Depending on where you live in the world, watermelon is oftentimes synonymous with the summer season. It is definitely the most popular fruity treat of choice for my kids. In fact, on our grocery trip yesterday, my girls made sure I put one in our cart before we left.
As soon as we got home we had to cut it so they could sink their teeth into the juicy, sweet, and refreshing fruit!
If you are planning on attending any BBQs, picnics, or summer celebrations, decorations are sure to be on the top of your list to make it as fun and festive as possible.
This super cute watermelon and ant applique would look great on a picnic blanket, basket, flag, banner, tote bag, or an a-frame sign.
Below are a few ideas from Amazon that you could attach this summer applique to. Also, did you know hot glue peels off of most flat surfaces without leaving any residue? You could totally redecorate a dry erase board or chalkboard with other appliques for different seasons and events!
Note: This post contains affiliate links in which I may earn a small commission on for clicks and or purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide the blog, website, and pattern free to you. Without your support, I could not provide these services and products! My family and I thank you!
You have a couple of options with this applique. You can make the ant and the watermelon as separate appliques to use on different projects, or you can make them together.
You can also make multiple ants and pose them in different ways around the watermelon and even make a trail of them on their way to take over the watermelon ha ha!
By moving the sections of the ant around and changing the position of the legs, your ant can be put in nearly any pose you would like it to be in.
If you do a quick Google search with the words "watermelon ants" and then select "images", you can get a lot of great ideas for different ways to pose your ants like the one I found below.
You have the option in this pattern to add antennae as well or you can leave them off -- whichever you prefer is fine!
If you enjoy this applique this summer and really want a downloadable copy that does not have the ads, here is where you can get the PDF version:
Here is how you crochet the "Watermelon Ant Thief" applique.
“Watermelon Ant Thief”
Crochet Pattern
Materials:
Worsted Weight 4 yarn
Light Green
Green
Pink
Black
Brown *optional if you want your ant(s) brown
Hook - G 4 mm & E 3.5 mm
Scissors
Hot Glue - optional for assembly
Yarn Needle
Note: if you use a light brown for the ant, a tiny safety eye could be added for more detail and animation and would be super cute!
Stitches:
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
Dc - double crochet
Hdc - half double crochet
Sp - space
St(s) - stitch(es)
#st - complete # number of sts in same space
St # - complete stitch in next # number of spaces
Pattern Info - The watermelon is approximately 7 inches wide by 3 inches tall. The ant is approximately 3 inches wide by 3 inches tall depending on how you choose to assemble him.
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: use G 4 mm hook for all parts except where otherwise noted
Watermelon: Pink, Light Green, Green
Begin: With Pink, MR, ch 1
Row 1: Hdc 4 in MR, pull tight to close, do not sl st to join, ch 1. (4st)
Row 2: Turn, 2hdc in each st, ch 1. (8st)
Row 3: Turn, *hdc, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, ch 1. (12st)
Row 4: Turn, *hdc 2, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, ch 1. (16st)
Row 5: Turn, *hdc 3, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, ch 1. (20st)
Row 6: Turn, *hdc 4, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, ch 1. (24st)
Row 7: Turn, hdc 2, 2hdc, *hdc 5, 2hdc* repeat *to* 2 more times, hdc 3, ch 1. (28st)
Row 8: Turn, *hdc 6, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, change colors to light green before finishing last st, ch 1. (32st)
Row 9: Turn, hdc 3, 2hdc, *hdc 7, 2hdc*, repeat *to* two more times, hdc 4, ch 1. (36st)
Row 10: Turn, *hdc 8, 2hdc*, repeat *to* to end, change colors to green before finishing last st, ch 1. (40st)
Row 11: Turn, sc in each st, fasten off. (40st)
Seeds: Black - E 3.5 mm or smaller - make as many as desired
Begin: Ch 2
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, fasten off, tie the tails in a knot to give it a pointy end.
Ant: Black or Brown - G 4 mm
Note: if you would like to make more ants feel free to make as many as desired and animate them however you would like!
Head
Begin: MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Hdc 10 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join, ch 1. (10st)
Round 2: Sc in each st around, sl st to join, fasten off. (10st)
Thorax (middle section)
Begin: MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Hdc 6 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join, ch 1. (6st)
Abdomen (end section)
Begin: Ch 7
Round 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc 2, hdc, sl st, continue around to unworked side of ch, sl st, hdc, dc 2, hdc, sl st, sl st to join, fasten off. (12st)
Short Legs - E 3.5 mm hook - make 4
Begin: Ch 6
Row 1: Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, fasten off, leave rest of chs unworked.
Long Legs/Arms - E 3.5 mm hook - make 2
Begin: Ch 7 (or 8 if you want them slightly longer for holding up the watermelon)
Row 1: Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, fasten off, leave rest of chs unworked.
Antennae Option - E 3.5 mm hook - make 2
Begin: Ch 3, fasten off.
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.
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 my seeds to the watermelon in no particular order.
Next, I began assembling the ant by attaching the head to the thorax (middle section), and then the abdomen to the end of the thorax.
I then attached two short legs to the backside of the abdomen and two short legs to the topside of the abdomen.
Last, I positioned the two arms to the thorax, one behind and one on top, and bent them slightly to make it look like he was carrying the watermelon.
If you opted to make Antennae, simply add them to the head to finish. See photos below to get an idea of how the ant looks with antennae.
Note: if you would like the ant to have an eye you could sew a small white eye with embroidery thread and add a little black pupil with a French knot or with a 3 mm crochet hook, sc 3 or 4 in a MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join, and then make a small black stitch for a pupil.
Voila! You are done and now have a super cute summer applique to put on any project you desire! I would love to see your work and what you do with your super cute applique!
If you get a chance please share your photos in the comment section of this post or feel free to share them in the VIP Facebook Group! #watermelonantthief We love see all the creative ideas in there!
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I hope you have a wonderful, fun, and safe summer! Don't forget if you need a PDF copy of this pattern without the ads you can get it one of my three shops below:
Thank you again for visiting Orchid and Bee's! We appreciate you!
Blessings,
Karen E.