Free Pattern: Panorama Eggs, a collaboration with Norma Lynn

Someone left a message on my blog recently that she hoped one day that Normalynn and I would collaborate. Well, today’s the day. Dreams *do* come true!!! ๐Ÿ˜›

I actually met Norma Lynn many years ago at Renegade Craft Fair here in San Francisco. She visited my booth and explained who she was, and I definitely already knew her work as well. She is really the sweetest person ever, and her website is filled with photos of delectable crocheted cake sachets and lots of free patterns.

I approached her after receiving that message on my blog, and our collaborative crochet pattern is the Panorama Egg, just in time for Easter!

Screen shot 2013-03-27 at 12.28.05 AMphoto by Norma Lynn of her candy eggs

PanoramicEgg1PanoramicEgg2smallmy eggs are noticeably more… gaudy!

I have one really strong memory associated with these eggs. ย I actually didn’t really know what they were called until this project! Years ago (maybe still), you could buy a kit with a big chocolate egg shell and a tube of icing and decorate your own ย egg. Manda and I managed to get our hands one of these as kids, and late at night in my bedroom, when we were supposed to be asleep, we cracked the kit open. The chocolate was bad, of course. But worse: Manda cut open the tube of neon yellow icing and squirt it DIRECTLY IN HER MOUTH. AND SHE LOVED IT. Somehow, right now, that doesn’t seem all that strange, but back then, when our sugar intake was monitored more, and when being weird with ourselves was less okay, this was a ballsy, hilarious, and super-disgusting move! I think those 3 words sum up modern-day Manda very nicely. ๐Ÿ˜›

Screen shot 2013-03-27 at 12.38.08 AM Screen shot 2013-03-27 at 12.38.51 AMphotos from Blumchen.com, whose sugar eggs are already sold out this year!

After chatting with Norma Lynn and doing some internet research, I came upon the faux cake folk art of KookyCrafts. All the colors and kitsch got me super inspired, hence, my crazy colors!

KookycraftsNorma Lynn ended up doing basically all the work on the pattern. ย I was more like her pattern tester :P. I so appreciate all the work she put into this project! And I hope that you guys have time to try out the pattern and show us photos! I know there are lots of possibilities for colors and decorations! Please check out Norma Lynn’s site for our panorama egg patterns!

PanoramicEgg3small

While working on my samples, I did a little research about starching and stiffening crochet projects. I generally have no need for this, as I don’t make doilies or baskets or bookmarks or anything like that, but you might consider starching/stiffening your egg projects. Here are my personal thoughts:

1) Spray starch isn’t going to be enough hold for this. I would suggest a liquid starch or a half white-glue half water mixture.

2) I watched a few video tutorials on the internet, and basically you stick your finished crochet project in a bowl, squirt your stiffening liquid all over it and soak it down real good.

3) Gently gently squeeze out a lot of the liquid. I had nothing egg-shaped around the house to use as a form, so I tried stuffing the egg with 2 plastic grocery bags. I wanted it to be fairly well stuffed to fill out all the curves and get a nice, rounded egg without any lumps or bumps. Also take the time to arrange all your decorations and make everything look nice.

4) Let it dry! If you prefer to glue on your decorations instead of sewing, I might suggest stiffening your plain egg first, and then gluing on the decorations after the egg is dry.

5) Inside decorations like the grass and bunnies and chickies don’t need to stiffened.

6) Try lots of different decorations like plastic cupcake toppers, pom poms, rhinestones, sequins, small toys, plastic flowers, ribbons, bows, any of your favorite things!

 

29 Comments on “Free Pattern: Panorama Eggs, a collaboration with Norma Lynn”

  • Myssi

    says:

    These are adorable. Thank you for sharing and thanks for the tips. I’m going to start crocheting them tonight.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Ooooh I Hope they turn out cute!

  • Aubree

    says:

    Dammit! Why can’t I crochet? I actually collect panoramic eggs so I really wanna make one of these :'(

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      If you know someone who crochets, maybe you can bribe them to make you one!

