Yummy Crochet Giveaway and Free Pattern!

Some of you may remember this post from last year where I announced that I had some exiciting news. The time has come to let you know what it was...

Last year Kristen Rask, owner of Schmancy Toys, contacted me and asked if I would like to contrubute crochet patterns to her newest book. The book is called Yummy Crochet and features 12 different play food crochet patterns. Of course I said yes! Some of the first crochet patterns I ever designed were for crocheted vegetables so I chose to design the turnip and corn on the cob for the book. The book and kit (it comes with the materials necessary to make 2 of the projects) will be available at Barnes & Noble later this month.

Kristen was kind enough to provide a copy of the book so that I can do a giveaway. That's right, you can win a copy of Yummy Crochet!! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post with (1) your e-mail address (so I can contact you when you win) and (2) what crochet pattern you want me to design next. The winner will be chosen on September 15th. Good luck to everyone!!

To further celebrate the book's release (and because I love to crochet veggies!), I designed a free crochet pattern for bok choy. I hope you enjoy it :)


Materials:
- Crochet hook size E4 - 3.5mm
- Worsted weight acrylic yarn in white, light green and dark green
- Stuffing
- Yarn needle
- 2 black safety eyes
- Small amount of black yarn or thread for mouth
- Stitch markers - the pattern is worked in continuous rounds with the stitch marker moved up to the first stitch of each round.

With white yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc into an adjustable ring and pull the ring closed (6).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12).
Rnd 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (18).
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (24).
Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (30).
Rnd 6: sc in each sc around (30).
Rnd 7: [Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (36).
Rnds 8-11: sc in each sc around (36).
Rnd 12: sc in next 4 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 6 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 11 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc (36).
Rnd 13: switch to white yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 6 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc (36).
Rnd 14: sc in next 9 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 8 sc, switch to white yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 7 sc (36).
Rnd 15: [sc in next 10 sc, sc2tog] 3 times (33).
Rnd 16: switch to dark green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 8 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 6 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 9 sc (33).
Rnd 17: switch to dark green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 5 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc (33).
Rnd 18: switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to dark green yarn, sc2tog and then sc in next in next sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to dark green yarn, sc2tog and then sc in next 2 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc2tog (30).
Rnd 19: switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 3 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 7 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 4 sc, switch to light green yarn and sc in next 2 sc, switch to dark green yarn and sc in next 6 sc (30).
Rnd 20: sc in each sc around (30).
Rnd 21: working in back loops only, sc in each sc around (30).
Rnd 22: [sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog] 6 times.
Pause crocheting. Attach the safety eyes. Using a needle and a length of black yarn split down to 2 ply, stitch on the mouth.
Stuff the bok choy firmly with stuffing.
Cut out a piece of cardboard that is the diameter of the opening of the top of the bok choy and insert it into the bok choy on top of the stuffing.
Rnd 23: [sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog] 6 times (18).
Rnd 24: [sc in next sc, sc2tog] 6 times (12).
Rnd 25: [sc2tog] 6 times (6).
Finish off leaving a 6" tail. Weave the tail through the remaining 6 sc and pull up firmly to close the hole. Weave in ends.
Leaves: make 9
With dark green yarn
Start by leaving a 12” tail
Ch 4
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn (3).
Row 2: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (3).
Row 3: 2sc in first sc, sc in next sc, 2sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (5).
Row 4: 2sc in frist sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (7).
Row 5: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, 2sc in last sc, ch 1, turn (9).
Rows 6-12: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (9).
Row 13: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (8).
Row 14: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (7).
Row 15: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (6).
Row 16: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (5).
Row 17: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (4).
Row 18: sc2tog, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (3).
Row 19: sc2tog, sc in next sc, ch 1, turn (2).
Row 20: sc2tog (1).
Sc evenly around.
Three of the leaves are sewn to the top center of the bok choy (i.e., around Rnds 23-25) using the tail that you started with. The remaining 6 leaves are sewn to the free loops on Rnd 21 along 5 loops. In order to keep the leaves standing up, tack one leaf to the leaf next to it, overlapping them here and there, using a needle and a length of dark green yarn.
Weave in all ends.