Happy Birthday! For the waistline-conscious and for playing: crochet your own birthday cake.

This pattern results in a three-tiered cake with candles on top. Several ideas to decorate the cake are suggested and explained. If you want to, you can also sew on beads or anything that you like. The elements are crocheted separately and sewn together.

Finished dimensions really depend on the type of yarn and hook you use. Just make sure the fabric is dense enough for the stuffing not to show.

The pattern calls for 12 different colours of yarn, representing the single parts - but it’s your cake so choose the colours you like. You will need between about half a skein and only bits for the single pieces.

You will also need some stuffing, and cardboard, sticky tape, a compass and popsicle sticks if you want to make a sturdier version.