Welcome to the ultimate home vegetable patch on wheels! The “Tomato” Vine Greenhouse is a vibrant celebration of the harvest season, capturing the lush, tangled beauty of a thriving tomato garden. The exterior is striking in “Tomato Red,” featuring green mesh windows and climbing vines that hint at the abundance inside. It brings the rustic charm of an allotment garden into a portable, miniature form.

Peek inside, and you will find a maximalist greenhouse scene. The interior is dominated by raised soil beds where tall bamboo stakes support a heavy crop. Tangled green vines climb high, laden with a mix of ripe red tomatoes and developing green ones. Detailed accessories bring the scene to life: a cute cartoon-style pesticide sprayer, a wicker basket overflowing with cherry tomatoes, and pruning shears left on the soil. Outside, a proud little field mouse shows off a prize-winning giant tomato, while a classic silver zinc watering can waits nearby.

This project creates a sturdy, open-sided display piece. To ensure the walls can support the weight of the climbing vines and maintain that crisp, boxy caravan shape, we strictly use the “3-Layer Sandwich Method” (Yarn – Plastic Canvas – Yarn). This technique creates rigid, architectural walls perfect for a miniature greenhouse. We will use a standard hook for the structure and a micro-hook for the tiny vegetables and tools.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Materials & Tools

• Yarn: Sport or DK weight cotton yarn (Mercerized cotton is best for definition).

  – Tomato Red/Rust: Main caravan exterior.

  – Dark Soil Brown: Interior floor/beds.

  – Vine Green & Leaf Green: Plants and exterior vines.

  – Bamboo Beige: Stakes.

  – Silver/Grey: Watering can, pruning shears blades.

  – Blue & Cream: Sprayer bottle.

  – Mouse Grey/Beige: The character.

  – Basket Tan: Harvesting basket.

• Hooks:

  – 2.5mm (Size C/2): For the caravan shell, floor, and mouse body.

  – 1.5mm (Steel Hook): CRITICAL for the tomatoes, leaves, tools, and tiny basket.

• Structure: 6 sheets of Plastic Canvas (7-mesh stiffness).
• Other: Fiberfill stuffing, wooden skewers or heavy wire (for bamboo stakes), floral wire, tapestry needle, fabric glue.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR: Magic Ring
• Ch: Chain
• Sc: Single Crochet
• Hdc: Half Double Crochet
• Dc: Double Crochet
• Inc: Increase (2 sc in one st)
• Dec: Decrease (invisible decrease)
• BLO: Back Loop Only
• Sl st: Slip Stitch
• Bobble: Cluster stitch for texture.

Part 1: The Greenhouse Structure (Sandwich Method)

Use Hook Size: 2.5mm

1. The Soil Floor Base

Make 2 identical panels using Dark Soil Brown.

1. Row 1: Ch 26. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (25)
2. Row 2-40: Sc across. (Rectangle approx 4″ x 6.5″).
3. Fasten off Panel 1. Keep yarn attached to Panel 2.

Assembly: Cut plastic canvas to size. Sandwich between the two panels. Sc around the perimeter through both layers to seal. This creates a solid “earth” foundation.

2. The Red Shell (U-Shaped)

This forms the walls and roof. We want a vibrant Red exterior.

Panel A: Exterior (Tomato Red)

• Row 1: Ch 91 (Length to cover Left Side + Roof + Right Side). Sc across. (90)
• Row 2-35: Sc across.
• Window Cutouts: On the side wall sections, create window openings. Ch 10, Sk 10.
• Green Mesh Detail: Before assembling, sew a grid of Green yarn inside the window gaps to look like a trellis or mesh.
• Fasten off.

Panel B: Interior (Red or Brown)

• You can use Red to match the outside or Brown to make the interior feel darker and earthier. Match dimensions and window gaps of Panel A.

Assembly:

• Cut plastic canvas strip (with window holes).
• Sandwich canvas between Panel A and Panel B.
• Join: Sc around the perimeter through both layers using Red yarn. Sc inside the window frames.
• Shape: Bend into a U-shape arch. Sew the bottom edges to the Floor Base.

3. Raised Beds (Interior)

• Bed Walls: Dark Brown. Ch 4. Sc lengths to fit the perimeter of the interior floor.
• Assembly: Glue these low strips inside the caravan to define the planting area. Fill the center with a slightly raised “mound” of brown crochet (or just stuffing) to give the plants height.

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Part 2: The Tomato Vines (Maximalism)

IMPORTANT: Switch to 1.5mm Hook. The detail here is crucial.

