9 Easter Basket and Eggs Free Knitting Patterns

Spring is in the air, and if you’re a knitter, that means one thing: it’s time to pull out your needles and start creating something beautiful for the season. Easter is one of the most charming holidays for handmade crafts, and nothing says “made with love” quite like a hand-knitted Easter basket or a collection of adorable knitted eggs nestled inside. Whether you’re a beginner who just learned to cast on or an experienced knitter looking for your next satisfying project, there’s something in this collection for everyone.

In this post, we’re sharing nine free knitting patterns for Easter baskets and eggs that you can start working on right now. Each pattern brings its own personality and charm, and together they give you everything you need to put together a stunning Easter display or fill a gift basket with handcrafted treasures your family will want to keep long after the holiday is over.

Let’s dive in.

Why Knit for Easter?

Before we get into the patterns themselves, it’s worth taking a moment to talk about why handmade Easter decorations and gifts have become so popular. Store-bought Easter baskets are everywhere come March and April, but they tend to be made from thin plastic or flimsy wicker, and they rarely survive more than a season or two. A hand-knitted Easter basket, on the other hand, can become a family heirloom. Parents who knit one for their child’s first Easter often find that same basket coming back out year after year, eventually making its way into a memory box or being passed on to the next generation.

Knitted Easter eggs are equally special. Unlike the plastic variety that gets cracked and lost, a set of knitted eggs can be stored safely, pulled out every spring, and used again and again as decorations or as the centerpiece of a children’s egg hunt. They’re soft, safe for young children and babies, and can be stuffed with small treats or left plain as decorative objects.

There’s also the simple joy of the knitting itself. Easter projects tend to be small and satisfying. Most baskets and eggs can be completed in a weekend, which makes them ideal for knitters who love the feeling of finishing something without committing to a months-long project. If you’ve been working on a larger piece like a sweater or a blanket, casting on a quick Easter basket is the perfect palate cleanser.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Most of the patterns in this collection use yarn and tools you likely already have in your stash. Here’s a general overview of what to gather before you begin.

Yarn: Cotton yarn is a popular choice for Easter baskets because it holds its shape well and gives the basket structure, especially when worked at a tighter gauge. Wool yarn works beautifully for eggs since it’s soft, takes dye wonderfully, and can be felted if you want a sturdier finish. That said, acrylic yarn is a perfectly good option for both, particularly if the items will be handled frequently by children or need to be machine washable.

Needles: Most basket patterns call for double-pointed needles or a short circular needle, since they’re worked in the round. A set of US size 5 to 8 needles covers the vast majority of patterns in this collection. Eggs are typically small enough to work comfortably on double-pointed needles.

Stuffing: If you’re making eggs meant to be squeezed and played with, you’ll want polyfill stuffing. Some knitters use dried lavender for a gentle scent, or small smooth river stones for eggs that have a satisfying weight when held.

Stitch markers, scissors, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a ruler or tape measure round out the basic toolkit.

Now, on to the patterns.

Pattern 1: The Classic Ribbed Easter Basket

This is the pattern to start with if you’re new to knitting Easter baskets. It uses a simple rib stitch worked flat, then seamed up the sides to form the basket shape. The ribbing gives the finished basket a lovely texture and just enough stretch to accommodate a variety of egg sizes and small gifts.

The pattern typically calls for a worsted weight cotton yarn in a natural or pastel shade, and it works up quickly on US size 7 needles. Once the body is complete, you pick up stitches along the bottom edge to knit a flat base, then finish with a simple twisted cord or braided handle. The result is a sturdy, classic-looking basket that photographs beautifully and holds up to years of use.

Skill level: Beginner
Yarn weight: Worsted
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm)
Approximate time: 3–5 hours

Pattern 2: Felted Easter Basket

If you’ve never tried felting, an Easter basket is a wonderful first project. You start by knitting a much larger basket than you want to end up with, using 100% wool yarn (not superwash — this is important, since superwash wool won’t felt). Then you run the finished piece through a hot wash cycle in your washing machine, and watch as the fibers lock together into a dense, sturdy fabric.

