Wedding bouquet
Bloom beautifully as you walk down the aisle with a bouquet filled with soft flowers knitted in cotton and chenille.
WEDDING BOUQUET
Note Before beginning to make up the flowers, it can be useful to prepare the floral stems. Using a pair of long-nosed pliers or similar, fold over approximately 5mm of one end of each floral stem to make a small loop for drawing yarn through to fasten the stem to the fabric piece.
ROSE (MAKE 1 EACH IN YARNS A, B, C AND D)
Row 16 Knit. Cast off purlwise.
INNER PETALS (MAKE 3 THE SAME)
Beginning at the top of the petal.
Cast on 5 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A, B, C or D. Row 1 and every WS row Purl.
Row 2 (RS) Kfb, K2, kfb, K1. [7 sts]
Row 4 Kfb, K4, kfb, K1. [9 sts]
Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 9 rows. Row 14 (K2tog) twice, K1, (k2tog) twice. [5 sts] OUTER PETALS (MAKE 3 THE SAME)
Begin at the top of the petal.
Cast on 7 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A, B, C or D. Row 1 and every WS row Purl.
Row 2 (RS) Kfb, K4, kfb, K1. [9 sts]
Row 4 Kfb, K6, kfb, K1. [11 sts]
Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 9 rows. Row 14 (K2tog) twice, K3, (k2tog) twice. [7 sts]
Row 16 Knit. Cast off all sts purlwise. CALYX Cast on 4 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn E. Row 1 (RS) Purl.
Row 2 *Kfb; Rep from * to the end of the row. [8 sts] Row 3 Purl Cast off all sts knitwise. MAKING UP
1 Neaten the cast-on edge of each petal. Fasten one side edge of one of the inner petals to the top of the floral stem, placing the loop of the stem about halfway up the petal.
2 Wrap the petal tightly around the stem, right sides outwards, allowing the top of the petal to curl over to the outside. When the petal is completely wrapped, catch down the outer side edge onto the wrapped section for 1.5cm from the bottom edge.
3 Add the other petals in sequence (the other two inner petals, followed by the three outer petals), keeping the bottom edges even and overlapping the side edges by 1-2cm each time.
4 Sew the side edges to the wrapped sections as before. Once all of the petals have been attached, sew a few stitches through the
layers of the bottom edge to hold the bottom of the petals in place and to pull the base of the flower in very slightly.
5 Join the side seam of the Calyx. Push the Calyx up the floral stem, cast-on edge uppermost, until it meets the bottom of the Rose. Sew the cast-on edge of the Calyx to the base of the Rose.
ROSE LEAF (MAKE 4 THE SAME – ONE FOR EACH ROSE)
Begin at the base of the leaf.
Cast on 3 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn E. Row 1 (WS) K1, P1, K1.
Row 2 (Kfb) twice, K1. [5 sts]
Row 3 and every WS row K1, purl to the last st, K1. Row 4 K1, (kfb) twice, K2. [7 sts]
Row 6 K2, (kfb) twice, K3. [9 sts]
Row 8 K3, (kfb) twice, K4. [11 sts]
Row 10 K4, s2kpo, K4. [9 sts]
Row 12 K3, s2kpo, K3. [7 sts]
Row 14 K2, s2kpo, K2. [5 sts]
Row 16 K1, s2kpo, K1 [3 sts]
Row 18 S2kpo to cast off.
MAKING UP
Push the straight end of a floral stem through the back loops of the centre sts from about halfway down the leaf to the base. Attach the leaf to the stem by sewing a few sts through the small loop at the top of the stem, and by sewing the cast-on edge to the stem.
CARNATION (MAKE 1 EACH IN YARNS A, B, C AND D) CENTRE
Begin at the bottom edge.
Cast on 10 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A, B, C or D. Row 1 (WS) Purl
Beginning with a RS (knit) row, work in st st for 6 rows.
Row 8 *Kfb; rep from * to the end of the row. [20 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows.
Work a picot cast off as follows:
Row 12 *Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts; transfer the st on the RH needle back onto the LH needle without twisting it, and rep from * until 1 st remains. Break off the yarn and draw it through this st to cast off.
OUTER PETALS (MAKE 3 THE SAME)
Begin at the bottom edge.
