Every once in a while, a crochet project comes along that makes people smile before they even pick up their hook. This Chicken Sweater with an Easter Egg Trim is one of those projects. It’s a lighthearted design that combines practical farm life with a touch of springtime fun. The Free Crochet Pattern is below or your can purchase it at RAVELRY or ETSY
A Cheerful Springtime Chicken Sweater
Chicken sweaters have become a fun and useful project for many crocheters who keep backyard hens. They can provide a bit of warmth and protection for chickens who are molting or regrowing feathers, while also giving their caretakers a chance to add a bit of handmade charm to the coop.
When designing this sweater, I wanted it to feel lighthearted and seasonal. Spring is a time of fresh grass, bright colors, and Easter celebrations, so it felt natural to add a trim that reflected that cheerful time of year.
The Easter Egg Inspired Trim
One of the most special features of this chicken sweater is the decorative trim.
Instead of a plain edge, the trim is designed to resemble Easter eggs hidden in tall grass. Colorful puff stitches form the little eggs, while green spiked single crochet stitches stretch upward like blades of grass surrounding them.
Don’t they look like Easter eggs tucked into the spring grass? It adds texture, color, and a whimsical detail that makes this sweater truly unique.
Get the Free Pattern Right Here
Use this Free Chicken Sweater Crochet Pattern with Easter Egg Trim to make a few for your flock. Choose your favorite Easter colors, and have fun bringing this cheerful design to life. Below is everything you need.
Yarn:
Any Worsted No. 4 weight of yarn. Approx. 150 yds. Small amount of a contrasting color.
Hook: H – 8/5.00mm Gauge: 4”x 4” = 12 SC across x 15 rows height
Supplies: Large Buttons of choice 1” or larger buttons are recommended. You can use buttons with a shank or flat back buttons. There is a photo tutorial at the end of this pattern that will show you how to make a thread shank, or you can watch this tutorial.
How To Sew A Shank To A Flat Back Button – Tutorial by Krissy’s Over The Mountain Crochet & Crafts
Stitch Guide
MC = Main Color
EE Color = any Easter Egg Color you choose. I like different random pastel colors.
join w/ = join with;
slp st = Slip Stitch;
ch = Chain; SC = Single Crochet;
hdc = Half Double Crochet;
dc = Double Crochet
fp hdc = Front Post Half Double Crochet
bp hdc = Back Post Half Double Crochet
lspk st = Long Spike Single Crochet Stitch
sspk st = Short Spike Single Crochet Stitch
Shell = 5dc st’s in stitch indicated in the pattern
EE puff st = *yo, insert hook in stitch indicated in the pattern, yo pull up a loop, leave loops on hook;* 4x; yo pull through all 9 loops on the hook;
nxt = Next;
* * = Repeat between the stars the number of times stated;
x = Times; example Repeat 2 x or 2 times; 3 x or 3 times and so on;
in = example “in nxt st” means you will be inserting the hook under the top two loops of the next stitch, or around the post of the next stitch to complete the sequence
Notes:
1. Beginning ch2 on collar counts as a stitch, and will recede and become a Mock bp hdc
2. Beginning ch1 does not count as stitch unless otherwise stated. Some crochet artists can achieve gauge width wise but cannot horizontally, and vice versa. I have added measurements throughout the pattern so that you can easily see if an added row is needed or eliminated.
3. This chicken sweater is designed to fit a chicken that is molting or is small. It is not designed for a full feathered chicken.
4. The Patriotic Chicken Sweater is an example of a chicken sweater that will fit a full feathered chicken.
Collar and Skirt 1
Using MC, Make foundation chain.
