Better Hydrangea Flowers

I want to thank you for your comments and suggestions on how to improve my hydrangea flowers. Alipurr from Kitten Yarn improved my original pattern and came up with a lovely flower, which her daughter turned into a hairclip. You can see it here.

And Cheri from Crochet Partners Yahoo group sent me a link to another hydrangea pattern shared by Camelia Shanahan on her blog. I loved that pattern and quickly set to work on my new hydrangea flowers.

I tried the same purple yarn, but it didn’t work so well for this pattern. My flower came out too big. So I switched to purple and lilac cotton thread and liked the result much better.




The pattern is fairly easy except for one thing – clone knots! I’ve never heard about them until I came across this pattern. I had to search the Internet to learn how to make them (I will make a post about clone knots later).

Once again, thank you all for your kind help. And big thanks to Camelia Shanahan for her pattern.

Crochet Hydrangea Flowers Free Pattern

I am linking this post to the following link parties:

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits at Stone Gable,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Potpourri Friday @ 2805.

Hydrangea Inspired Flowers

I love blue and purple hydrangea and was inspired to make crocheted hydrangea flowers. I used purple 100% acrylic yarn.
I am somewhat disappointed!

My flowers turned out pretty enough, yet they don’t quite look like hydrangea. The pearl beads are too big for my flowers (I didn’t glue them on, just laid them on for the picture). Next time I am at a crafts store, I should look for smaller purple or blue beads for my flower centers. The shape of the petals is not right either. The hydrangea petals are somewhat pointy, but I didn’t know how to achieve that effect in my crocheted flowers.



Here is the pattern anyway in case someone likes them. It’s extremely easy.

Ch 5, join with a slip stitch to make a ring.

*Ch 3, 2 tr in ring, ch 3, sc in ring* repeat from * three  times. Fasten off.

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Crochet Patterns from my Shop

Irish Crochet Simple Leaf Pattern

A few days ago one Lacy Crochet reader asked me for help with an Irish crochet leaf and sent me a picture. I had never tried my hand at Irish crochet before, but I’ve seen some gorgeous doilies, tablecloths, and even tops and dresses made in this crochet technique. I always admired them but was too intimidated to try something that complicated myself! But now, thanks to my reader, I made my first step into the direction of conquering Irish crochet technique.

I looked at some leaves online to get the idea how they are crocheted. Then after some experimenting, I was able to come up with my own leaf similar to the one in the picture that my reader sent me.

At first, I was going to sketch a symbol chart for it, but it proved to be a difficult task. Somehow I just couldn’t get the spacing right (I’m not an artist and I don’t have a symbol chart making software). So I thought it would be easier to write a pattern. After all, there are only five rows in my leaf.



I am posting the pattern below. Please note that I didn’t have anyone to test this pattern. If you find any mistakes or have questions about it, just write them in the comments, and I will try to address them as soon as possible.

It might be confusing if you start this pattern with crochet thread, so I suggest you practice with yarn first. Once you get the grip of the pattern, it will be easy to make this Irish leaf with thread.

The green leaves in the picture were made with cotton yarn, and the red ones with pearl cotton thread.

Abbreviations

ch chain(s)
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet(s)


Work all stitches in standard location unless specified otherwise.

Ch 8.

Row 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each chain across (6 sc in total), ch 3 , sc in the same ch. Continuing along the other side of the starting chain, sc to end of chain. Turn.

Row 2: Sl st to 2nd sc, ch 2. Working in the back loop 5 sc. [Sc, ch 3, sc] all in ch-3 space. Working in the back loop 6 sc. Ch 2, turn.

Row 3: 6 sc, [2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc] all in ch-3 space, 7 sc. Turn.

Row 4: Sl st to 2nd sc, ch 2. Working in the back loop 6 sc. [2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc] all in ch-3 space. Working in the back loop 7 sc. Ch 2, turn.

Row 5: 8 sc, 4 sc in ch-3 space, 9 sc.

Fasten off. Wave in ends.

Brunfelsia Inspired Crochet Flowers

My Brunfelsia shrub, also known as Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, is fully blooming right now. And it’s such a splendid view! The blooms start rich purple, then turn lilac, and eventually white.

These lovely blooms inspired me to crochet flowers in these three colors. I used size 10 crochet thread, and my flowers came out about an inch in diameter.

See the symbol chart pattern here.





I'm linking to Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Fibers on Friday @ Visions of Sugar Plums
Link Your Stuff @ Annemarie's Crochet Blog

Crochet Flower Tutorial

This pattern should work for any kind of yarn. Try hooks of different sizes to find the right one.

Start with chain 53.



Double crochet in third chain from the hook. Double crochet in every following chain. Turn.





Single crochet in next space. Double crochet 5 in next space. Single crochet in next space. Double crochet 5 in next space. Repeat until the end of row.









Finish off but leave a yarn tail long enough to sew the flower together. Wave in the short yarn tail on the other end of the work.



Use a tapestry needle. Little by little, roll the flower and stitch together.










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Crochet Patterns from my Shop