Every week I tell myself I’m going to write this post early, and every week I end up writing it right on the wire. This week I knew better. I had a wisdom tooth pulled on Monday. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel. Thankfully, I’m feeling ok.

(They didn’t even offer me my tooth. How is the tooth fairy supposed to come? Oh wait, I paid for them to take my tooth. I guess I’m the tooth fairy now.)

Anyway, back on topic. I am almost to the point where if I wanted to, I could eat strawberries and cherries, but I don’t have to worry about these squares getting stuck in my teeth.

The strawberry and cherry squares are both a lot of fun. These two have definitely taken a lot of honing, but I like how they turned out. The strawberry is worked entirely in applique, but the cherry is part of the square.

Abbreviations:

• MR – Magic Ring, I prefer to use this one.
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sc – single crochet
• yo – yarn over
• BPdc/BPhdc/BPsc – Work stitch as normal around the indicated stitch inserting the hook from back to front
• ch – chain

Hook: I-hook or J-hook. I used an I-hook, but it’s a little tight. It is totally your preference. NOTE: On a number of rounds your work will curve up, but it will flatten as you crochet the next rows.

Yarn: I used Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn, but any worsted weight yarn should work.

Gauge: The finished square should measure 6″.

Strawberry Square

The strawberry square is made in two parts. You’ll start with a plain square and add an applique strawberry.

Plain Square

Round 1: Make a Magic Ring (MR). Ch 1, 8 hdc in MR. Join with sl st to first st. (8 hdc)

Round 2: Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Join with sl st to first st. (16 dc)

Round 3: Ch 2, dc in same st. [Ch 2, dc in next st, hdc in same st. Sc in next 2 st.* Hdc and dc in next st.] 4 times ending with *. Join with sl st to the top of ch 2. Sl st to corner space. (6 st and ch 2 on each side)

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in corner space, ch 2, 2 dc in same space. [Dc in next 6 st,* (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner space] 4 times ending with *. Join with sl st to the top of ch 2. Sl st to corner space. (10 st and ch 2 on each side)

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in corner space, ch 2, 2 dc in same space. [Dc in next 10 st,* (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner space] 4 times ending with *. Join with sl st to the top of ch 2. Sl st to corner space. (14 st and ch 2 on each side)

Round 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in corner space, ch 1, 2 sc in same space. [Sc in next 14 st,* (2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc) in corner space] 4 times ending with *. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to corner space. (18 st and ch 1 on each side)

Round 7: Ch 2, sc in corner sp. (Ch 2, skip 2 st, [sc in next st, ch 2] to corner.* Sc, ch 2, sc in corner space.) Repeat 4 times ending with *. Join with sl st to the first ch. Fasten off.

Strawberry Applique

Round 1: With red, make Magic Ring. Ch 1, 8 hdc in MR. Join with sl st to first st.

Round 2: Ch 2, dc in same st. 2 dc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16 dc)

Round 3: Ch 2, dc in same st. 1 dc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 5 times. Sc in next st, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, dc in last st. Join with sl. st.

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 tc in same st. dc in next st, 2 hdc in next st. Sc in next 6 st. (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 3 times, sc in next 6 st. 2 hdc in next st, dc in last st. Join. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Before sewing the applique to the square add brown seeds at random intervals. Fasten off. Make sure the ends do not show once sewn on. Attach strawberry to square.

Leaves

Round 1: With green, make MR. Ch 1, 8 sc in MR, Join.

Round 2: Ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st in same space as join. Sl st in next 2 st. (ch 3, tc, ch 3, sl st in same st. Sl st in next 2 st) twice. Ch 1, dc, ch 1, sl st in next st. Fasten off and sew on top of strawberry.

Cherry Square

Round 1: With red, make MR. Ch 1, 8 hdc in MR. Join.

Round 2: Ch 2, dc in same st. 2 dc in each st around. Join. Fasten off. (16 dc)

Round 3: Join white with sl st in second dc of any 2 dc group. Ch 1. Hdc2Together in corresponding st in round one.

Bpsc around each st around. Join. (16 st)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next st. (hdc, dc) in next st, ch 2. [(dc, hdc) in next st, sc in next 2 st, (hdc, dc) in next st, ch 2] 3 times. (Dc, hdc) in next st, sc in last st. Join.

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in next 2 st. [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in next 6 st] 3 times. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp. dc in last 3 st. Join.

Round 6: Ch 2, hdc in next 6 st. [(2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner, hdc in next 14 st] 3 times. (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner. hdc in last 7 st. Join.

Round 7: Sl st in next st. (Ch 2, sk st, sc) across to corner. [Ch 2, sc in corner, sk 2 st, ch 2, sc. (ch 2, sk st, sc) across to corner] 3 times. Ch 2, sc in corner, (sk 2 st., ch 2, sc) to first sl st. Join. Fasten off.

With brown, surface crochet stem or embroider with needle. Fasten off. Sew in ends.

Leaf

Ch 7. Dc in 4th ch from hook, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st to last ch. Fasten off.

Sew leaf on stem. Sew in ends.

There you have it: strawberries and cherries.

How is your Fruit Salad coming along? Make sure to share pictures!