Knitted Floral Fancy

Get into a hippy clique with a knitted flower clip or brooch.

Posted by Making Stuff

About

Be sure to wear a flower in your hair... even if you’re not going to San Francisco! Get into a hippy clique with a knitted flower clip or brooch.

Project by Fiona Blakeman from the book Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book.

About Fiona
Art student Fiona likes being crafty — especially with her knitting needles and sewing machine. She enjoys nothing more than personalising her clothes with her own handmade accessories.

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You Will Need (7 things)

  • 1 skein Chunky Yarn
  • 7 mm Knitting Needles s, or appropriate size for the yarn
  • Yarn Needle
  • 1 Button(s)
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Kirby Grip (for clip)
  • Safety Pins (for brooch)

Steps (10 steps, 180 minutes)

  1. 1

    Don’t worry too much about the gauge. The chunkier your wool, the bigger the flower will be. It is quick to make a petal, so just dive straight in:
    + CO 3 sts
    + Row 1: K
    + Row 2: P
    + Row 3: Sl1, m1, k1, m1, k1 (5 sts)
    + Row 4: P
    + Row 5: Sl1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts)
    + Row 6: P + Row 7: K2tog, k3, k2tog (5sts)
    + Row 8: P + Row 9: K2tog, K1, K2tog (3sts)
    + Row 10: P1, p2tog (2 sts)

  2. 2

    Cut the yarn leaving a 15 cm tail. Push the petal to the end of the needle.

  3. 3

    Knit another 5 petals in the same manner, repeating steps 1 and 2. When you get to the end of the sixth petal, don’t cut the yarn.

  4. 4

    Now knit across all 12 stitches as so: k1, k2tog × 5, k1 (7 sts).

  5. 5

    Cut the yarn with a 20 cm tail and using the needle thread the yarn through the 7 stitches and slip them off the needle. Pull the yarn tight, forcing the petals to form a flower and tie off in a secure knot. To firm up the centre of the flower, use the excess wool to do a couple of rows of running stitches, joining the petals at the base.

  6. 6

    The knitted side will make the top of the flower. Weave in all the loose ends and tie off wool at the back of the flower (purl side). The petals do tend to curl up at the edges, so you may want to iron them before attaching the centre.

  7. 7

    Sew the button firmly into the centre.

  8. 8

    For a hair clip
    After sewing the button to the centre don’t cut the thread, hold a hairgrip underneath the flower and pass the sewing needle around the grip and back up through the button. Continue until secure.

  9. 9

    For a brooch
    Pass a safety pin (large enough fix the flower to a garment firmly but not too large that it can be seen) through the centre of the flower and attach to your desired garment.

  10. 10

    Tip
    + If you don’t really want a hair clip or a brooch, sew your flower on as a permanent addition to a jumper or a hat. Sew it through the holes on the button directly on the fabric of your choice.