Platypus Easter Egg Cozy

Okay, I'll admit it.  This one is mostly just because I'm personally amused by the idea.  Playpuses...(platypi?) are some of the funniest looking creatures God ever created and one of only two mammals that lay eggs, so turning one into a crocheted Easter Egg Cozy was just too many giggles to resist.  He's an odd, quirky little creature and definitely worth a laugh or two.  Have fun!
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Platypus Easter Egg Cozy

Supplies:

                Cotton Yarn (Tan, Brown, and Black)

                Crochet hook (Size F-3.75MM)

                Scissors

Needle

Plastic Easter Egg, normal size (I buy the ones from Walmart)

Gauge: 4.5 sts per inch. Adjust as needed to get your cozy to fit your egg.

Special Stitches:

Half Double Crochet Decrease (Hdc Dec) [YO. Insert hook in the stitch or space indicated.  Pull up a loop] rep 2 times.  YO.  Pull through all five loop on your hook.

Body

Start with tan yarn.

Rnd 1: Sc 5 in magic ring OR Sc 2, Sc 5 in the 2^nd chain from the hook

Rnd 2: Inc in each of the 5 sts (10 sts)

Rnd 3: [Inc in one st, Sc in the next] rep 5 times around (15 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc 15 (15 sts)

Rnd 5: [Inc, Sc in each of the next 2 stitches] rep 5 times (20 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc 20 (20 sts)

Rnd 7: [Inc, Sc 4] rep 4 times (24 sts)

Rnds 8-10: Sc 24 (24 sts)

Rnd 11: [Dec, Sc 4] rep 4 times (20 sts)

Rnd 12: Sc 20 (20 sts)

Rnd 13: [Hdc Dec, Hdc 8] rep 2 times (18 sts)

Rnd 14: To make a foot [In the same st: Sc, Ch 3, Dc 3, Ch 3. Sl st in the next st to anchor foot to base]. Sl st 4. Rep directions in between [ ] to make the second foot. 

Check to make sure your egg fits inside the cozy, then finish off and weave in ends. 

Tail

Use dark brown yarn.

Row 1: Ch 11

Row 2: Starting in the 2^nd ch from hook, Sc 3, Hdc 3, Dc 3, 6 Dc in the last ch-st to work your way around to the opposite side of the chain, Dc 3, Hdc 3, Sc 3

Finish off.  Weave in ends. Sew to the back of the cozy (opposite to the side the feet are on).

Top Beak

Use Dark Brown yarn. 

Row 1: Ch 5

Row 2: Starting in 2^nd ch from hook, Sc 3. 4 sc in the last ch-st to work your way around to the opposite side of the chain. Sc 3. Chain and turn.

Row 3: Sc 10 in each st around. Flip the beak wrong-side out.  Now, working across the flat end, 3 sc, 2 sc, 3 sc to form the “lip” at the top of the beak.

 Finish off, weave in ends. Sew the “lip” at the top of the beak in a slight curve to the center of the platypus’s face.

Bottom Beak

Use Dark Brown yarn.

Row 1: Ch 4

Row 2: Starting in the 2^nd ch from hook, Sc 2, 4 sc in the final ch-st to work your way around to the opposite side of the chain. Sc 2.

Finish off and weave in ends.  Sew to the face just below the Top Beak.

Front Paws

Use Dark Brown yarn. Make 2.

Rnd 1: Sc 5 in magic ring OR Sc 2, Sc 5 in the 2^nd chain from the hook

Rnd 2: Sl st, Ch 3. Dc in the next st.  2 Dc in each of the next 2 sts. 

 Finish off.  Weave in ends.  Sew a paw to either side of the platypus cozy.  Use black yarn to make two French knot eyes above the top beak. Refer to the picture as needed.  As always, enjoy, and feel free to contact me on my blog or at sheepofdelight@gmail.com.  Happy hooking!

Want your platypus to be swimming rather than upright?  Just move the beak to the top of the head and the eyes above it.