Cast on 5 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A, B, C or D. Row 1 (WS) Purl.
Row 2 Knit.
Row 3 Purl. Row 4 Kfb, K2, Kfb, K1. [7 sts] Row 5 Purl.
Row 6 Kfb, K4, Kfb, K1. [9 sts] Row 7 Purl Row 8 Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts, knit to the end of the row. [8 sts] Row 9 Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts, purl to the end of the row. [7 sts]
Row 10 Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts, knit to the end of the row. [6 sts]
Row 11 Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts, purl to the end of the row. [5 sts]
Work a picot cast off as follows:
Row 12 *Cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts; transfer the st on the RH needle back onto the LH needle without twisting it, and rep from * until 1 st remains. Break off the yarn and draw it through this st to cast off. CALYX
Make a Calyx for each Carnation in exactly the same way as for the roses.
MAKING UP
1 Sew 1 side edge of the centre piece to a floral stem, having the loop of the stem just below the picot cast-off row.
2 Roll the centre piece tightly around the stem, right side outwards, with the bottom edge level. Sew the second side edge to the rolled portion for 1-1.5cm from the bottom edge.
3 Wrap the three petals in sequence around the rolled portion, keeping the bottom edge level and slightly overlapping the side seams as for the rose. Sew each side edge to the rolled portion (or the previous petal) for about 1-1.5cm from the bottom edge. 4 Once all of the petals have been attached, sew a few stitches through the layers of the bottom edge to hold the bottom of the petals in place and to pull the base of the flower in very slightly. 5 Join the side seam of the Calyx. Push the Calyx up the floral stem, cast-on edge uppermost, until it meets the bottom of the flower. 6 Sew the cast-on edge of the Calyx to the base of the Carnation,
COSMOS (MAKE 1 EACH IN YARN A AND C AND 2 IN YARN D) PETALS
Cast on 9 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A, C or D. Row 1 (RS) K6, turn.
Row 2 Sl1, K5.
Row 3 K7, turn.
Row 4 Sl1, K6.
Row 5 K6, turn.
Row 6 Sl1, K5
Row 7 Cast off 9 sts, but do not break off the yarn and draw through last st. Transfer the st from the RH needle back onto the LH needle without twisting it and cast on 8 sts. [9 sts]
Repeat Rows 1 to 7 another seven times. [8 petals made]. Cast off the last st leaving a long tail.
CENTRE
Cast on 10 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B.
B&T.
MAKING UP
Using a tapestry needle thread the yarn tail through the bumps and loops of the joined side edge. Pull the sts up tightly to join the petals into a circle. Organise the petals evenly around the circle, sewing them in place using the tail end. Push a floral stem through the centre of the flower and work a few sts through the loop to fasten the flower to the stem. Join the side edge of the centre piece, then sew it to the centre top of the flower head.
PEONY (MAKE 1 IN YARN L AND 1 IN M) CENTRE
Cast on 10 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn L or M. Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Knit
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 Purl.
Row 6 Knit.
Row 7 Purl.
Row 8 Knit.
Repeat Rows 1 to 8 another five times.
Cast off.
PETAL STRIP
Cast on 5 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn F.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb; rep from * to the end of the row. [10 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows. Break off Yarn F and join in Yarn L or M.
Row 5 *Kfb, K1; rep from * to the end of the row. [15 sts] Row 6 Purl.
Row 7 *Kfb; rep from * to the end of the row. [30 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows. Row 11 Kfb, K4, kfb, turn.
Working on these 8 sts only:
Row 12 Purl.
Row 13 Kfb, K6, kfb. [10 sts]
Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 5 rows. Row 19 K1, (k2tog) four times, K1. [6 sts]
Row 20 Purl.
B&T
With RS facing, re-join the yarn to the remaining sts and repeat Rows 11 to 20 until all sts have been worked.
MAKING UP
1 Join the cast-on and cast-off edge of the centre.
2 Sew a running st through the sts of one side edge and pull the yarn to gather the sts. Place a stem through the centre of the gathered sts and sew through the loop and over the stem for about 2cm to join the stem to the joined seam. (The gathered edge should be to the bottom.)