  • Chassity

    says:

    I absolutely LOVE these! When I saw the little squishy toys inside I could just imagine my daughter playing with these like they were little houses for her little animal toys! I can’t wait to make these and stuff them in her basket! ๐Ÿ˜€

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I definitely recommend making the upright egg. I think it would be easier to get the little creatures in and out ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Vanessa

    says:

    Awesome! I think that I will make one for my grandma for Easter.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      YAY!

  • Riannon

    says:

    These are so cute and I really want to give one as a hostess gift this easter. I already finished the sideways egg and big puff icing! I have a dent in my thumb and I’m going to bed happy. Thanks so much for the pattern!

  • Christel

    says:

    Wow, craze eggs and what a cute bunnies!

  • Christel

    says:

    oops, craze most be crazy ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Brenda B.

    says:

    What an awesome idea~! Just adorable and great work.. Thanks for sharing!

  • yeah…so these are friggin GREAT! I so love yours and hers and what an awesome collaboration!!!

  • Mandie

    says:

    The noise I just made from seeing these was extremely high pitched, lol. These are PRECIOUS. I love those little chickies too!

  • Muna Nana Saigol

    says:

    These are absolutely fantabulously amazing! such talent. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing. it is folks like you, the truely great crochartists, that inspire people like me and help to keep our fingers busy!

  • michelle

    says:

    I found your eggs on pinterest and then followed to the blog….these panoramic eggs are close to my heart as I had a sugar one that was completely fascinating to me and a cherished gift. I decided to make these for my granddaughters and hope they will feel about them they way I did when I was little. Thank you both for this FREE pattern, I really appreciate it.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Thank you for the sweet note!! I have a great nostalgia for them, too! I have to give basically all the credit to Norma Lynn, who worked out most of the pattern. She is great, and you should check out her site, too. It’s all free patterns! And yummy! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • kerstin

    says:

    Hi, have a question since iam new to all of this, What does it mean in the beginnings where it says form a ac? What is a ac? Thank you so much for any info.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! It stands for “adjustable circle,” aka the adjustable ring, or magic ring, or magic circle. It’s how you begin every project that is worked in the round.

  • Sara

    says:

    What size hook did you use?

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I used an H hook and crocheted tightly.

  • Sandi Lawrence

    says:

    What size hook do you use on these beautiful eggs. I want to do for my newborn grand baby. Thank you

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I used an H hook with worsted weight yarn, but if you use a lighter weight yarn, then definitely use a smaller hook ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Cherylann

    says:

    Hello,
    The link to the pattern does not work. Please advise. Thanks

  • Marie

    says:

    Hi, these are absolutely gorgeous! I made one, unfortunately it was too big. Is there any way to make it with far less stitches? There were just too many stitches in this project. I wanted to make several but one was enough, lol! There’s lots of ways to make something more simpler without taking away the look. Also the stitches putting the halves together should have been in the back loops, so you could easily do the pretty stitches around it. I’m talking about the egg standing up. Hope someone can come up with an easier version. Thank you

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi, I’m sorry, but we don’t usually have a lot of time to alter patterns according to everyone’s different needs. We do our best to provide patterns for free that are fun and inspirational, so perhaps you could also feel free to play with the pattern on your own. Thank you!

  • Diana Holland

    says:

    Just wanted to say I think you did a good job writing this pattern. I was looking to make an egg like this. We used to make them out of balloons and sugar water. Then we’d decorate them with frosting. Reminds me of childhood. Anyway, I just made my first one…not completely decorated yet. But I think I’ll tweak the next one. Wanna try to do the crochet stitches in a horizontal so I can try to make stripes. I’ve been crocheting for a very long time and still can’t manage my own patterns. Hopefully I’ll figure it out. Thanks for making the pattern free!!!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      My friend NormaLynnn definitely did most of the work :). But I’m glad you are enjoying this project!

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