What the Cool Kids Are Doing These Days

Some of you may know that I have dabbled in various crafty things.  Others of you may think, wait a minute... Maggie's in her 20's, isn't that stuff for, well.... this lady??

"Old Lady Knitting" courtesy of Google Images

Yes, she obviously is a skilled knitter.  However, old school crafting has a new class of students - young and old, guys and gals, red fish and blue fish - the cool kids are all getting their craft on.  You should, too.


Here are a few bits and pieces from my Crafting Resume:

• I started off with the basics as a kid, sewing bean bags that I filled with rice or dried beans (only to be chewed through by mice and their contents devoured when I tucked them away into a closet), 
• Basic quilts (with the help of my mom),
• Pajamas (with the help of my step-mom), 
• Jewelry (even selling some at a local gas station), 
• Candle making (burned my thumb so bad I had a marble-sized blister that I had to drain puss from every few hours), 
• And my latest obsession is yarn, specifically knitting and crocheting with it.

So, this mother-to-be wants you to know you can be just as cool as me.  Well, almost as cool as me.  (C'mon, no one can actually be as cool as me, right?  right guys?  uh... *insert blank stares here*)

Anyhoo, I wanted to share a tiny little pattern to crochet a cute little flower.  Fellas - I'm still new to this whole pattern thing, so I don't know how to make something cool like a sail boat or monster truck.  Once I do, you'll be the first to know.  An adorable little hand-made flower could be quite impressive to the ladies, though.  I'm just sayin'....

For those of you that are novices, here's a break-down:

These are knitting needles.  Notice there are two and they are pointy on one side, with stoppers on the other side.

This is a crochet hook.  Take note that one side has a little hook, while the other is just there... no stoppers or anything.

Here is an example of some flowers made out of worsted weight yarn (you can see the quarter as a size reference):

Loops & Threads Impeccable Yarn, Worsted
{Crochet Hook Size I}

And these are flowers made with different sized yarn so you can see how much it varies:

Multi-Colored Sensations Bamboo & Ewe Yarn {Crochet Hook Size D}

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn {Crochet Hook Size Q}

Lion Brand Cotton Ease Yarn {Crochet Hook Size H}

Now that you're professionals, here is the pattern!

Cutsie Crocheted Flower

Yarn/Sizing Note: Depending on the project you are working on, you could potentially use any kind of yarn, of any color, weight, thickness, etc.  Just be sure to use the appropriately sized crochet hook according to your yarn weight/size.  I’m a big fan of worsted weight, so that’s what I’ll use in this pattern.  You won’t need that much yarn, so feel free to look around for left over yarn after bigger projects.

Flowers with Worsted Weight Yarn

Materials

Worsted Weight Yarn

Crochet Hook Size I / 9 / 5.5mm

Tapestry Needle
Button/fastener/etc. (optional)

Abbreviations

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

st = stitch

sl st = slip stitch

*instructions* = repeat steps

Directions

Round 1: ch 3, sl st to join to form ring.

Round 2: ch 2, 12 hdc into ring, sl st to join into top of first hdc. (12 stitches in this row)

Round 3: *4 dc in first st, sl st in next st*, repeat that sequence six times to form petals, ending with sl st.

Finishing: cut yarn 6 inches from hook and pull through loop on hook to tie off.   Weave ends into back of flower so out of sight and trim.  Attach to any project by using matching yarn, or contrasting yarn and sew directly on to project, or add pin/barrette/fastener to back of flower.  A button can be sewn in the center for a fun/chic look.

Of course a real pattern gets to have a disclaimer so you know if you can use it for selling or not!  Here you go: I give permission for this pattern to be used for private or commercial use, but please tell your friends you found it at lifehyphenated.blogspot.com.  Thank you!

Happy Crafting!

~M