Spring Garland :: Ta-dah!

photo credit : www.gardeningdirect.co.uk/

When I was thinking about making a Spring garland for my mantel, the very first flowers that came to mind were polyanthus. They are so cheery and uplifting and the bright mix and match colours are perfect for using up all those little scrappy left over bits of yarn from other projects.

Polyanthus flowers have very distinctive colouring in the centre which creates a little pointed star shape - this was not at all easy to recreate in crochet I can tell you! But after a lot of experimentation I came up with a simple but beautifully effective design, and I'm really happy with it.....

....awwww!!! I think they are really lovely and I promise you they are easy and quick to make. They are maybe a little fiddly to crochet at first but I find that's the case with most crochet flowers until you get into the zone with them, and then they fly off your hook at speed. And I do love a quick little flying project every once in a while, it's good for the soul.

I gathered together a colour palette left over from making the Sweet Pea and Dahlia blankets...

The greens are from the Sweet Pea palette :: Cypress, Pistachio and Meadow ( I did end up adding in Sage, Lincoln and the new and beautiful Apple green)

Then I've got Mustard, Saffron, Lemon and Cream.

Spice, Pomegranate, Shrimp, Boysenberry and Magenta make up the darker end of the floral palette.

Apricot, Fondant, Blush, Powder Pink and Clematis make up the lighter end (I added in Lavender too).

Once I'd finished all the faffing and finalised the design, my polyanthus flowers bloomed very quickly. Ten out of ten for satisfaction I'd say.

I made twenty flowers in total for my garland.

The leaves were a bit more laborious, especially as I decided on two for each flower, meaning forty in total. I confess I did get a bit fed up towards the end.

But just look how beeeeautiful they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glorious, floral deliciousness.

Earlier this week I photographed the making process, and I've just finished writing it all up. There is my usual step-by-step photo-heavy tutorial as well as a simple one-page PDF pattern that you can download/print. Click on the following link to go to the tutorial page >>

🌸POLYANTHUS TUTORIAL🌸

As I mentioned in my post the other day, I've also been making some teensy little hawthorn blossoms to go along with the polyanthus. These are such easy flowers to make, a chain-4 ring, then all five petals worked in one easy round. As follows: 

Hawthorn Blossom Flower

Using Cream/White yarn, ch 4; sl st into 1^st ch to form a ring.

All stitches in round 1 are worked into the ring.

Round 1 : *ch 2; 1 tr; ch 2; sl st;

Repeat from * 4 more times; sl st into 1^st ch of beginning ch-2 to close the round; fasten off [5 petals]

Note : if you crochet over the tail end as you make each petal, you can give it a firm pull when you finish and close up the hole in the centre. Alternatively, you could use the magic ring method if you prefer.

Inspired by Kate of "Just Pootling" on instagram, I coloured in my flower centres using felt tip pens.

I LOVE how these turned out - I did a mixture of yellow with orange and yellow with lime green for the centres, and I do think they look very blossom-like. I made 21 for my garland.

And now with all the flowers and leaves made, it's time for the fun bit, yipppeeeee!!!

First I arranged the flowers in the order that I wanted to join them for my garland.

I chose Pistachio yarn to make my chain. To make the hanging loop, chain 12, then slip stitch into the 1st chain to form the loop (you darn in the tail end afterwards)

You need to work out how many chains you want between each flower and make it consistent along the length of the garland. I chained 8 between mine.

To attach a flower, have the working yarn at the back, then insert the hook through a single back loop at the top of a petal and make a slip stitch.

Use the same number of chains in between each flower.....

....and the same slip stitch method through single back loops to attach each flower.

After all the flower and leaf making, the actual garland making is turbo-charged and incredibly quick.

Ahhhhhh, it's happening!!!!! My garland is growing by the second!

Soon enough the end is in sight - time to make the other hanging loop. Chain an extra 12, then count back and slip stitch in the 12th chain from the hook. Easy peasy.

The excitement is real - the garland lies in a pretty heap and I absolutely can't wait to see it all stretched out.......

.................Oh!!! How very, very pretty and Springlike!! Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy with it, it's exactly what I could see inside my Creative Mind when I first decided to create a Spring garland.

And this is what it looks like in situ. It really brightens up our wooden fireplace and it makes me smile every time I walk into the room.

The little copper wire lights are set on a timer so that they come on in the late afternoon and switch themselves off after eight hours (so clever). I love the extra little bit of twinkle that they bring.

When I was making the hawthorn blossom I got a bit carried away and made too many. So I decided to add the extra ones to some little twigs on my mantel and the simplicity of it makes me so happy.

I'd love to hear if you decide to make yourself  a garland - I can promise you that it really does bring a lot of joy, both in the making and in the decorative faffery potential. Give it a go, you know resistance is futile!!

