Polyanthus Flower

I designed this little polyanthus flower especially to make into a pretty Spring garland for my fireplace. You can read more about my garland and the making process ((HERE)).

Polyanthus are such cheery flowers and here in the UK we see them everywhere in Spring, planted up in garden borders, pots and tubs. The bright colours provide the perfect inspiration for a happy garland (or maybe a wreath too?) and it's really fun playing with different colour combinations.

For my flowers I used scraps of Stylecraft Special DK left over from making blankets. I chose some greens for the leaves, some yellows and an orange to make the flower centres, and then a selection of pretty pinks and purples for the petals. You can find full colour details in my Spring Garland post ((HERE)

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.....

....there you go - see the little star shape in the centre?

YARN AND HOOK SIZE

You can use any DK weight yarn to make these flowers, and an appropriate size hook to suit the yarn and your own tension.

I used a 4mm hook with Stylecraft Special DK yarn.

PATTERN

I'm using UK crochet terms, as follows : 

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)

If you are an experienced crocheter, you can by-pass the photo tutorial and go straight to a traditionally written pattern - scroll down to the end to find a downloadable PDF pattern.

ROUND 1 :: Use Colour A 

Chain 4; slip stitch into 1st chain to form a ring. 

Chain 1 (doesn't count as stitch);

Note: try and crochet over your tail end for the first 5 stitches by holding your tail end horizontally along the top of the chain-ring and making sure your hook passes underneath it as you crochet each stitch

Work 10 dc into the ring;

Slip Stitch into 1st dc (where my needle is pointing in the above photo) to close the round; fasten off [10 stitches]

If you managed to crochet over your tail end as you worked, flip your circle over and give the tail end a very firm tug - this will close up the hole in the centre and give a really neat finish. 

ROUND 2 :: Use Colour B

Insert hook into first stitch and pull through a loop of the new colour.

Note : remember to try and crochet over your tail ends as you work the first 4 stitches, it'll save you from darning them in! 

Chain 1 (doesn't count as a stitch); 2 dc into same stitch; chain 1; 

Skip 1 stitch; 2 dc into next stitch ; chain 1; 

*2 dc in next stitch; chain 1; skip 1 stitch;

Repeat from * twice more; 

Slip stitch into 1^st dc (shown by my needle above) to close round; fasten off [10 sitches and 5 chain spaces]

This is what your little circle should look like at the end of round 2.

If you crocheted over your tail ends, you can flip your circle over and simple snip off the ends. Otherwise, darn in your ends to stop them getting in the way as you work the final round.

ROUND 3 :: Use Colour C

Insert hook into first stitch and pull through a loop of the new colour.

Note : remember to try and crochet over your tail ends as you work the first 2 petals, it'll save you from darning them in! 

Chain 2; 1 tr; 1 htr (as shown above)

In the next stitch, work (1 htr; 1 tr; chain 2); insert hook back into the same stitch (as shown by my needle in the above photo) and work a slip stitch to anchor the petal;

Now we're going to work a Spiked Slip Stitch - don't worry, it's easy-peasy! Remember in Round 2 we skipped some stitches and left them free? Well this is where you insert your hook to create the spiked slip stitches. See where my needle is in the above photo? Insert your hook in that skipped stitch, yarn over, pull a loop back through the stitch, then pull it through the loop on your hook. Its just a normal slip stitch, but spiked down into the round below.....

.....see how that last slip stitch has dropped down to form a weeny spike? Clever eh?

Right, onto the next petal....

Slip stitch into next stitch (where my needle is in above photo); chain 2;

work (1 tr; 1 htr) into same stitch;

Work (1 htr; 1 tr; chain 2; slip stitch) into next stitch;

See where my needle is pointing in the above photo? Work a spiked slip stitch into that free stitch, keeping your tension as even as possible.

If you've managed to crochet over  your tail ends as you worked these first petals, now is a good time to turn your crochet over and snip off your ends to stop them getting in the way.

