Pinwheel Flower

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Raeesah Cotton Soft DK


HOOK:  4.00mm

Foundation:   3ch, sl st into start chain to form a ring OR make a magic ring

Row 1:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 11dc into ring (12 dc), sl st into top of start 3ch to close.


Petals:    Join yarn with a sl st in any dc;  {10ch, sl st into 5th ch from hook (picot formed);  (1trc, 1dc, 1hdc into same dc);
(5ch, sl st into 1st ch (picot formed)] skip next dc;  sl st into next dc;  [10ch, sl st into 5th ch from hook (picot formed];  [1trc, 1dc, 1hdc into same dc]} x5
(5ch, sl st into 1st ch (picot formed); sl st into yarn join.   Break off yarn


Flower Centre:   Join yarn with a sl st around any dc post in Row 1;  [5ch, sl st into 1st ch (picot formed);   skip 1 dc, sl st around next dc post in Row 1] x5 (working your last sl st into the same space as your yarn join.      Break off yarn.

Sunflower for Mom

One of the GIFTS I made to hand out on the day of interment of Mommy's ashes was this little Sunflower Mandala design (I made one for the table next to Mom's chair).

I call it "Sunflower for Mommy"

The pattern can be found on RAVELRY

To celebrate the release of my new pattern I am offering a 30% discount on the purchase of all or any of my three Sunflower Patterns - using Coupon Code SUN0002.    This promotion is valid from now until Sunday, 23 August 2015.

I am working on a FREE pattern for a little butterfly which looks lovely sitting on the corner of the mandala - so keep an eye on this and my Zooty Owl Facebook Page!

My wonderful crochet buddy Lori Brozo tested this pattern for me (she also made quite a few)!    Thank you so much Lori - I can always rely on you to get the testing done swiftly and accurately!    You ROCK!

 

Have a wonderful, sunshiney weekend!

Layered Flowers

I have a little basket into which I throw my less than perfect blooms or those which I do not use on my finished projects.

Every now and then I will empty the basket and layer up the blooms to make a selection of "interesting" flowers!!    Just layer them from the biggest bloom up to the smallest and join them with an embroidery needle and some yarn!

For the first bloom I layered three different "flowers":

First 4 rows of my STARFLOWER MANDALA
A LITTLE WILDFLOWER
and a TEENY TINY STAR

For the second bloom I layered two different flowers:

A LITTLE WILDFLOWER
and two CHAIN LOOP DAISIES (you can vary the sizes of the chain loop daisy by crocheting more or less chains on each petal!)

Layer up whatever flower-like pieces you have made  - add a button or a bead and VOILA!!!

Little Wildflowers

Make a magic ring.
 
Row 1:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into the ring,  5ch;   (2dc, 5ch) x4 (5 petals formed),  sl st into sp between 2dc to close;

 
Row 2:   Join yarn in space between two dc (1ch; 6hdc into 5ch sp, 1ch, sl st into next sp between two dc) x5 (the last sl st being worked into the start 1ch);   break off yarn

Embellish with beads or buttons.

A sweet addition to a baby blanket!!!

Pansy and Leaves Pattern

Pansy Flower:

Foundation: 3ch or make a magic ring

Petals:  (3ch, 4 trc, 3ch, sl st into ring) x 2;   2ch, 2dc, 2ch, sl st into ring;   3ch, 2trc, 3ch sl st into ring,   2ch, 2dc, 2ch, sl st into ring,    break off yarn.

Embroider the flower centres in a contrasting colour

Leaves: 

Foundation:  6ch

Leaf:  1sc into 2nd ch from hook; 1sc into next ch, 1hdc into each of next 2ch;  6dc into last chain (this will form the curve of your leaf and will bring you around to the bottom end of the chain);   working along the bottom edge of the chain, 1hdc into each of next 2ch; 1sc into next ch,  sl st into next ch, break off yarn.

Lovely as an embellishment on a hat, bag or scarf such as the GRANNY STRIPE SCARF

Hibiscus Bloom: Pattern

I had a 100g ball of Lollipop variegated yarn in spectacularly bright rainbow colours.    Thought I would make a ROAD TRIP SCARF with it - but OUCH - there was just too much colour going on (never thought I would actually say something like that!!)

I suddenly had the idea to make a beach bag and just started crocheting!    Even though I had no clear idea as to what the end product would look like, I knew EXACTLY how I wanted to decorate it!     Great big floppy Hibiscus Blooms - like the ones you find on the Island Queen Hibiscus:

The bloom is quite frilly and just altogether fantastic. Not an easy thing to recreate!     

Remember a few weeks back I helped Designer Iin Wibisono test the FRILLY PANSY pattern (I used it to decorate my JAR JACKETS)?     The big frilly pansy petals were perfect to start forming my Hibiscus Bloom - so thank you Iin for the inspiration and letting me borrow something from your idea!

I used the reverse single crochet to edge the first one I made:

I love the look of the reverse single crochet, but my fingers get a bit knotted up doing the crab stitch, so I changed the edging a bit on my second attempt:

Quite happy with how it turned out - of course not even close to as spectacular as Mother Nature's work - but not a bad yarny copy!

