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The Optimal Orange
This amigurumi orange joins my collection of free fruit crochet patterns! It’s a fun and quick crochet pattern that’s great as play food for the kids or to sell at craft fairs.
If you’d prefer to avoid the ads online, you can get the PDF crochet pattern for the Optimal Orange via my Etsy, Ribblr or Ravelry stores.
Of course, if you’d prefer to just crack on and crochet, you can still do so right here on the blog. Just keep scrolling so you can start crocheting, and I hope you enjoy this amigurumi orange crochet pattern. Don’t forget to share your make with me on social media using the hashtag #CillaCrochets – I can’t wait to see your creation!
Prefer the PDF Crochet Pattern?
If you’d prefer to avoid the website ads and print a nicely formatted version of this pattern, you can purchase the PDF crochet pattern for the Optimal Orange on Ravelry, Etsy, and Ribblr.
Optimal Orange: Crochet Pattern Information
Materials Needed
- Aran or Worsted Weight Yarn in the following colours. Amounts needed are in brackets. I used Rico Design Creative Cotton Aran.
- A – Orange (19 grams = 32.3m / 35.3 yds)
- B – Green (2 grams = 3.4m / 3.7 yds)
- Crochet hook size 3.5 mm (E)
- Stuffing
- Needle
- Scissors
- Pins
- Stitch marker
Crocheted Amigurumi Orange Size
I used the yarn above with a 3.5 mm (E) hook and the orange turned out to be 8.5 cm / 3.35 ” high and 7 cm / 2.7 ” wide. Please note: I do tend to crochet quite tightly, so your orange may turn out larger.
Gauge
Gauge is not required for this pattern, however for reference my gauge was as follows:
11 sc stitches on 5 cm / 1.96 “
11 rows on 5 cm / 1.96 “
Crochet Pattern Abbreviations
This crochet pattern is written in US Terms.
R# – Row/round number
st – Stitch
ch – Chain
sl st – Slip stitch
mc – Magic circle
sc – Single crochet
inc – Increase
dec – Decrease
hdc – Half double crochet
dc – Double crochet
[…] x … – Repeat the sequence of stitches in brackets x-times
(…) – Total number of stitches at the end of each row/round
Crochet Top Tips & Additional Pattern Information
- Yarn: The yarn choice is completely up to you, and you can change the yarn weight, material, and colours based on your own personal preference. Just be aware that the weight of your yarn may impact the hook size you need to use and also the size of your final make.
- Hook size: I recommend using a smaller hook size than recommended on the yarn label. This will stop the stuffing appearing through your stitches.
- Working in rounds: All parts within this pattern are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated.
- Stitch marker: Use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round to keep track of the number of stitches in each round.
- Stuffing: Unless otherwise stated, stuff all amigurumi parts firmly as you crochet.
- Decreases: I recommend using invisible decreases throughout.
- Shaping: A sewing technique is used to shape the orange so it stays in place. Instructions are explained clearly within the pattern as part of the Orange Base instructions.
- Copyright: You are more than welcome to sell your crocheted creations using this pattern on a small scale. However, the pattern itself cannot be reproduced, sold, or redistributed in any way without the designers’ consent. For more information, please read the full copyright notice at the bottom of this page.
Optimal Orange Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
Orange Base
This piece is worked from the top to the bottom.
Using Yarn Colour A (Orange).
R1: mc with 6 sc (6)
R2: [inc, sc] x 3 (9)
R3: sc around (9)
R4: [inc, 2 sc] x 3 (12)
R5: [inc, sc] x 6 (18)
R6: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
R7: 2 sc, [inc, 3 sc] x 5, inc, 1 sc (30)
R8: [inc, 4 sc] x 6 (36)
R9: 2 sc, [inc, 5 sc] x 5, inc, 3 sc (42)
R10: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48)
R11 – R18: sc around (48) – 8 rounds
R19: 3 sc, [dec, 6 sc] x 5, dec, 3 sc (42)
R20: [dec, 5 sc] x 6 (36)
R21: 4 sc, [dec, 4 sc] x 5, dec (30)
R22: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24)
Push your starting rows down so they curve inwards as shown in the images below. Stuff as firmly as you can, but don’t worry if it puffs out a little bit as we will be sewing the shape into place.
