Thursday, July 15, 2010

a daylily - Part 3

In the previous post, we crocheted the front 3 petals. Now, it's time for the final 3 petals.

Rnd 3 (back petals). * Sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp (crocheting behind Rnd-2 petal), ch 1, sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp (crocheting behind same petal), (ch 1, dc 1 ) 3x in Rnd-2 ch-1 sp, ch 6, sk 1 ch st, sc 1, dc 3, tr 1, (dc 1, ch 1 ) 3x in same ch-1 sp, repeat from * 2 more times (3 petals). Join to 1st sc of rnd.

I think the easiest way to "sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp" is to turn the daylily over. The first picture shows the first sc of the round in progress -- preparing to draw a loop through the ch-3 sp.

Then, keep the daylily turned over. "Chain 1 and then sc 1 in the next ch-3 sp". The next ch sp is in a clockwise direction from the previous one -- since we're working on the wrong side of the daylily.

This completes: "Sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp (crocheting behind Rnd-2 petal), ch 1, sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp (crocheting behind same petal)"

For the petal itself, turn the daylily so the right side is facing and start working in a counterclockwise direction again.

The petal is worked almost the same way petals from the previous round were.

To make matters easier, you'll be starting the scallop part of the petal by crocheting into a ch-1 sp from the second round (instead of crocheting into a dc from the first round).

"(ch 1, dc 1 ) 3x in Rnd-2 ch-1 sp" is the first half of the scallop.

"sk 1 ch st, sc 1, dc 3, tr 1" is the top part of the petal.

Finally, "(dc 1, ch 1 ) 3x in same ch-1 sp" completes the petal.

Then, it's time to turn the flower over and start again.

After the third petal, all that remains is to:

"Join to 1st sc of rnd."

and then:

"Fasten off and weave in loose ends."

The last picture shows the flower from the wrong side just before fastening off.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

a daylily - Part 2

In the last post, we worked the first round of the pattern. The next round of the daylily pattern is much more complicated than the first:

Rnd 2 (front petals): * Sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp, (ch 1, dc 1 ) 3x in next dc, ch 6, sk 1 ch st, sc 1, dc 3, tr 1, (dc 1, ch 1 ) 3x in same dc, sc in next Rnd-1 ch-3 sp, ch 1, repeat from * 2 more times (3 petals). Join to 1st sc of rnd.

This round begins at the lower right hand corner. It starts out with a sc in one of the ch-3 spaces from the previous round.

The next few stitches are the beginnings of a scallop. Chain once, then double crochet into the top of the next dc from the previous round. Chain again, then double crochet into the same dc. Finally, chain once more and double crochet into the same dc.

Then, we abandon the scallop to create a top for the petal. (This part is a lot like that of the coneflower in a previous post.)

"ch 6" takes one to the top of the top of the petal. Then "sk 1 ch st, sc 1, dc 3, tr 1" -- or, in other words, skip 1 chain stitch - the last chain stitch -, then single crochet into the next chain stitch, double crochet into each of the next 3 chain stitches, and finally triple crochet into the final chain stitch -- to arrive at the base of the top of the petal.

The last few stitches form the end of a scallop.
-- And the first petal is complete.

Two more petals finish off the round. And, we have something that looks a lot like a Triforce (Zelda ref) or trefoil.

In the next post, we'll work the last 3 petals for the flower.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

a daylily - Part 1

I was never quite happy with my daylily pattern in Three Flowers. I've been thinking about how to improve the pattern ever since. I guess that maybe I wanted something with narrower petals and more of the lightness of Irish crochet. (A picture of the newer version is at the right.)

This is the most difficult of the 3 flowers. It incorporates elements of both of the others. It starts out like the pansy. The tops of the petals are like those of the coneflower. Plus, it adds a couple new elements.

As before, I'm using a size 5 or F (3.75 mm) crochet hook and leftovers from a ball of Peaches & Creme cotton yarn – worsted weight -- in yellow. (Any weight of yarn and hook to match will work.)

This flower is 6" in diameter.

Here's the new version (in 3 posts):

Directions:

Ch 4. Join to form ring (with a slip stitch).

Rnd 1: Ch 6, ( dc 1, ch 3 ) 5 x, join to 3rd ch st of rnd (with a slip stitch).

There are now 6 spokes and 6 chain spaces.

Note that the first 3 chain sts of the "ch 6" at the beginning of the round serve as a replacement for a dc.

The final picture shows the flower at the end of round 1.

In the next post, we'll add the first 3 petals.