May Roses

This is my pattern for these adorable May Roses, a sweet little floral decoration for all sorts of prettifying projects. Make them into brooches, attach them to hats, bags, hair slides, cardigans. Assemble a whole bunch of them to prettify a tea cosy, a bag, a cushion. String them together to make a pretty floral garland. Stitch them to crochet triangles to make some pretty rosy bunting. Glue them to a twiggy wreath to make a gorgeous decoration for your home.......ahhh so many fun possibilities!

Before we begin, a little summary of the basic stitches. I'm writing using UK crochet terms ::

sl st [slip stitch] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

dc [double crochet] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US sc stitch)

htr [half treble]:: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US hdc stitch)

tr [treble] :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US dc stitch)

To begin, chain 26.

:: Row 1 :: Start in the 2nd chain from hook (as shown above with my needle) and work a row of double crochet. You should count 25 stitches altogether. Turn the work.

:: Row 2 :: Start in 2nd chain from hook (as shown above with my needle)....

....work 5 treble stitches (as above) into the same stitch.

Slip stitch into next stitch (as above). This is your first large petal made.

*Work 5 tr's into next st, sl st into next st* (2nd large petal made)

Repeat between ** 3 more times until you have 5 large petals (as above)

*Work 5 htr's into next st, sl st into next st* (1st medium petal made)

Repeat between ** 3 more times until you have 4 medium petals.

*work 5 dc's into next st, sl st into next st (1st small petal made)

Repeat between ** twice more until you have 3 small petals.

Fasten off leaving a 20cm tail end for stitching up.

You should have what looks like a curly-wurly row of 12 petals (5 large, 4 medium and 3 small). It should already be naturally curling itself round to form the rosy shape so don't expect it to lie flat.

:: Stitching :: first of all, darn in the short tail end from the beginning of the foundation chain.

Now thread the long tail end onto a darning needle, and begin by tightly curling the small petals around in a spiral (as above)

Turn the rose over so that you are looking at the back of the petals with the straight line of the foundation chain nearest to you. As you curl and roll the small petals round in a spiral, begin to make small stitches through the layers of the foundation chain to hold the petals in place.

Keep gently rolling the petals around the centre, securing them with stitches as you go.

You'll need to regularly turn the rose over to check that it's forming well. It shouldn't be too tight and scrunched up, but not too loose and open either. You're aiming for quite a neat, compact spiral shape. Don't worry too much about how you are making the stitches either, it really doesn't matter. So long as they are holding all the petals securely in place that's ok as you will not see them.

When you come round to stitching the large outer petals, you should be aiming to create a neat five-petal flower shape, as shown above. When it's all stitched securely in place, fasten off.

You should find that once you've made one and got a hang of the stitching up bit (which is harder than the actual crochet bit I think), the second one will be a complete doddle. You will be so happy when you breeze through the second one that you will need to make many more instantly. You will start searching frantically through your stash, dragging out every shade of red-pink-purple that you can lay your hands on. Just a gentle warning....these are super addictive!

Want to find some green yarn and try a few leaves now??

:: To begin :: chain 8.

   Start in the 2nd chain from hook (as shown above with my needle) and work the following...

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc. That's the first side of your leaf made.

Now you are going to make the pointy end bit, so chain 2, then insert hook through the 1st chain (see where I've put my needle in the above pic). Yarn over and work a slip stitch by pulling the yarn through the chain, then through the stitch on the hook.

This forms your "picot point".

Now for the second side of the leaf. You'll be working out of the single loops of the foundation chain, as shown with my needle in the above picture. You should be able to clearly count 7 single loops altogether. Work the following, to mirror the first side...

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc.

Slip stitch into end of leaf and fasten off, leaving a tail end long enough to darn in.

You should end up with a really sweet little pointy leaf shape, the perfect accompaniment for the roses.

You might need to give your picot pointy end a little tweak to get it to sit flat and straight, as sometimes they curl a little.

Ahhhhhhhhhh what rosy gorgeousness!

I want to just add a little note about yarn and hook size. So from left to right.........

