Hot Dog!
According to grilling enthusiasts, now is high-time to start dragging your family outside and firing up those grated metal bars again. Memorial Day, the point of no return, is almost upon us, undeniably marking the first official reason to break out the burgers and oversized spatulas, ensuring their place as mandatory fixtures in any sort of group gatherings to follow. Sure, grilling is a fast, efficient way to cook / char / incinerate a wide range of foods that could easily carry a party from appetizers to desserts, but if I can be perfectly honest with you? I get about as excited about grilling as I do about microwaving. It’s just another method of cooking for me, and these long summer months full of special magazine inserts, tv programs, and sales on grilling, grilling, and more grilling really make me long for a flash-frost that would put those infernal contraptions out of commission.
Before the novelty wears off and backyard barbeques become about as exciting as my daily shower, I can still appreciate some of the smoldering food stuffs to survive their encounter with coal. Unfortunately, my lovely veggie skewers are rarely allowed to cook in peace, as hotdogs have been an irreplaceable staple of my family’s get-togethers for as long as I can remember. Made of random animal scraps, few commonplace foods disturb me more, but my father has a peculiar affinity for them nonetheless. As legend has it, he supposedly went a full month eating nothing but hotdogs in his college years; Hotdogs for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anything in between. Can you imagine? Truly, how a person could stomach that menu is beyond me, so you would have to ask him yourself to confirm this bit of lore.
Still, this year I’ve discovered a new brand of tofu pups that are surprisingly edible, so I’m happy to have more options for the next time that the grill cover comes off. Meat substitutes are generally a rarity in my home, as I was never particularly fond of the taste to begin with, but accompanied by a healthy squirt of mustard, these pups can actually hold their own. If only the rest of my family wasn’t so biased against these blatant “fakes,” they might want to find a place on their own grills for them too. Maybe some day even my dad might approve of their taste, if ever he could see beyond his beloved beef hotdogs. Since they’re so easy to whip up, why don’t you try them for yourself?
To make your own tofu pup, you will need an F hook, fiberfill stuffing, and worsted weight yarn in cream, white, rust, and mustard yellow.
Outer Bun: (Make 2)
With your cream colored yarn, ch19. Sc into second ch from hook, and sc into the following 16 sts. Sc 3 times into the final ch, continuing around, and sc into the backs of those same 16 sts. In the last one, sc 2 times. (38 sts)
2 sc into first st, sc 16, 2sc into next st, sc 1, 2sc into the next st, sc 16, 2sc into the next st, sc 2. (42 sts)
Sc 1, 2sc into next st, sc 16, 2sc into next st, sc 3, 2sc into next st, sc 16, 2sc into the next st, sc 2. (46 sts)
Sc 2, 2sc into next st, sc 16, 2sc into next st, sc 5, 2 sc into next st, 16 sc, 2 sc into next st, sc 3. (50)
Sc into each st for 3 rounds.
Break yarn.
Inner Bun (Make 2):
Repeat the first 4 rounds of the outer bun in white and break yarn.
Wiener:
Sc 5 sts into a ring, and sc twice into each sts. (10 sts)
Sc 1, 2sc into the next st* around. (15 sts)
Sc even for 13 rounds. Now is the time that you would want to surface crochet the mustard squiggle on in order to embellish your pup, using your mustard-colored yarn. Once you have your wavy line, stuff firmly.
Sc1, sc2tog* around. (10 sts)
Sc2tog around. (5 sts)
Break yarn and gather remaining stitches together. Tie tight and weave in ends.
To assemble, sew each outer bun to the inner bun, stuffing once you’ve closed closed up the seam about 5/6 of the way. Finish sewing the two pieces together and tie tight. Once you have both halves together, sew those pieces together across one long side to make a full bun. Nestle your tofu pup into the bun, and you’re all set to get your grill on!
Anne said,
May 22, 2007 at 8:33 am
haha. yes my friends are all very barbeque-crazy as well.
ive been crocheting …or trying to….a mini-cake for my mom whenever i find time inbetween worksheets for uni. but im stuck on the whip cream little thing for under my strawberry. its just too naked with out it. but its not quite coming out as i planned it everytime i try to make smt. oh well.
your hot dog is very cool!! and thanks for sharing the pattern! :)
allthough i for myself prefer hotdogs that have sauerkraut with them….over here in germany everybody stares at me in disbelief when i tell them how i loved the krauthotdogs at this little hotdog hut they had when i lived in the US . they think thats gross! weird…since sauerkraut supposedly is “so german”. lol
Eva said,
May 22, 2007 at 11:03 am
Yum! Thanks for the pattern.
Emily said,
May 22, 2007 at 12:54 pm
So cute! My husband says he doesn’t approve (which is a sweet way of saying that he likes it).
Rina said,
May 22, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Another cute one. I have to say, your stitch work is always impeccable, so nice and even.
Mary Anne said,
May 22, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Wow, this is amazing work! You make your food so realistic, I’m always hungry after I read your posts :). I love this, thank you.
teeni said,
May 22, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Wow. You are very talented! I’ve been looking for a way to make a meatless hot dog - I think your way may be better than my attempts! Keep up the great work!
persephonesawakening said,
May 22, 2007 at 9:57 pm
when are you publishing a book of your crochet projects? i want to get it for my nana. would you include a lamen’s term glossary for all the shortforms.. maybe in french?
Carol Ann said,
May 24, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I can’t stop smiling! That is toooo cute for words and so wonderfully whimsical. Your work is as impeccable as ever. Thanks for the pattern! I am making assorted crochet critters for my grandchild-to-be but as a diverson I have started making “fun foods” as toys also. The hot dog / bun will be a perfect compliment to the ice cream cone and frosted cupcake and oreo cookies. You are so much fun. I just love coming to visit. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Jenny said,
May 25, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I love it
ein Blog von Frau"!" fuer Frauen ? « mon petit web - chindogu said,
May 28, 2007 at 2:28 am
[...] Gedanke kam mir am gestrigen Tag, als ich mir diesen geheckelten Hot Dog! angesehen [...]
Sônia Maria said,
May 28, 2007 at 7:55 am
Hi!
Your hot dog is very much beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice week.
Hugs for you,
Sônia Maria
http://www.falandodecrochet.blogspot.com
Nicole said,
August 17, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog while looking for crochet patterns. (I’ve been crocheting for a few years now… before school starts up again, I’ve been hoping to get some crochet in. I definitely won’t have time once it starts.)
This hot dog pattern is adorable!! All of your patterns seem so well made and even. You’re obviously very creative. :)
I’ll definitely keep checking your website for more. I hope you’re doing well!
Cheryl said,
August 20, 2007 at 10:08 pm
HAHAHA that is so cute mmmmm looks good I will definaltely have to try to make this one
andrea geller said,
October 1, 2007 at 5:11 pm
looks good enough to eat wonders if pattern could be enlarged say to make a costume sweater for a dacshund…
denise said,
October 5, 2007 at 11:05 pm
wow I loved this pattern the hotdog &bun do look real. Really makes a meat lover want a hotdog lol. Great stuff.
gabrielle said,
January 12, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I love this “vegan hot dog alternative”
I’m going to try and make a dog-toy version of it. :) haha. We’ll see how that goes.
PS: I’m vegan and your recipes look delicious.