This knitted spring flower was inspired by SisterDiane's Stiffened Fabric Jewelry Tutorial on CraftyPod.com. I translated it into knitting, I just couldn't help myself. Of course I do plan on doing her tutorial with actual fabric eventually, but this just had to be made! Now I'm sharing it with you!
The materials you will need are:
- - worsted weight yarn
- - size US 7 knitting needles (notice I used double pointed ones with rubber point protectors on one end- because they are shorter than regular needles and I couldn't find any of my other size US 7 needles except the super long 14" and these were much easier to use!)
- - one button, whatever size you want - mine happens to be 5/8"
- - tapestry needle
- - pin back, or headband
To make the flower you will need to knit two squares, one in Garter Stitch (knit every row) and the other in Stockinette Stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat these two rows).
If you don't yet know how to knit anything but Garter Stitch, have no fear! Just knit the second square by casting on 11 stitches, and knitting until you have 10 ridges. The squares should be, well... square!
Garter Stitch square: Using the US 7 knitting needles and the worsted weight yarn, cast on 14 stitches, leaving a yarn tail of about 3 inches. I used the knitted cast on (I plan on having a tutorial soon to show how to work this cast on), but feel free to use the cast on that you are most comfortable working. Knit the Garter Stitch square until there are 14 ridges then bind off. Fasten off, but don't weave in the ends.
HINT: You can check to make sure you have enough rows to make it a square by folding it into a triangle by taking one of the cast on row corners diagonally across the piece up to the knitting needle. If it matches up to the opposite top corner stitch on the needle, then you're ready to bind off.
Stockinette Stitch square: Cast on 14 stitches. Purl the first row, knit the next, continue in Stockinette until there are 15 rows, ending with a purl row. Bind off on the knit side, fasten off but don't weave in the ends.
NOTE: In the photo above you see the Stockinette Stitch square on top of the Garter Stitch square. Notice how much bigger the Garter Stitch one is, even though both squares were worked with 14 stitches!
Next, we make the flower petals!
Decide which side of the Garter Stitch square you want to be the outside of your flower, and place the square with the inside facing up. Use the tapestry needle and one of the yarn tail ends. Insert the needle into the opposite corner from where the yarn is coming. Sew the two points together.
The square should then look like the one in the photo above.
Next, sew the other two corner points together in the center.
After all four corners are sewn together, it will look like the photo above.
Insert the needle down into the center of the flower until it comes out on the back, as above.
This will draw the petal corners down against the inside of the square, sew them down at the center points only. The folded outside part of the petals will be puffy- this is good!
Use the tapestry needle and sew the other yarn end through to the back as well.
Sew the other square in the same manner. See the next photo for info on the Stockinette Square.
The Stockinette Stitch Square above on the right, is sewn with the knit side to the inside. I just think it looks prettier this way, you may certainly make it either way you wish! The Garter Stitch square is on the left.
Place the smaller square on top of the Garter Stitch square. On my finished flower, I placed the smaller one at an angle so that the bottom petals showed more, and I used the open petal sides of both squares facing up. Actually, in the photo above, it shows the flat side of the bottom square facing up. Again, you are free to put your own twist on this project!
Sew the petal squares together through the center, and sew on the button on the outside top. Fasten off the yarn ends on the underside so they won't show. You can sew on a metal pin back to make a brooch, or as I did, sew your finished flower onto a headband. Secure all the yarn ends, and VOILA! Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did!
