This pretty little flower is just begging to be worn in your hair or as a pinned-on accessory. Made using the linen stitch, a wonderful pattern stitch for small accessories, this small flower is a great accessory to any outfit and a great add-on to any gift.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished size will depend on the yarn and needles used (see pattern note). The sample shown is approximately 3½” (8.89 cm) in diameter, 8″ (20 cm) from tip to tip of leaves
Gauge: Gauge not necessary
Materials
Yarn: Patons Grace (100% mercerized cotton; 136 yards [125 meters]/50 grams): #62005 Snow (MC, 1 ball), #62027 Ginger (CC, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) set of five dpns, pair of straight needles (optional), US size G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Notions: 1 stitch marker (optional), waste yarn for PCO, tapestry needle, thinner knitting needle (to facilitate releasing second half of PCO), blocking surface and pins, sewing needle and thread to match leaf color, jewelry or hair ornament finding
Abbreviations
PCO: provisional cast-on
Special Stitches
K1, yo bind-off: This is a typical bind-off except every other stitch is a yarnover. Passing the previous knit stitch over the yarnover completes it as a stitch. It is then passed over the next stitch knit.
K1 f/b: k1 into the front and then into the back of one stitch.
Pattern Notes
This flower is very versatile and can be worked in any reasonably smooth, thin yarn with appropriate needles.
Please note that the two halves of each leaf are different.
The yarn tails are used to sew the leaves onto the flowers and should not be cut and secured until that is done.
Pattern
Flower Center
With CC, provisionally CO 6 sts leaving a tail of about 8″. Work I-cord (ie. not turning between rows) in linen stitch as follows:
Row 1: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) twice, end k1. Slide back to other point of needle.
Row 2: K1, (k1, sl1 wyif) twice, end k1. Slide back to other point of needle.
Work this pair of rows 9 times for a total of 18 rows. Cut yarn with tail about 8″ long. Run ending tail through 6 sts and tighten. Undo PCO and run tail through loops and tighten.
Outer Petal Layer
With MC, pick up 18 sts along I-cord, under single strand of the knit-only column. (Diagram 1). Distribute over 4 dpns and form into a ring. Work with fifth needle.
Rnd 1: K1 f/b 18 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 2: (Sl1 wyif, k1) 18 times.
Rnd 3: (K1, sl1 wyif) 18 times.
Rnd 4: K1 f/b 36 times. (72 sts)
Rnds 5-13 odd: (Sl1 wyif, k1) 36 times.
Rnds 6-12 even: (K1, sl1 wyif) 36 times.
Bind off in the following pattern: K1, yo bind-off (see Special Stitches) around the whole flower. Cut yarn and secure.
Inner Petal Layer
With MC, pick up 18 sts in strands just inside of outer layer. (Diagram 2).
Work Rows 1-7 as for outer layer. Bind off in knit. Cut yarn and secure.
Leaves (Make 2)
Cut a strand of CC 7 yds long. (Different yarns may require a different length.) Starting at the exact center, provisionally cast on 25 sts.
First Half
Row 1 (WS): P23, ssp. (24 sts)
Row 2: Ssk, (sl1 wyif, k1) 11 times. (23 sts)
Row 3: P1, (p1, sl1 wyib) 10 times, ssp. (22 sts)
Row 4: Ssk, (sl1 wyif, k1) 10 times. (21 sts)
Row 5: P1, (p1, sl1 wyib) 9 times, ssp. (20 sts)
Row 6: Ssk, (sl1 wyif, k1) 9 times. (19 sts)
Row 7: P1, (p1, sl1 wyib) 8 times, ssp. (18 sts)
Row 8: Ssk, (sl1 wyif, k1) 8 times. (17 sts)
Row 9: P1, (p1, sl1 wyib) 7 times, ssp. (16 sts)
Bind-off: Ssk. (Sl1 k-wise, insert LN into front of 2 sts on RN and k2tog from this position) 14 times. Draw tail through.
Second Half
Undo PCO catching released sts on thinner needle – 25 loops. Switch back to project needles.
Row 1(WS): Using second half of original length of yarn, p2tog, (p1, sl1 wyib) 11 times, p1. (24 sts)
Row 2: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) 10 times, k2tog. (23 sts)
Row 3: P2tog, (p1, sl1 wyib) 10 times, p1. (22 sts)
Row 4: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) 9 times, k2tog. (21 sts)
Row 5: P2tog, (p1, sl1 wyib) 9 times, p1. (20 sts)
Row 6: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) 8 times, k2tog. (19 sts)
Row 7: P2tog, (p1, sl1 wyib) 8 times, p1. (18 sts)
Row 8: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) 7 times, k2tog. (17 sts)
Bind off: P2tog, (return new st to LN, p2tog) 16 times. Draw tail through.
Finishing
Center
Use beginning tail from working I-cord to “graft” the ends together. (True grafting is not possible in slip st patterns, but duplicating over a few sts will blend the ends tog nicely.) Use the other tail to stitch the center gap closed on the WS only. Secure and darn ends in.
Flower
Secure and darn in end from outer rim of inner layer. Draw through to underside of flower before cutting. Darn other ends in on underside of flower.
Blocking
Wet flower thoroughly. Stretch and pin outer layer into a circle. Pinch fullness of inner layer in at quarters of circle. Carefully move some of that fullness in between the quarters. Allow to dry.
Wet leaves thoroughly. Pat into shape. Allow to dry
Use yarn tails to sew leaves to back of flower. Secure and darn tails in.
Use sewing thread and needle to attach finding to back of flower.