ch28 Being careful not to twist your foundation ch, join in ring with a slp st in 1st ch
Round 1:
ch 2 (this counts as 1 stitch, will be considered a mock bp hdc) hdc in nxt ch and in each ch around; join w/slp st in 2nd ch of beg. ch2 see pattern note 1 (28 hdc)
2 rounds of ribbing will follow see pattern note 1
Round 2 & 3:
ch2; fp hdc in nxt st; * bp hdc in nxt st; fp hdc in nxt st* Repeat across; join w/slp st in 2nd ch of beg. ch2 (14 bp hdc) (14 fp hdc)
2 rounds of increase will follow
Round 4:
ch1; sc in joining st; 2sc in nxt st; * sc in nxt st, 2sc in nxt st* 13x; join w/slp st in beg. sc (42 sc)
Round 5:
ch1, sc in joining st, sc in nxt st, 2sc in nxt st; * sc in nxt st (2x), 2sc in nxt st; * 13x; join w/slp st in beg. sc (56 sc)
Row 6:
ch1, sc in nxt st (17x); Turn; (17 sc)
Row 7 – 13: ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (17 sc)
Round 1 – Row 13 = 4” in length
An increase at the fifth stitch on both sides of the skirt, will occur in Row 14, 18 & 22
Row 14:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 7x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (19 sc)
Row 15 – 17:
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (19 sc)
Row 18:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 9x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (21 sc)
Row 19 – 21:
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (21 sc)
Row 22:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 11x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (23 sc)
Row 23 – 26: NOTE: For a large chicken with full feathers, please add 6-8 more rows right here, for skirt 1 and 2
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (23 sc)
Row 27: This is the first easter egg row-the puff will naturally push to the front of your work.
ch1, sc in nxt 3 st’s, dropping MC and pulling up EE color at the last pull thru of the 3rd st; EE puff st in nxt st, Dropping EE color and pulling up MC;
*sc in nxt 4 st’s, dropping MC and pulling up EE color at the last pull thru of the 4th st; EE puff st in nxt st, Dropping EE color and pulling up MC* 3x;
sc in last 3 st’s; Drop MC and pull up Grass color at the last pull through; Turn
(23 st’s)
Row 28: Spiked Single Crochet (Grass Row)
lspk st = Long Spike Single Crochet Stitch (two rows below, make it look like the stitch is slightly wrapping around the egg if the stitch is beside the egg)
sspk st = Short Spike Single Crochet Stitch (one row below)
ch 1, sc in 1st st, sspk in the nxt st; lspk in the nxt, sc in top of egg; *lspk in the nxt 2st’s, sspk st in nxt st, lspk in nxt st, sc in top of egg;* 3x; lspk in nxt st, sspk st in nxt st, sc in last st; Turn
(23 st’s)
Row 29:
ch1, sc in each st across, Turn (23 st’s)
Row 30: This is the second easter egg row-you will need to push the puff to the front of your work.
ch1, sc in 1st st, dropping MC and pulling up EE color at the last pull thru; EE puff st in nxt st, Dropping EE color and pulling up MC at the last pull thru;
Sc in 1st st, drop grass color and pull up EE color, EE puff st, dropping EE color and pull up grass color at last pull thru;
sc in nxt 3 st’s, dropping grass color and pulling up EE color at the last pull thru of the 3rd st; EE puff st in nxt st, Dropping EE color and pulling up grass color
sc in nxt 4 st’s, dropping MC and pulling up EE color at the last pull thru of the 4th st; EE puff st in nxt st, Dropping EE color and pulling up MC at last pull thru* 3x;
sc in last st; Turn (23 st’s)
Row 31:
sc in each st across, Turn. (23 st’s)
Row 32: Spiked Single Crochet (Grass Row)
lspk st = Long Spike Single Crochet Stitch (two rows below, make it look like the stitch is slightly wrapping around the egg if the stitch is beside the egg)
sspk st = Short Spike Single Crochet Stitch (one row below)
ch 1, sc in 1st st, lspk in the same st beside the egg; sc in nxt; *lspk in the nxt 2st’s, sspk st in nxt st, lspk in nxt st, sc in nxt;* 4x; lspk in nxt st, sc in last st, drop green and pull up MC Turn
(25 st’s)
Row 33:
sc in each st across; end off and weave in all ends.
Skirt 2
With the right side facing you, place a marker 11 stitches from skirt 1, on the left and right side as pictured.
You will be working with the 17 stitches that are left in between the two markers. With the right side facing you, attach yarn with a SLP ST, to the first stitch beside the marker. Drop below the photo to find the written skirt 2.Skirt 2 will not have the Easter Eggs In The Grass stitched into the bottom of it.
Skirt 2
Row 1:
ch1, sc in nxt st (17x); Turn; (17 sc)
Row 2 – 8: ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (17 sc)
Measurement from the top of the collar thru Row 8 = 3.5”- 4” in length
An increase at the fifth stitch on both sides of the skirt, will occur in Row 9, 13 & 17
Row 9:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 7x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (19 sc)
Row 10 – 12:
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (19 sc)
Row 13:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 9x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (21 sc)
Row 14 – 16:
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (21 sc)
Row 17:
ch1, sc in nxt st (4x), 2sc in nxt st; sc in nxt st 11x; 2sc in nxt st; sc in last 4 st’s; Turn (23 sc)
Row 18 – 25:
ch1, sc in nxt st and in each st across; Turn (23 sc)
NOTE: For a larger chickens with full feathers, please add 6-8 more rows right here, for skirt 1 and 2; Do not end off.
