This delectable soft toy pattern includes two peel styles and three center styles which can be mixed and matched in any combination you choose to create lemon, orange, lime, or a variety of other fruit slices. I designed this pattern to satisfy a request for a “huggable” lemon slice. Knit in super bulky yarn, these fruit slices are approximately 16 inches long and 8 inches wide, but this pattern can also be used with a lighter weight yarn to make smaller fruit slices. Gauge is not crucial for this pattern.

The peel of the fruit is knit flat, and stitches are picked up and knit to create the center. The different center variations use different techniques and create slightly different effects.
One-color center: The simplest technique, the center is knit in one color, in the round, using decreases. Lines between citrus segments (or other details) can be added after knitting.
Seamed center: The triangles that make up the center of the fruit are each knitted separately, then sewn together with a decorative seam technique.
Short row center: The center of the fruit is knit flat, using short rows to create the shape of the triangles. Not stranded colorwork - you do not need to use both colors in one row. This option minimizes sewing in of ends - each color is one continuous strand through the whole plush!

The examples shown were made with Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky. One skein of each color is enough to make a fruit slice with the smooth stockinette peel variation:
Peel: 90yd for the garter stitch peel; 60yd for the stockinette peel
Center color: 50yd for all variations
Pith: 30yd for all variations

Needles and notions:

• A circular needle in an appropriate size for your yarn. Examples used US size 11 (8mm), 40” circular needle.
• A tapestry needle for sewing in ends.
• Extra yarn or cord for temporarily holding live stitches.
• Stitch markers.
• Stuffing material.