LOTUS FLOWERS
Brighten up a table with a pair of lotus blossoms designed by Bryony Hitchcock.
■ Scheepjes Catona (100% mercerised cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each:
Yarn A Yellow Gold (208)
Yarn B Royal Orange (189)
Yarn C Shocking Pink (114)
Yarn D Electric Blue (201)
Yarn E Vivid Blue (146)
Yarn F Emerald (515)
Yarn G Hot Red (115)
■ A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook
TENSION
Tension is not critical for this project
MEASUREMENTS
Approx 12x12cm (4 x4 in)
ABBREVIATIONS
Loop st Insert hook in stitch indicated, holding back a loop of yarn approx 4cm long, yrh and complete as for dc
Trflo Treble crochet in front loop only For a full list, see page 92
NOTES
Stamens are not fixed to the Lotus, you can leave them out and use as a trinket dish.
FLOWER BODY
With Yarn E, ch5, ss to first ch to join into a ring. Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 10tr into the ring, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. [11 sts]
Round 2 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, 3tr in remaining 10 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [32 sts] Round 3 Ch3, trflo in remaining 31 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3, do not fasten off. [32 sts]
INNER PETALS (MAKE 8)
Work in rows.
Row 1 Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), tr in next 3 sts, turn. [4 sts]
Row 2 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in next 2 sts, 2tr in next st, turn. [6 sts]
Row 3 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in next 4 sts, 2tr in next st, turn. [8 sts]
Row 4 Ch3, tr in next 7 sts, turn.
Row 5 Ch2 and tr in next st (counts as tr2tog throughout), (tr2tog) 3 times, turn. [4 sts]
Row 6 Ch2 and tr in next st, tr2tog, turn. [2 sts]
Row 7 Ch1 and tr in next st, fasten off. [1 st] Rejoin yarn to next unworked st of Round 3 of the Body and repeat Rows 1-7 for next petal. Repeat to make a total of 8 petals.
EDGING
With WS facing, join Yarn E with a ss to any st. Ch1 (not counted as a st), work 2dc over the row-ends of each tr st, and (dc, ch1, dc) at the tip of each petal with ch3, to create a point, ss to first st, fasten off.
OUTER PETALS
Join Yarn E with a ss to any back loop left from Round 3 of the Body. Ch3, tr in each bl from Round 3, ss to top of beg ch-3, then work as given for Inner Petals.
Repeat Edging with Yarn A and RS facing. Work a second Flower in the same way using Yarn G and Yarn B.
LOTUS LEAF
Using Yarn F, ch5, ss to first ch to join into a ring.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 10tr into the ring, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. [11 sts]
Round 2 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, 3tr in remaining 10 sts. [32 sts]
Round 3 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, (tr in next 3 sts, 2tr in next st) 7 times, tr in next 3 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [40 sts]
Round 4 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, (tr in next 4 sts, 2tr in next st) 7 times, tr in next 4 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [48 sts]
Round 5 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, (tr in next 5 sts, 2tr in next st) 7 times, tr in next 5 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [56 sts]
Round 6 Ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, (tr in next 6 sts, 2tr in next st) 7 times, tr in next 6 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3.
Fasten off. [64 sts]
Round 7 With RS facing, join Yarn C or Yarn D with ss at the outside edge, ch1 (does not count as a st), dc in each st around, to form a ridged edge to the leaf, ss to first dc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.