Cute, colourful and calorie-free Crochet Cakes

Whip up these teatime treats in colourful yarns for a charming seasonal display

These guilt-free decorative puds will add an extra pop of colour at the table. You could use them as pincushions, pattern weights (instead filled with plastic pellets) or toys for the little ones.

Abbreviations (UK)

beg: beginning

BLO: back loop only ch: chain cont: continue dc: double crochet dc2tog: double crochet 2 sts together dec: decrease dtr: double treble crochet

FLO: front loop only folls: follows htr: half treble crochet inc: increase pm: place stitch marker rem: remain/remaining rep: repeat rnd: round

RS: right side sl st: slip stitch st(s): stitch(es) tr: treble crochet

WS: wrong side yoh: yarn over hook

*: repeat instructions following asterisk as many times as stated

Special stitches

For smoother and less noticeable increases and decreases in your crochet, you can replace the 2dc in same st with an invisible increase, and the dc2tog with an invisible decrease. Here is how to work each one – and remember you can also work these with ‘yarn under’ instead for a tighter stitch:

Invisible increase: 1dc into front loop only, 1dc into same stitch (through both loops as usual). One st inc

Invisible decrease: insert hook in front loop of first st, then insert hook in front loop of second st, yoh, pull through two loops on hook, yoh, pull through remaining two loops.

One st dec

Try

Kit List

◆ 4mm crochet hook

◆ Drops Paris Aran Cotton, Vanilla 35 (A) 18g, Light Turquoise 02 (B) 7g, Pink 33 (C) 12g, 67 Wheat (D) 17g, 68 Almond (E) 10g, 16 White (F) 2g, 21 Light Mint Green (G), 27 Peach (H), 6g of each, 11 Opal Green (J), 10 Dark Turquoise (K), 01 Apricot (L), 1g of each

◆ Soft toy filling

◆ Stitch markers

◆ Scissors

◆ Tapestry needle

Cake slice

◆ Size: 8.5cm tall, 8.5cm (max) length

SIDE & BACK

Note: read the pattern carefully as you will not turn at the end of every row

Using 4mm hook and yarn A make 43ch

Row 1 (WS): 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each ch to end, turn. 42 sts

Row 2: 1ch (does not count as st throughout), 1dc in each st to end, turn

Row 3: as Row 2

Row 4: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, do not turn

Change to yarn B

Row 5 (RS): 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, do not turn

Fasten off yarn B

With RS facing, join in yarn A

Row 6 (RS): 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, do not turn

Row 7: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, turn

Change to yarn B

Row 8 (RS): 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, do not turn

Fasten off yarn B

With RS facing, join in yarn A

Row 9 (RS): 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, turn

Rep last row 6 times Fasten off

TRIANGLE TOP/BASE

(Make 2)

Using 4mm hook and yarn A make 13ch

Row 1: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each st to end, turn. 12 sts

Row 2: 1ch (does not count as st throughout), 1dc in each st to end, turn

Row 3: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each st to end, turn. 11 sts

Rep Row 3 until 2 sts rem

Next row: 1ch, 1dc in dec st. One st

Fasten off ICING

Using 4mm hook and yarn C make 13ch

Row 1: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each ch to end, turn. 12 sts

Row 2: 1ch (does not count as st throughout), 1dc in each st to end, turn

Rows 3-13: as Row 2

Row 14: 1ch, working in FLO, 1dc in each st to end, turn

Row 15: as Row 2

Commence decreasing into triangle as folls:

Row 16: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each st to end, turn. 11 sts

Rep Row 16 until two sts rem

Next row: 1ch, 1dc in dec st. One st Fasten off

Drip Icing

Using 4mm hook, yarn C and with RS facing, attach yarn to row end of Row 14 of Icing and work evenly into row ends as folls: 2ch, 1dtr in same st, 1tr in next st, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next st, 1tr in next st, 2dtr in next st, (1tr, 1htr) in next st, 1dc in next st, (1tr, 1dtr) in next st, 1tr in next st, 1dc in next st, (1htr, 1tr) in next st, 1dc in next st, cont along opposite edge, 1dc in same st, (1tr, 1htr) in next st, 1dc in next st, 1tr in next st, (1dtr, 1tr) in next st, 1dc in next st, (1htr, 1tr) in next st, 2dtr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next st, (1dtr, 1tr in last st)

Fasten off to opposite end of Row 14

To Make Up

Using whip stitch, join first row of Side & Back to wrap all around one Triangle. Seam row ends of Side & Back to resemble an empty slice of cake. Repeat to join second Triangle, stuffing as you go. Place Icing over Top of Slice, so Drip Icing protrudes and is slightly shorter over the Back. Using yarn C, discreetly sew Icing to Slice catching stitches underneath, allowing Drip Icing to hang free over edge. Weave in all ends

Macaron

(Make 3)

◆ Size: 5cm diameter

Note: work in a continuous spiral Using 4mm hook and B (G, H) make a magic circle, work 6dc into circle, pm for beg of rnd and move up each rnd. Six sts

Rnd 1: 2dc in each st to end.

12 sts

Rnd 2: (1dc, 2dc in next st) to end.

18 sts

Rnd 3: (2dc, 2dc in next st) to end.

24 sts

Rnd 4: (3dc, 2dc in next st) to end.

30 sts

Rnd 5: 1dc in each st to end

Rnd 6: (3dc, dc2tog) to end.

24 sts

Rnd 7: (2dc, dc2tog) to end. 18 sts Stuff as you go

Rnd 8: (1dc, dc2tog) to end. 12 sts

Rnd 9: (dc2tog) to end. 6 sts

Cut yarn, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

To Make Up

Using yarn J (K, L) in tapestry needle, embroider chain st around edge along Rnd 5 to indicate filling. Weave in all ends

Helping Hand

◆ For a firmer fabric, you can work any yoh as a 'yarn under' as this creates a tighter stitch. You may like to try this with the increase and/or decrease stitches, or indeed all your crochet stitches, just be consistent within the pattern for an even result. There are many useful YouTube tutorials demonstrating these techniques

◆ Skill up by working neater 'invisible’ increases and decreases in place of the usual crochet stitches by checking out the Special Stitches panel

◆ Why not add embroidered faces for an extra dose of cuteness?

◆ You can see more of Hayley’s designs on Instagram at @franklinrosecrochet

Find these instructions in the Members Area at createandcraft.com