🌸POLYANTHUS TUTORIAL🌸

x

ps Do you remember my Autumn Garland?? I thought it would be fun to see them both together >>>

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Comments

[Wendi]

I was just looking for something like this. So glad you posted about it today in IG. Your designs and posts always bring a smile to my face and some joy to my heart.

[Sheree Ellis]

Beautiful Lucy. I am a polyanthos girl, in bloom on my outdoor table now. Thankyou for this pattern. I love crocheting flowers. Your attic 24 was the 1st website I found. May your crochet be ever perfumed with colour. Avid Gardner from a
Adelaide Australia. Best wishes Sheree

[Maria]

You have made the most beautiful colourful projects. I wish I had your talent.

[Angela-southern-USA]

Love the garland! So cheerful. I recently made some crochet bunting for the windows in my craftroom, such a cheerful spot of color, and needed at this time.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Lesley]

Thankyou so much for this. These flowers hold such a precious place in my heart. After a mid trimester miscarriage we filled our little boys grave with these beautiful flowers renamed as Alfie flowers in our home. I shall be making this with much love in my heart x

[Sabine]

That´s so lovely. Thank you for the pattern. Stay safe and healthy. <3 xxx

[Amanda Marshall-Clarke]

Thank you so much for your cheery & colourful blog - I love it :) I am working on your woodland blanket & also looking forward to completing some more of your inspiring projects - certainly helps me to keep calm & carry on whilst providing care in the community in these uncertain times. Hope you'll be able to enjoy the cup of coffee on me once we have a new normality. Stay safe & well x

[Donna Philpott]

Lucy, I just love your polyanthus & hawthorne flowers. I want to make a garland like yours when it gets hot this summer; & I'll probably go ahead & hang it up. I'll probably hang it onto a curtained window as we don't have a mantel. Your mantel is so creative & reflects your personality; I love it. I hope you had a lovely Easter.

[Theresa]

These are so pretty.

[Helen Dimoska]

Thank you Lucy ❤️ for the beautiful posts you write. I go back and read through them once in awhile and your photos are always so cheerfully colorful. I've been following you blog for so long now and I am so very happy I found it all those years ago. Thank you again so very much for sharing your little world with the rest of us. I know it makes so many people all over the world so happy. Take care and stay safe and healthy. All the best to you and your beautiful family ❤️

[Charlotte]

I so enjoy a peep in the Attic. The first time that I found you, you were in bed finishing a blanket I think with octagons but it was a long time before you became a family of five. This Safe at Home has allowed that I finally finished my Summer Ripple in Kin Cole Cottonsoft. Amen. I started crochet when I was 6 years old and a neighbor taught me you DC and i did 2 oval rugs with cotton rug yarn. For many years the yarn was wool or cotton. Then I did several of your blankets in acrylic with the kits from Woolwarehouse and other projects in acrylic then I started coughing every time that I crocheted and developed a sensitivity to acrylic. After I see how this washes I am going to try the pattern for Sweet Pea and when Woolwarehouse is open again order some cotton. Happy Easter ! Stay safe at home.

[ElsieJoy]

Oh my, this is absolutely glorious (and in UK crochet too which is always a bonus)

The idea of using felt tip to colour the centres is genius, never thought of that. I am goingt o have a go, may take me a while, but hopefully ready by next spring

[Elise]

These are just beautiful!! I love them and that tip for coloring the center with a marker is brilliant! Thank you so much for the tutorial!

[Emily]

Lucy, they're so beautiful. I love all the colors and the tip about coloring the centres with felt tip pens is just amazing. Thank you.
Have a lovely Easter.

Sweet greetings,
Emily
(casacreaemilia.blogspot.nl)

[Nancy Swank]

So pretty and cheerful! I think this may be my Easter Day project!

[PatriciaA]

Think I will do this garland. Polyanthus are one of my favourite flowers. Might even have it done in time for our Spring in September.
Was looking at your Autumn Garland and wondering how I can adapt that to Australian Autumn beauty. Don't have the cold you have in Yorkshire. No snow in Sydney.
Will let you know how I go.

[Su]

If only I could crochet! This would be exactly the thing I would make. Never mind, I get to see yours in all its loveliness.

[Karyn Brown]

Just beautiful!! Thanks so much for sharing , you brightened my day. Stay safe, with love from Australia, Karyn x

[Mitzi]

Lovely garland Lucy.
Hope you and your family are keeping well. Sorry you won't be at Yarndale this year but maybe bump into you there again in years to come but as a visitor this time when you'll have time to wander and browse just as we do.

Mx

[Diane Smith]

It is beautiful Lucy and so bright and cheerful.

[Michelle]

This garland is so pretty!

Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com

[Cathy Tucker]

This is exactly the cheerful diversion I need. Thanks! Cathy in Sydney Australia.

[Heather LeFebvre]

Oh that garland is just beautiful. I love it so much! Nice to hop back on to blogs with this new life we are all living

[Leah Lynch]

Such a sweet thing!

[Sue Metcalf]

This is lovely. Thank you.