Special thanks also to the ladies who tested the pattern for me!   You girls ROCK!

Gloria Clayton used a cotton poly blend for the petals and base but had to switch to Simply Soft to get the hot pink border.    Gloria says "I found it pleasing to make and believe with your special stitch instruction it could be made by some beginners."   She suggests that you DO read the whole pattern through before starting to crochet as there are several portions to be worked.

Gabriela Mendez from Beunos Aires used cerise for rows 1 and 2 - the same colour as the beads; then a soft yellow for the petals and the flower centre; bright orange for the eding.   Gabriela says "it is wonderfully written, very clear"  

My wonderful bloggy friend, Pat Wilkinson, from SUNSHINE AND A SEWING BASKET once again stepped up to help me test, making her Hibiscus in these beautiful shades.

I can also always count on my Facebook friend, Laura Brozo to quickly and effectively test my patterns!   I just LOVE the hot pink she used as well as the straight slip stitch along the edge!

  
Thank you all, once again, for your wonderful input!

So enough blah blah blah from me....... here is the pattern!

HIBISCUS BLOOM

PATTERN TERMS:   US

My patterns are all written in US terms - I have included this little chart to make it easier for my UK readers to reference the difference in stitch terms.

Skill Level:  Intermediate

Approximate Time:  60 minutes

Yarn:  Any DK (8 ply / Light Worsted Weight) or Aran (10ply / Worsted Weight) Yarn (I used Lollipop DK) - The bloom is made from 3 different colours.

Hook:  Use whatever hook size suits your choice of yarn and your tension (I used a 5.00 mm hook;   and a 4.00mm hook)

Special Stitches:    I use a double triple crochet (dtrc) (yarn three times around hook) - this is known as a Triple Treble in UK Terms (ttr)

Foundation:  With colour A and using a 5.00mm hook - 4ch, sl st to join OR make a magic ring

Row 1:  3ch (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc into circle (12 dc), sl st into top of 3ch to join

Row 2:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into top of same dc;  (2dc into top of  next dc) x11 = 24dc;   sl st into top of 3ch to join

Row 3:  Join colour B into top of any dc;   4ch, 2dtrc into same dc as join; 3dtrc into each of next 2dc; into next dc 2dtrc, 4ch sl st;   (4ch, 2dtrc into same dc as sl st from previous petal; 3dtrc into each of next 2dc;  into next dc 2dtrc, 4ch sl st) x 6;   4ch, 2dtrc into same dc as sl st from previous petal;  3dtrc into each of next 2dc; into next dc (same dc as start of first petal) 2dtrc, 4ch sl st= 8 petals formed

Petal Edging:   Using the 4.00mm hook join Colour C with a sl st into the top of first dtrc on any petal;  (1ch; 1sl st into the top of next dtrc) x 9;   (1ch, sl st into 4ch) x 3;    sl st into sl st at base of 4ch;   6ch, sl st into 3rd ch from hook (picot formed) 3ch,  sl st into sl st at base of 4ch  

[(1ch, sl st into 4ch) x 3;   (1ch, sl st into top of next dtrc) x 10;  (1ch, sl st into 4ch) x 3;   sl st into sl st at base of 4ch;   6ch, sl st into 3rd ch from hook (picot formed) 3ch, sl st into sl st at base of 4ch] x 7;   break off yarn

(VARIATION:   you could use the reverse single crochet - as with the Frilly Pansy - to edge your petals!)

Flower Centre:  Using the 4.00mm hook attach Colour B with a slip stitch around any dc post in Row 1;   9ch,  sl st into 3rd ch from hook (picot formed)  6ch;   

(sl st around next dc post in Row 1;   9ch, sl st into 3rd ch from hook;   6ch) x 11;   sl st around last dc post from Row 1;   break off yarn


 
Embellishment - sew a few little beads into the centre of the flower!

This little flower is quite versatile!

Leave the picot part out when you do the edging,   don't crochet the flower centre - and add a big button to the centre instead:

PS:  OOOh...... ooh and a last test in - this one from Iin Wibisono - isn't it pretty???  (Thank you Iin)

Wild Flowers Scarf: Pattern

 

As promised, the pattern for the MOM AND DAUGHTER CROCHET ALONG SCARF,   A.K.A. "The Wildflowers Scarf"!

PATTERN TERMS:   US

My patterns are all written in US terms - I have included this little chart to make it easier for my UK readers to reference the difference in stitch terms.

Skill Level:  Easy

Approximate Time:  2 hours

Yarn:

I used Elle Escapade DK for the first scarf and Lollipop DK for the other two 

Any DK (8 ply / Light Worsted Weight) or Aran (10ply / Worsted Weight) Yarn would be suitable

Hook Size:

I used a 6.00mm for the foundation chains and a 5.50mm for the rest

Use whatever hook size suits your choice of yarn and your tension.

