Teacher Appreciation Gift - Free Crochet Pattern

Apple Dishcloth - Free Crochet Pattern

Wow! Where has the time gone? Another year of school is almost over. Maybe it is because this year has been jam packed full of exciting changes for us that it seems to have flown by. Since the beginning of September we have; busted our butts on home renovations, sold a house, went on house hunting trips, purchased a new house, moved across Canada, unpacked and started on more home renovations. 

I've got to hand it to my kids, the have been really amazing with the whole transition. Moving in the middle of a school year is not an easy thing to do. My (almost 13 year old) daughter was my biggest concern because thirteen is a really difficult age to start over with friends and school. Astonishingly, I just attended an end of year assembly this morning where she received an award for her character...…Gotta' say I'm a pretty proud momma at the moment. 

Not only was I blessed with amazing kids, but we have also been blessed with finding a wonderful community with a great school full of caring staff and teachers. 

My son has Type 1 Diabetes, so coming into a new school in the middle of a school year is not only a big challenge for him, but also a huge undertaking for the teacher. Not only was she getting a new student but a student with medical needs that require extra care and attention on a daily basis. I cannot express how truly amazing it has been to have her care for and teach my son. As a small gesture of appreciation I wanted to give her a little gift at the end of the year. 

Giving an apple to a teacher is a symbol of appreciation. Out of curiosity, I googled why an apple is given to a teacher as a symbol of appreciation. Basically, it said that apples are in season in September when the school year begins so apples were a common item to give to teachers as a form of payment for their services.  

Also I wanted to give a gift that was useful and wouldn't go to waste, but at the same time had a personal touch to show that I put thought and time into the gift. 

To recap, I wanted something handmade that could be useful and was the traditional symbol of appreciation for a teacher. So, I decided to crochet apple dishcloths that I could add to a little gift basket for my sons teacher. 

Apple Dishcloth - Free Crochet Pattern

Materials that you will need;

• worsted weight yarn in colors; cream, red, brown and green ( I used Bernat Premium Aran (cream), Spring Green, brown and bright red)
• H-5mm Crochet Hook
• scissors
• yarn needle
• stitch marker

Abbreviations:

dc = double crochet
Hdc = Half double crochet 
sc = single crochet 
sl st = slip stitch
cc = change color
cl st = cluster stitch (yarn over and pull through three times then pull through all the loops on the hook) 
ch = chain

sts = stitches

Pattern

Begin with a magic ring

Round 1: dc x10 pull magic ring tight, join with a sl st (10 sts)

 On the second round I like to incorporate the brown for the apple seeds in the round because it makes the finished product look nice and neat. If you prefer not to add the brown in this round then just do 2 dc in each stitch around to give you 20 sts, then stitch in the apple seeds in brown when the apple is finished.  I have written the pattern to reflect adding the brown into the second round. 

Round 2:   ** Note for this round all of the cluster stitches (cl st) will be in brown ****

ch 2, (dc, cl st) in first stitch, *2 dc in next st, (dc, cl) in next * repeat from between the * to the end of the round, join with a sl st (20 sts) 

Round 3: ch 2, *2dc, dc* repeat from between the * until the end of the round, join with a sl st (30sts) 

Round 4: ch 2, *2dc, dc, dc* repeat from between the * until the end of the round (40 sts) 

Round 5: ch 1, sc, sc, Hdc, 2dc in the next 6 stitches, Hdc, sc in the next 5 sts, Hdc, 3dc in the next st, Hdc, sc in the next 4 sts, Hdc, 3dc in next st, Hdc, sc in the next 5 sts, Hdc, 2dc in the next 6 sts, Hdc, sc, sc, join with a sl st, cc to red (or green if you are making a green apple) (54 sts) 

Round 6: ( in red or green) ch 1, Hdc, Hdc, dc in the next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in the next 18 sts, 3dc in next st, sl st, 3 dc in next st, dc in the next 17 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in the next 6 sts, Hdc, Hdc, join with a sl st then sl st again directly below begin st 2 rows down, pull through and tie off, weave in ends. (62 sts) 

Leaf Pattern

using green color chain 9

sl st in first ch from hook, sc, Hdc, dc, dc, Hdc, sc, sl st, chain 1 and work around to other side of leaf, sl st, sc, Hdc, dc, dc, Hdc, sc, sl st, ch1 sl st to beginning st. Pull through long tail, weave down the middle of the leaf so that both tails are on the same end of the leaf and tie leaf onto apple. Weave in ends.

Stem - using brown crochet an icord to desired length and tie onto apple.

I hope you enjoy this Free Crochet Pattern.

I would love to see any of your creation. Tag me on Instagram @the_apple_tree_crochet

Comment below with any questions or just to say hey!

Happy Summer Everyone!