Haley's Comet Crochet: Circles to Circles

That's right ladies and gentleman, this month it's all about circles. Appropriate too don't you think? October, starts with an O (a circle), we carve pumpkins (circle), eat caramel/candy apples (circle). Circles are everywhere this month...and it's just a happy accident (or my subconscious) that I picked a circle for this month's motif.

Circles are one of the easiest things to make and they are the start to a many great projects - including stuffed animals. Called Amigurumi. (you can check out my etsy site and if we're friends on Facebok, check out the Haley's Comet photo album for examples). I did not decide to do an amigurumi this month - as easy as they are they can be a little expensive to make - with the fiber fill to stuff them and plastic eyes...No this month I went much simpler than that...Coasters. But I'm getting ahead of myself - let's start with the basic circle....

Abbreviations:
Chain - ch
Single Crochet - sc

What you'll need:
Yarn, crochet hook, and a stitch marker (you can buy these, or you can use a scarp of yarn in a contrasting color)

Ch 2
Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook (I know this sounds ominous did to me too the first time I read that instruction, but trust me, all 6 stitches will fit in that one chain - and they will automatically form a circle). Place a stitch marker to mark the end of the round.
Round 2: 2sc in each crochet around (12 sc total)
Round 3: *1sc in next stitch, 2sc in next stitch, repeat from * around (18 stitches)

Round 4: *1sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in following stitch repeat from* around.
Round 5: *1sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in following stitch, repeat from * around.
repeat in this fashion, increasing the number of sc by one more each round and moving the stitch marker up with every round to keep track of where the last stitch in the round is. Until you're satisfied with the size of the circle.
When you reach the final stitch of your circle slip stitch into next next stitch and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Now...onto the fun part....COASTERS!!!!

Apple Coasters
Materials:
Size H crochet Hook
Red, Green, and Brown Yarn

Abbreviations:
Chain: ch
Single crochet: sc
Half Double crochet: hdc
Double Crochet: dc
Slip Stitch: ss

Apple:
With Red Yarn ch2

Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Place a stitch marker to mark the end of the round.
Round 2: 2sc in each crochet around (12 sc total)
Round 3: *1sc in next stitch, 2sc in next stitch, repeat from * around (18 stitches)
Round 4: *1sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in following stitch repeat from* around.
Round 5: *1sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in following stitch, repeat from * around.
Round 6: *1sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in following stitch, repeat from * around.
Round 7: *1sc in next 5 stitches, 2sc in following stitch, repeat from * around.
Round 8: *1sc in next 6 stitches, 2sc in following stitch, repeat from * around.
Round 9: *1sc in next 7 stitches, 2sc in folowing stitch, repeat from * around.
Round 10: 1sc in every stitch, slip stitch in first st, fasten off, weave in ends.

Leaf:
With Green ch 6
In 2nd ch from hook 2sc, 1hdc in next ch, 1dc in next ch, 1hdc in next ch, 3sc in final chain, turn leaf and in the bottom of the chains, 1hdc in next ch, 1dc in next ch, 1hdc in next ch, and 1sc in final ch. SS in 1st sc, fasten off. Weave in one end of leaf, leaving the other.

Holding the right sides of the leaf and apple together, whip stitch through the OUTSIDE LOOPS through three stitches. Knot off and weave in ends on wrong side of apple.