fairy cakes - part one
I think these cute little fairy cakes look almost good enough to eat! They are inspired by Mary Berry's recipe for Jelly Tot Cakes - "tiny cakes are made in petits fours paper cases... so small that children can eat several at a time" - what could be better? I've enjoyed making (and eating) the real thing with my little boy, and these crochet versions have become a must-have at his toys' tea parties!
Part One of the pattern for making the cakes themselves. Part Two has the patterns for the icing and the decorations, and is here.
The Cakes
I've included two different methods for making the cakes. Originally, I crocheted the cakes above in two sections, the top and the bottom, which I then sewed together. I know some crocheters prefer not to sew if possible, so I have also included a 'no-sew' method where the cake is made in one piece. The two methods produce almost identical results; they are the same size, shape and colour. The main difference between the two can be seen from the bottom - where there are increases in the original, there are decreases in the no-sew cupcake.
Original cupcake (left), no-sew cupcake (right).
Yarn
The cupcakes are made with DK yarn. Use two similar shades of brown, with the slightly darker shade for the top, as the cakes have browned nicely in the oven. I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn. The top of the cupcake is Camel, and the bottom is Buttermilk.
Hook Size
I used a 3.25 mm hook.
Stitches
The pattern is written in US terms.
The abbreviations are as follows:
CH – chain;
SL ST – slip stitch;
SC - single crochet;
INC - 2 SC in the same stitch;
DEC - SC decrease.
I use the invisible SC decrease (insert hook into front loop only of next two stitches, draw up a loop through both stitches (two loops on hook), draw a loop through both loops on hook).
The pattern uses a magic circle and the invisible join. There are photo walkthroughs for these here.
fairy cakes - original method
Top
In Camel, with a 3.25 mm hook.
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle (6)
Row 2: INC around (12)
Row 3: [SC, INC] around (18)
Row 4: [2 SC, INC] around (24)
Row 5: [3 SC, INC] around (30)
Row 6: [4 SC, INC] around (36)
Row 7: SC around (36)
SL ST into next stitch, cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
Bottom
In Buttermilk, with a 3.25 mm hook.
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle (6)
Row 2: INC around (12)
Row 3: [SC, INC] around (18)
Rows 4- 6: SC around (3 rows of 18)
Row 7: [5 SC, INC] around (21)
Row 8: SC around (21)
Row 9: [6 SC, INC] around (24)
Row 10: [3 SC, INC] around (30)
SL ST into next stitch, cut yarn leaving a long tail, and finish with an invisible join.
Attach the bottom to the back loop only of the top.
Assembly
Sew the two pieces together using the yarn tail. Sew into the back loop only of the top piece. This is the loop nearest to the bottom piece when the two are put together.
There are 30 stitches in the last row of the bottom, and 36 in the last row of the top, so you need to sew with an increase. Sew every 5th bottom stitch to two stitches on the top piece.
Stuff when you have sewn most of the way around.
fairy cakes - no-sew method
In Camel, with a 3.25 mm hook.
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle (6)
Row 2: INC around (12)
Row 3: [SC, INC] around (18)
Row 4: [2 SC, INC] around (24)
Row 5: [3 SC, INC] around (30)
Row 6: [4 SC, INC] around (36)
Row 7: SC around (36)
SL ST into next stitch, cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
Colour change to Buttermilk.
Row 8: [4 SC, DEC] around (30)
Row 9: [3 SC, DEC] around (24)
Row 10: [6 SC, DEC] around (21)
Row 11: SC around (21)
Row 12: [5 SC, DEC] around (18)
Rows 13-15: SC around (3 rows of 18)
Stuff.
Row 16: [SC, DEC] around (12)
Row 17: DEC around (6)
Finish off.
icing and decorating
Once your fairy cakes have cooled and are ready to be iced, head on over to Part Two.
I'd love to see any fairy cakes you make. Just tag me on Instagram @fat_cat_crochet, try the pin on Pinterest or create a project on Ravelry.
You are welcome to sell any cakes you make from this pattern but please credit me as the designer, and link back here if selling online. Please do not copy or sell the pattern itself.
