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

[Laura]

So lovely! I have no firepace, athough I may use any other place to hang it, right? We shall see!

[Miss Daisy]

Beautiful as always ! Love the color choices and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your creations , I know how much time and effort it takes. So,thank you.I made the autumn garland and love it so will be making this one also and then the winter garland.Want to get a head start.Y'all stay safe.

[Frances]

I think these garlands will be keeping many people occupied this Easter! Thanks Lucy xx

[Raffaella]

So beautiful 👏. Thank you very much for all your tutorials 🥰

[Deb]

beautiful, thank you

[Jenny Smith]

Just love this garland Lucy. Brings a lot of springtime joy in these very difficult times. Just got to finish the rainbow I have been making and then I will be having a go at these. Thank you and thank you again xxx

[Claudia Barwitzki]

Beautiful flowers. The colors are just wonderful.
I like the garland very much.
Happy Easter to you.
Greetings from Viola

[CJ]

Oh so pretty, amazing how you have exactly captured the polyanthus, and the little hawthorn blossoms are perfect, the centres are such a clever idea. Your mantel is always so beautifully done. Hope you're having a good week. CJ xx

[Ipukris]

Oh, just love it! 😍 I don'ha a mantel, but will make a garland to the window. That will be lovely! 🌱🏵️🌱🌺🌱

[Little bluebird potterings]

Well done Lucy, such a gorgeous pattern and project. Can’t wait to have a go!
Thank you so much.

[Ailsa Busby]

Just the thing for brightening our lived at the moment. Delicate, refreshing and cheerful and full of springtime.
Thank you for your wonderful creativity and inspiration.

[Feedautomne]

oooh c'est beau, c'est frais, je trouve cette guirlande vraiment magnifique, ça fait du bien au moral, merci Lucy !!!

[Annette]

Dear Lucy
Super cute spring garland. Love, love, love it! I wish I had a mantel to decorate with the seasons... We call those flowers Primroses. I got many of them in my garden. Spring is here. Finally!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Annette

[Lisa Bell]

Lucy, WOW these are so pretty, thank you.
I have it on my mind to make an Easter blanket- but can't find the pattern. Would you be able to email it over in exchange for a few cups of coffee coming your way? 😀 I do love your designs so much!

[Renee]

Oh! This is so lovely! I just adore all the beautiful colors. Thank you for the inspiration :)

I am so glad I stumbled across your blog. Our tastes must be very similar because all the bright cheery colors make me smile and I want to decorate the same way. Happily, my hubby doesn't mind what I do to make the place look pretty:)

[Jenny J]

I love this! I can't wait to give it a go over Easter. Thank you so much for the pattern. I am still plodding along with my Dune blanket every night and am loving watching it grow. Take care.

[Susan]

That is so beautiful! I love it.

[SUSAN JONSSON]

Oh...bless you for the tutorial...so excited to make a garland!♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Susan
From Washington state..West Coast. USA

[Gloria]

Very cute. Thanks for the pattern, I'll try it.

[Anna]

Brilliantly spring days shines through you and your amazingly crafty hands...stay safe and cherish the littlest things around...love and happiness to you and all loved ones...🌸💐🍒💕

[Janice Powell]

These are so beautiful, will I be able to get the pattern please. Thank you

[Heather Coady]

Beautiful I can’t wait until I try them ,but determined to finish my woodland first as nearly there! Flowers are so lovely and pretty!

[Hettie]

I love it! What a lovely smile you’ve brought to the end of my day!

[Susan]

Absolutely delightful thank you xxx

[Dawn piper]

Absolutely beautiful Lucy, just the sort of inspiration that we need at the moment, you bring a lot of happiness through your work🌸🌼💐