Cottage Garden Crochet Tomato

If you liked the Cottage Garden carrots and cabbage that Patrick and Archie, the Cottage Garden Bunnies, keep in their patch then you’re likely to enjoy these small crochet tomato as well!

These super cute tomatoes are a beginner friendly design that work up quickly. The pattern includes the body of the tomato along two different tomato top options to vary up the tomatoes in your garden. Adding a cute little face can give you a third option if you wish for even more variety.

The trickiest part really is knowing when to stop making them. Before you know it you may very well just have a bushel or two! I know that I definitely wasn’t able to make just one! That’s okay though it just means having more to share!

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Grow your own Cottage Garden one stitch at at time using these fun patterns in the Cottage Garden Series!

• Cottage Garden Crochet Carrots
• Cottage Garden Crochet Cabbage
• Cottage Garden Crochet Bunny
• And more to come!

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The Yarn

For this project I used Caron Simply Soft. It’s a worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn (although I would say a thin worsted in comparison to others) that comes in a wide range of colors and styles including the regular simply soft solids, collection, heathers, tweeds, ombres, brites, stripes, paints, speckles, camos, party, and several more! Truly a wide variety to choose from for any project!

The yarn has a super soft feel with a bit of a sheen. It is a yarn that is often easy to find in store and online and has been long loved by many crafters for its softness, ease of care, and wide selection of colors. I keep it well stocked in my yarn stash and reach for it frequently when designing.

There are a couple of items that I can think of that may be considered cons for some, so it’s best that we discuss these too. The Simply Soft yarns have a tendency to split at times when working with them. Practicing with the yarn over the years and learning how it reacts to being worked has helped me to eliminate this issue for the most part.

If you are a beginning crocheter trying to use this yarn and having issues perhaps switch to another yarn or allow yourself time to become familiar with how it responds to being stitched up.

The other item I want to note is that this yarn can, at times, develop more of a slight fuzzy look the more it is worked in comparison to other acrylic yarns that I have used. It’s kind of like a very slight halo. This is not a deterrent for me, but maybe for some.

For typical use, the gauge on the label recommends:

Crochet Gauge (4″ x 4″)	13 sc x 14 rows using a size H-8 (5mm) hook
Knit Gauge (4″ x 4″)	18 sts x 24 rows using #8 (5 mm) needles

However, when making amigurumi a smaller hook than the label recommends is used. I recommend going no larger than a size E (3.5mm) hook when using worsted weight yarn to help make a more solid fabric. You don’t want your stuffing showing through!

The yarn is both machine washable and dryable, but on that note, I do not recommend machine washing amigurumi. Instead, I recommend spot cleaning and air drying them if cleaning is necessary.

All of this said, if you are needing to purchase alternative yarn or want to shop from your personal stash there are many options. I feel that this design would substitute well with the use of any worsted weight yarn in acrylic, cotton, wool, or a blend of any of these.

I also think that this design would fair well to changing yarn weights, but you would also need to adjust your hook size accordingly and any changes made will likely result in variable size dimensions of the finished piece. If you decide to experiment with different yarn types or sizes I’d love to hear about your results! Do share!

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The Pattern

Difficulty

Advanced Beginner

Materials

• Crochet Hook, Size E/4 (3.5 mm) 
• Stitch Marker(s)
• Scissors
• Stuffing
• Tapestry Needle
• Pins (optional)
• Disc Needle Puller (optional)
• Safety eyes, 6mm (optional)
• Embroidery Floss, black (optional)
• Embroidery Needle (optional)
• Chopstick, dowel, or something similar to help with stuffing
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, Approx 315 yds/288 m, 6 oz/170 g), Color (A) Red, used approx. 12 yds/11 m, Color (B) Dark Sage, used approx. 4 yds/4 m

Gauge

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the first 5 rounds of the tomato measures 1.75 inches (approx 4.5 cm) in diameter.

Finished Measurements

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the tomato measures approximately 2 inches wide, approximately 2 inches tall including the stem, and 5.5 inches in circumference at the widest part.

Design Notes

• Pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
• Pattern is written in rounds, it will be helpful to place a stitch marker at the beginning stitch of the round and move it up at the start of each additional round.
• At the end of each round the number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses.
• Further design notes will be provided throughout the pattern to help aid in construction.
• Caution! If using safety eyes take into consideration who will be using the item. The use of safety eyes is not recommended for children under the age of three or for those prone to putting things in their mouth as they may cause a choking hazard. Crocheted or hand embroidered eyes are a great alternative!

Abbreviations/Stitches Used

• BLO – Back loop only
• ch – Chain
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – Single crochet
• sc2tog – Single crochet 2 stitches together using the invisible decrease
• sl st – Slip stitch
• st(s) – Stitch(s)
• [ ]/( ) – Work instructions between brackets as many times as directed
• magic circle/adjustable ring

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Let’s Make a Tomato (or a bushel)!

Using Color (A)

• Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (24sts)
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next 3sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (30sts)
• Rnds 6-9: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 4 Rnds)
• Rnd 10: [Sc in the next 3sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (24sts)
• Rnd 11: [Sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 6 times, sc2tog. (18sts)

If using safety eyes place them between Rnd 8 and Rnd 9 about 3sts apart.

Firmly stuff and shape and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnd 12: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 13: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. (8sts)
• Slst to the 1st st and fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole by threading the tail with a tapestry needle and grabbing only the front loops from the inside to the outside of the work around the hole, cinching until closed. Secure and weave in the end.

Tomato Tops

There are two options for the top. One includes both a stem and leaves and the other, just the leaves. Only one of the options is needed.

Stem With Leaves

Using Color (B)

• Rnd 1: 5sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (5sts)
• Rnd 2: In BLO: sc in each st around. (5sts)
• Rnd 3: Sc in each st around, sl st in the first st. (5sts)

Use the starting tail to stuff the stem.

• Rnd 4: [Ch 5, working in the back bars of the ch: sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sl st in the next 2sts, sc in the next st, sl st into the next st of Rnd3] 5 times. On the last leaf sl st into the first st. (5 leaves made)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching to the tomato.

Leaves Without the Stem

Using Color (B)

• Rnd 1: 5sc in adjustable (magic) circles, sl st in the first st. (5sts)
• Rnd 2: [Ch 5, working in the back bars of the ch: sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sl st in the next 2sts, sc in the next st, sl st into the next st of Rnd1] 5 times. On the last leaf sl st into the first st. (5 leaves made)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching to the tomato. Weave in the starting tail.

Assembly

• Stitch the tomato top onto the top center of the tomato, stitching close to the base so that the leaves remain free to move around. Lift up the leaves when stitching to more easily reach the stitches at the base of the stem for easier attachment.

Add a Face (optional)

• If adding a face use the embroidery floss and needle to stitch the mouth.

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Looking for more great patterns?

These may be of interest! 1. Small Animal Collection: Horse 2. Small Animal Collection: Elephant 3. Simple Amigurumi Penguin

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Copyright and Use Policy

This pattern and its photos are copyright of Jennifer Hayes (Jen Hayes Creations) and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not copy, sell, republish, distribute, or translate my patterns, photos, or tutorials in part or whole. Share this pattern on social media by using my social sharing buttons or a link to the pattern. You are welcome to sell any finished items produced from this pattern. Please credit Jen Hayes Creations as the designer and include a link to the pattern listing if selling the finished piece online. Thank you!