Loving Tomato Valentine’s Gift: A Step-by-Step Crochet Guide
Are you tired of the same old heart-shaped tokens of affection? This Valentine’s Day, spice things up with a handcrafted tomato companion! Dive into the world of crochet and follow this step-by-step guide to create a quirky and lovable tomato friend for your special someone.

Are you ready to break free from the predictable routine of heart-shaped Valentine’s gifts? This year, let’s turn tradition on its head and crochet the whimsical charm of a handcrafted tomato companion! In this step-by-step crochet guide, we invite you to embark on a delightful journey into the world of yarn and creativity.

Say goodbye to the ordinary and hello to a lovable tomato friend that will surely stand out as a unique symbol of your affection.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 7 cm x 5 cm
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Difficulty: easy
- Terms: US
Materials Needed
- Yarn
- Red dk weight yarn
- Green sports weight yarn
- Black aran weight yarn
- Toy stuffing
- 1.5 mm safety eyes
- Tools
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Hot glue gun or sewing needle and red sewing thread
- Stitch markers

Abbreviations
You will find American style crochet terms and abbreviations:
- Sl st: slip stitch
- Sc: single crochet
- Dec: invisible decrease
- Inc: single crochet increase
- Blo: back loop only
- (…)* n: repeat the instructions in brackets n times
- [n sts]: there should be n stitches at the end of the row

Free Crochet Tomato Pattern
Body
Crochet the tomato’s body in continuous rounds. Mark the last stitch of each round to assist you in counting the stitches accurately.
Start Crocheting
- Round 1: magic ring of 6. [6 sts]
- R2: Inc 6. [12 sts]
- R3: (Sc, inc)* 6. [18 sts]
- R4: (Sc 2, inc)* 6. [24 sts]
- R5: Sc, (inc, sc 3)* 5, inc, sc 2. [30 sts]
- R6: (Sc 4, inc)* 6. [36 sts]
- R7: (Sc 5, inc)* 6. [42 sts]
- R8: Sc 3, (inc, sc 6)* 5, inc, sc 3. [48 sts]
- R9 – R10: Sc 48. [48 sts]
- R11: Sc 18, blo sc (insert marker for left arm in the front loop), sc 21, blo sc (insert marker for right arm in the front loop), sc 7. [48 sts]
- R12 – R14: Sc 48. [48 sts]
Eye Placement
Position the eyes between rounds 14 and 15, precisely between stitches 27-28 and 32-33 above round 14. This ensures the eyes are correctly aligned.

Mouth Placement
For the mouth, carefully position it two rounds below, precisely between rounds 12 and 13. Embroider it with a thick black yarn for a bold and defined appearance.


Continue Crocheting
- R15: (Dec, sc 6)* 6. [42]
- R16: Sc 2, (dec, sc 5)* 5, dec, sc 3. [36]
- R17: (Dec, sc 4)* 6. [30]
- R18: (Dec, sc 3)* 6. [24]
- R19: Sc, (dec, sc 2)* 5, dec, sc. [18]
Fully stuff the tomato at this stage to give it a plump and well-rounded appearance.

- R20: (Dec, sc)* 6. [12]
- R21: Dec 2. [2 + 2 untouched]
Finishing Touches
- Fasten off the working stitch and cut the yarn, leaving a longer tail.
- Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and weave it through the front loops of the stitches in the last row, alternating from front to back.
- Pull on the tail to close up the gap.
- Conceal the yarn inside the tomato for a neat and finished look.
Arms
Identify the top and bottom of the tomato, designating the starting point as round 1 at the bottom and the last round at the top.

Insert Crochet Hook
Left Arm
Locate the marker from round 11 for this arm. Insert the crochet hook from above, ensuring the hook faces the bottom of the tomato and the handle points to the top.

Right Arm
Identify the marker left in round 11 for this arm. Insert the crochet hook from below, ensuring the hook faces the top of the tomato and the handle points to the bottom.

Crochet Arms
Once the crochet hook is correctly inserted, slip stitch and follow the instructions below.
- Row 1: Chain 7. [7]
- R2: Skip 1, Single Crochet in the next 6 stitches. [6]
Locate the yarn’s tail left after the slip stitch and pull it through the working stitch. Tug on the working yarn to close the working stitch. Cut the yarn and conceal loose ends inside the tomato’s body for a tidy finish.



Leaves
Begin crocheting leaves with a stem, leaving a longer tail for later use in indenting the tomato.
Stem
- Row 1: Chain 6. [6]
- R2: Skip 1, Single Crochet in the next 5 stitches. [5]
Upon completing the stem, proceed with crocheting using the same working stitch.

Leaf
- Row 3: Chain 6. [6]
- Row 4: Skip 1, Slip Stitch in the next 5 stitches. Insert the hook through the stem’s bottom and slip stitch once more. [6]

Add Other Leaves
- Other Leaves:
- Repeat the instructions for the leaf (rows 3 and 4) four more times. This will result in a stem and a total of 5 leaves.
- Finish Off:
- Tighten the working stitch, cut the yarn, leaving a longer tail.

Attach Leaves And Shape Tomato’s Body
- Thread the tails through a tapestry needle.
- Insert the needle in the middle of the top of the tomato and pull it out in the middle of the bottom.
- Pull on the tails to indent the top of the tomato.
- Tighten the yarn off and hide it inside the tomato, completing the leaves.

Attaching a Note
Making or Downloading a Note
Create a handwritten note or get a free printable below. The dimensions should be 5 cm x 2.5 cm (around 1.97 inch x 0.98 inch).

Download a free printable note here!
Attachment Options
- Using a Glue Gun:
- Secure the note to the tomato’s hands with a hot glue gun.
- Sewing Method:
- Create two holes on each side of the note using a needle.
- Cut a piece of thread around 20 cm.
- Secure and thread it on the inside of the hands, pulling it until you reach almost the end of the hand.
- Pass the needle through one of the holes in the note from where the text is, then back through the other hole.
- Thread it through the palm of the tomato.
- Pass the needle through the hole again and then trough tomato’s body to the back.
- Secure and cut the thread.
- Repeat the process on the other side
