A (crochet) apple a day keeps the boredom at bay
My daughter's obsessed with apples at the moment, so I'd love to make her one of these crochet apples by Ann Parnell from Annie's Attic. Trouble is...I can't crochet! I know there are plenty of you who can, so I thought you'd like the pattern so you can make one for yourself. It's finished size is a cute 2 3/4 inches tall, and it gets it's shape from a plastic apple, which you crochet around (obviously you have to find a plastic apple first) and fabric stiffener so it retains it's shape. Ann suggests using white crochet cotton thread, but personally I'd make it in ruby red or emerald green.
You will need:
* 175 yds. white size 10 crochet cotton thread
* 2 1/2" plastic apple
* Embroidery needle
* Fabric stiffener
* No. 7 steel hook
Basic Stitches:
Ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc.
Apple - Bottom Half:
Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 1, sc in ring, (ch 5, sc in ring) 7 times, ch 2, join with dc in first sc (Ch-2 and joining dc count as ch sp -- 8 ch sps made.)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, *(ch 5, sc) 2 times in next ch sp; repeat from * 6 more times, ch 5, sc in joining ch sp, ch 2, join with dc in first sc. (16 ch sps)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) around, ch 2, join with dc in first sc.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, ch 5, sc in next ch sp; *for shell, (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in next st; sc in next ch sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 3 times; repeat from * 2 more times, shell in next st, sc in next ch sp, ch 5, sc in next ch sp, ch 2, join with dc in first sc. (4 shells, 12 ch sps)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, ch 5, sc in next ch sp, *ch 5, sc in center dc of next shell, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 3 times; repeat from * 2 more times, ch 5, sc in center dc of last shell, ch 5, sc in last ch sp, ch 2, join with dc in first sc. (16 ch sps)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, *shell in next st, sc in next ch sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 3 times; repeat from * 2 more times, shell in next st, sc in next ch sp, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 2 times, ch 2, join with dc in first sc.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in joining ch sp, *ch 5, sc in center dc of next shell, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 3 times; repeat from * 2 more times, ch 5, sc in center dc of last shell, (ch 5, sc in next ch sp) 2 times, ch 5, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.
Top Half:
Rnd 1: For stem, ch 10, sc in second ch from hook, sl st in each ch across; ch 4, sl st in last st on stem to form ring, ch 1, sc in ring, (ch 4, sc in ring) 7 times, ch 2, join with dc in first sc. (8 ch sps made)
Rnds 2-7: Repeat rnds 2 7 of Bottom Half.
Leaf:
Ch 12, dc in third ch from hook, dc in next 5 chs, hdc in each of next (this is the tip); working in remaining lps on opposite side of ch-12, sc in each of next 2 lps, hdc in each of next 2 lps, dc in each of next 2 lps, hdc in each of next 2 lps, sc in each of next 2 lps, sl st in top of ch-2. Fasten off.
Finishing:
With wrong side of Leaf facing you, sew bottom of Leaf to Top Half beside stem.
Stiffen Bottom Half and Top Half with fabric stiffener according to manufacturers instructions; place over plastic apple, shaping stem and Leaf. Remove both pieces when dry.
Tack rnd 7 of Bottom Half and Top Half together.
