Loom-Knit Eyeball with Eyelids

A cute, slightly spooky beginner-friendly eyeball toy complete with moveable-looking eyelids. Perfect for Halloween décor, desk buddy, or amigurumi-style gift. Worked entirely in e-wrap knit on a small round loom—no needle knitting required.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic or wool-blend
  – MC (white/sclera): 30 yd (28 m)
  – CC1 (iris color—blue, green, brown, etc.): 10 yd (9 m)
  – CC2 (pupil/black): 5 yd (5 m)
  – CC3 (eyelid—light pink, gray, or flesh tone): 15 yd (14 m)
• Loom: 24-peg round loom (⅜"–½" peg spacing), such as a small Knifty Knitter, CinDWood, or equivalent flower/round loom
• Hook: Loom hook or crochet hook (US G-6 / 4 mm)
• Notions: Yarn needle, polyester fiberfill stuffing (small handful), scissors, optional stitch markers or scrap yarn, optional black embroidery floss for veins

Gauge

4 stitches and 6 rows = 1" (2.5 cm) in e-wrap knit stitch on the 24-peg loom.
Gauge is not critical for fit but affects finished size. Tighter e-wraps produce a firmer ball.

Size

One size: approximately 3" (7.5 cm) diameter sphere after stuffing.

Abbreviations (US Loom Terms)

• EW: e-wrap knit (wrap yarn clockwise around peg and knit over)
• KO: knit over (lift bottom loop over top loop and off peg)
• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd(s): round(s)
• rep: repeat
• MC: main color
• CC: contrasting color

Pattern Notes

• Entire project uses the basic e-wrap knit stitch—ideal for absolute beginners.
• Worked as a tube; both ends are gathered tightly to form the sphere.
• Eyelids, iris, and pupil are small flat pieces knit on a portion of the same loom (or a loom rake/straight loom if preferred).
• Keep wraps snug but not tight so the fabric has a little give for stuffing.
• All yarn ends are woven in securely; this is a soft toy.
• Inline counts are confirmed: 24 pegs remain constant until gathering.

Instructions

Eyeball (White Sphere)

With MC and 24-peg round loom, using the e-wrap cast-on method:
CO 24 sts. Place a marker on the first peg or tie a scrap yarn to mark the beginning of the round. (24 sts)

Rnds 1–24: EW knit every peg.
(24 rounds completed → at 6 rows/inch this is 4" tall; 24 sts confirmed throughout ✓)

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail. Thread tail onto yarn needle.
Gathering top: Take the needle through every loop on the pegs, removing each loop from its peg as you go. Pull tail tightly to close the top opening completely. Secure with a knot and weave in end. (24 loops gathered → opening closed ✓)

Stuff firmly with fiberfill until the piece is a smooth round ball about 3" diameter. Do not overstuff or the fabric will gape.

Gathering bottom (cast-on edge): Thread a new 12" length of MC onto needle. Weave through every cast-on stitch around the bottom opening. Pull tightly to close. Secure and weave in end. Shape into a neat sphere.

Iris

With CC1, using 12 pegs of the loom (or work flat back-and-forth):
CO 12 sts.

Rows 1–6: EW knit across. Turn work at end of each row by wrapping the first peg of the next row.
(6 rows × 12 sts)

BO loosely: EW knit the row, then lift loops over one another in sequence or use the basic bind-off method. Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail.

Form into a circle: Thread tail through the bound-off edge and the cast-on edge, pull gently into a flat disc approximately 1¼" (3 cm) diameter. Flatten and secure. Weave in ends.

Pupil

With CC2, using 6 pegs:
CO 6 sts.

Rows 1–4: EW knit across.

BO loosely. Gather both ends exactly as for the iris to form a small disc about ¾" (2 cm) diameter. Weave in ends.

Eyelids (make 2)

With CC3, using 10 pegs:
CO 10 sts.

Rows 1–8: EW knit across.
(8 rows × 10 sts → piece measures ~2½" wide × 1⅓" tall ✓)

BO loosely, leaving a 10" tail for seaming.

Optional shaping (beginner-friendly curve): Before binding off, on the final row you may skip-wrap the 2nd and 9th pegs (do not wrap them) so those stitches are shorter, giving a gentle arched look. Knit the remaining pegs normally, then BO.

Finishing

1. Position the iris disc on the front center of the white eyeball. Pin or hold in place. Using the long tail (or matching yarn), whipstitch the iris securely around its entire edge.
2. Center the pupil disc on the iris and sew down firmly the same way.
3. Place one eyelid along the top edge of the iris so it covers the upper third of the iris/pupil. Sew the straight (cast-on or bound-off) edge of the eyelid to the eyeball with small whipstitches, leaving the outer curved edge free so it looks like a lid. Repeat with the second eyelid along the bottom edge of the iris. The two lids should almost meet at the inner and outer corners, framing the eye.
4. Optional: With black embroidery floss or a bit of CC2, add 2–3 short straight stitches radiating from the iris for cartoon veins.
5. Weave in every remaining end securely on the back/inside. Roll the eyeball gently between your hands to perfect the round shape.

Your loom-knit eyeball with eyelids is ready! Hang it, display it, or give it as a fun handmade gift.