Match 2 Winner: Sunflower

This was a very close match but the Sunflower won!  

Crochet Flower Tournament: Match #2

The second match up is between: (1) Small Rose (2) Rose Bud (3) Sunflower (4) Irish Crochet Rose (5) Large Simple Flower

I decided to change the order of the flowers rather than continue to post them as they appear in the book. 

Crochet Flower Tournament Bracket

After making all 50 flowers in Claire Crompton's 200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments & Trims I fell deeply in love with some, hated others, wanted to break up with some before I even finished them, while others left me feeling nothing. 

I wondered what other crocheters thought so I've decided to take it to instagram to see what my lovely crochet buddies there think. Rather than post all 50 flowers and have people vote I decided to set up a Crochet Flower Bracket.  Each day I will post 5 flowers and ask my followers to vote. That will leave me with 10 winners, which I will divide into two groups of 5 for a second vote. 

The 2 winners will be put up for a final vote with the winner being named the most popular flower in Crompton's book! 

Exciting right???

Like a basketball March Madness bracket for crochet nerds!

Today I posted the first 5

I've decided to simply post them in the order they appear in the book rather than try to group them in any specific order. Although I realize that color probably impacts the voting I can't bring myself to make them all the same color. That is to say this not a scientifically valid study - it's just fun.  I'll report the results for the first batch and the post a picture of the second batch tomorrow.

Super Tall Cowl

I love a cowl. Simple, functional, and stylish - what more could you need out of an accessory? From a crochet standpoint the cowl is the perfect project. You can go simple or elaborate, colorful or understated and you can use an enormous array of yarns, stitches, patterns, and sizes.

My personal go-to cowl is made using the primrose stitch and Knit Picks stroll tonal. 

I've made many, many of these so far and plan to make many, many more. 

This one was inspired by Valentine's Day. 

I love my cowl super tall. I just think an exaggerated cowl really adds pizzazz and style. 

Flowers for Jacinta

Ever notice that kids are relentlessly needy? For example within one hour this morning my 3 year old has needed an waffle, butter, syrup, juice, her hair up, TV on with me sitting next to her, hand lotion and lots of it, 3 band aids, her "ball, ball, ball," and a washcloth for her feet. Now she is rearranging the furniture because she needs to do a puzzle. Notice I don't make a distinction between wants and needs. That is because kids don't make that distinction and everything is a need. 

But in all honesty I'm grateful for this need, because when a child is dead they don't need a thing anymore. Morbid but true, and for some reason I really feel this absence of need.  

So as I grieve I tend to manufacture needs.  For example I perform random acts of kindness in Jacinta's name in January, I buy her an ornament each and every Christmas, and I always quietly say "bye baby" as we pass the cemetery on the way off our property.  And, just like any other girl, she periodically needs flowers. 

Jacinta needs these things, because far as I'm concerned, all children need tending to and mothers need to tend to all their kids. 

This year I have decided on two things I need to do for Jacinta.  The first is to make tons of flowers in her name, just because I love flowers and I think it would bring me joy to have lots and lots of them. 

Perhaps I'll make a some crazy ass garland or a wall hanging. I'm not sure yet, I just know I'll make flowers for Jacinta in the month of January. 

The second involves yarnbombing! But more of that in a separate post.

OK, now on to the flowers I've done so far.

1. The Maybelle Flower  This is one of the most popular flower patterns out there, probably because it is large, flat and perfect for a wide range of projects.  Annette at My Rose Valley has done some beautiful things with these babies.

2. Large Simple Flower - This one comes from a book I've had for quite some time but have not really used, 200 Crochet Flowers by Claire Crompton. This flower ends up not being very large but it is simple and very sweet.

3. Mini flower: These are just wonderful. With one small round they are quick so you can make lots and lots of them. These are made out of fingering weight wool but for an even teeny tinier version you could use thread.

4. 5 Petal Curved Edge Flower: This pattern is simple but has  neat curved edges which gives it a little extra pizzazz. 

5. Crochet Flower: This one could use a better name but it is a sweet pattern for a double layer flower.

Stay tuned for more flowers for Jacinta to come. 

Jacinta Flower Hot Water Bottle Cover

Our little house in the big woods is sweet as hell and I love her to bits but she is also old, drafty and uninsulated. Also, propane is expensive, so needless to say, we like to find alternative ways of staying warm. Cuddling, layers, and drinking tea only helps so much so we rely heavily on hot water bottles here. 

This year I have decided to make a unique water bottle cover for each member of the family. I'm starting with myself, not because I am selfish or anything but because I need to make a test one.

This isn't really a tutorial, it's more of a brief description of what I did. 

I started with these beautiful brown Jacinta Flowers

Then I made them into squares.

I used Knit Picks palette yarn which is a fingering weight 100% wool with a B hook.

Here is where you will need to test your squares on the hot water bottle you are using. I have many and they are slightly different sizes. 

Once all your squares are made you can start attaching them. I used a classic join, the single crochet in the back loop only. Simple and neat.

I then crocheted a hdc border around each side, making it big enough to cover the entire hot water bottle. 

I ended up having to make an uneven border to get it to fit, but I'm perfecting it. Crafting is a process.

Then you can join each side. Again, I used the back loop only single crochet.

I left a gap on the bottom to accommodate little hang thingie on the bottom of some hot water bottles.

I continued to crochet the top and ended with a scalloped edge.

I finished off by attaching a cord and a couple of pom poms.  

I'm ready for the cold weather.

Jacinta Flower Square Motif

A crochet flower is nice but a crochet flower that you can make into a square motif is even better. 

This is a detailed tutorial. Click here for a PDF of the pattern itself.

First you start with a Jacinta Flower.

Round 1

Insert your needle into the space between two petals.

Attach yarn.

Chain 3,

Skip first ch-3 space, sc in next ch-3 space, (This is the ch-3 space in the center of the petal)

Chain 3,

Skip ch-3 space, sc in space between petals,

Continue to chain 3, sc in center ch-3 space, chain 3, sc in space between petals . . . 

all the way . . .

around.

Round 2

Chain 3,

*3 hdc in ch-3 space,

hdc in next sc,

Work (1hdc and 2dc) in next ch-3 space,

Work (tr, ch 2, tr) in next stitch. This is the corner of your square!

Work (2dc, 1hdc) in next ch-3 space,

hdc in next stitch,

3 hdc in next ch-3 space.

hdc in next stitch.

Continue from * around the entire flower

 End with a slip stitch in the first stitch.

Round 3:

Ch 3,

Dc next 8 stitches,

Work (dc, ch2, dc) into next ch-2 space to make corner,

continue to work a dc into each stitch around and . . .

a (dc, ch 2, dc) into each corner.

All the way around

Ending with a slip stitch in the first st.

Finish off

Then you repeat this process over and over again.

I tried it with various colored borders. The brown and white are my favorites but I like them all. They each have their own personality. 

I also made some monochromic ones. I love these!!!!

Then I used them to make a special little blanket and pillow set for Trixie's babies.