Crochet Flower and Fabric Scrap for a Gift Bag

I'm a crochet diva and sometimes even I forget that a  crocheted flower  makes a perfect bow! And wait...a scrap of fabric can simply be gathered up into a pouch and used - instead of a gift bag!

Put a flower on a pouch of fabric: instant gift bag!

This is my Outside-In Zinnia pictured above, part of "Susan's Showy Flowers" crochet pattern collection.

Now don't get me wrong, I love gift bags because they are reusable. I think there might be some in our house which are as old as my youngest child and as wrinkled as her mom! They are fun, they are bright, they're nice and sturdy and HECK, they're so easy! Drop the awkward gift shape in them and you're done!

But if you happen to be a wanna-be hippie like me and would like to begin using up bits of yarn and fabric rather than run to the store, just cut out a piece of fabric large enough to enfold your gift, make a flower in 10 or 20 minutes (one of my newest flower pattern sets is linked below), and tie the flower onto the "neck" of your pouch with a piece of string.

Here is the pattern for the Zinnia crochet flower above. (It's an excerpt from the crochet pattern book I mention at the bottom of the post)

Susan's "From-the-Outside-In" One Piece Zinnia

The examples above are worked in a medium weight yarn for the main color, a lightweight yarn for the last few stitches of the flower center. Use a size G hook – for the medium weight yarn - and D hook – for the lightweight yarn.

 

The nice thing about this zinnia (it ends up about 3" wide when worked in medium weight yarn) is that it's worked all in one piece, except for the center stamens if you decide to change color for them. It's super dense, the petals are beautiful and crowded, and it will stand up well to tough use on a child's hat or a basket or purse.

First, create a flat sc circle for your flower base: work in Front Loops Only!

Rnd 1 of base: Ch 2, work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Continue working in the round in the same direction, no joining:

Rnd 2 of base: work 2 sc in FLO of every sc around, do not join: 12 sc circle

Rnd 3 of base: in FLO work (sc, 2 sc) around, do not join: 18 sc circle

Rnd 4 of base: in FLO work (sc, sc, 2 sc) around. (See photos below) Sl st in next st, and flip to reverse side of work

After Rnd 4

Flip to reverse side of work and notice the spiral of left-over loops into which you will work your next stitches.

First outer petal round is a round of tc petals in every other stitch: Ch 3, tc in 1st (outermost) sc of circle, ch 3, sl st in same sc, *skip next sc, sl st in next sc, (ch 3, tc, ch 3, sl st in same sc), repeat from * around the outermost sc's of the circle. (See photo below).

At the end of the round, you should have 12 petals. Do not turn (do not flip), or join,

but continue on in the same direction:

As you reach the point where the sc's spiral inward, insert your hook in the remaining back loop of the next sc of the base circle (see photo on next page)

Now you have finished the outer petals and will start spiraling inward, continuing to work in the round.

Work a round of dc petals in every loop: sl st, ch 2, dc in same loop, ch 2, sl st in same loop, *sl st in next loop, (ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st in same loop), repeat from * for eighteen somewhat crowded dc petals. (This is one round around the center).

Next, a round of dc petals in every other loop: *skip next loop, sl st in next loop, (ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st in same loop), repeat from * for six petals (one round). This should leave you 6 loops, close to the center.

In these rounds it is helpful to fold down the base disc so you can more easily work in these loops from the first rnd of the flower.

You will stop when you reach the last 6 loops of the inward spiral, change color to a lightweight white or pale green or yellow, (dmc embroidery floss is great for flower centers: I have used # 165). Also switch to a smaller D hook) and work as follows:

*(sl st, ch 7, sl st) in next loop, repeat from * 5 times, tie off.

Pull all,yarn or thread ends through to back of flower and weave through work.

 If you're interested, my Amazon Kindle eBook "Susan's Shower Flowers"  of my best crochet flower patterns - including this one -  is live now and also Susan's Showy Flowers is on Etsy as an eBook in pdf form. ALSO, I'm so excited that it's available now as a 117-page 8"x10" full color paperback on Amazon as well. By the way, thank you for considering support of my design work by buying this crochet pattern book.😍

You can see all of my crochet eBook patterns here:

www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com

https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Kennedy/e/B00O07W7MS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Thanks for looking and happy crocheting!

Susan

Today I'm working on tapestry crochet! I love it, for some reason it never occurred to me to change colors so easily. You just start out with two or more yarns, and the ones which are not part of the design at the moment are just being carried along and are worked on top of. You can see in the photo above: that blue variegated yarn is just cruising along, hidden...UNTIL it's needed! Then you insert your hook, pick up the blue, and finish the sc with it. There's a lot more to it than that, if you want you can find any number of youtube videos on tapestry crochet.

I find it exciting to be able to create a repeating design with graph paper, the way knitters and crocheters have done for ages -- but to do so without annoying color changes! The catch is that three or more colors can get a bit bulky.

It's a switch from my usual applique and flower designs. My latest in that vein is a chameleon inspired by Pascal (in "Tangled"). You can find him in the store links below, so if you're so inclined, check out my latest at My Etsy Pattern Store or at My Ravelry Pattern Store. 
My 4-Chapter Mini Treasury

is also on Etsy right now for $12.99. It's one of my many small, low-commitment project collections!
Thanks for looking and keep that hook in your hand, it'll keep you out of trouble!
Susan Kennedy
www.susankennedy.com
www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com
Also check out my patterns on Amazon!!

New Super Sale Amazon Collection of my Easy Crochet Patterns!

You guys, for a limited introductory period I have this new Mini Treasury listed on Amazon for $2.99! That's 75% off list price, and it's packed with patterns for small projects that won't bog you down! The best thing is...from your point of view, not mine (cough)...is that you can see all of the first chapter  by using the "look inside" feature, or even download the sample from its item page on amazon. Just click here.  But why would you do that when you can buy the whole ebook for three bucks?

The first chapter is my leaf and leaf garland collection, second chapter is a collection of super easy baskets and bowls, third chapter is a set of flowers for embellishing, and the fourth chapter is four of my easy baby hats, two of them brand new in 2015.

So check out the sample or check out all of my amazon patterns or better yet, my patterns on Ets

And thank you!

My monster, please indulge me... So curly, so pink!!!!

Oh, wow, I set the bees and flowers aside to finish this pattern first. It was such a happy project (not that the bees and flowers weren't) I couldn't resist. And when stuffed, these little guys are so shlumpy and poseable, I LOVE them!! Shannon posed them with little horns so they looked like little devils. Only with innocent eyes. Ha!! If you want to see the pattern on etsy, you can look here.  Thanks for looking. Now I'm back to bees!!

A new crocheted Goldfish Edging and my Darling Betta!

I just finished a little bitty pattern, perfect for a burp cloth. Preferably a blue burp cloth, with those orange goldfish swimming along the edges, too much cuteness!
I finally worked out my Betta Fish applique, too, only it's a little different in fin shape from the typical betta. But a fun one nevertheless, you can see the fish pattern which includes both at my Etsy Crochet Store





Susan's Small Project Treasury of Crochet Patterns
Susan's Etsy Crochet Pattern Store
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Permission to Sell items based on these designs is always included!
However, please do not pass around my patterns, as they are my own copyrighted work.


copyright 2011 Susan D. Kennedy