Materials:

DROPS PARIS from Garnstudio
50 g color no 12, red
50 g color no 39, pistachio
Some left-over yarn color no 44, brown

DROPS CROCHET HOOK SIZE: 4.5 mm/ US 7 – or size needed to get 18 sc = width 10 cm / 4”.

ACCESSORIES: Some poly stuffing for filling

MAGIC CIRCLE:
When piece is worked in the round, start with this technique to avoid holes in the middle (instead of ch-ring): Hold the yarn end and wind the yarn one time around the index finger to make a loop. Hold the loop with left thumb and middle finger, place the thread over left index finger. Insert hook through the loop, make a YO and pull thread through loop, work ch 1, then work sc around the loop. When the desired no of sc have been reached, pull the yarn end to tighten the loop. Fasten the yarn end at the back. Continue to work in the round in a circle.

WORK IN THE ROUND IN A CIRCLE:
After last sc on the round, continue to next round with 1 sc in next sc (= first sc from previous round). NOTE: Insert a marker at the beg of round between last sc and first sc on the round, move the marker upwards when working.

INCREASE TIP:
Inc 1 sc by working 2 sc in next sc.

DECREASE TIP:
Dec 1 sc by working 2 sc tog as follows: * Insert hook in next sc, get thread *, repeat from *-* one more time, make a YO and pull thread through all 3 sts on hook.

APPLE:
Worked in the round in a circle. Start by making a MAGIC CIRCLE – read explanation above – at the bottom of apple with red on hook size 4.5 mm/ US 7.
ROUND 1: Work 7 sc in the magic circle – READ WORK IN THE ROUND IN A CIRCLE.
ROUND 2: Inc 1 sc in every sc = 14 sc.
ROUND 3: * 1 sc in next sc, inc 1 sc in next sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 21 sc.
ROUND 4: * 1 sc in each of the next 2 sc, inc 1 sc in next sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 28 sc.
ROUND 5: * 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, inc 1 sc in next sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 35 sc.
ROUND 6: Work 1 sc in every sc.
ROUND 7: * 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, inc 1 sc in next sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 42 sc.
ROUND 8-16: Work 1 sc in every sc.
ROUND 17: * 1 sc in each of the next 5 sc, dec 1 sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 36 sc.
ROUND 18: * 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, dec 1 sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 30 sc.
ROUND 19: * 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, dec 1 sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 24 sc.
ROUND 20: * 1 sc in each of the next 2 sc, dec 1 sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 18 sc.
ROUND 21: * 1 sc in next sc, dec 1 sc *, repeat from *-* the entire round = 12 sc.
ROUND 22: Work all sc tog 2 by 2 = 6 sc, cut the thread. Fill the apple with some poly stuffing, sew the last 6 sc tog with thread end. NOTE: Pull the thread end through the top and bottom of apple to make a dent in each side.

STEM:
Worked in the round in a circle. Ch 3 with brown on hook size 4.5 mm/ US 7, then 2 sc in 1st and 2nd ch = 4 sc. Continue in the round and work a total of 16 sc with 1 sc in every sc, cut and fasten the thread.

LEAF:
Worked back and forth. Crochet a row with 8 ch and pistachio on hook size 4.5 mm/ US 7, then crochet along the ch-row as follows: 1 sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of the next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in each of the next 2 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Then work on the other side of ch-row as follows: 1 dc in each of the next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in each of the next 2 ch, 1 sl st in the last ch, cut and fasten the thread.

ASSEMBLY:
Sew stem and leaf at the top of apple.