New Knitting Pattern Available - Faberge Eggs

My brioche exploration recently expanded into the honeycomb stitch.  When worked in two colors, the contrast color forms a beautiful netting effect over the main color background.  It reminded me of the outside of those fabulous Faberge Eggs.  With these eggs as inspiration, I was able to design these eggs. 

The eggs are knit flat, seamed, and stuffed. A circular or double point needles are necessary for this technique.   Detailed instructions for increasing and decreasing in pattern are provided.  Keeping these decreases in pattern allows the metallic net to wrap around the egg shape, creating a very realistic Faberge-like finish.
This pattern is available for download for $2 US.  You can download the pattern here

Skills: Cast on, knit, purl, yarn over, slip stitches purlwise, knit two together, purl two together, bind off, and seam.

Sizes: Multiple sizes of the eggs can be achieved by using different main color yarn weights. Worsted Weight MC – 3” long, DK -2.25” long, Fingering – 1.5 inches long.

Materials:

• Main Color (MC) yarn – Approximately 15 yards. Yarns tested include Cascade 220, Lamb’s Pride Worsted, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Knit Picks Gloss DK, TOFUtsies Sock Yarn

• Contrast Color (CC) metallic crochet thread –Approximately 6 to 8 yards

• 1 Circular or 2 double point needles 2-3 sizes smaller than the size you normally use to knit the selected MC yarn. Worsted weight samples knit with US size 5 (3.75mm); DK weight samples knit with a US size 3 (3.25mm). Fingering weight samples knit with US size 1.5 (2.25mm)

• Tapestry needle

• Polyester fiberfill or other stuffing material

Gauge: No specified gauge. The honeycomb stitch will spread and, because the egg will be stuffed, knitting to a tighter gauge than normal for the yarn will make for a denser fabric that will hide the stuffing.

I hope you give this stitch a try.