Crochet: Cupcake Containers (a proper tutorial)

By Lisa Gutierrez on 01/22/2013

18.365: cupcaking

9.365: plate of cupcakes

I’ve been making cupcake containers for years and never really got around to elaborating on the process. With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, I thought this would be a good time to share how I make them. It’s pretty straight-forward and essentially a permanent cozy over a used plastic container (yogurt, sour cream, etc). These steps will help guide you for whatever size you have on hand. I suggest using containers that are shorter, as they make the cutest cupcakes. The container used in the photos is 8 ounces.

Warning: This tutorial uses hot glue, so be careful! Keep an eye on your glue gun and take care of your fingers!

Materials
-Plastic Food Container With Lid (yogurt, sour cream, etc.)
-Worsted Weight Yarn in 2 colors
-5mm/ H Crochet Hook
-Worsted Weight Yarn in 2 colors
-Hot Glue Gun And Glue Sticks
-Yarn Needle
-Optional: -Small amount of Red Yarn

crochet-cupcake-bottom

First, we crochet the bottom of the cupcake. Start by making a chain that is as tall as the container + 1. I chained 8. Leave at least 12″ of tail yarn.

For the first row, single crochet in the second ch from your hook and in each chain after.
Row 2: SC in the front loop only across all stitches. Ch 1, turn.
Row 3: SC in the back loop only across all stitches. Ch 1, turn.

Repeat Row 2 & 3 until you have a rectangle long enough to stretch around your cozy. Do not fasten off. Seam the edges shut using your beginning yarn.

Single crochet around the edge your working yarn is at. Make one stitch into the side of each row. Slip-stitch into first stitch, then slip-stitch into each stitch, to tighten up the round.

Attach it to your container using hot glue along the top edge first, then you can add a line of hot glue along the bottom edge, stretching if you need to.

04

Now, we’re going to crochet the cupcake top. We crochet it amigurumi style. If you are going to add scallops later, work in the BACK LOOPS ONLY:

Single crochet 6 stitches into a magic loop. Cinch it shut. Do not join. Work the rest of the rounds in a spiral.

Round 2: 2 SC into each st. (12)
Round 3: *1 SC into next st, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (18)
Round 4: *1 SC into next two sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (24)
Round 5: *1 SC into next three sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (30)
Round 6: *1 SC into next four sts, 2 SC into next; Rep from * around. (36)

Continue increasing evenly until you have a circle that is just about as big as your lid. Make 2 or 3 rounds of 1 SC into each st (no increasing), depending on how tall you want the “frosting,” then fasten off. You should now have a dome shape to cover your top. I like to finish simple tops with a round of crab stitch.

FOR SCALLOPS:

Re-attach the yarn at the top/center of your work into the front loop of your first st. Chain 1, *skip two loops and make 5 DC into the next, skip 2 loops, and slst into the next; Rep from *, spiraling down the top into the front loops. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

05

Turn your cupcake top over and position the lid as above. If you did not add scallops to your top, position the lid at the edge of your top.

Cover about 2″ of the edge of your top with hot glue and then immediately attach the crocheted piece to it. Hold for at least 30 seconds for optimal adhesion.

To get the best positioning, glue the opposite point, then glue all of one side.

Add about a handful of poly-fil stuffing into your top. If you over-fill it, you will warp the container top, so be careful. You also don’t want to under-stuff it because the crochet part might collapse.

Once you are satisfied with your stuffing, carefully glue the rest of the lid on. After I finish gluing it all, I like to add extra glue along the edge of the crochet/plastic just to make sure it’s stuck on completely.

goldcake2

OPTIONAL: Cherry!
Using red yarn, crochet 4 SC into a loop, cinch it shut. Make sure this beginning tail gets crocheted inside the cherry.

Round 2: 2 SC in each st. (8)
Round 3: 1 SC in each st. (8)
Round 4: 1 SC in each st. (8)
Round 5: 2SCtog, around. (4)

Fasten off. Weave in this end, then have it come out the top of the cherry. Cut it, leaving about 1″ sticking out the top. Trim as needed to keep it sticking up.

ruffcake2

cupcake

Ta-da! You have a little cupcake container made from your recycled food containers. You can make them for loved ones on their birthdays! They make nifty little trinket boxes. Just sayin’.

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54 comments - (Comments are closed) | Category: crochet, photos, tutorials

Recycle that plastic container!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 04/21/2011

111.365: recycled food container

Tomorrow is Earth Day, peeps.

A few years ago (ok, two) I crocheted a bunch of cupcake containers for my boys’ birthday party. I used yogurt containers as the base/form. I still collect the plastic containers that have tops and recycle the others. My source for yogurt in plastic containers (with tops) was Target. Their brand, Archer Farms, had the perfect size containers of yogurt (with tops!). Recently, though, they discontinued the use of tops and instead have a foil top. I think it was a good idea; to reduce the amount of plastic in their containers.

However, this means I have more big containers that little ones, now. What to do? Turn them into pretty jars!

I like to have my writing utencils within reach, so I usually store them in old masons jars or tins. With kiddos, though, I’m constantly asking them to NOT grab out of “my” jar. How rude! The pencils/pens/markers are for everyone! So, I needed an alternative to the glass that can topple over very easily (my Andrew is notorious for spilling his cup of milk at lunch/dinner with the sweep of an elbow).

I crocheted a simple cover for the hideous cottage cheese container and voila! Pretty jar.

Here are my details for a 24 ounce container:
Worsted weight acrylic and 5.5mm (I) hook
Crochet a chain that fits around the base of the container (mine was 40 stitches). Join to the first chain making sure not to twist the other stitches.
Single crochet all the way around and join to first stitch. [Join at the end of each round.]
Crocheting through the BACK LOOPS ONLY (on every row), crochet 5 more rounds.
On the next round, increase by 4 stitches evenly around. Crochet 2 even rounds. (44 stitches)
Increase by 4 stitches again on the next round, then crochet 2 even rounds. (48 stitches)
Increase by 4 stitches again on the next round, then crochet 3 even rounds. (52 stitches)
Increase by 4 stitches again on the next round, then crochet 3 even rounds. (56 stitches)
Finish off and weave in ends.
You can hot glue the edges to the container, or if it’s a snug fit, just slip it over. Right now, mine is just slipped over, but I may glue it, so I can avoid the boys ripping it off every few days.

after

I think this can be easily adjusted to fit any size container. Start with a chain that fits around and increase if the container increases in diameter, like mine. If it’s more cylindrical, you probably won’t have to increase at all! Just crochet enough rounds to reach the top.

Right now, this one is filled with my Sharpies and other permanent markers. I plan to switch them out with my kids’ colored pencils. Sharpies don’t mesh well with [almost] 3 year olds. I mean…they would IF my couch were a coloring book.

I think recycling is important in this day when almost everything is packaged in plastic. We have a recycling bin that gets picked up every other week. It is usually overflowing by the time 2 weeks passes, with scrap paper, cardboard, soda bottles, soup cans, etc. It’s pretty satisfying to be able to not contribute as much waste.

Happy Earth Day, everyone! We only have one, so let’s take care of it, ok?

p.s. Lowe’s is giving away free trees on Saturday. My backyard only has two trees in the far back, so I’m going to see if we can go and snag one. If not, I’m going to browse their fruit trees. Mama would love a pear tree!

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