Hot Dog!

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)

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!

41 thoughts on “Hot Dog!”

  1. 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

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

  12. 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!

  14. looks good enough to eat wonders if pattern could be enlarged say to make a costume sweater for a dacshund…

  15. wow I loved this pattern the hotdog &bun do look real. Really makes a meat lover want a hotdog lol. Great stuff.

  16. 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.

  18. I have a bunch of those old books back from the 70’s for crochet, my mom gave them to me, and I made that exact same hot dog back in 1995. I am 26 now.

  19. Hi,
    I love this pattern, I want to turn it to a pencilcase (I hope this is how you call the bag for your pens8) to give to my brother as a Christmas gift.
    I have one question – how big (I mean how long) is it? Thanks!!
    By the way you have great patterns!

  22. these are cool!! i wish i could manage these…but your pictures will have to suffice! lol

  25. um, on the dog, after 13 round it’s only as long as my index finger. shouldn’t it be longer than that? Isn’t the bun longer than that?

  26. Hello, I am French and fan of hook.
    Ihave just realized your hot dog which I find special and Iwould like to share your explanations on my blog.
    But before it i would like to have your autthorization to make it.
    Thank you for answering me.
    Céline

  28. Just made this – worked up in a couple of hours, and to be honest I made it larger than your pattern, but it worked perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing. I was directed to your site via crochet pattern central :) xxx

  29. When my niece found out she was expecting a girl after having three boys, she asked her 2 1/2 yr old what he wanted to name his sister. His reply was hotdog. I am going to make one of these for her to play with.

  30. Hi there
    Do you ever sell these hotdogs? Of so please let me know no need one to go on a ski hat

    1. I’m sorry to say that I don’t have the time to make crocheted softies on demand any more. The good news is that it’s a very simple pattern, and even a compete beginner should be able to manage it! Give it a try, you’ll probably enjoy it even more if you make it yourself, too. :)

      >

  31. ur math is off…if u chain 19 …doesnt that leave 18 sts after you sc into the 2nd chain from hook…the pattern reads …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)…the final chain is # 18

  33. Hello, i have a question.
    May i translate your free patterns, for my own website for (free) dutch patterns.
    Ofcourse i link to your originel patterns.
    Greetings Patricia

    1. Hi Patricia,

      I’m touched that you like my work enough to translate it into Dutch. As long as proper credit and links back to the original patterns are included, I would be delighted if you wanted to share. Thanks for asking!

  36. Can I use your bun pattern? I am trying to make hot dogs to sell and your bun pattern looks way easy than the one on my current pattern. Is it ok to do that? Thanks

    1. Hi Jessica,

      Thank you for asking! Since I make this pattern free for everyone to enjoy and take no profit for myself, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t create items for sale using it. That means a lot to me.

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