Fruit Cardigans

I decided to make an apple jacket for a friend for Christmas.  I had seen pictures of them before, and they seemed like a cute (but perhaps impractical) idea.  Anna had sent me a link to an apple jacket pattern, and she seemed pretty sure she would actually use one (my main objection to making these was that, though these cute little cozies have a definite “cool factor”, I wasn’t sure that anyone would actually use one.

So, I designed my own version of the Apple Jacket.  To make a distinction between my pattern and everyone else’s, I have decided to call these wraps cardigans.  So much more appropriate, don’t you think?  (Well, ummm...except for the fact that a cardigan opens all the way down the front!!)

The Original Apple Cardigan (I later added another leaf, just because.)

So, as a free service to the apples of the world, here is my pattern for the Apple Cardigan.  If it is in my power, these little guys will not be left shivering in the cold!

Apple Cardigan

Materials:  1 oz. Caron Simply Soft or similar Category 4 worsted-weight yarn (completed cardigan weighs .7 oz., with one leaf and button attached)

                  Size G hook

                  One button, 5/8-7/8 inches in diameter

Gauge:  7 sts and 9 rows = 2 inches in sc

Instructions:

Ch 3; join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1:  Ch 1, 6 sc in ring.  Sl st to first sc.

Round 2:  Ch 1, 2 sc in ea st around.  Sl st to first sc.  12 sts.

Round 3:  Ch 1, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 6 times.  Sl st to first sc.  18 sts.

Round 4:  Ch 1, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) 6 times.  Sl st to first sc.  24 sts.

Round 5:  Ch 1, (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times.  Sl st to first sc.  30 sts.

Rounds 6-8:  Ch 1, sc in ea st around.  Sl st to first sc. 

Rows 9-17:  Ch 1, sc in ea st around; do not sl st to first sc.  Turn work.

Row 18 (WS):  Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, (sc in 3 sts, sc2tog) 5 times.  Sc in last st.  Turn.  24 sts.

Row 19:  Ch 1, (sc in 2 sts, sc2tog) 6 times.  Turn.  18 sts.

Row 20:  Ch 1, (sc in 1 st, sc2tog) 6 times.  Turn.  12 sts.

Edging:  Sl st across top (“neck”) edge of cardigan, at left corner ch 13 (or desired length) for button loop, sl st in same corner st, sl st in edge of ea row of front opening to beg of sl st round.  Break off; weave in ends.

Leaf (optional):  Make as many as desired, attaching to neck edge of apple wherever you wish.

Ch 6.

Round 1:  Sc in 2^nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch.  Turn; working along opposite side of ch, hdc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sc in end of ch, ch 2, sl st around any st of Row 19 of Cardigan (this is like working a post st—insert the hook to the right of the st from front to back, and bring it back to the front on the left side of the st, yo and pull the loop around behind the st to the front of the work, and through the st on the hook) sl st in 2 chs, sl st in ea st around first half of leaf, working into back lps, ch 2, sl st in back lp of east of other side of leaf, sl st in stem chs, sl st into next st of Row 19.  Break off; weave in ends.

As I was contemplating the Apple Jacket idea, it occurred to me that it would be fun to make some other kind of fruit cardigan.  But what…?  Bananas and oranges already have jackets, of sorts.  But what if Anna wanted to bring grapes in her lunch??  Their bare little heads would surely catch a chill on a winter day.  Thus the idea of the Grape Cardigan was born.  I realized that this was a very impractical gift, but I sensed that Anna would appreciate the humor of it, even if she never actually used them.  Perhaps you would like to make some for a friend, too!  So, again, my gift to grapes everywhere…a free pattern for Grape Cardigans!

Anna's Grape Cardigans

Grape Cardigans

Materials:       Small amount Vanna’s Glamour yarn (Three of each size on a stem weigh .2 oz.), or similar-sized (Category 2) sport weight or sock yarn to meet gauge

Size 1 steel crochet hook

Gauge:            12 sts and 7 rows = 2 inches in dc

Instructions:

Large and Small Cardigans

Smaller size (fits small-to-medium grapes and small grape tomatoes):

Ch 3; join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1:  Ch 2, 12 dc in ring.  Sl st to top of first dc.

Round 2:  Ch 2, dc in ea st.  Sl st to top of first dc.

Row 3:  Ch 3, dc in next 11 sts.  Do not join; turn.

Row 4:  Ch 3, dc2tog, (dc in next st, dc2tog) 3 times.  Turn.  8 sts.

Row 5:  Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st) 3 times, sc in last st.

Larger size (fits medium-to-large grapes and medium grape tomatoes):

Work Rounds 1-3 as for smaller cardigan

Rows 4-5:  Rep Row 3..

Row 6:  Ch 1, sc in 2 sts, sc2tog, (sc in next st, sc2tog) 2 times, sc in 2 sts.  Turn.  9 sts.

Row 7:  Ch 1, (sc  in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st) 4 times, sc in last st.  Break off.

“Stem”

Ch 90, or desired length to accommodate the number of grapes you have made.  The grapes can cluster at one end of the stem, but must be able to slide apart on the stem in order to more easily pop the fruit in and out of their cardigans.

Thread the stem chain through the chain lps of the last row of each cardigan.  For extra security (we would hate for the poor defenseless grapes to fall out and be smashed underfoot!), run the stem chain through the first lp of each cardigan a second time before threading through the next cardigan.  When all the cardigans are assembled on the chain, tie the ends of the chain together with an overhand knot.

To fill the cardigans, slide the first cardigan apart from the others and open up the top as much as possible so you can pop a grape inside.  If you include some cardigans of each size on the stem, there will be more options for a good fit.  When the grape is inserted, pull on the chain to draw up the loops as much as possible; then open up the next cardigan and fill it.  Continue until all your grapes are warmly covered.

Filled Grape Cardigans

Apple and Grape Cardigan patterns Copyright © 2012 Rebecca Harmon