1. Bamboo Stakes

• Option A (Structure): Use wooden skewers cut to size (approx 4 inches). Wrap them tightly with Bamboo Beige yarn.
• Option B (Crochet): Ch 4, join to ring. Sc around for 4 inches. Stuff with pipe cleaner.
• Installation: Glue 3-4 stakes vertically into the soil beds at the back of the caravan.

2. The Vines & Leaves

• Main Vine: Green. Ch 50 (long rope). Sc back down randomly to create thickness variation.
• Leaves: *Ch 4, Sc, Hdc, Sc back (Leaf 1), Ch 5, Sc, Hdc, Sc back (Leaf 2)* repeat along the main vine. The more leaves, the better.
• Assembly: Wind the vines around the Bamboo Stakes, securing them with dab of glue or Green thread ties.

3. The Tomatoes

Make 10-15 Red (Ripe) and 5-8 Green (Unripe).

• Large Tomato: MR 6 sc, Inc to 12. Sc 2 rounds. Dec to 6. Stuff firmly. Close.
• Cherry Tomato: MR 4 sc, Inc to 8. Sc 1 round. Dec to 4. Close.
• Sepals (The Green Top): Green. MR 4 sc. Ch 2, sl st in same (tiny leaf). Repeat 4 times. Sew this green star to the top of every tomato.
• Hanging: Sew the tomatoes onto the vines. Cluster the cherry tomatoes together.

Part 3: Gardening Tools

Use Hook Size: 1.5mm

1. Pesticide Sprayer

• Bottle Body: Cream/Beige. MR 6 sc, Inc to 12. BLO Sc around. Sc 5 rounds. Dec to 8.
• Top Cap: Blue. Sc around the neck.
• Nozzle/Hose: Brown thread. Ch 10 (Hose). Wire loop (Handle). Glue to the bottle.
• Label: Embroider a tiny blue square on the front.

2. Harvesting Basket

• Basket: Tan/Light Brown. MR 6 sc, Inc to 18. BLO Sc around. Sc 3 rounds.
• Handle: Ch 10. Sew to sides.
• Contents: Fill with 5-6 tiny Red Cherry Tomatoes.

3. Pruning Shears

• Blades: Silver. Ch 5, sl st back. Make 2.
• Handles: Red. Ch 4 loops attached to the blades.
• Assembly: Stitch blades together at the pivot point. Leave open on the floor.

Part 4: The Exterior Scene

1. The Mouse & The Prize Tomato

Use Hook Size: 2.5mm.

• Mouse: Beige/Grey.

  Body: MR 6 sc, Inc to 12, Sc 4 rounds, Dec to close.

  Head: MR 6 sc, Inc to 12. Sc 3 rounds. Dec. Ears: MR 6 sc semi-circles.

  Limbs: Ch 5, Sc back. Make 4.

• The Giant Tomato: Red. MR 6 sc, Inc to 12, (1, Inc) to 18, (2, Inc) to 24. Sc 5 rounds. Dec to close. Add a large Green sepal on top.
• Pose: Sew the Mouse’s arms around the Giant Tomato so it looks like he is struggling to lift it.

2. Zinc Watering Can

• Body: Silver/Grey. MR 6 sc, Inc to 12, (1, Inc) to 18. BLO Sc around. Sc 6 rounds. (Cylinder).
• Spout: Ch 8, join. Sc around. Sew low on the body.
• Rose (Sprinkler head): MR 6 sc flat circle sewn to spout tip.
• Handle: Ch 15. Arch from back to top.

3. Exterior Vines

• Use Green yarn to surface crochet or embroider twisting vines climbing up the Red exterior walls near the door. Add a few small leaves.

4. Wheels

• Tire: Black. MR 6 sc, Inc to 12, (1, Inc) to 18. Sc 2 rounds.
• Hubcap: Grey. MR 6 sc, Inc to 12.
• Sew to the sides.

Final Assembly

1. Structural Check: Ensure the Red U-shell is secure. The walls must be rigid to simulate a greenhouse structure.
2. Interior Cultivation:
   • Secure the Bamboo Stakes firmly. They are the backbone of the interior.
   • Arrange the vines to look “tangled” and overgrown.
   • Place the Sprayer Bottle in the corner.
   • Place the Basket of Cherry Tomatoes and the Shears on the soil floor.
3. Exterior Scene:
   • Position the Mouse holding the Giant Tomato in front of the open side.
   • Place the Watering Can to the side.

Congratulations! You have grown a bumper crop. The “Tomato” Vine Greenhouse is a vibrant, organic addition to your crochet world, perfect for celebrating the joy of gardening.