PREMISE
A friend of mine asked me to create an end-of-the-year gift for her son’s teachers.
She is a very creative person too and together we decided to make a paper bookmark with attached a mini crochet apple.
I checked online among free and paid patterns for a tiny apple, but I didn’t find exactly what I was searching for (the right size, the yarn, the type of leaf, etc.), so I decided to create my own pattern and I’m happy to share it with you.
That was last year, then this year I decided to make the same pattern but bigger so it could be gifted as keychain!
COPYRIGHT
This pattern is totally free, but it’s intellectual property of Elendipity.
You can use it and, of course, you can sell the final products you create, but you cannot sell the pattern or any alteration of the pattern.
You should also credit Elendipity (as pattern creator) whenever you create and/or sell it.
Feel free to tag me on my Instagram if you create it, I would love to see your works!!
HOW TO
The apple is worked from the top to the bottom.
We will create the stalk and the leaf first because we will attach them to the apple half way through.
At the end of each round, you will find the number of total stitches for that round in brackets.
MATERIAL
In order to create the mini apple you will use Cotton 8/4 and a 2mm crochet hook, if you want to create the Keychain size you might want to use Cotton 8/8.
For the mini apple I used:
- 2 mm crochet hook
- Cotton Kings 8/4 n. 10 (Red) – less than 5gr.
- Cotton Kings 8/4 n. 41 (Spring Green) – less than 1gr.
- Rainbow Cotton 8/4 n. 008 (Dark Brown) – less than 1gr.
For the keychain apple I used:
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
- Cotton We Love Yarn 8/8 n. 16 (Red) – less than 10gr.
- Rainbow Cotton 8/8 n. 99 (Malachite Green) – less than 1gr.
- Rainbow Cotton 8/8 n. 05 (Grey Brown) – less than 1gr.
I bought the yarn at Hobbii.
TERMS
Here below the list of the stitches (US terms) that we are going to use for this project.
- CH = Chain
- SC = Single Crochet
- HDC = Half Double Crochet
- INC (Increase) = 2 stitches in the same stitch
- DEC (Decrease) = 1 stitch worked over two stitches – it would be better if you know how to do Invisible Decrease.
- SS = Slip Stitch
- st = stitches
- BLO = Back Loop Only
- FLO = Front Loop Only
Shall we start?Â
Let’s go!!
STALK
- START
With Dark Brown, leave a long initial tails (about 7/8cm) and then do a slip knot and CH 5.
- ROUND 1
Starting from 2nd CH from the hook, SS 4. (4)
Leave a long tail (about 7/8cm) and fasten off.
LEAF
- START
With Spring Green, leave a long initial tails (about 7/8cm), do a slip knot and then CH 6.
- ROUND 1
Starting from 2nd CH from hook, SS 1, SC 1, HDC 2, 3 SS in the last CH.
Now we will crochet in the other side of the chain: HDC 2, SC 1, SS 1, fasten off. (11)
With the darning needle weave the end through the leaf so that the tails (initial tail and end tail) will be together.Â
APPLE
- ROUND 1
With Red
SC 6 in a magic ring. (6)
- ROUND 2
[SC 2, INC] x 2 times. (8)
- ROUND 3
[SC 1, INC] x 4 times. (12)
- ROUND 4
[SC 1, INC] x 6 times. (18)
- ROUND 5
[SC 2, INC] x 6 times. (24)
Now it’s the moment to add the stalk and the leaf to the top of the apple.
Using a darning needle, we will insert the threads of the stalk and we insert them in the middle of the MC that we did at the beginning.
We will do the same then with the leaf, see PIC n. 1.
Now we turn the work upside down and we press the top up to the wrong side, so we will see better the threads we just put through the MC, see PIC n. 2.
We will make a doulbe knot for each pair of thread and we cut the extra thread, see PIC n. 3.
Now we press the work back to the right side and we continue with the pattern.
- ROUND 6-9 (4 Rounds)
SC 24 (24)
- ROUND 10
[SC 2, DEC] x 6 times (18)
- ROUND 11
[SC 1, DEC] x 6 times (12)
Fill the apple with stuffing, trying to stuff less on the top part (where you attached the stem and the leaf – round 1 and 2)
Round 1 and 2 will be pressed inside the apple, instructions after Round 12.
- ROUND 12
DEC all around (6)
Cut a long tail (about 15cm), close the apple passing the thread in the front loop of the last 6SC and pull tight. At this link you can find a video on how to close amigurumi.
If you want to insert a keychain, you can have a look at this video:Â link.
If, instead, you will prefer a normal loop, follow the instructions below.
You will insert the hook in the middle of the stitches we just closed (PIC n. 4) and we take the needle out from the opposite side, close to the centre of the top (PIC N. 5) and then we will insert the needle in the centre of the original MC (PIC n. 6), we pull tight in order to low stem and leaf inside the apple (PIC n. 7).
Now weave the end and cut the thread.
And HERE WE ARE: your apple is done! 🍎
Now you can decide to leave it like this or to add a keychain or, as I did, to add a loop in order to attach the apple to the bookmark.
Here below some photos of how I attached the loop between round 4 and 5.
*** TIP *** if you struggle to count the rounds from the MC (because now it’s inside the apple), you can count backwards from the last round in the bottom.
After we created the loop, we cut the thread and we will weave the ends…the loop is done and secure!
I hope you enjoyed this Free Pattern 🥰
I have other many patterns available that you can find at this link.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any explanation for the pattern – you can write me at info@elendipity-com.stackstaging.com.
I also offer crochet lessons (both in person or online) if you need some help with crochet creations and reading patterns.
You find all the info at this link.
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Feel free to tag me on my Instagram if you create it, I would love to see your works!
Happy Crochet!Â
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2 Comments
Marykay
August 6, 2024 7:14 pmNo. Please, no more apples of any type. The only way this would be fine, is if the child made it themselves. A heartfelt note or letter /card is a much better gift.
elendipity
August 7, 2024 9:36 amThank you for sharing your opinion. This pattern was designed as a versatile option that can be adapted for various purposes. While I appreciate the sentiment behind your suggestion, the pattern is intended to be a creative starting point for individuals to customize as they wish – it doesn’t have to be a teacher’s gift…it’s just an apple pattern! 🙂
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