3 Neaten the cast-off edge of each petal. Join the side edge of the petal strip up to the same height as where the petals separate. (Row 10)
4 Pull the joined petal strip up through the stem and over the bottom of the centre piece and sew in place through the Calyx (green) portion.
PEONY LEAF (MAKE 6 THE SAME)
Cast on 12 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn F.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Sl1, K11.
Row 3 K10, turn.
Row 4 Sl1, K9.
Row 5 Knit. Cast off all sts, slipping the first st rather than knitting it.
MAKING UP
Push a stem through the centre back loops of the middle sts for 1cm from the bottom (cast-on) edge. Sew through the stem’s loop to attach the stem to the leaf. Sew a running st through the bottom edge and pull up tightly to gather the sts and form the base of the leaf.
PETUNIAS (MAKE 2 IN YARN H)
Cast on 5 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn F.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb; rep from * to the end of the row. [10 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows. Break off Yarn F and join in Yarn H.
Row 5 *Kfb, K1; rep from * to the end of the row. [15 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows. Row 9 *(Kfb) twice, K1; rep from * to the end of the row. [25 sts] Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work in st st for 3 rows. Row 13 *Kfb, K2, kfb, K1; rep from * to the end of the row. [35 sts] Row 14 Purl.
Row 15 K7, turn.
Working on these 7 sts only:
Row 16 and every WS row K1, purl to last st, K1.
Row 17 K1, k2tog, K1, k2tog, K1. [5 sts]
Row 19 K1, k3tog, K1. [3 sts]
Row 21 K3tog to cast off.
With the RS facing, re-join the yarn to the remaining sts and repeat Rows 15 to 21 until all sts have been worked. MAKING UP
Join the side seam up to Row 14. Place the flower over the floral stem, and sew to the stem from the bottom (cast-on) edge up to Row 14 along the joined seam. Sew a running st through the cast-on edge and tighten it around the stem.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (MAKE 1 EACH IN YARN G AND L)
UPPER PETALS Cast on 10 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn G or L.
*Row 1 Cast off 9 sts. Transfer the remaining st from the RH needle back onto the LH needle without twisting it.
Cast on 9 sts.
Repeat from * another 23 times. Cast off remaining st leaving a long tail. [24 petals made] LOWER PETALS
Work in exactly the same way as for Upper Petals, but only repeat Row 1 another 7 times to make a total of 8 petals. MAKING UP
Sew the tail through the loops and bumps of the joined edge. Pull the yarn up very tightly around a stem to gather the petals together at one side and create the flower shape. Sew the loop of the stem to the centre of the flower head. Gather the lower petal strip in the same way, and then pull it up the seam and sew it to the base of the upper petals.
HYDRANGEAS (MAKE 8 FLOWER HEADS EACH IN YARN J AND K)
FLOWER HEAD Cast on 4 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn J or K.
*Rows 1 to 4 (Row 1 is RS) Knit.
Row 5 Cast off 3 sts. Transfer the rem st from the RH needle to the LH needle without twisting.
Cast on 3 sts.
Repeat from * another three times. Cast off remaining st leaving a long tail. [4 petals made)] MAKING UP
Sew the tail through the loops and bumps of the joined edge. Pull yarn up tightly around a stem to gather petals together at one side and create a flower shape. Sew stem loop to centre of flower head. Group flower heads tog. Bend stems to create a small dome shape.
CREATING THE BOUQUET
1 Gather the flowers together, making sure that the flower heads of the hydrangeas are together, that each rose has a leaf next to it, and each peony comes with a group of three leaves.
2 Arrange the flowers, bending the floral stems until you have an arrangement you are happy with. Tie the stems together with a short length of scrap yarn (or bind temporarily with floral tape/ masking tape) to keep them in place whilst you add the ribbon. 3 Cut a 30cm length of ribbon and fold over the cut ends to make a neat edge. Wrap the ribbon tightly in a spiral around the stems, catching the cut ends to the ribbon with a few small sts in sewing thread at the top and bottom.
4 Sew what’s left of the ribbon in a bow at the top of the ribbon sleeve. Trim the bow. Using the pliers, trim the ends of the stems so that the bottoms are level, and the bouquet is 30cm high, or the height that you prefer.