Update: Christmas 2011
It's been a year since I posted this easy Christmas project and it's become one of my most popular posts! It's simple, so easy to personalise and the best bit? You can make it in a day. Yes, really. It's simple. If your haven't already, why not make it this year?
Finished! A Christmas WIP no longer. Here is my Christmas Crochet Wreath.
Last week I purchased a foam wreath ring. I had an idea to cover it with green crochet roses, and after knitting up a few of those decided to add some leaves as well. I wanted three white roses...and had thoughts about red roses too. As I already have a lot of red in my house with poinsettia's at this time of year, I decided to keep with mostly greens.
I have another crochet wreath WIP which is full of flowers, but I don't think that WIP will be quite completed until Easter (ish). Maybe.
Each year I aim to spend December winding down, but like last year, I find that I am speeding up. I don't want to enter the New Year with so many WIPs behind me. I am spending most of my days finishing finishing finishing.
This wreath is easy to make, you can have it finished in just a day or two.
4mm, 5mm & 6mm hook
I worked up a leaf in each of the above hooks and decided on working up in the 6mm as I was after lush foliage that was also quick to come together.
I covered the ring with a variegated yarn in greens. This was the trickiest and most time consuming part! The foam has to be covered evenly and neatly -and thick enough to anchor your stitches into when positioning your crochet into place.
This is what you are making: foliage flowers
The foliage flowers save you from positioning hundreds of little leaves separately
Make as many as you need to fill out your wreath / ring
Make some green roses as well as white ones to create interest around the ring
Stitch the foliage into desired position
The 'roses' are so quick and easy, they almost twirl themselves into position
I used 2 shades of green yarn
Then I positioned the roses and leaves around the ring
I purchased some bells last week when I purchased the foam ring...as I thought I would use them, however after positioning them I decided that I liked the wreath plain after all.
As the base of the foam ring is flat, it can be placed on the table or the door. I think I will hang mine...but I might still change my mind.
There are lots of options with this pattern project.
To Make Up:
US Crochet terms used
4, 5 or 6mm hook
100gm yarn to cover ring
Green yarn (yarn busting from your stash??) for roses and foliage OR
2 x 100 gm in 2 shades of green (this wreath used 85gm) you may need more or less depending on size & tension
20gms white yarn
I have kept the actual crochet super easy, mainly HDCs so you can do it whilst supervising in the kitchen or in front of the TV or with only half an eye on it.
Sorry - no diagrams! I love diagrams, so I know how frustrating working from text can be: I hope this is clear enough to understand:
For Foliage:
Chain 6, create ring, chain 6, slip stitch into ring (to create 6 petals)
Work into each petal:
Half Double Crochet x4
Double Crochet x 4
Treble Crochet x 4
Double Treble x 1
Chain 2
Double Treble x 1
Treble Crochet x 4
Double Crochet x 4
Half Double Crochet x 4
Slip stitch into next petal.
repeat until all petals are full, slip stitch to finish.
This will 'fill' each petal and create an arch. When you are working it up, you may think it won't fit. Don't worry, it will fit perfectly. Persevere.
If you can Double Crochet you can Double Treble Crochet...it's just three loops over the hook. Don't be daunted.
Make 15 (or however many you need to fill your wreath)
For Roses:
Ok, this is so super easy that you might end up with a ring full of roses.
Chain 20, turn
Half Double Crochet down row, chain 2 at end of row
Work into each chain:
5 Half Double Crochet until end. Tie off.
The row will twirl as you work. When finished, twirl into a rose shape and stitch into position.
Position across ring, stitch into place.
If you make this wreath, I'd love to see it!