1. Large May Rose made by using two strands of dk weight merino yarn on a 5mm hook.

2. Medium May Rose made using dk weight merino yarn on a 3.5mm hook.

3. Slightly smaller May Rose made using a crochet cotton on a 3mm hook.

4. Dinky May Rose made using a fine mercerised crochet cotton on a 2.5mm hook.

I do particularly like the large double-colour rose, it was a bit of an experiment and came out much better than I expected. I think it would make a lovely brooch with a couple of leaves added....

So pretty!!!!

I hope you enjoy having a go with these lovely little blooms, they are so quick and easy to do. Perfect for using up scraps of yarn, perfect for whizzing up in any spare moment. Once you've made one, you will soon have a whole rose garden blooming before your eyes, I guarantee it. Have fun!

Oh....before I dash off to my yarn stash, I'm just going to write out the patterns for you in brief so you can copy/paste/print if you wish.......

May Rose
chain 26.
Start in 2nd ch from hook, dc to the end (25 stitches).
Turn the work.
Skip 1 st, * 5tr's into next st, sl st into next st *
Repeat between ** 4 more times (five large petal shells made)
*5 htr's into next st, sl st into next st *
Repeat between ** 3 more times (four medium petal shells made)
*5 dc's into next st, sl st into next st *
Repeat between ** twice more (three small petal shells made.
fasten off, leaving long tail end for sewing up flower.

Darn in short tail end from beginning of foundation chain.
Thread long tail end onto needle and begin by curling the small petals round in a circle. With bottom straight edge uppermost, make small stitches to secure petals in place. Keep winding petals round, securing with stitches on reverse as you go. Keep checking on right side that the flower is forming nicely, not too scrunched up, not too loose.
You should end up with a rose that roughly has five petals around the outside, then twirls inwards to a tightly curled centre.

Rose Leaf

Chain 8.

Start in 2nd chain from hook and work the following ::

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc.

Chain 2, sl st in 2nd chain from hook (picot point made).

Now work back along the bottom of the foundation chain, in the single loops of the chain ::

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc.

Sl st into end of leaf and fasten off leaving a tail end long enough to darn in.

♥

As with all my patterns, I totally love creating them and get a huge buzz out of sharing and inspiring. I am happy to give them for free, but I'm sure you can appreciate it does take a lot of time and effort to create this sort of picture-heavy tutorial.  I hope that if you've been inspired to give these sweet roses a go, that you might consider making a small donation to help support what I do here in the Attic. Thank you as always for your hooky love, it's very, very much appreciated.

 

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Comments

[Nessa]

Lovely, thank you so much for sharing

[Jill]

Hi, I am looking for the SWEET PEA TOTE crochet pattern. Thank you

[Jill Wood]

Looks like a GREAT project, however none of the images open.

[Di]

Thank you very much for generously teaching how to create this cure Rose.

[Martha]

This is the best, cutest and easiest pattern for roses by far that I have ever found. so easy and simple. Love them soooooooooooo much! my mom loves the decor I have been making out of them.

[Val Sokolev]

The step that states 2trs means to put two of the same stitch into that middle chain. In America, of course, that means you are putting two “double crochets” into that one middle chain.
Thought I would post this in case it is confusing in the USA. Be sure to change your printed pattern with the changes the author has on page 1 which so expertly converts the UK to USA.
Btw, many, many thanks to the author for the simplest and most beautiful flower crochet pattern I have ever tried! Bless you!

[Rachael]

I've tried a few roll up flower patterns and yours is by far the quickest and least complicated to follow, yet in my opinion produces the most attractive result! Thanks so much for your wonderful detailed tutorial.

[Fiona Joy Wild]

I have made in excess of 50 of these roses for my daughter's wedding. I made her bouquet and then button holes for the groom, best man, parents and bridesmaids.

[Lyn]

If possible, I’d like to be added to your subscription list. Thanks

[Ruchi]

Thanks for sharing this easy pattern. The roses look beautiful.Already made seven today and more will follow.
Will post it shortly on my Facebook page Calming crafts.