*Slip stitch into next st; chain 2; (1tr; 1 htr) in same stitch; (1 htr; 1 tr; chain 2; slip stitch ) in next stitch;

Insert hook into skipped st 2 rows below and work a slip stitch;

Repeat from * 2 more times.

We're now going to create an invisible join to finish. Snip your yarn.....

....and use your hook to pull the loop right up until the tail end comes out at the front.

Thread the tail end onto a darning needle. Insert your needle from left to right under the first chain of the beginning chain-2 you made (as shown in the photo above) and pull through.

Now insert your hook down into the top of the final slip stitch you made (as shown in the photo) and pull through to the back. Darn in the end securely on the reverse of the flower.

Yay!!!! There you have it - one neat little polyanthus flower!

Now it's time for some leaves.

ROUNDED LEAF

Chain 6;

Begin in the 2nd chain from the hook (shown my me needle in the above photo)

1 dc; 1 htr ; 1 tr; 1 tr;

In the last chain work 6 tr to form the rounded end and turn the corner.....

....can you see all 6 trebles in that last stitch? Now turn the leaf to complete the second side - you'll be putting your hook into the single loops of the foundation chain, as follows :

1 tr; 1 tr; 1 htr; 1 dc; 

Insert your hook into the turning chain (it looks like a little bump right at the start, shown by my needle above) and slip stitch to close.

Fasten off and darn in ends.

Make a second leaf in exactly the same way, but don't darn in the tail end. Overlap the second leaf on top of the first (at a slight angle) and use the tail end to stitch the second leaf on top of the first one. You only need a few little stitches to hold it in place.

Turn your flower and leaves so that wrong sides are facing uppermost. Place your leaves on top of the flower as shown above, and stitch the leaves in place. Make sure you can't see any of your green stitches on the front of the flower as you stitch - check often!

Ta-dah!! Your little polyanthus flower now has it's greenery! 

I've written up the pattern for you to download/print, just click on the following link for the PDF file >>

Download POLYANTHUS Pattern

You can make lots of these to string into a garland, or perhaps to make a pretty Spring wreath. They would work really well along with some daffoldils and Japanese quince blossom.

When I made my Spring Garland, I alternated my Polyanthus with some little creamy white hawthorne blossoms - you can find the pattern for these in my Spring garland post ((HERE)).

Download POLYANTHUS Pattern

I hope you enjoy making these flowers, they could be used for all sorts of projects, in all sorts of different colour palettes and are perfect for using up left over scraps.

As always, I am more than happy to provide my patterns and picture tutorials for free here on my blog. If you have used these patterns and would like to donate a few pennies it would be very much appreciated. Thank you so much for your support, and wishing you happy hooky times!

♥

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Comments

[Joan Mueller]

I LOVE your blog and have made versions of your Spring, Fall, and Winter wreaths (I used your little sheep in a sweater at the bottom of the Spring wreath and it was perfect!) I've also, made a couple granny blankets and your triangle bunting. I'm going to start the polyanthus bunting today! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful patterns and for giving someone from Iowa (in the USA midwest) a delicious taste of England!

[Sarah lee]

Thank you for your pattern I have used it to make a book mark for a dear friend.

[Светлана]

Спасибо за Ваш подробный урок.Эти цветы очень милые !

[Jenni]

Thank you so so much! Am teaching my daughters to crochet and this is such a beautiful project to work on together! I have all the yarns but am struggling with the colour combos. Is there any way you could share your ABC colour combinations for your flowers above? Thank you very very much in advance.

[Susan]

Thank you, I love primroses
Finding this lockdown difficult and was looking for something to do.
These primroses are exactly what I need
👍

[Suzzette Jones]

Dear Lucy

I just wanted to say that you're a beautiful inspiring lady. Thank you for all the detailed projects and your poetic flare. Truly truly lovely 😊❤

Kindest regards.

[Mary W]

Thank you for the pattern for the cutest, springiest, and most beautiful garland - makes me smile to see those blossoms!