I am inspired by creation when I design many of my crochet projects. The Master Designer created such a variety of shapes, colors and textures that no matter where we look, we can find plenty of inspiration.

Enter the little acorn – a uniquely shaped seed for a giant oak. With their textured caps and nutty bodies they’ve become a symbol for fall.

I love of acorns. Aren’t they so cute and unique? Since I love their design I thought it would be fun to create a fall/Thanksgiving decoration that looks like them and is practical, too.

These hot pads work up fast and use a small amount of cotton yarn. I designed them to have an opening underneath the cap so that you can slip your hand into it and use it as a pot holder. But since they are crocheted with a double-strand they can be used as a hot pad while also being a great table decoration.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Measurements: 7 ¾” long x 7 ½” wide

Supplies:

(This post contains affiliate links)

Dishcloth cotton – 3 balls (2 of base color, 1 of cap color)

Colors used for projects in photos: 1322 Lilac,  82 Jute, 1130 Warm Brown

(These colors are by yarn company: Lily Sugar n Cream – click here to purchase)

H/8/5mm crochet hook (Click on this link to purchase)

Yarn needle

Special Stitches:

FPtr (Front Post treble) =  YO 2x, insert hook around post of indicated st from front to back and then back to front again, YO, draw up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 lps on hook) 3x

Sc2tog (Single Crochet 2 Together): Insert hook into next st, YO, draw up a loop; Insert hook into next st, YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through all 3 loops on hook

Ext. tr (Extended treble): YO twice, insert hook into next st, YO, draw up a loop, YO, pull through just one loop on hook; (YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

Rev sc (Reverse Single crochet) : Insert hook into next st to the right and complete sc as usual

Notes:

Acorn base is crocheted with a double-strand of yarn.

Acorn cap is crocheted with a single-strand.

Each FPtr stitch is worked around single crochet stitches located in 3 rows below the working row.

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Instructions:

(These instructions are for one acorn – you can use whichever colors you like – Color details for the ones I made in the photos here are in the supply list)

Base

Ch 20
Row 1: Working in the back bar of the chain, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (19 sc)

Rows 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 3 – 15: Repeat Row 2

Row 16 (Right Side): (Section A) Ch 1, sk 1^st st, sc in each of next 2 sts, hdc in each of next 2 sts; dc in each of next 2 sts, tr in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, ext. tr (see Special Stitches) in next st, ch 1, tr in each of next 2 sts, dc in each of next 2 sts, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, sl st in last st. Do not fasten off.

Edging:

Now working down sides of Rows 1-16 (Section B); ch 1, sc in end of each row up to Row 1; Now working across the bottom of Row 1 (Section C) ch 2, hdc in each of next 2 sts, tr in each of next 15 sts, hdc in last 2 sts, ch 2, sl st on side of Row 1; continue working up the other sides of Rows 1- 16 (Section D), sc in end of each Row; end with sl st in end of last row. Fasten off.

Top Edging: With Right Side still facing turn base so that point of acorn pointing down. Now Section C is at the top. Join with sl st in 4^th st from RIGHT along the top edge; ch 2, hdc in each of the next 12 sts, ch 2, sl st in next st. Fasten off.

Cap – This section is worked from bottom of cap to top

Ch 26

Row 1:  Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (25 sc)

Row 2:  Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 3:  Repeat Row 2

Row 4 (Right Side):  Ch 1, sc in 1^st st; now working in 3 rows below (Row 1), FPtr (See Special Stitches) around turning ch, sk 3 scs, FPtr around next sc; [now working back on current row (Row 4), sk next 2 scs, sc in next 3 sts; FPtr around sc in Row 1 next to prev. FPtr, sk 3 scs on Row 1, FPtr around next sc] across ending with a sc in last 2 sts, FPtr in side post of last st on Row 1; Turn.

Row 5: 2 sc in 1 st, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (27 sc)

Rows 6 & 7: Repeat Row 2

Row 8:  Ch 1, sc in 1^st st, FPtr around 3^rd sc in Row 5, sk next sc, sc in next 3 sts, now working in Row 5, FPtr around sc next to 1^st FPtr; sk next 3 scs in Row 5, FPtr around next sc; [now back on Row 8, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts; now working in Row 5, FPtr around sc next to prev. FPtr, sk next 3 scs, FPtr around next sc] 4x across ending with sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts (on Row 8), FPtr around sc next to sc worked in for prev. FPtr, sk next st (on Row 8), sc in last st. Turn.

Row 9: Sc2tog (see Special Stitches) over 1^st 2 sts, sc in each st across to last 2 sts; sc2tog over last 2 sts. Turn. (25 sc)

Rows 10 & 11: Repeat Row 9 (21 sc)

Row 12: Ch 1, sc in 1^st st, FPtr in sc above 1^st FPtr of Row 8, sk next 3 scs, FPtr in next sc; now back on Row 12, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts; [now working on Row 9, FPtr in sc next to prev. FPtr, sk next 3 scs, FPtr in next sc, now back on Row 12, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts] across ending with sc in next 2 sts, FPtr in sc next to prev. FPtr; sk next 2 scs, FPtr in next sc; now back on Row 12, sc in last sc. Turn. (23 sc)

Rows 13 – 15: Repeat Row 9 (17 sc)

Row 16: Ch 1, sc in the 1^st 2 sts, FPtr in sc above 2^nd FPtr from Row 12, sk next 3 scs, FPtr around next sc; [Now back on Row 16, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 st, FPtr around sc in Row 12 next to prev. FPtr, sk next 3 scs, FPtr around next sc] across ending with – sk next 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts. Fasten off. (16 sc)

Hang Loop – Make in color that matches cap:

Ch 13

Working in the back bar of the ch, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off. (12 sc)

Finishing

Using photo as a guide pin cap to base

Using either a single or double strand of yarn, join with sl st to bottom left of cap; rev sc around edge of cap making sure to pass through edge of cap and edge of base stopping at other end of cap. Fasten off.

Using a yarn needle and matching yarn, sew hang loop to top center of cap.

Now your Autumn Acorn Hot Pad is ready to use in the kitchen or as a useful decoration on your Thanksgiving table! (There’s an image below for you to pin on your Pinterest board)

Remember, if you make this project I would love to hear about it – please send along a photo to [email protected].

Happy fall and happy crocheting!

Jennifer

Here are some more fall patterns you might like (click on image to see pattern):

Copyright 2020 – Jennifer E Ryan, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

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