Spring

Photo description: grape hyacinth bloom with hyacinth leaves and fallen post oak leaves

It is officially spring in our part of Texas: the grape hyacinth has put forth a bloom. I rebuilt the bed last season, so am watching carefully to see how the plants do. The leaves survived the big freeze, which is encouraging.

Chains and slip stitches

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

Crocheted Monstera leaf

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.

Crocheted foliage

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.

Crocheted leaf

I switched tracks on what I am doing with the yarn remnants. I decided a need a new front door wreath, and am now making crocheted botanical elements.

Photo description: green crocheted leaf laying on a calico cat

This first leaf started with a chain, then I worked each side of the chain with single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet to make curved sides. The stem is slip stitched.

It is a humble beginning, but I hope it will bloom into something remarkable.