Roses are the go-to gift for all occasions. But some people have allergies that prevent them from enjoying real roses, and roses never last very long for the amount of money they cost. Why not make a bouquet that will last more than one lifetime?
With medium level skills of short row knits and construction of multiple pieces, a work of art can be created in very little time but will last forever and won’t make anyone sneeze. Why not knit a dozen in your favorite color for a stunning display!
| LOOM: Sock Loom EFG
YARN: 70 yds of dk/3 weight 50% cotton/50% acrylic yarn for each rose, 50 yds of rose color & 20 yds of green. Cascade Yarns Sunseeker Shade in colors 09 (red), 05 (baby pink), 06 (white), and 26 (green) used in samples. NOTIONS: knitting tool, tapestry needle, 16 gauge galvanized steel wire cut 10″ long for each rose GAUGE: 12 sts x 16 rows = 2” in garter stitch SIZE: 12 “ from top of petal to bottom of stem |
ABBREVIATIONS
K=knit stitch
P=purl stitch
S=slip (skip)
P2tog=purl 2 together – move the stitch from the end peg to the next peg and purl both stitches as one
CDD=central double decrease – move the 2 outside loops to the middle peg and purl all 3 stitches as one
W&T=wrap & turn – lift the stitch off the peg, wrap the working yarn around the peg by bringing it from behind and around to the front, place loop back on peg.
CO=Cast on
BO=Bind off
st(s)=stitch(es)
r=row
Rem=remain
Rep=repeat
Approx=approximately
CA=petal color (red, pink, or white)
CB=calyx and stem (green)
INSTRUCTIONS
Petals – Make 6
Using CA and leaving a tail approx. 6” long for seaming, CO 8 pegs. Prepare to work in a flat panel.
R1: K all 8 pegs
R2: S1, k next 7 pegs
R3: K pegs 1-6, W&T peg 7
R4: K pegs 6-1
R5: K pegs 1-4, W&T peg 5
R6: K pegs 4-1
R7: K pegs 1-2, W&T peg 3
R8: K pegs 2-1
Rep R1-8, 9 more times
Next row: K all 8 pegs
BO using basic BO method.
Using the long tail from the cast on, run the tail in and out of the edge stitches and gather the center by pulling it close. Then still using the tail from the CO, work the mattress stitch seaming the CO edge to the BO edge. (See Picture Details of Petals after Assembly below for more details.)
Weave in the tail used for seaming while leaving the BO tail for assembly.
Calyx (Leaves beneath Petals)
Using CB, CO 35 pegs using the Gathered CO Method (see instructions after Assembly below). Prepare to work in a flat panel.
R1: K all
R2: P all
R3 – 6: rep R1-2, twice
Now begin working a flat panel over 7 pegs to create the connected leaves.
*R1: K7 – 7 pegs
R2: P2tog, P3, P2tog – 5 pegs
R3: K5
R4: P5
R5: K5
R6: P2tog, P1, P2tog – 3 pegs
R7: K3
R8: P3
R9: K3
R10: CCD – 1 peg
Cut the working yarn leaving a tail to weave in.
BO by pulling the tail through the final stitch.
Join working yarn on the next unworked peg.
Rep from * until 5 leaves are made using all unworked pegs.
Seam the 2 sides together (do NOT use the CO tail to seam the sides together). Weave in ends except for the CO tail.
Gather the CO edge to prepare attaching calyx to stem. (See Picture Details of Calyx after Assembly below for more details.)
Stem
Using 2 strands of CB together as one, CO 2 pegs.
*K peg 1 then knit peg 2.
Holding the wire behind the pegs (see Picture Details of Stem after Assembly below), bring the working yarn behind the wire back to peg 1.
Rep from * until all of the wire is covered by the i-cord except for 1″ at the top.
Note: Remember to keep these stitches loose since using 2 strands make the stitches tighter than usual.
BO and cut working yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
Joining Petals Together Creating Rose Bud
Center the seam at the bottom of the petal.
