Spring Twigs

I loved decorating my mantel for Easter this year, and once all the little eggs and felt pretties were packed away again it all looked rather depressingly bare. I do usually have some sort of crochet goodness on these branches in between Easter and Christmas so this isn't a totally new idea (I've made hearts and blossom in previous years), but it was time for something fresh.....

I had an idea to make some little Spring Leaves, something quick and easy to satisfy my creative soul and add a happy dash of colour to my mantel twigs.

I like to use DK weight cotton yarn for this sort of thing - cotton yarn has a certain stiffness which lends itself to small decorative motifs. We really don't want wilting, droopy leaves now do we?! In my yarn bag I've got Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK (the new 50g balls) which worked really well for my leaf making. It's a lovely soft, matt cotton which is great to work with and non-splitty (hooooray for non-splitty yarn!) 

The leaves are worked in two quick rounds and are rather cute with a round bottom and pointy top end. Unlike other leaves that I've made in the past, these leaves are worked out of a central ring (as opposed to up and down the length of a short crochet chain), so are much easier to do. They are perfect for beginners who want to add some crochet leaves to twigs, wreaths, brooches or any other thing that needs a leafy finishing touch.

When I darned in my tail ends on the back of the leaf, I added a little loop so that I could simply slip the leaf neatly onto the end of a twig....

....it worked a treat and means that this display can easily be changed on a whim (I am often overcome by Creative Whims, so none of my twiggy decorations are permanently attached). Of course, you could glue these leaves in place if you wanted a more permanent solution.

I love the simplicity of this idea.....

.....and the way the mirror doubles up my creative efforts is a bonus too. Actually, I think I could do with making a few more leaves to really fill the twigs with colour - you know I always go for the more-is-more approach. Well it works for me.

This is such a lovely time of year, our days are lengthening and the extra hours of daylight are making me sooo happy. The house feels light and bright, laid back and relaxed. Springtime is sooooo good!

I wrote up the pattern for these leaves, just in case you feel a need to hook up a little bit of yarny Spring growth.

 {SPRING LEAVES PATTERN}

Happy Days xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Comments

[chocolategirl64]

these remind me of the middle of a peacock feather ~ would be lovely with a few more rows to make those :-)

[Angela-Southern USA]

Those are sooooo cute Lucy! I too have the urge to change things up through the year and like the ease of a loop added. Such happy colors! I have thoroughly enjoyed spring this year. I've just came in from weeding in the flower garden, (congrats on the allotment by the way!) to cool off with a tall glass of lemonade and visit with you. We're moving into summer temps already here and I shall miss the 70's(F). Have a great week! <3

[Sue Standring]

Lucy such good timing, my little Easter tree is bare now . I was thinking what I could do , this has made my day! Crochet hook is out! Many thanks 😊 They are so pretty🌺 Xx

[Lynne Armstrong]

These are gorgeous Lucy. As always I love your colour combinations and that DK cotton looks lovely....might have to put some of that in my next order so I can make a few of these leaves :)
Do you think the additional colour rows for your Original granny stripe blanket will be listed soon? I'm sorry to be a nag but I have one finished to the 60 rows and am waiting for the new colours before continuing on. I've put it aside and am working on my Sunny blanket while I wait. I've nearly finished it....I'm on the home run now.....and would really like to finish my Original blanket when the Sunny is finished. I know I'm being lazy as I could do my own new colours but you do SUCH a brilliant job I'd rather wait :D
Hugs from Australia
Lynne xx

[Mary]

Love this! Spring is also here in Maine, USA. Your blog brings a ray of sunshine to my day. Thank you very kindly...
<3