The felted basket comes out with a slightly rustic, artisan look that’s incredibly charming. Because the felt is so firm, the finished basket stands up on its own without any additional stiffening. You can shape it while it’s still damp to get rounded edges or a more structured form, and once dry it holds that shape permanently.

These baskets are incredibly durable and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, making them practical as well as beautiful.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate (basic knitting skills needed; felting does the rest)
Yarn weight: Bulky, 100% wool (non-superwash)
Needles: US size 10.5 (6.5 mm) or as suggested by your yarn label
Approximate time: 2–3 hours to knit, plus felting time

Pattern 3: Colorwork Easter Eggs

These eggs are a celebration of color and are one of the most visually rewarding projects in this collection. Knitted in the round using the stranded colorwork technique, they feature small traditional motifs — tiny flowers, geometric diamonds, or simple zigzag stripes — that give each egg a folk art quality reminiscent of Eastern European painted eggs.

The pattern is written for fingering weight yarn and very small double-pointed needles, which means each egg takes only a small amount of yarn from your stash. This is the perfect project for using up those leftover mini skeins from sock yarn sets. Once knitted, each egg is stuffed firmly with polyfill before the top is cinched closed and sewn shut.

A set of six or eight in coordinating colors makes a gorgeous centerpiece when arranged in a bowl or nestled in a basket. They also make wonderful gifts — lightweight, easy to mail, and genuinely impressive to anyone who hasn’t seen colorwork before.

Skill level: Intermediate
Yarn weight: Fingering
Needles: US size 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles
Approximate time: 1–2 hours per egg

Pattern 4: Simple Striped Easter Egg

Not everyone wants to tackle stranded colorwork, and this pattern delivers beautiful results with a much simpler technique. The striped egg is knitted in the round using basic stockinette stitch, with the color changes happening at the beginning of each round to create clean horizontal stripes.

The beauty of this pattern is in the color combinations. A pale lemon yellow and soft mint green, a blush pink and cream, a sky blue and white — nearly any two colors you pair together will look lovely. You can also knit the whole egg in a single color and add embroidered details after the fact, like tiny polka dots, simple flowers, or your child’s initial.

This is an excellent project for children learning to knit, since the stitch is straightforward and the finished object is small enough to stay exciting throughout.

Skill level: Beginner
Yarn weight: DK or worsted
Needles: US size 3–5 (3.25–3.75 mm) double-pointed needles
Approximate time: 45 minutes to 1 hour per egg

Pattern 5: Lace Easter Basket

For knitters who love delicate, intricate work, this lace basket is a showstopper. Worked in a fine cotton thread using small needles, the basket features an openwork lace pattern on the sides that lets the light filter through beautifully. Stiffened with liquid starch once complete, it holds a precise, elegant shape that looks almost like something from a Victorian Easter illustration.

The base is knitted as a solid circle, then the lace side panel is worked up from there in a repeating eyelet pattern. A simple picot edge finishes the top, and a delicate handle is made from a knitted I-cord or a length of satin ribbon threaded through the top eyelets.

This basket is more decorative than functional, but as a display piece filled with a few silk flowers or small chocolate eggs wrapped in foil, it’s absolutely stunning.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Yarn weight: Lace or fingering weight cotton
Needles: US size 1–2 (2.25–2.75 mm)
Approximate time: 6–10 hours

Pattern 6: Textured Seed Stitch Basket

The seed stitch is one of those beautifully simple textures that looks far more complicated than it is. This basket pattern uses seed stitch throughout, creating a bumpy, tactile surface that gives the basket a handcrafted look with a lot of visual depth.

Unlike baskets that need to be stiffened or felted to hold their shape, this one uses a fairly thick cotton or cotton-blend yarn at a tight gauge, which gives it enough structure to stand up on its own. The handle is knitted as a separate rectangle in the same seed stitch, then folded over and sewn to the inside of the basket at both ends.

This is a satisfying pattern to knit because the seed stitch keeps things interesting without being complicated — you’re always alternating knit and purl stitches, so your hands stay engaged without needing to consult the pattern constantly.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Yarn weight: Worsted or bulky cotton
Needles: US size 8–9 (5–5.5 mm)
Approximate time: 4–6 hours

Pattern 7: Bunny Face Easter Egg

This one is irresistible for anyone knitting for small children. The bunny face egg is a basic knitted egg shape with bunny ears knitted separately and sewn on, plus simple embroidered features — two small French knots for eyes, a satin stitch nose, and a few straight stitches for the mouth. A pom-pom or small loop of fluffy yarn at the back serves as the tail.

