Method:—Work six or seven chain and join by pulling the loop through the first stitch. To make the petals, work four chain; three treble stitches into the ring; four chain and one single or double stitch into the ring—this completes a petal. Notice that the four chain at the beginning and end form the sides of the petal. Be careful not to split the wool while working, as this spoils the appearance of the flower. Make five, six, or seven petals and join at the ring as before.
If a larger flower is wanted, make a small flower as Fig. 66 for the centre, and work the petals into the openings instead of into the ring; the petals may be made fuller also by adding more treble stitches to each one.
Figs. 66 and 67, if worked in silk, cotton, or flax, make quite a pretty decoration; the flowers may be folded into various shapes and an interesting touch of colour or a stitch here or there, or an outline of button-holing will add richness and variety to the work (Plate XV.).
Fig. 68.
Leaves (Fig. 68).—Leaves are quite simple to make, and, of course, will vary in size and form, just as the flowers do, according to the size of the hook and the thickness of wool used. A chain forms the mid-rib of the leaf, and into this double, treble and long treble stitches are worked up one side of the chain and down the other, the long trebles coming at the widest part and decreasing towards the tip.
Method:—Make nineteen chain as a foundation; work one single stitch into the second chain from the hook, one double crochet into each of the next two chain, one treble stitch into each of the next two chain, one long treble into each of the next eight chain, one treble into each of the next two chain, one double crochet into the next chain, three double crochet into the last chain. These three stitches form the tip of the leaf. Continue with one double crochet into the next chain; on the other side of the chain a treble stitch into each of the next two chain, and so on—repeating the stitches as on the ascending side—to the end of the chain (Plate XII.). This leaf may be enlarged by working a row of double stitch all round, while a smaller one may be made by starting with thirteen or fifteen chain and putting in fewer long trebles.
Fig. 69.
Wired Leaves (Fig. 69).—Another type of leaf (Fig. 69) is made with two lengths of covered green millinery wire—any wire will do so long as it is covered—which are tied together in the centre with green silk and then bent into the form of a leaf and fastened at the foot with silk or wool. The wire is then interlaced with wool, flax, or silk, or chenille, in green, blue, or any colour desired. As the weaving proceeds in and out, take care to push the rows closely together until the tip is reached; pass the needle and thread twice round the tip and slip the needle down the centre to the stem, where the thread is wound round and round until it is firm and a sufficient length of stem is covered.