Make your own pineapple.

Needle-workers have preserved the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality in family heirlooms over the centuries. Items include pot holders, towels, drink coasters, tablecloths, decorative flags, curtain borders and welcome mats. This fabulous table setting from “Crocheting Tablecloths and Placemats” (edited by Florence Weinstein, Dover Publications NY, 1975) may remind many of you of childhood visits to great aunts and grandmothers.

Ann and I both treasure doilies made by various women in our families such as these ones from Ann’s collection.

 

 

The following website is worth a look – pineapple fashion! Socks and suncatchers, doilies and dishcloths, bags and box covers, earrings and edgings, there’s even a pattern for a pineapple monokini ! http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/pineapples.php

A basic pineapple motif incorporated into these can be made from the following instructions, partly acquired from

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa102399.htm

Step 1: Chain 4 (= first double crochet)

Step 2: Work (1 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in the 4th chain from the hook.

 

Step 3: Chain 4 to turn (= first treble), work 12 trebles in the chain - 2 space (13 trebles)

Step 4: Chain 4 to turn (= first treble), skip first treble, work (chain 1, treble) in each treble across, ending with the last treble worked in the top of the chain - 4.

 

Step 5: Turn. Work (chain 3, single crochet) in the first chain - 1 space, (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain - 1 space across (12 chain - 3 spaces)

Step 6: Turn. Skip the first chain - 3 space, work (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain - 3 space (11 chain - 3 spaces)

 

Step 7: Turn. Skip the first chain - 3 space, work (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain - 3 space across (You will have 1 less chain - 3 space at the end of each row)

 

Repeat Step 7: Continue to repeat Step 7; eventually you will have a row with only one chain - 3 in that row.

 

Step 9: Working around the motif, make 4 chain, 1 single crochet into each single crochet, 4 chain.

 

Step 10: Into each 4 chain loop work 1 double crochet, 1 treble, 1 double treble, 1 treble, 1 double crochet until you return to where you started, tie off.