I love visiting orchards this time of year and buying apples by the peck or the bushel. Growing up I have fond memories of making apple butter with my grandma in a giant copper kettle over and open fire. The woodsmoke and sweet apple scent filled the air. After cooking down for hours we canned the yummy treat to preserve for the chilly days of winter. This week, I created this applique which can be used hundreds of ways. It would look darling on kitchen towels! As a gift, I plan to sew this on a onesie and embroider, “Apple of My Eye” for a sweet little girl I know.

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Photo by Saki Chikaraishi

You could crochet a cozy for your brand-spankin’-new iPad like Japanese crocheter Saki Chikaraishi did…wait, you’re a novice still learning the crochet ropes? There’s an App for that! Thanks to Jones APR, a mobile app, consulting and PR firm, there is now “Knitting & Crocheting HD,” an application specifically created for Apple’s iPad. The app just hit the iTunes store in late June and features over 500 photos, illustrations as well as instructions to take you through the knitting and crochet basics, including supplies needed and yarn types explained.

Apple gadgets are no strangers to crochet applications: there’s already one for the iPhone and iPod Touch, not to mention a few podcasts to choose from. But, the iPad is obviously more conducive to learning just about anything because of its visually-friendly size. Have you tried out any of these crochet apps or do you stick to crocheting up gadget cozies when it comes to the intersection of tech and craft?