Fold over one side of the petal keeping the seam centered at the bottom.
Fold over the other side so that the bottom of the petal is closed together and top is open.
Sew the bottom of the petal together.
Sew the overlapping petal no higher than halfway up.
Weave in the end before continuing with the next petal.
Wrap the next petal around the first keeping the seam at the bottom of the petals.
Sew the edges to the petal beneath and bottom.
Continue adding petals in the same manner alternating direction they are wrapped around the previous petals until all 6 are sewn together.
Bud is finished and ready to be joined to the Calyx and Stem.
Joining Calyx to Stem
Using one of the strands of yarn from the tail of the stem, sew the gathered center of the calyx to the top of the stem.
Make sure the wire is though the center of the calyx.
Continue sewing the top of the stem to the gather center of the calyx.
The center will continue to gather as each stitch joins the stem since the center will not gather down to the size of the stem.
Use the tail from gather the calyx to sew the calyx to the rose bud.
Weave in the ends from the stem after the calyx is sewn to the top of the stem.
The wire should protrude 1″.
Whip stitch the bottom of the stem with the tail so the bottom of the wire will not protrude from the bottom before running the tail up inside the stem with the wire..
Joining Rose Bud to Calyx and Stem
Insert the wire into the bottom of the rose bud.
Using the tail from gathering the center of the calyx, sew the bottom edge of the petals to the calyx.
After sewing the bottom edges to the calyx, sew around again up to the the part of the calyx where the leaves start.
Gathered Cast On Instructions
Place slip knot on “anchor” peg.
Run working yarn in front of peg 1. Then behind peg 2. Continue weaving the working yarn in front of the odd numbered pegs and behind the even number pegs.
Ending with the working yarn in front of peg 35.
Bring the working yarn behind peg 35 and back around in front of the next 2 pegs.
Knit the bottom loop over the top on the peg with 2 loops. Continue with every 2 pegs until peg 1 has been knitted. Now all pegs should have a stitch.
Start row 1 as instructed. Leave the slip knot on the anchor peg until the first row has been worked.
Picture Details of Petals
Before seaming and gather center.
Back of work when on the loom but front when when assembling.
Front of work when on the loom but back when assembling.
Using a tapestry needle, run the tail in and out of the edge stitches.
Continue around the center until on the other side of the center.
Gather the center and use tail to seam the cast on and bind off edges with the mattress stitch.
Petal finished and ready to assemble.
Picture Details of Calyx
For first leaf, knit the first 7 pegs. Then move the stitch on peg 7.
Place the stitch from peg 7 onto peg 6. Purl both loops as one and then purl pegs 5, 4, and 3.
Remove the stitch on peg 1.
And place it onto peg 2. Purl both loops as 1.
Then continue with written instructions until you have only 3 stitches remaining.
Now to work the CDD.
Remove the stitch from peg 3.
Place it on peg 2.
Remove the stitch from peg 1.
Place it on peg 2 so that 3 loops are on 1 peg.
Purl all 3 loops together as one.
Bind off by pulling the working yarn up through the remaining stitch as if working a purl stitch.
But unlike a purl, continue to pull the tail through the loop and remove the stitch off the peg.
Pull the tail until the loop closes.
A look at the first leaf finished with the remaining stitches are still on the loom.
Join the working yarn on the first stitch of the unworked stitches by simply placing the yarn around the peg.
While a slip knot can be used here, this method will eliminate knots in the work.
Knit as normal and continue.
Snug up the tail as needed if the stitch becomes loose.
Then weave in the tail later.
How the calyx looks before weaving in the ends and seaming the sides together.
Calyx seamed and gathered with tail for sewing.
Picture Details of Stem
First 2 stitches of knit.
Hold wire behind the pegs.
Bring the working yarn behind the wire and back around in front of peg 1 to knit pegs 1 and 2 again.
Continue until 1″ of wire is left uncovered.
Pattern written and designed by Renita Harvey.
