Lesson 5: Flowers

Brilliant lessons this week.  We started by learning how to make i-cord.  This looks like the tail of French Knitting and is made on dpns (double pointed needles).  The usual size is 3, 4 or 5 stitches.  The main thing to remember is that the work is NEVER turned.  You knit the stitches, then slide them to the other end of the dpn, then pull the wool firmly across the back of the stitches, then knit again, as before.  Then of course, just to confuse everyone, we added a little leaf - knitted in the traditional way, by turning the work at each row!  Much laughter, but some lovely work ensued.

Next, we made little windmill-shaped flowers with separate petals, knitted one after the other, keeping them joined at a central stitch.  We discussed whether nature makes 6-petalled flowers, and it seems - according to several - that flowers are always odd-number petalled!  Anyway, we made a variety of flowers, with 5, 6 (yes!), or 7 petals.  All looked great.  The texture and size varied greatly, depending on the fibre and needles used.

Some people then managed to crochet a simple rolled rose-type flower.  See instructions and examples.  I have also included another simple knitted rose pattern.  And this week, I have again managed to post some photos!  Scroll right down to see some fantastic work so far.  We have some wonderful things appearing for the exhibition.  Keep it coming, I say.  :)