leaving 11 stitches per needle. You now have 33 stitches in total.

Knit one complete Round. (33 stitches)

Continue this method until you have one stitch left on each needle.

We will now begin to cast off the last 3 stitches. You have the option of either knitting all the stitches on to 1 needle first or alternatively knit directly off each needle. I have used the latter process.

Using the needle with the yarn knit the stitch off the next needle. You now have two stitches on one needle.

2 stitches on 1 needle

 

Slip the original stitch from behind and over the new one and off the needle. You have 2 Stitches left

2 Stitches Left 

Repeat this for the next stitch until you have one left on the needle. Cut the yarn leaving the tail a few inches long. Take a wool needle and thread with tail. Slip through last stitch and slip off needle.

Last Stitch on Needle

 

Pull through Needle

Complete Twisted Base

Bell Pattern

At this point you have joined the stitches and have knitted 1 Round and have 39 stitches.

Knit 4 more Rounds making 5 in total.

Next round knit 3 stitches.

Knit 3 Stitches  

 

Knit 2 stitches together (K2tog)

Knit 2 Together

Knit 3 Stitches, K2tog, Knit 3 Stitches. You have decreased by 2 stitches and should have 11 stitches on that needle.      

                                        

11 Stitches

Repeat this for the next two needles. You should have 33 Stitches in total.

Knit 4 rounds.

Knit 3 Stitches. Knit 2 together

Knit 2 together

Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together

11 Stitches 2^nd Decrease

Knit 3 stitches. You now have 9 stitches on that needle.

9 stitches 

 

Repeat for next two needles leaving 27 Stitches in total

Knit 3 Rounds

Knit 2 stitches. Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 2 stitches. You now have 7 stitches on that needle. Repeat for next two needles leaving 21 Stitches in total

Knit 2 Rounds

Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch. You now have 5 stitches on that needle. Repeat for next two needles leaving 15 Stitches in total

Knit 1 Round

Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together. You now have 3 stitches on that needle.

3 Stitches

 

Repeat for next two needles leaving 9 Stitches in total. Cut the yarn leaving the tail a few inches long. Take a wool needle and thread with tail. Slip through all 3 stitches and slip off needle.

Needle through Stitches

 

Repeat for the other 2 needles until you have tail through all 9 stitches

Through 9 stitches 

Pull through and sew in ends.

Twisted and Bell

This completes the Basic Cosy Patterns.

Extras

If you want to continue to add the extras to make a more advanced Egg Cosy see my next blog for the instructions. 

Quick Basic Pattern *(Twisted)

Double ended needles Size 4 mm by 20 cm

Cast on 14 stitches on 1^st needle, 13 stitches on 2^nd needle and 13 stitches on 3^rd needle. 40 Stitches in total.

Row 1, Knit (K)

Row 2, Slip stitch from needle 1 on to needle 3. Knit together (K2tog) to join. Knit rest of round, 39 Stitches.

Round 3, K

Round 4, K2tog, K11. K2tog, K11. K2tog, K11, 36 Stitches.

Round 5, K

Round 6, K2tog, K10. K2tog, K10. K2tog, K10, 33 Stitches.

Repeat process from Round 3, until 3 stitches left. Cast off.

Quick Basic Pattern *(Bell) 

Double ended needles Size 4 mm by 20 cm

Cast on 14 stitches on 1^st needle, 13 stitches on 2^nd needle and 13 stitches on 3^rd needle. 40 Stitches in total.

Row 1, Knit (K)

Row 2, Slip stitch from needle 1 on to needle 3. Knit together (K2tog) to join. Knit rest of row, 39 Stitches.

Round 3 – 6 K

Round 7, K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3. K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3.

K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3. 33 Stitches

Round 8 – 11 K

Round 12, K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3. K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3.

K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3. 27 Stitches.

Round 13 – 15 K

Round 16, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2. K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2.

K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2. 21 Stitches.

Round Row 17 -18 K

Round 19, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. 15 Stitches

Round 20, K

Round 21, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1. 9 Stitches.

Cut Yarn and pull through all 9 stitches and sew in ends.