It might be easier to secure the elements of my Spring crochet wreath if I had a solid foundation to sew to, so I crocheted a cover onto a wire wreath frame. I started with a single crochet all along the outer edge.
Photo description: wire wreath frame with single crochet around the edge with dark purple acrylic yarn, red holey-roller bag ball upper right waiting to be thrown
I added rows of double crochet around the frame, using decreases every fifth or sixth stitch to adjust the fit. To finish, I did another row of single crochet to the inside wire. Here is a video short demonstrating the technique.
Photo description: back of a wire wreath showing that the crochet is connected to the frame on the outside and inside wire onlyPhoto description: front of the wreath frame covered with crochet using dark purple acrylic yarn
Now I will have more options when securing my botanical elements to the frame.
To crochet a simple leaf, my favorite method is to make a foundation row, then crochet in the back loop back down from tip to stem. The foundation row is regular crochet stitches with a single chain added in the middle of working the stitch. This gives a chain-like structure on both sides.
Photo description: crocheted leaf made in two “rows”
First Foundation Half Double Crochet (ffhdc): yarn over (yo), insert hook in second chain from the hook, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through three loops.
Foundation Double Crochet (fdc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops.
Fdc again.
Foundation Triple Crochet (ftc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops.
Ftc again.
Two fdc.
Foundation Half Double Crochet (fhdc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through three loops.
Foundation Single Crochet (fsc): insert hook through two side loops, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops.
Ch 3.
Single crochet in back loop (scbl).
Double crochet in back loop (dcbl).
Dcbl.
Triple crochet in back loop (tcbl).
Tcbl.
Dcbl twice.
Half Double Crochet in back loop (hdcbl).
Slip stitch down the initial chain.
To make a sharper leaf tip, slip stitch the ch 3 together. To make different shapes, combine different numbers of stitches. You don’t necessarily need to match fdc with a dcbl.
To make a cluster, finish a leaf, then chain again without tying off. Vary stem lengths. clusters of three work well.
It is amazing what can be made with just chains and slip stitches in different combinations. The foliage below is made by chaining, then folding the chain back on its self and securing with a slip stitch to make a loop. Combine several loops into clusters and make stems by slip stitching along a chain, and it makes an interesting botanical shape.
Photo description: crocheted botanical element with eleven branches with clusters of looped chain
Photo description: crocheted green Monstera leaf, or maybe moldy ribs
I followed a chart for a Monstera leaf that uses crocheted chains, slip stitches, and double crochet. The leaf looks complicated, but it is a simple concept: make a chain, slip stitch into the center, make another chain, slip stitch into the previous rib, then turn and double crochet back to the start.
I don’t really like that there isn’t much to the center of the leaf. I’ll have to come up with my own pattern.
Photo description: crocheted green stem cluster on a calico cat
I’m not sure what to call this crocheted foliage element, but at least it looks botanical. It uses only chain stitches and slip stitches to work the stems and branches: chain out, slip stitches back. There is quite a lot of potential in this simple stitch combination.
Critters and Craft 