Monday, August 3, 2015

How to Crochet a Flower

Have you ever had a boring jacket or handbag that needs to be jazzed up? Make a flower like this, sew it on, and there's a fix! With basic skills, you can make these flowers in minutes and add a touch of flair to anything.

Steps

  1. Choose your yarn. These instructions are designed for worsted-weight yarn, often labeled "4" in the United States. You may use a different yarn weight, but the flower may end up with an unusual shape.

    • If you're a newbie, pick a light color. This makes it easier to see how the stitches line up and what you need to fix.
  2. Pick your hook. A size H hook is a good choice for this weight of yarn. If you have some crocheting experience, you may adjust the size of the hook to match your personal crocheting style.

  3. Start by chaining stitches. This is the first step to all projects.

  4. Make a stitch in the chain (make a loop). This stitch is used in every project as it can join work, finish rows by binding off, reinforce edges, or even move yarn over to a different position without interrupting the pattern.

    • "Sl st" is the abbreviation for "slip stitch."
    • In this project, the slip stitch creates the initial ring of the flower.
  5. Chain 3. This counts as your first double crochet. It'll be the base to your petals.

  6. Make 14 double crochets into the loop. You should see the next ring start to form.

    • "Double crochet" is abbreviated to "dc."
  7. Make a slip stitch in the first chain of 3. The first part is done. Wahoo!

    • That slip stitch joins the second circle into a ring. That's the center of your flower!
  8. Chain 1. You're onto the petals!

  9. Make a half double crochet into the first stitch. The abbreviation you'll find on patterns or crocheting websites is "hdc."

  10. In the same 1st stitch make a double crochet and a triple crochet. The petal is starting to come to life!

    • "Dc" and "tc," respectively.
    • You may find that you want to vary the triple or double crochets, depending on the weight of your yarn and the size of your crochet hook. Three can be a bit wide for a smaller yarn.
  11. Add a chain for a sharper petal (optional). At this point, if you want a more elongated, sharper petal, add an ordinary chain ("ch"). If you prefer a rounder petal, skip this step.
    • Remember the choice you made. Use the same method for every petal, or your flower will look lopsided.
  12. In the next stitch make a triple crochet, double crochet, and a half double crochet. This will round out the shape of your petal.

  13. Make a slip stitch in the next stitch. Do you see the distinct shape of the petal?

  14. Repeat for each petal. Return to the first step labeled "make a slip stitch" and run through the same steps to make each additional petal. Start in the next stitch every time you finish a slip stitch, until you have 5 petals.

  15. Make a slip stitch in the last stitch. Voila! That's the last petal!

    • If you want a smaller flower, next time choose a smaller hook and a finer yarn. It's a little more difficult to work with and requires a bit more expertise.
  16. Tie off. Run the yarn tail through a few stitches on the backside of the flower with your crochet hook and trim.

Video

Tips

  • Start out with thin yarn for smaller flowers, thick yarn for bigger ones.
  • Every crocheting pamphlet uses abbreviations. Familiarize yourself with them:
    • hdc=half double crochet
    • ch=chain
    • dc=double crochet
    • Use the size crochet hook the label on the yarn recommends
    • sl st=slip stitch
    • tc=triple (or treble) crochet
  • Spray some shimmer mist on your flowers to make them sparkle.

Things You'll Need

  • Yarn
  • Crochet hook
  • Scissors

Related wikiHows



from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1d6d61N

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