Nothing says “Hey, I love you and thought of you” like an angry apple core you made yourself. Just saying. Plus I made you a free sewing pattern and everything. Say it with ragey, mostly eaten fruit this year.
Everybody’s in such a bad mood!
download the pattern sheet
You will also need:
- cotton fabric scraps
- a little wool felt for the stem
- wool stuffing
- a bamboo skewer
- a chopstick
- a basic sewing kit
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1. Cut out 3 center pieces and two top/bottom circles. Draw the seam allowance on the wrong side of all pieces – you can trace or use a ruler. Mark one of the center pieces with the dots on the pattern (this will be the opening for turning and stuffing). Cut out the stem and two leaf shapes.
2. Flip one center piece (not the one with the dots) over and trace the face lightly on the right side of the fabric in pencil. You can embroider the face at this point if you like. I prefer to embroider on finished stuff shapes.
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3. Pin the center piece with the face to the center piece with the opening marks together as shown – right sides together (remember the face is on the right side of the fabric). Stitch the seam that does not have the opening marked.
4. Open the pieces you just stitched so the right side of the fabric is facing you. Place the third center piece over the face piece and pin.
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5. Sew the seam.
6. Pin the two remaining edges together and sew the seam- leaving open between the marks.
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7. Make clips in the seam allowance at the opening marks. Be careful not to snip the seam.
8. Fold back the edges of the opening, press and baste each edge down – we will remove these stitches later.
9. Open the top end of the stitched center pieces.
10. Place one circle, carefully matching the edges and pin.
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11. Begin to stitch around the top seam. Check that you are on the seam line on the top and center pieces as you stitch.
12. When you reach the side seams stitch right up to them and then put your needle straight through to the other side of the seam. Continue stitching all the way around the circle.
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13. Your stitched top should look like this. Repeat steps 9- 12 for the bottom circle – again – stitching all the way around.
14. Clip little triangles in the seam allowance all around both circles. Be careful not to clip the seam allowance.
15. Use your chopstick to turn the apple right side out.
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16. Use a skewer or similar to make a hole in the center top.
17. The hole should look like this.
18. Use a chopstick or similar to enlarge the hole.
19. Make a little bundle of the stem and leaves by stitching them together at the end and wrapping the thread around and then knotting.
20. Use the skewer to push the end into the hole.
21. Pull the stem further in from the inside. Pull until it feels tight, the further in you pull it the perkier your stem and leaves will be.
22. Stitch around the stem with tiny whip stitches.
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23. Add just a little stuffing to the bottom of the core. I’m using this awesome wool stuffing.
24. It’s time for the secret ingredient. Putting a little weight in the bottom of your core will make it stand. You can use a weighted fill or a little change. Experiment with how much. I want a slightly off kilter wobbly apple, I want him to feel precariously perched so I’m using a minimal amount of weight – 20 cents to be precise. Wrap the coins in a little batting and push it towards the bottom. As you stuff check it once in a while and tap the bottom to adjust. Adjust the weight if necessary.
*ps – there is more about weighted fill in this post – scroll down to the stuffing section.
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25. Stuff the bottom first, add little bits of stuffing at a time and push out the curves completely. I spend a lot of time stuffing things – take your time – it makes a huge difference in the finished piece. When the bottom is full stuff the top and then the middle.
26. Stitch the opening closed with tiny stitches – just catching the folded edges. Remove the basting stitches.
And finally embroidering the disgruntled features. I kept it super minimal and simple – a couple stitches for the mouth and 2 or three stitches close together for each eye. There is a post about how to hide your knots here and you can download a free embroidery stitch guide here.
I hope you make angry apple cores! If you do please use #annwoodpattern on instagram.
This is the best surprise idea ever. Exactly fits my needs this year.
You never fail to inspire!
Thank you!
I love the whimsy❤️ Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful designs so generously Ann – I’m off to make a grumpy apple core for the fruit bowl now!
You always come up with something out of the ordinary!! Lovely, I’ll be trying them all! Thank you so much for your generosity and sharing with us
Aw …..Thankyou so much for the little apple core I love it it’s much appreciated. Xxx
How adorable are these???!!!!
Whimsical, sweet and fun!
His grumpy little face made me laugh!
Love it. Thank you . As always, Ann, so generous and fun.
simply love the grumpy apple core. Thank you so much for your generous sharing a rare thing in todays world. Again thank you.
Thank you Ann for the grumpy apple. I shall be making a few of them xxx
Thank you for this cute pattern,I will make it today. The grumpy face is perfect! It is so lovely to be able to use little scraps that would otherwise be wasted. I really appreciate your work Ann.
Darling! I’m making a few for cousins in Colorado and Nebraska and friends here in California. Perfect expression of how we all felt having to postpone “indefinitely” our cousins family reunion in Nebraska last summer! I do plan a smiley face on the opposite side of the core to denote happier times ahead. This little core does so much to express what Covid has done to us all. THANK YOU ANN for always providing a creative bright spot. My cousin battling stage 4 lung cancer enjoys the basket of little fishes I made for him from your pattern last Fall. Your treasures are heartfelt!!! Thank you!
You create wonderful, whimsical projects! Thank you for sharing and for also offering some wonderful free patterns. 🙂
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I HAVE LOOKED AT APPLE CORE AND THE FISH. I JUST LOVE THEM ALL. I HAVE JUST WANTED TO TRACE ALL OF THE PATTERNS AND SEW THEM ALL. I CERTAINLY HAVE TONS OF SCRAPS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS. I WANT TO DO SOME DOLLS AS WELL. YOU ARE SO TALENTED TO CREAT SUCH FUN DESIGNS. I AM GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW AND I HOPE TO SEW THESE DESIGNS WHILE I RECOOPERATE. WANDA CASCIO.
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Thank you so much for your generosity in providing free patterns. I love your work and have been following your sewing adventures for a long time from Western Australia ❤️
Thank you so very much for this lovely pattern and tutorial. I prefer to call them sour apples! ☺️ I’m making a few up as catnip toys for my grand kitties.