The steps for one flower. (Photos courtesy of Maurita Way)

Hello. I am Maurita the Crochet Lady. This month, I decided to create a project for springtime.

I was inspired by the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, but you can use any color(s) for the flowers. Each flower is on a circular motif base. I chose to join six of them together to form a wreath, but they can be used in many ways. Examples: scarf ends, purse cover, hat decoration, etc.

MATERIALS: Wreath: 8-inch wire frame, yarn needle, size H 5mm hook and worsted weight yarn.

NOTES: 1– The base circle is worked flat with stitches worked normal, but it may lay a little curved instead of perfectly flat. (My favorite flat circle starts with 12dc, but for the math to allow for five petals, I made sure it was completed in multiples of five.)

2– The flower stamen and petals are crocheted over the posts of base stitches so they stick up for a 3D look.

The backside of wreath. (Photos courtesy of Maurita Way)

3– The circle bases can be sewn or crocheted together.

4– To attach wreath to frame, sew or crochet an approximately 40-inch long unstretched chain to lace (like one side of a shoe) so the top and bottom of the circle bases are folded over the frame.

STITCHES: sl st = slip stitch. Ch = chain. Sc = single crochet. Dc = double crochet. Tc = triple or treble crochet. PICOT = ch3, slip stitch in 1st ch. Dc inc= 2dc in same stitch or space. Tc inc= 2tr in same stitch or space. (…)= work directions in same stitch or space. […]= repeat instructions as listed.

BASE: Dark Pink: RING: ch4, join with slip stitch. Rnd1: Beg dc, 9dc in ring, join. RND2:Dark Green: RND2: Beg dc, dc in same st, dc inc around, join. RND3: Beg dc, dc inc, [dc, dc inc] around, join. FASTEN OFF LEAVING YARN to sew or join with 5sl st.

STAMEN: Yellow: note– work over posts of base RND1: [(sc, picot, sc, ch1) over base dc, skip base dc} repeat around= 5stamen total. Fasten off.

A completed wreath. (Photos courtesy of Maurita Way)

PETALS: note: ROW 1 and 3 will face front side of work for every petal.

Work over base dc of RND2: Pastel Pink: ROW1: beg dc, dc over same st, 3dc inc. turn. ROW2: Beg dc, dc in same st, dc inc, 4dc, 2dc inc. turn. ROW3: PETAL CURVES= sc, dc, 2tr inc, dc, 2sc, dc, 2tr inc, dc, sc. Note: next stitches work down edge of petal so yarn doesn’t need cut. Ch2, sl st in top of edge stitch of petal ROW1, ch2, sl st over edge of base dc, ch1, sl st over next base dc where next petal starts.

REPEAT PETAL 4 TIMES = 5 PETALS TOTAL.

FINISHING DETAILS: I like to sew in the yarn tails a bit, making sure crochet is not pulled tight, then knot 4 times before cutting. I chose to use a crocheted chain to lace my wreath onto the wire frame. I also needed to lay the petals flat in a spiral fashion so it looked prettier.

I hope you enjoy creating this “early spring” project. I wonder what project will pop into my head for next month. Until next time, happy crocheting.