Size:  

Width - 13cm
Length - 164cm (excluding embellishments)

SCARF


Foundation:   with a 6.00mm hook crochet 24ch

Change to 5.50mm hook

(I use a slightly bigger hook to crochet the foundation chain - gives a more even start to the workpiece)

 

Repeat Row 2 until scarf is required length (I made mine 164 cm - over 125 rows)

Working across the length;   3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc into same sp post;   2dc into each post;   6dc into last post at end of row;

working across the width,  2dc into each 1ch sp;   6dc into last 1ch sp at end of row;

working across the length, 2dc into post directly after 6dc;   2dc into each post;   6dc into last post at end of row;

working across the width,  2dc into each 1ch sp,   3dc into same space as start 3ch, sl st into top of 3ch to close.   

I quite fancy the reverse single crochet although I have to admit it is a bit fiddly.     For a beginner a regular single crochet edging might be a more comfortable option.

The scarf can be worn as is or you can really go to town decorating it!!   Add a few wildflowers, or beaded braids / tassels!

SMALL WILD FLOWER

Make a magic ring.

Row 1:  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into the ring,  5ch;   (2dc, 5ch) x4 (5 petals formed),  sl st into sp between 2dc to close;

Row 2:   Join yarn in space between two dc (1ch; 6hdc into 5ch sp, 1ch, sl st into next sp between two dc) x5 (the last sl st being worked into the start 1ch);   break off yarn

LARGE WILD FLOWER
 
Make a magic ring.

Row 1:  4ch (counts as 1trc), 1trc into the ring,  5ch;   (2trc, 5ch) x4 (5 petals formed),  sl st into sp between 2dc to close;

Row 2:  Join yarn in space between two trc (2ch; 6dc into 5ch sp, 2ch, sl st into next sp between two trc) x5 (the last sl st being worked into the 1st of the 2ch at the start);   break off yarn
 

Embellish your flowers with additional stitchwork, embroidery, beads and buttons!    (No rules!   Just have fun!)

Not Quite A Daffodil Square: Pattern

Yesterday I needed to make a quick gift.

So I chose a few soft colours and hooked up a couple of pretty flower squares to make up something fun!

This is how they are done (in case you would like to make a few too):

Pattern Terms:  US

Yarn:  Stylecraft Special DK for the squares and flower centres;    Mirage 4ply for the Petals
(The Stylecraft Special DK is quite "thin" compared to our South African DK - it is much closer to our 4ply)

Hook:  3.50mm

Size:  12cm x 12cm


Row 1:  Into the ring,  2ch 2dc cluster, 3ch;   *3dc cluster, 3ch* crochet *to* 5x (6 clusters), ss into top of cluster to close

Notes:   

• a 3dc cluster is formed as follows - yarn over hook, work the first part of the stitch leaving 2 loops on your hook, repeat this twice more (four loops on hook) Yarn over hook and draw through the hooks on the loop to form your cluster

• The 3ch "loop" between clusters forms your "front loop" into which the petals of your flower will be worked 

Row 2:  Into the same space as the ss, 1ch, 1sc, 4ch;  *1sc into top of next cluster, 4ch* *to* 5x (6x four chain loops formed), ss into 1ch at start of row, break off yarn.

Note:   The 4ch "loop" forms your "back loop" into which the first row of your square (row 3) will be worked

Row 3:   Join colour you are using for the square in any 4ch sp, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch;  *4dc, 1ch* *to* 5x (6 x 4dc clusters formed) (24 stitches), ss to close

Row 4:   Into first space between dc on previous row 3ch, 1dc;  *into next space between dc, 1dc,  into next space between dc, 2dc) repeat *to* to last space between dc, 1dc, ss into top of 3ch to close (36 stitches) 

Row 5:  Into same place as ss work 3ch, 1dc into top of next 7 dc (8dc);   *2tr, 3ch, 2tr into top of next dc;  1dc into top of each of next 8dc* *to* 3 times; 2tr, 3ch, 2tr into top of last dc; ss into top of 3ch to join.

Row 6:  3ch; 1dc into top of each of next 7dc;  1dc into top of each of 2 cnr tr;  2dc, 3ch, 2dc into cnr 2ch; *1dc into each of next 2tr;   1dc into each of next 8dc; 1dc into each of next 2tr;   2dc, 3ch, 2dc into cnr 2ch* *to* 3 times;  1dc into each of next 2tr;  ss into top of 3ch. break off yarn

Row 7:  Into top of any dc, 3ch;   1dc into top of each dc;   into corner 3ch make 2dc, 3ch, 2dc
 
Petals

Join Colour for Petals in  any "front loop" 3ch sp formed on Row 1;

2ch, 2dc, 1tr, 1 picot, 1tr, 2dc, 2ch, ss into same space;

*ss into next 3ch sp,  2ch, 2dc, 1tr, 1 picot, 1tr, 2dc, 2ch, ss into same space* *to* x5, ss into same sp as first petal to close.   Break off yarn

I added a row of white in Mirage 4ply (repeat Row 7)

I then added a little bit of detail of the petals:

Just looks like spring (although we are quite deep into Autumn here)!

In a bit of a crazy rush - so this is not much of a post!    Lots and lots of patterns to write and tutorials to do!

Happy hooking!

(PS:   If you would like to make the flowers on their own you can find the link HERE)

(PPS:   Have not had the pattern tested - so please if you find any errors, don't be shy to let me know)