Kids adore these eggs, and they make wonderful additions to an Easter basket alongside real candy or small toys. They’re also soft enough for very young children and babies to handle safely, which makes them a thoughtful gift for parents with little ones who are too young for plastic eggs.

The pattern is a quick knit in DK or worsted weight yarn, and the embroidery requires only basic embroidery knowledge — nothing beyond a few simple stitches.

Skill level: Beginner
Yarn weight: DK or worsted
Needles: US size 5–6 (3.75–4 mm) double-pointed needles
Approximate time: 1–1.5 hours per egg, plus embroidery

Pattern 8: Market Tote–Style Easter Basket

This pattern takes inspiration from classic market bags and scales the concept down into a charming Easter basket with an open, net-like structure. Knitted in a simple mesh or eyelet pattern, it’s lightweight and stretchy, which means it can expand to hold quite a lot despite its modest size.

The mesh structure makes this basket particularly photogenic — the eggs and gifts inside are partially visible through the holes, creating a layered, interesting look. Use a natural cotton twine or jute yarn for a rustic aesthetic, or go with a cheerful pastel cotton for something softer and more traditional.

This pattern works up entirely from the bottom up, starting with a small circle and then increasing out to the sides before working straight up to the top edge, where you’ll pick up stitches for a simple I-cord handle.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Yarn weight: Fingering or light DK
Needles: US size 4–5 (3.5–3.75 mm)
Approximate time: 4–5 hours

Pattern 9: Giant Decorative Easter Egg

This final pattern is a departure from the handheld egg — it’s a large, decorative egg meant to sit as a centerpiece on a table or mantle. Knitted at a chunky gauge using super bulky yarn and large needles, it grows quickly and makes a bold, impressive statement.

The egg is knitted in two halves, both shaped using simple increases and decreases, then stuffed firmly with polyfill and seamed together. You can leave it in a single color, add stripes, or use a variegated yarn to get a beautiful, organic-looking color variation with no extra effort. Finished with a simple bow of ribbon or a sprig of faux flowers attached at the top, it becomes a genuinely lovely Easter decoration.

This is also a wonderful project to knit with children who are just learning, since the large needles and thick yarn make every stitch easy to see and handle.

Skill level: Beginner
Yarn weight: Super bulky
Needles: US size 13–15 (9–10 mm)
Approximate time: 2–3 hours

Tips for Finding These Patterns

All nine of these patterns are available for free online. The best places to search for them are Ravelry, which is the world’s largest database of free and paid knitting patterns and allows you to filter by project type, skill level, and yarn weight. LoveCrafts is another excellent resource with a large free pattern library. Yarnspirations, the website run by Caron and Bernat yarns, also publishes a generous selection of free seasonal patterns. Pinterest can be a useful discovery tool as well, since it aggregates patterns from across the internet and lets you save them easily to boards for later.

When searching, use terms like “free knitted Easter basket pattern,” “Easter egg knitting pattern free download,” or “knitted egg pattern in the round” to find the most relevant results. You can also search directly on Ravelry using the “projects” tab to see photos of finished objects made by other knitters, which can help you decide whether a pattern is the right fit before you commit.

A Few Final Thoughts

Easter knitting is one of the great seasonal pleasures of the knitter’s year. The projects are small enough to finish quickly, the color palette is fresh and cheerful after months of winter knitting, and the finished objects bring genuine joy to the people who receive them. Whether you knit one basket as a special gift for a grandchild or work through all nine patterns to build up a full collection of Easter decorations, you’ll end the season with something beautiful to show for your time.

The best part about knitting for holidays is that the handmade quality of your work is something no store can replicate. When a child carries their knitted basket to an egg hunt, or when a hand-knitted egg sits on the table at Easter dinner year after year, the care and skill that went into making it becomes part of the holiday itself. That’s what makes knitting such a meaningful tradition — and why these patterns are worth every stitch.

Happy knitting, and Happy Easter.