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The Crochet Lady: Thankful to offer readers another project to start your holiday season

Maurita the Crochet Lady here with another holiday project. This month, I picked a simple but cute cornucopia. I used 4 strands worsted weight yarn together for the entire cornucopia with N hook (10mm). A small one can be made using one strand of yarn with H hook. Apples are worked using 2 strands yarn with J hook (6mm) and are also stuffed lightly with fiberfill. You will also need a tapestry or yarn needle to sew stem through the apple to create the proper shape. If you plan to use real apples (etc.), I recommend you use cotton yarn or at least make sure you have knotted the yarn extra when fastening off and hide the yarn tails well so when you wash it gently, it does not unravel.

NOTES: Begin at pointed end. Stitch markers or yarn scraps can be used to keep track of increases, etc. Once a "FRONT POST" stitch has been made to create a ridge line down the project, the same stitch will be a "FRONT POST" every round to follow even if there is an increase next to it. Unless stated otherwise, at end of each round, join with a slip stitch in top of beginning stitch. When making a FRONT POST STITCH, do not work into top of stitch of previous round like you normally would unless instructed to increase. WORK EVEN = duplicate each stitch type from previous round so ridges stay lined up but no increases are made (example: DC in DC, FP TRC over post of FP TRC of previous round).

STITCHES: CH=chain, SL ST=slip stitch, SC=single crochet, SC INC=single crochet increase=2SC in 1 stitch. SC DEC=single crochet decrease=draw up loop in next 2 stitches then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook. DC=double crochet, DC INC=double crochet increase=2 dc in 1stitch, FP TRC=front post treble crochet=work TRC over post of stitch in round below on front side of project. IMPORTANT NOTE: 1ST DC LISTED IN A ROUND IS CREATED BY CH2.

DIRECTIONS FOR CORNUCOPIA:

RND1: CH4, join with SL ST to form ring, 6DC in ring, join.

RND2: DC INC around, join.

RND3: (DC, special increase=DC, FP TRC over stitch just worked into) repeat (...) around ... 18 stitches total.

RND4: work even.

RND5: (DC, FP TRC, special increase=DC in next stitch then FP TRC over same stitch of previous round), repeat (...) around.

RND6: work even.

RND7: (DC, SPECIAL INCREASE), repeat (...) around.

RND8: (DC, DC INC, FP TRC), repeat (...) around.

RND9: (DC INC, FP TRC), repeat (...) around.

RND10-14: work even.

RND 15: SC around. Note: try to work a little tighter on this round to prepare for decorative edge.

RND16: decorative edge=(CH1, skip 2 stitches, 6 DC in SC above ridge to make fan shape, skip 2 stitches), repeat (...) around, join. FASTEN OFF leaving yarn tail to sew in.

DIRECTIONS FOR APPLE (RNDS worked as a spiral instead of individual rounds)

RND1: CH2, 6 SC in first chain. NOTE: first stitch of each round can have stitch marker.

RND2: SC INC around.

RND3: (SC, SC INC), repeat (...) around.

RND4-8: work even, lightly stuff with fiberfill.

RND9: (SC, SC DEC), repeat (...) around.

RND10: SC DEC around. Fasten off leaving yarn tail, sew hole closed, sew through apple core and knot into place.

STEM: CH 6, skip 1 CH, SC across, fasten off leaving yarn tail to sew through apple core in same direction as apple base, knot and hide ends.

I hope you enjoy crocheting this cute cornucopia for your holiday season. Until next time, happy crocheting.