[Laura Wisenbaugh]

I used the cupcake hat pattern from your site, turned out well. Very cute. I made it in blue and gold, since my new nephew lives in Sweden.

[Harryetta]

Where can I print this in a simple form pages would take a lot of ink do you have books for sale I'd love to make these roses

[Crochetcraftscraps]

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful pattern X It's a wonderful tutorial. x

[Brenda]

Thanks for putting up all the stitches. I learned to make a granny square at 10 yrs. old from a neighbor one afternoon and never learned the names of different stitches. I more or less copied by sight.This is the exact pattern I've been looking for and also a great reminder of what the different stitches are!I do believe I'm running out of ink from all the different links on your site, lol!

[Tania]

Oh you are so right, these gorgeous blooms are rather addictive. Having to tear myself away and go to my bed, dreaming of what woolly delights my stash might hold to make more of these sweeties.Thank you so much for sharing and making your tutorials so easy for the hooking newbie x

[Elizabeth]

Fabulous! and fabulous i structions with photos! I am a left and have trouble getting things oriented properly but had to problem with this pattern, even substituting UK:US . I am crocheting yellow roses to embellish a Texas state flag tissue box cozy that I improvised for my cousin!s birthday.
Thank you!

[Jennifer Drury]

Thank you for this - hours of enjoyment and inspiration and novel ideas.
Nice to meet a Brit - I live in Brighton.
Happy New Year to you and yours
Jennifer ;0)

[Eleanor Walters]

THANK YOU Lucy, in March 2013, I met a family in Toronto Canada, who’s 3rd child was born with SANFILIPPO SYNDROME, they were told “ there is NO medication there is NO cure, life expectancy for these children is to the mid teens” Elisa was their 3rd child, Next visit to the hospital the desperate mother asked “Is there Research being done?” “ NOT IN CANADA the government doesn’t have enough funds, for all the rare decease’s out there”.
WELL, THIS MOTHER JUST HAD TO DO SOMETHING so she started the SANFILIPPO CHILDREN’S RESEARCH FOUNDATION “ www.alifeforelisa.org. see “Why the Red Rose” became their symbol of hope....on reading this story, with tears flowing, I thought “I have red yarn, I’m going to see if I can make Elisa & her sister a red rose, I HAD NEVER CROCHETED, but found your pattern....printed it, bought a crochet needle and step by step, I made two little red roses, made them into hair clips. Ladies at the families home thought they were cute, so I made more & more in many colours, others gave me ideas, baby headbands bands, ear warmers (knitted) with attached rose, cosy coffee warmers, mitts, etc all with roses from LUCY’S ATTIC.
I make & sell, raising awareness for Sanfilippo ( A CHILDHOOD ALZHEIMERS)
“ROSES for SANFILIPPO” has raised over $21.000.00
THANK YOU....THANK YOU....THANK YOU...
The family have raised over 7.5 million $$$$ Raised awareness world wide and now Clinical trials are in progress .... YOU ARE A PART OF THIS xx Eleanor🌹♥️🌹

[Catherine Bennett]

I can hardly wait to do this tomorrow! Gorgeous and THANK YOU FOR THE PICTURED INSTRUCTION!!!

[Emily]

Hi, I absolutely adore this pattern! I am hoping to organise some crochet workshops for local crafters, and was wondering if I would be able to teach people how to make these May roses, as part of a seasonal summer workshop? What are your thoughts on this? I look forward to hearing from you :-)

[Sandra]

I am having trouble understanding the pattern. Can you make a U.S. pattern?

[Maia]

I have made three of these and they are a little hard because of the UK to US conversions, but they turn out amazing. I put the leaves together, with the side that shows the v like stitches facing out.

[Maia]

I normally make amigurumi animals, and can't do a granny square at all. But these are so fun and easy. I can make one in ten minutes, and they look beautiful. I am making them in varying shades of red and pink, and all have turned out beautifully.

[Lahay]

J aimerai les explications e français svp ....
Si quelqu'un pouvait me l'envoyer. [email protected]

[Snella]

Lovely! I've used your pattern to dress up gifts and a purse for a five-year-old. Thank you for sharing!