The Caron Notebook

Why not whip up a bowl of these strawberries as a table centerpiece? Mary Pueschner designed this cute little strawberry by splitting Simply Soft’s 4 strands into 2. But wait!!!!!! Have you seen Simply Soft Light yet?????  I just spotted some in my local JoAnn’s recently.  Substitute the Simply Soft in the this pattern for Simply Soft Light and no need to split the yarn!

Mini Sally Strawberry
designed by Mary C. Pueschner

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Amigurumi measures approximately 1 1/2”/4cm in diameter

YARN: Caron International’s Simply Soft (100% Acrylic; 6oz/170g, 315yds/288m): #9748 Rubine Red (A); #9607 Limelight (B); and #9727 Black (C).

CROCHET HOOK:  One size US C-2 (2.75mm)

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: Yarn needle, Fiberfill stuffing, 6mm wiggle eyes or safety eyes, Stitch marker

GAUGE: Exact gauge is not critical for this project, stitching should be tight.

STITCHES USED: Chain (ch), Half double crochet (hdc), Single crochet (sc), Slip stitch (slip st).

SPECIAL TERMS: sc2tog: Single crochet 2 together—Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.

NOTES: All yarn used is split into 2 strands of 2 plies each. Use 2 plies of yarn throughout. Do not join rounds. Place a marker in the last stitch of round and move up as rounds progress.

DIRECTIONS:
Strawberries
Cut 2 yds of A and split. With A, leaving a long tail, ch 4, join with a slip st to form a ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring and over tail, do not join, pull tail to close center ring—6 sc. Place marker in last stitch.
Round 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—9 sc.
Round 3: Sc in each st around.
Round 4: 2 sc in each st around—18 sc.
Rounds 5-6: Sc in each st around.
Round 7: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—24 sc.
Rounds 8-10: Sc in each st around.
Round 11: Sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 9 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 9 sts—24 sts.
Round 12: *[Sc2tog over next 2 sts] twice, hdc in next 7 sts, repeat from * once, sc2tog over next 2 sts—19 sts. Stuff the amigurumi and continue to stuff as work progresses.
Round 13: [Sc2tog over next 2 sts] 9 times, sc in next st, join with a sl st in next st—10 sc. Fasten off leaving a long tail. With yarn needle and sewing length, weave through final rnd of sts, pull tight and secure.

Leaves
Cut 1 yd of B and split. With B, leaving a long tail, ch 4, join with a slip st to form a ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring and over tail, do not join, pull tail to close center ring—6 sc.
Round 2: *Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, sl st in next st in round 1; repeat from * 5 times. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

FINISHING: With yarn needle and sewing length, sew leaves to top of strawberry. Glue or sew eyes to strawberry. With yarn needle and 2 strands of C, back st a mouth on strawberry. Weave in ends.