Confident beginner · free small project

Apple tapestry mug rug

Make a compact fruit panel in single crochet. Unlike the C2C version, each chart square is one stitch, and its physical width follows your single-crochet gauge.

Original Purlgrid recipe · engine-checked counts · diagrams are previews, not photographs of a physically made sample.

Supplies and skills

Smooth washable yarn in the chart colours, a suitable hook, small bobbins and a yarn needle.

  • US single crochet
  • Read alternating rows
  • Manage colour areas

How to make it

  1. Swatch in single crochet using the colourwork method you intend to use. Open the editable chart to enter stitch and row gauge and review the physical dimensions.
  2. Follow the foundation and single-crochet row instructions. Work from the bottom of the chart upward; the written arrows change direction on successive rows.
  3. When a row uses more colours than you comfortably carry, use separate small bobbins for the colour areas. The chart reports the colour count per row so you can plan before starting.
  4. Fasten off, secure the many colour-change ends and block the panel gently. A backing or added border is optional and is not counted by the chart.

Keep unused strands relaxed. The yarn amount is not guessed from the picture.

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  • Chart24 single crochet × 24 rows · 6 colours with the background
  • Sizeabout 13.3 × 13.3 cm (5.25 × 5.25 in) at 18 sc and 18 rows in 10 cm, your gauge
  • Method7 rows use 1–2 colours (carry the other yarn inside the stitches), 9 rows use 3, and 8 rows use more (up to 4). Carrying more than 2 strands makes stiff fabric, so work those rows with a separate small bobbin for each colour area, graphgan style.
Every row written out (24 rows of 24 sc)

Start at the bottom right corner. Odd rows go ← (right to left), even rows → (left to right). The numbers are single crochet stitches; the letter is the colour, as in the key. Change colour on the last pull-through of the stitch before.

  1. Row 1 ← (1 colour) 24 A
  2. Row 2 → (1 colour) 24 A
  3. Row 3 ← (1 colour) 24 A
  4. Row 4 → (2 colours) 9 A, 6 C, 9 A
  5. Row 5 ← (3 colours) 7 A, 2 C, 6 B, 2 C, 7 A
  6. Row 6 → (3 colours) 6 A, 1 C, 10 B, 1 C, 6 A
  7. Row 7 ← (3 colours) 5 A, 1 C, 12 B, 1 C, 5 A
  8. Row 8 → (3 colours) 5 A, 1 C, 12 B, 1 C, 5 A
  9. Row 9 ← (3 colours) 4 A, 1 C, 14 B, 1 C, 4 A
  10. Row 10 → (4 colours) 4 A, 1 C, 2 B, 2 F, 10 B, 1 C, 4 A
  11. Row 11 ← (4 colours) 4 A, 1 C, 10 B, 2 F, 2 B, 1 C, 4 A
  12. Row 12 → (4 colours) 4 A, 1 C, 2 B, 2 F, 10 B, 1 C, 4 A
  13. Row 13 ← (4 colours) 5 A, 1 C, 9 B, 2 F, 1 B, 1 C, 5 A
  14. Row 14 → (3 colours) 5 A, 1 C, 12 B, 1 C, 5 A
  15. Row 15 ← (3 colours) 6 A, 1 C, 10 B, 1 C, 6 A
  16. Row 16 → (4 colours) 7 A, 2 C, 1 B, 2 D, 3 B, 2 C, 7 A
  17. Row 17 ← (3 colours) 9 A, 3 C, 2 D, 1 C, 9 A
  18. Row 18 → (3 colours) 10 A, 2 D, 3 A, 2 C, 7 A
  19. Row 19 ← (4 colours) 6 A, 1 C, 2 E, 3 C, 1 D, 11 A
  20. Row 20 → (4 colours) 11 A, 2 D, 1 C, 4 E, 1 C, 5 A
  21. Row 21 ← (4 colours) 4 A, 2 C, 2 E, 2 C, 1 A, 2 D, 11 A
  22. Row 22 → (2 colours) 16 A, 2 C, 6 A
  23. Row 23 ← (1 colour) 24 A
  24. Row 24 → (1 colour) 24 A

Open this exact pattern in the editable tool ↗

Questions about this project

Is every row simple two-colour tapestry crochet?

No. The apple includes several colours, and some rows need several separate areas. The printed row information flags those rows; bobbin-style colourwork can be more suitable than carrying every colour.

Can I change the red apple to green?

Yes. Change the palette in the editable motif tool. A colour-only change preserves the grid and stitch count; redrawing the outline changes the counts.

Terms and next steps

k = knit; p = purl; sc = US single crochet; MC = main colour; CC = contrast colour. A number after a stitch abbreviation is the number of stitches to work. Read repeat instructions as written.

Abbreviation references: Craft Yarn Council knitting terms · Craft Yarn Council crochet terms and US/UK comparison.

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