Fresh strawberries are only here for the summer, but these little crochet strawberries will last year round. These amigurumi style strawberries are a perfect addition to your family’s play kitchen, or as a topper for a jar of homemade strawberry jam given as a gift. Whip up a few, hide them in your strawberry patch, and surprise your little gardeners.
Materials
Red and green crochet thread, size 3
Size 4 crochet hook (or any small crochet hook – gauge does not matter)
A small amount of cotton or wool stuffing
Tapestry needle
Directions
Strawberry Body
The strawberry is crocheted continually in the round. You might wish to mark the beginning of each round with a marker or a piece of thread.
Using red crochet thread, chain 2.
Round 1: 6 single crochet (sc) in the first chain.
Round 2: (2 sc in one stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) three times for a total of 9 stitches.
Round 3: 1 sc in each stitch.
Round 4: (2 sc in one stitch, 1 sc in each of the next two stitches) three times for a total of 12 stitches.
Round 5: 1 sc in each stitch.
Round 6: (2sc in one stitch, 1 sc in each of the next three stitches) three times for a total of 15 stitches.
Round 7: 1 sc in each stitch.
Round 8: (2 sc in one stitch, 1 sc in each of the next four stitches) three times for a total of 18 stitches.
Round 9: 1 sc in each stitch.
Round 10: (2 sc in one stitch, 1 sc in each of the next five stitches) three times for a total of 21 stitches.
Round 11: 1 sc in each stitch.
Round 12: (2 sc in one stitch, 1 sc in each of the next six stitches) three times for a total of 24 stitches.
Round 13: (Single crochet two together, 1 sc in next stitch) eight times.
Round 14: (Single crochet two together) eight times. Slip stitch and finish off, leaving a 6 to 8 inch tail.
Stuff the strawberry with wool or cotton stuffing, then weave the tail in and out of the last round and pull the top of the strawberry closed.
Finish off and cut tail.
Strawberry Top
With green crochet thread, leaving an 8-10 inch tail, chain 2.
Round 1: 5 sc in first chain.
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch for a total of 10 stitches.
Round 3: 2 sc in each stitch for a total of 20 stitches.
Round 4: (1 half double crochet in one stitch, [double crochet, triple crochet,double crochet] in next stitch, 1 half double crochet in next stitch, slip stitch in next stitch) five times. Finish off leaving an 8-10 inch tail.
Pull the center tail thread through the middle of the strawberry top and chain 5 to create the strawberry stem.
Cut tail.
Place the strawberry top on the strawberry, pulling down and pinning each of the five lobes into evenly spaced points. Using a tapestry needle and the tail thread, tack down each each of the five lobes. Finish off and cut tail.
Your strawberry is complete!
Full PDF instructions are also available here.
May your hands enjoy the work of making them, and your children enjoy the fun of playing with them.
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Molly Dunham lives in the foothills of Northern California with her home-brewing husband, two unschooled children, and five egg-laying chickens. She blogs at A Foothill Home Companion.