Fall is right around the corner and it has me excited about designing appliques that can be used as seasonal decorations. While I was out and about doing a little shopping I kept seeing Fall and Christmas decorations being put out in stores and there was one particular decoration that kept catching my eye.
It was of course none other than the old red truck. I do not know when this trend started but I have been seeing it for a few years and I thought to myself "I can crochet that", and so I did ha ha!
If you do a Google search for red truck decorations, thousands of results pop up. There are endless amounts of ways for people to decorate their homes with the red truck theme. I am willing to bet the Hallmark or Lifetime channels had a hand in this trend. (Side note: I also Googled the history of the red truck, and more than a dozen stories popped up of different entities claiming they were the origin of this trend. ha ha)
You can see in the screenshot above that shows some of the Google results that signs are one of the most popular ways for people to embellish their homes with the red truck. With this applique, you can make a sign just as easily!
Do you see those Google search results? Some of those signs are over $100! Yikes! The yarn you use to crochet this project would probably cost you less than a .25 cents ha ha! Most of the time I use little scrap balls the size of golf balls to make my appliques.
And to turn it into a sign you could easily use free scrap wood and stain or whitewash it, or you can grab a cheapy wood sign from a discount store. I bought the wood sign you see in the main photo at the top of this post for under $6 at Wal-Mart a few years ago!
As I was crocheting this truck I decided I wanted to be able to make seasonal options for it. What I am going to do is share the truck pattern with you this week and then share the crochet instructions for the seasonal pieces in next week's post. If I don't do it that way, this post will turn into a novel ha ha. Be sure that you are subscribed to the blog so that you do not miss out on getting the instructions for the seasonal pieces to go in your truck bed!
In the photo below you can see that I made spring, summer, fall, and winter options for the truck.
With some magnets, velcro, or safety pins you will be able to easily change out your pieces with each season. Tester Tanya P. found a metal tray on sale at hobby lobby and added some magnets to her applique's pieces. Now she can easily change them out for each season!
I love her design idea, and this would look great on a mantle or hanging on a wall.
I did not design the letters that you see on Tanya's tray, just the miniature pumpkins. Tanya said she free-handed the letters, but I do have a pattern for Alphabet Letters if you are making a large sign with your truck.
If you follow any crafting blogs you can also get other great DIY ideas for creating a super cute sign. Brooke from Re-fabbed gave me some great ideas in one of her blog posts!
She is known for designs that can be made with Dollar Tree items, and she mentioned using the aluminum trays from Dollar Tree to make rustic tin-looking decorations in one of her blog posts a while back. What a great idea! She has a lot of these on her site, so check her out.
Add a twine bow or a buffalo plaid bow and you have a great farmhouse-looking piece of decor for your home!
The Dollar Tree craft section has blown up over this past year, so be sure to check there for some great ribbons and signs to make your final piece.
If you are desperate to make all the seasonal pieces for the red truck and just can't wait one more week for the seasonal piece instructions, you can get a paid version of the pattern without the ads in one of my three shops:
Ok, so I know you are itchin' to make this red truck, so here are the instructions:
“Old Red Truck”
Crochet Pattern
Materials:
Worsted Weight 4 yarn
Red
Light Grey
Dark Grey
Black
Brown
Hook - G 4 mm
Scissors
Hot Glue - optional for assembly
Yarn Needle
Stitches:
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
Hdc - half double crochet
Hdc2tog - crochet two half double crochet stitches together or invisible decrease
Sc3tog - single crochet three stitches together
Sp - space
St(s) - stitch(es)
#st - complete # number of sts in same space
St # - complete stitch in next # number of spaces
** - repeat the instructions between the asterisks
( ) - work all the stitches in the same space
Pattern Info - The Truck by itself is approximately 9 x 4.25 inches. In case you want to prepare for next week here are the dimensions of the seasonal pieces:
The Flowers are approximately 1 x 1 inch.
The Pumpkins are approximately 1.25 x 1.25 inches.
The Rabbit is approximately 2 x 2 inches.
The Christmas Tree is approximately 3 x 5 inches.
