Cute Garden Amigurumi Bowl - Tomato

Tomato tomato tomato... :D

We aren't quite half way there and already it's getting a little crowded in the Garden Bowl! I think it's exciting!

Supplies
Worsted weight yarn in bright red and dark bright green - I used Fair Isle Yarn Liberty in Grass and Lipstick
4.5mm crochet hook
Safety eyes, I used 8mm
Polyfil stuffing
Yarn or darning needle
stitch marker

Abbreviations
SC = Single Crochet
CH = Chain
DC = Double Crochet
HDC = Half Double Crochet
SL ST = Slip Stitch
F/O = Finish Off
MR = Magic Ring

Tomato
Leaves
Round 1: 5 SC in MR - draw tight and sew in after Round 2
Round 2: SL ST to join ring, CH 1, DC, SL ST all in first CH... SL ST in next CH, CH 1, DC, SL ST all in same stitch then repeat 3 more times and SL ST and F/O with long tail to stitch to tomato

Fruit
Round 1: 6 SC in MR (6) - draw tight and sew in after Round 2
Round 2: INC in each around (12)
Round 3: SC then INC and repeat around (18)
Round 4: 2 SC then INC and repeat around (24)
Round 5: 3 SC then INC and repeat around (30)
Round 6: 4 SC then INC and repeat around (36)
Rounds 7-12: SC around (36)
Round 13: 4 SC then DEC and repeat around (30)
Round 14: 3 SC then DEC and repeat around (24)
Round 15: 2 SC then DEC and repeat around (18)
Add safety eyes between Rounds 11 and 12 with about 6 stitches showing between them.
Stuff the top of the tomato full without stretching the stitches and exposing the stuffing.
Round 16: SC then DEC and repeat around (12)
Add a little more stuffing to keep the bottom round as you finish off your cute little fruit.
Round 17: DEC around (6) stitch front loops of remaining 6 stitches together with yarn or darning needle and draw tight. Knot and tie off, lose strings in body of tomato.

stitch from inside to outside through front loops only 

all the way around and then draw tightly closed

Add leaves to the top of the tomato and sew the string all the way down through the center of the bottom and create a visible stitch, then up through the top and draw tight to "sink" the top of the tomato towards the bottom. Stitch through part of the star leaf on top and then back down to the bottom and create another visible stitch, like the little bud of leaves at the bottom of a real tomato. Do this a couple of times and then tie off and lose end inside of the tomato.

If you want to overstuff the tomato it will cleave a bit when you pull down in the middle, more like a real tomato. I choose to leave them smooth and enjoy them as perfect little round smiley treats.

So many new friends for play time! :D