Measurement from the top of the collar thru Row 24 = 8 ¾” ;
(Larger chicken) thru Row 30 = 12”
NOTE: At the end of Row 25 of skirt 2, do not end off, but continue to follow instructions below.
Place markers at Row 22 on skirt 1 and at Row 17 of Skirt 2. If you made adjustments for a larger chicken, the markers will need to be 5-6 rows lower.
Note the marker on both sides of Skirt 2
1. With the right side of the work facing you,(do not remove markers) turn & sc “Up” the edge of skirt 2, around the collar, then “Down” the edge of skirt 1, placing 3 sc’s at the corner. After turning the corner sc across the bottom of Skirt 1, placing 3 sc’s at the corner. Then crochet “Up” Skirt 1, around the collar and “Down” Skirt 2, make 3 sc at the corner.
2. You will now place a shell stitch along the bottom of skirt 2 – skp 1 st; *shell, skp 2 st’s, sc* 3x; skp 1 st, shell skp 2 st; 3sc at the corner.;
3. sc “Up” the edge of skirt 2 until you reach the marker. Make a button loop that is 10 to 15 chains long when you arrive at the marker. Then continue to sc “Up” the last portion of skirt 2, then around the collar and up “Down” skirt 1, putting 3 sc at the corner.
4. You will now place a shell stitch along the bottom of skirt 1 – skp 2 st; *shell, skp 2 st’s, sc* 3x; skp 2 st, shell, skp remaining st’s; 3sc at the corner.
5. sc “Up” the edge of skirt 2, then around the collar, then “Down” skirt 2 until you reach the marker. Make a button loop that is 10 to 15 chains long when you arrive at the marker. Then continue to sc “Down” the last portion of skirt 2 joining w/slp st to the second sc of previous 3sc corner. End off and weave in all ends.
Button Attachment
Time to attach the button to the Skirt 1 at Row 22, and it is important that you make a “SHANK” under the button, making sure to use a large button, so that there is plenty of room for the button loop. This extra wiggle room will add ease and movement as your chicken wears the sweater.
How to make a shank
After you have attached the button, pull it up creating a ½” to 1” of length. Bring the yarn back up, just under the button (Pic 3) and wrap around the ½” to 1” of length you created in pic 1. Pull it tight, then sew the thread to the back and fasten off
Here is a YouTube tutorial that will show you how to make a thread shank.
If you enjoyed this free crochet pattern, pin this photo to your favorite crochet boards.
If you enjoy making chicken sweaters, you might be happy to know this isn’t the only design I’ve created over the years. I have a few chicken sweater crochet patterns, each with its own personality and style.
My latest design is the Patriotic Chicken Sweater, created to fit a full-feathered chicken and perfect for celebrating summer holidays on the farm or in the backyard. Before that came the Sweetheart Chicken Sweaters, a design that adds a touch of charm and whimsy.
And of course, there are the two designs that really started it all for me — the Flouncy Chicken Sweater and the Schoolgirl Chicken Sweater. Those early patterns opened the door to a whole flock of fun ideas and showed me just how much people enjoy a little creativity when it comes to their backyard chickens.
If you’d like to crochet this pattern without the interruptions of ads, the ad-free PDF version is available for purchase in my shops on RAVELRY or ETSY.
It was really good to have you on my side of the mountain. I hope you will leavea me a comment to let me know if you will be making this chicken sweater or not. I would love to hear from you.
God Bless,
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COPYRIGHT STATEMENT This crochet pattern is protected by copyright© Krissys Over The Mountain Crochet 2026. Do not sell, alter or redistribute this tutorial or it’s photos in any way or form. You the maker are responsible for the finished product.
Safety & Care: This pattern is for crafting use only. The maker is responsible for safe material choice and finished item use. For full details, visit: krissysoverthemountaincrochet.com/krissys-otm-crochet-and-crafts-safety-care-guidelines/
Designer: Kristina L Moore / business: KrissysOverTheMountainCrochetAndCrafts
https://krissysoverthemountaincrochet.com
[email protected]
February 2026
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