How d'you like them apples? Here at Mollie Makes we like our apples crisp and juicy with no bruises thank you very much so we are just love love loving the chance to keep our fruit safe and sound by making apple cosies for our lunch boxes.
Crochet tutorial:Get to grips with crochet
Who would have thought a few years ago we would have seen granny squares on the catwalk but crochet has really hit the fashion headlines, thanks to collections from the likes of uber trendsville Henry Holland. We for one are totally thrilled crochet is back in vogue and as it looks set to be around for a while we thoroughly recommend getting hooked.
What's that you say? Don't know where to start? Phew! You've come to the right place.
If you are new to crochet do not fear the apple cosies are a great project for beginners and you'll soon know your slip stitch from your treble if you check out our easy tutorial. We're nice like that.
Ok, so you are probably wondering what complicated equipment you will need. Tools:
a crochet hook and some yarn! Pimpseroo and they can both be picked up cheaply at any haberdashery or wool shop.
a crochet hook and some yarn! Pimpseroo and they can both be picked up cheaply at any haberdashery or wool shop.
Warning:These instructions presume pretty much no knowledge but some common sense, winky smiley.
Learn how to crochet - a step by step guide
Firstly you have to decide how you want to hold your hook. There are a few ways, just do whatever you find easiest, obvs.
Make a slip knot.
How: approx 15cm from the end of the yarn make a loop with the ball end on top and hook down through the loop and catch the yarn, pulling it through. Pull both ends of the yarn to tighten the knot, but not too tight - you've been warned.
You are now ready to crochet and it couldn't be simpler. Do you remember when you were at school and you did metres of finger knitting? Well crochet is similar.
To make a foundation chain you need to make a chain stitch
How: with the hook in your right hand, hold the slip knot between thumb and finger of the left hand. Move the hook under and over the yarn, with the yarn held in the hook. This action is called yrh or yoh.
Make your first chain stitch
How: pull the hook and yarn back through the slip knot loop to form the first chain stitch.
Ooooh so this is what your row of chains will look like.
Keep going until you have the correct number of chains, as stated on your pattern.
Keep going until you have the correct number of chains, as stated on your pattern.
Make a slip stitch (sl st) which can also be known as single crochet and used to join a row into a round.
How:insert the hook from front to back under the top of the second chain from the hook. Wrap the yarn round the hook (yrh). Pull the yarn through both of the loops on the hook to make a slip stitch.
To carry on working a row of slip stitch, insert the hook into the next chain down and so on, repeating step 2 each time.
Learn how to double crochet (dc) this is where things start to get interesting as your project grows!
How: skip 2 ch and insert the hook under the top loop of the 3rd ch
How: wind the yarn around the hook and pull it through the chain loop leaving two loops on your crochet hook.
How:yrh again, then pull the yarn through both loops. There's your double crochet (dc) made and you'll have one loop left on your hook ready to do the next stitch. To do a row of dc, continue to end of chain sts.
How: for the following rows you must turn your work and ch1. This is turning the chain (t-ch) and counts as the first dc. Skip the stitch, at the base then work 1dc under the top 2 loops of each stitch to the end, including the top of t-ch on following rows.
Learn how to treble crochet, it's great for building.
How:make a foundation chain. Skip 3ch, yrh, and insert hook under the top loop of the 4th ch yrh.
How:pull the yarn through the ch loop only (3 loops on hook), yrh.
How:pull the yarn through 2 loops only (2 loops on hook), yrh. Pull the yarn through these 2 loops. Yay! You've made a treble crochet. Continue working tr into next and all the following chains to end of the row.
How: to make the next tr rows, turn work and 3 ch. This is the t-ch and counts as the first treble in a new row. Skip the first stitch at the base, work 1tr into top 2 loops of 2nd stitch in previous row. Work 1 tr into next and each st to end, including into top of t-ch.
Phew, all done.