Adorable Apple Rattle – Complete Step-by-Step Pattern

1. Gathering Your Supplies

This project works up quickly, making it a perfect stash-buster! You'll need two colors of yarn to give the apple and its stem a lovely contrast.

• Yarn: Cotton or acrylic blend (e.g., YarnArt Jeans or similar).
  • Color A: Red, green, or yellow (for the apple body).
  • Color B: Brown or green (for the stem and top detail).
• Hook: Size appropriate for your yarn (typically 2.0 mm – 2.5 mm for a tight, stuff-proof gauge).
• Notions: A plastic rattle insert, poly-fil stuffing, tapestry needle, and scissors.
• Abbreviations:
  • MR – magic ring
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – increase (2 sc in one stitch)
  • dec – decrease (2 sc crocheted together)

What you'll master: Seamless color changes, working with rattle inserts, and creating a sturdy, baby-safe toy.

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2. The Apple Base (Color A)

We’ll start at the bottom of the apple, working in a continuous spiral to build a perfectly round, plump shape.

• R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• R2: 6 inc (12)
• R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
• R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
• R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
• R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
• R7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
• R8: (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)
• R9: (7 sc, inc) x 6 (54)
• R10-19: 54 sc (54) [10 rows]
• R20: (7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)
• R21: (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)
• R22: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
• R23: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
• R24: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24). Start stuffing the apple firmly with poly-fil.
• R25: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18). 🔔 Important: Insert your plastic rattle here!
• R26: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12). Add a tiny bit more stuffing around the rattle to keep it centered.
• R27: 6 dec (6). Fasten off Color A. We will change colors for the stem.

What you'll master: Structured increasing and decreasing for a flawless spherical shape, and strategically placing a rattle insert.

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3. The Stem (Color B)

Now for the cute little stem! Because it’s worked in a simple, narrow tube, you can easily customize its length to suit your style.

• R28-57: 6 sc (6) [30 rows].
  • Friendly Tip: The original pattern uses 30 rows for the stem, but feel free to make it shorter (e.g., 15-20 rows) or longer depending on your preference!
• End of R57: On the very last stitch of this row, change back to Color A (or a contrasting leaf color, if you prefer) to begin the top detail.

What you'll master: Working narrow, continuous tubes and executing clean, mid-row color changes.

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4. The Top Detail / Leaf Base (Color A)

This final section flares out slightly to create a beautiful, rounded finish at the top of the apple, giving it a charming, organic look (and providing a great base if you want to add a separate crocheted leaf later!).

• R58: 6 inc (12)
• R59: 12 inc (24)
• R60: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
• R61: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
• R62-65: 36 sc (36) [4 rows]
• R66: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
• R67: 30 sc (30)
• R68: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
• R69: 24 sc (24)
• R70: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
• R71: 18 sc (18)
• R72: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
• R73: 12 sc (12)
• R74: 6 dec (6)
• Finishing: Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use your tapestry needle to weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pull it tight like a drawstring to close the hole seamlessly, and hide the end inside the apple.

What you'll master: Flaring shapes with rapid increases, and a professional, invisible finish.

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Final Section: Where to Go from Here

Congratulations! You’ve just crocheted a delightful, baby-safe apple rattle. This pattern is wonderfully straightforward, making it a fantastic project for a quick gift or a satisfying afternoon of crafting.

From here, try experimenting with different color combinations to create a whole "fruit basket" of rattles (a sunny yellow lemon or a bright orange, perhaps?). You could even sew a tiny, separate green leaf onto the top of the stem for an extra touch of realism. Happy crocheting, and enjoy the sweet sound of that rattle!