R23: sc, [dec, 2 sc] x 5, dec, sc (18)
R24: [dec, sc] x 6 (12)
Finish stuffing
R25: [dec] x 6 (6)
Cut yarn leaving a yarn tail of approximately 60 cm / 24” and fasten off.
Using a tapestry needle, weave the yarn tail through FLO of the final 6 sts and pull tight to close the gap.
Now we’re going to shape the orange so the top always stays inwards and can’t pop back out.
*Insert needle and yarn tail into a st between R24 & R25 at the bottom of the orange base.
Squeeze the bottom and top of the orange base together and pull your needle and yarn tail up through any st between R2 & R3 of the orange as shown in the image below.
Insert needle back into the orange base between R1 & R2. Bring your needle out through any st between R24 & R25.
Pull yarn tail tight so the top of the orange curves inwards.**
Repeat from * to ** going through any sts on the opposite sides to the sts you just made.
Please note: This technique may make the bottom of your orange base pucker slightly, but that makes it even more realistic. I hope you like it!
With your yarn tail back through the bottom of the orange, double knot the yarn tail then thread it onto your needle again. Weave the needle into a nearby st and pull through any other st on the outside of the orange.
See completed orange base in the image below.
Orange Stem
Using Yarn Colour B (Green).
Do not stuff.
R1: mc with 5 sc (5)
R2 – R4: sc around (5) – 3 rounds
R5: dec, 3 sc (4)
R6: sc around (4)
R7: FLO sc, 2 ch, sc, 2 ch, sc, 2 ch, sc, 2 ch, sl st in first sc (4) – chs & sl st is not counted in total st count
Cut yarn leaving a longer tail for sewing and fasten off.
See completed Orange Stem in image below.
Orange Leaf
Using Yarn Colour B (Green).
Do not stuff.
Start: ch 13
In the next rows, we’ll crochet around both sides of the ch.
Please note: There is only 1 st in each st/ch unless otherwise stated.
R1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, *sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts**, continue to crochet along the other side of the chain repeating the st pattern between * and **. Sl st to first sc in round to join. (24) – Sl st is not included in total st count.
In the next row, you will create another little stem coming off from the leaf.
R2: Ch 5, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 4 chs, sl st in 1st sc from R1 again (10) – All stitches are included in total st count.
Cut yarn leaving a longer yarn tail for sewing and fasten off. See completed Orange Leaf in image below.
Optimal Orange Assembly Instructions
Step 1: Sew stem to orange base
Sew between R6 and R7 of the orange stem to between R1 and R2 of the orange base. See image below for placement.
Step 2: Prepare leaf for sewing
Sew in the short yarn tail to the orange leaf. Weave the longer yarn tail up through the back of the orange leaf until you reach the top of the leaf stem. This is the yarn tail we will use for sewing the leaf to the main stem. See image below.
Step 3: Sew leaf to stem
Sew the stem part of the leaf (the end furthest from the leaf) to between R3 and R4 of the orange stem. The leaf should sit flat (face upwards) in comparison to the orange. See the image below for placement.
Congratulations, you’ve finished crocheting your Optimal Orange!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this free orange crochet pattern.
I’d absolutely love to see your creations and share them with the crochet community. You can share your makes with me by posting a picture on social media using the hashtag #CillaCrochets and by tagging me @cillacrochets. I’ll also see your makes if you upload a project (with a photo) to Ravelry linking to my pattern.
Until next time, happy crocheting,
Cilla x
Copyright Notice
© 2023 Cilla Crochets. Cilla Richards – All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only.
The pattern (or parts of it) may not be reproduced, distributed or resold, translated, published, altered, shared, or posted (for sale or for free) over the internet or offline.
You can sell items made from this pattern if they are handmade by yourself in a limited number and you give credit to the designer. Please add the following text to your item description for any item designed by Cilla Crochets/Cilla Richards that you are selling:
“This product is handmade by [your name] from a design and pattern by Cilla Richards at Cilla Crochets. See www.cillacrochets.com for more information.”
