These flowers will make cute hair accessories, but also decorations in general. They are quick to make, but also allow for many colour combinations and therefore to be personalised.
The flowers measure about 4 cm or 1.5 inches when making them without the extra stripe along the edge and using a needle size 3 mm. For smaller or bigger flowers, change the size of the needle and the thickness of the yarn to match.
Pattern
The flowers are made from two layers of petals.
Inner petals
The inner (or upper) layer of petals can be made with one or two colours.
Begin with 2 chain stitches.
Round 1: Make 10 single stitches in the second stitch from the needle. Close the circle with a slip stitch. If you are using two colours, change the colour at the end of the 10th single stitch and make the slip stitch with the new colour. Otherwise, the first colour will be visible in the second round.
Round 2: 1 half double, 2 double, and 1 half double in the first loop and then a slip stitch in the second loop. Repeat four more times to create 5 petals.
After the last slip stitch, cut off the yarn and pull through. Weave in the ends at the back of the petals.
Outer petals
The outer (or bottom) layer of petals is made with only one colour.
Make a chain with 10 stitches and close the circle with a slip stitch.
Round 1: *5 chain stitches, 2 slip stitches* 5 times to create five petals.
Round 2: Use the chains as the loops for the petals. 1 half double, 7 double, and 1 half double in the first chain, and then 1 slip stitch in the same loop as the previous round. Repeat 4 more times.
After the last slip stitch, cut off the yarn but leave some extra for sewing.
The petals are now open, but to close the centre of them, sew a stitch across the base of the petal. Turn the petals over and continue on the back. Pick up one of the loops from the double stitches on each side, once in the middle and once on the top. Pull the yarn a little bit to fully close the gap. Weave through the petal to the base of the next petal and repeat for the four remaining petals. Don't cut of the yarn.
Add decorative edge or skip to attaching the pieces.
Decorative edge
To decorate the flowers, you can add an outer edge on either layer or both of them.
Inner petals
Start in the first half double stitch of the petal. Pick up the yarn and make a slip stitch. This will count as the first stitch. Make 3 single stitches in the next loops on the petal. Make them on the looser end, otherwise the petal will fold in on itself.
Next, make a slip stitch, but don't make it in the second round but the first round (all the way down to the inner circle). This will create a line down to the centre that enhances the shape of the petal.
Repeat four more times. Finish with a slip stitch in the first stitch of the edge to close the gap.
Outer petals
For the outer petals, you will need to add extra stitches to prevent it folding in on itself. Increase every third stitch.
Start in the first half double stitch of the petal. Pick up the yarn and make a slip stitch. This will count as the first stitch. Make one more stitch, and then increase. *2 single, 1 increase* two more times on the first petal, and then a slip stitch. Use the same loop as the previous round. A longer stitch will not be visible here.
Repeat for the next four petals. Finish with a slip stitch in the first stitch of the edge to close the gap.
The edge will create a wavy edge on the outer petals which I like as it make the flower look a little bit more realistic. However, you can increase less for a flatter look.
Attaching the pieces
Use the remaining end from the outer petals to sew the two pieces together. Go up through one side of the base on one of the outer petals, pick up the back of the two double stitches on one of the inner petals, and then continue down through the other side of the base of the outer petal. Repeat on the four remaining pairs of petals. Weave in the end of the yarn and cut off.
Turning it into a hair accessory
The easiest way to turn the flower into a hair accessory is to push a hair pin through. Picking up one loop on either side of the inner circle (on the back) is enough. You can even fit two flowers on the same pin.
But you can also sew it on to hairbands and other things you want to decorate.
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