Skill Level / Language
Skill level - beginner. This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
Pattern Instructions
Note: leave long tails if sewing together or weave in ends if gluing together
Note: beginning/turning chains do not count as stitches
Note: truck will be assembled at the end of the pattern
Truck Bed: Red
Begin: Ch 19
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc 17, ch 1. (18st)
Row 2 & 3: Turn, hdc 18, ch 1. (18st)
Row 4: Hdc 7, sc, sl st 5, sc, hdc 4, fasten off. (18st)
Cab: Red
Begin: Ch 9
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc 7, ch 1. (8st)
Row 2: Turn, hdc 7, 2hdc, ch 1. (9st)
Row 3: Turn, 2hdc, hdc 8, ch 1. (10st)
Row 4: Turn, hdc 9, 2hdc, ch 1. (11st)
Row 5: Turn, 2hdc, hdc 10, ch 1. (12st)
Row 6: Turn, hdc 12, top of cab/window section complete, ch 9. (12st/ch9)
Row 7: Turn, hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in the next 7 chs, this creates the hood of the truck, connecting back to the cab top/window section, hdc in the next 12sts, ch 1. (20st)
Row 8 & 9: Turn, hdc 20, ch 1. (20st)
Row 10: Turn, hdc 10, sc, sl st 5, hdc 4, fasten off. (20st)
Door Handle: Dark Grey
Begin: Ch 4
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st 2, fasten off, tie tails in a knot to round end off. (3st)
Window: Light Grey
Begin: Ch 7
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc 5, ch 1. (6st)
Row 2: Turn, 2hdc, hdc 5, ch 1. (7st)
Row 3: Turn, hdc 6, 2hdc, ch 1. (8st)
Row 4: Turn, 2hdc, hdc 7, fasten off. (9st)
Back Wheel Well: Red
Begin: Ch 11
Row 1: *Hdc, 2hdc*, repeat across, fasten off, tie the two tails in a knot to round off the end. (15st)
Front Wheel Well: Red
Begin: Ch 13
Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 3hdc, *hdc, 2hdc*, repeat *to* 4 more times, 3hdc in last st, fasten off, tie the two tails in a knot to round off the end. (21st)
Running Board/Step: Red
Begin: Ch 15
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc 13, ch 1. (14st)
Row 2: Turn, hdc 3, sc, sl st 2, fasten off, leave rest of sts unworked. (6st)
Wheels: Make 2 - Black, Dark Grey
Begin: With Grey, MR, ch1
Round 1: Hdc 10 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join, change color to black. (10st)
Round 2: 2Hdc in each st around, sl st to join, fasten off. (20st)
Bumpers: Make 2, Dark Grey
Begin: Ch 7
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc 5, fasten off. (6st)
Wood Side Rails: Make 2, Brown
Begin: Ch 19
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc 17, fasten off, tie two tails in a knot to round off the end. (18st)
Wood Side Rail Supports: Make 3, Brown
Begin: Ch 7
Row 1: Hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc 5, fasten off. (6st)
Final Assembly:
Note: I assemble my appliques with hot glue, which is a fast and safe method. The glue adheres to the fibers quite well and the applique is very secure. The hot glue packaging that I use says it is non-toxic so it is safe, in my opinion, as well. In addition, you can machine wash on cold, and lay flat to dry or tumble dry/lowest heat setting. You may also use other fabric-safe glue or use the traditional method of sewing your pieces together.
Note: See photos on page 8 for assistance with the truck assembly order.
Note: depending on your tension you may need to stretch or scrunch some parts to get the look you need; adjust as needed to get your desired look
How I assembled the applique:
I lay out all my pieces to get the look I want first. You can use pins to hold it together if you desire and/or take a picture of your layout with your phone to reference as you are putting it together.
First, I attached the window to the driver's door.
Next, I attached the door handle just below the bottom right of the window.
Then, I attached the front wheel and wheel well.
Following the cab assembly, I began assembling the truck by attaching the side rails and their supports. I put one support in the front and the back and then centered the last support. If you crochet tightly you may need to stretch your supports a little to hold the rails.
Next, I attached the truck bed and the cab together.
Then I added the back wheel and the wheel well. Before you attach the back wheel well, make sure you leave enough space for the running board and step.
Lastly, I attached the running board and the bumpers. When attaching the bumpers fold them over the front and back side of the cab and bed to give a 3D bumper look.
Here are some pictures of how I assembled my truck:
Here is a close-up view of the bumpers as well.
And that's all there is to it! Easy peasy, right?! Next week you will be able to make seasonal pieces to go in the truck bed, so do not forget to subscribe if you haven't already!
If you just can't wait one more week, remember you can get the pdf (paid version) that you can download and print without the ads in one of my three shops:
Orchid and Bee's also has an unlimited downloads membership plan available where you can get access to every Orchid and Bee's pattern available for as low as $8.99 a month, so be sure to check it out.
I would absolutely love to see your trucks and final decoration designs, so please post photos in the comment section of this post or share them in the Orchid and Bee's VIP Facebook Group! #oldredtruck
I am thinking this might be a fun pattern to host a contest with, so keep an eye out for an announcement in the Facebook Group and on next week's blog post!
Thanks again for visiting Orchid and Bee's I hope you enjoy this pattern! Have a great week!
Blessings,
Karen E.
Orchid and Bee's