How to make a crochet apple jacket

In celebration of National Apple Day on October 21, we have a highly impractical craft project to keep your fruit warm this winter

Go on, you know you want one – they might not be practical, but they're so irresistible! This is a very simple pattern from Mollie Makes using the most basic of crochet stitches. You don't even have to know how to decrease – just miss a stitch out where the pattern says so.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Cotton DK yarn
3.5mm crochet hook
Embroidery needle
Button

ABBREVIATIONS:

ch – chain
dc – double crochet
rep – repeat
sl st – slip stitch
st – stitch

WHAT TO DO:

Start with a slip knot. Work 4 chain, join to form a loop with a slip stitch into first chain.

Round 1: ch1, 9dc into central loop, sl st into 1st chain to close up the circle.

Round 2: Working in the round, 2dc into each subsequent stitch (approximately 18 sts).
Insert a contrast colour yarn marker (3cm length of yarn positioned horizontally between the last stitch and the first one of the next round) at this point, this will allow you to see when you have completed a 'round' and stops you from worrying about counting stitches.

Round 3: 1dc into each st

Round 4: *2dc into next st, 1dc into following st*, rep from * to * until you reach yarn marker.

Round 5: rep Round 3

Round 6: rep Round 4

Rounds 7-13: rep Round 3

When you reach the end of round 13, you need to begin working backwards and forwards rather than around and around. This will create the opening at the top of the cosy.

Round 14: ch1, turn the cosy and work in the opposite direction. 1dc into each st. Stop at the last stitch before the 1st chain.

Round 15: ch1, turn *1dc in to each of the following 10 stitches, skip one stitch (i.e., miss a stitch between your previous dc and next dc)*, rep * to * until you reach the end of the row – don't worry if there aren't 10 stitches in the final group.

Round 16: ch1, turn crochet, rep round 14

Round 17: ch1, turn *1dc in to each of the following 8 stitches, skip one stitch (i.e., miss a stitch between your previous dc and next dc)*, rep * to * until you reach the end of the row. When you arrive at the end of the row, ch12 and using a sl st join the last chain back to the main body of crochet to form a loop for the button. Cut the yarn and using an embroidery needle, work it into the back of the cosy. Sew the button to the cosy opposite the loop.

About the designer

Sara Sinaguglia is a 30-something mother of two who runs a cookery school, has a Folksy shop, an Etsy shop and writes a blog. We're not sure how she has time to crochet apple cosies but we fell for them. Read her blog at: onechurchillsgreen.typepad.com

About Mollie Makes

Mollie Makes is a brand new craft magazine that focuses on contemporary fabric crafts, providing readers with inspiring projects from around the world. At Mollie Makes we enjoy making, collecting, crafting and thrifting. We love to hunt for bargains, spend way too much time on crafty blogs and are happiest meeting up with friends and working on the latest project we've got on the go. molliemakes.com

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