Upcycled Sunflowers
Well, we’re on the downward slope of summer now, heading swiftly into autumn. It will be here before we know it, but I can’t say that I’m that upset about it. Even though I love summer with all its sunshine and warmth, my heart belongs to autumn.
It’s one of those seasons that, at least in Pennsylvania, seems to start out so beautiful with the changing leaves and chill in the air…and a week later…all the leaves are gone, the trees are brown and bare and it’s freezing.
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UPDATE:
There is now a video stitch tutorial available. You can see them at the links below:
Okay, that could be a slight exaggeration.
Autumn lasts longer than that. Just not as long as I would prefer.
(There is a hanging loop for this photo frame version of the Upcycled Sunflowers pattern, it’s just hooked on a nail and it blends in very well with the fence. Whoops.)
So when I think of long summer afternoons in the sunshine, I picture juicy watermelon slices, tall and thick corn fields under wide blue skies, sipping iced sweet tea while sitting on a porch swing and rows and rows of sunflowers!
Heaven!
There are so many things you can do with these sweet little upcycled sunflowers! You can make the wonderful garlands, create picture frames (I used wallet sized photos), ornaments and, something else that I was shocked to discover—candle holders!
How cute is that!?
A small battery powered candle with a one and a half inch base fits perfectly inside the center of the sunflower. I was so excited when I discovered this. I have plans to try a Poinsettia for Christmas!
Disclaimer: I do not recommend using real flame candles. It may cause a fire.
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you’ll already know that I’ve been designing a series of crocheted items that are worked around a plastic ring. Not only are we upcycling plastic rings that could end up in a landfill, we’re creating beautiful keepsakes, decorations and ornaments!
In case you’ve missed it, the free crochet patterns can be found here for the stars, hearts, acorns, sunflowers, poinsettias and shamrocks and pumpkins.
This Upcycled Sunflowers pattern is not very complicated and I think I’ve taken about a hundred photos. The only stitches you need to know are single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. If you’ve never crocheted around a plastic ring before, I created a step-by-step photo tutorial that you can find here.
What are some other items you would like to see made into Upcycled Garlands or Ornaments? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue…
Upcycled Sunflowers
Materials Used:
- Red Heart Super Saver – Gold – 7 oz/198 g – 364 yds/ 333 m
- Red Heart Super Saver – Coffee – 7 oz/198 g – 364 yds/ 333 m
- 1.75” plastic rings (Mine were from gallon size milk jugs)
- H/8 (5.00) mm hook
- Packaging twine (13” lengths)
- Scissors
Finished Size Approximately:
One sunflower – 4¼” diameter
Gauge:
Not Important
Special Stitches:
Front Loop Only (FLO) – the loop closest to you
Back Loop Only (BLO) – the loop furthest from you
There is another photo explaining these after Round 2.
Abbreviations:
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
sk – skip
ch – chain
FLO – front loops only
BLO – back loops only
Notes:
- When working Round 2 through 4, don’t cut the Gold. Only finish off after Round 4.
- You will work Round 2 in the FLO of the Coffee Round and then slip stitch behind the first petal to complete Round 3 in the BLO of the Coffee Round. Round 4 will be completed in the chain 2 spaces made in Round 3.
- There is no turning in this pattern. You work in the round.
- For a photo tutorial on how to crochet around a plastic ring, see https://www.highlandhickorydesigns.com/how-to-crochet-around-a-plastic-ring/
- There is now a video stitch tutorial available. You can see them at the links below:
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
With Coffee
Round 1: 24 sc around the ring. (See Notes for a link to the tutorial) Sl st in the first sc made. Finish off.
Note: You can weave in your end or crochet the next row right over top of the tail. Your choice.
With Gold
Round 2: Working in FLO, *(sc, hdc, ch 2) all in same st. (hdc, sc, sl st) all in next st* Repeat from * to * around.
(One sunflower petal made)
There will be 12 front petals.
Pull first petal forward gently and sl st into the back loop of 1st st. Ch 2.
Round 3: (Sl st, ch 2) in the next 4 back loops, sk next back loop. *(Sl st, ch 2) in the next 5 back loops, sk next back loop* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Sl st into 1st ch-2 sp made in Round 3.
Note: Your first set of stitches for Round 4 will be made into the same ch-2 space you just slip stitched into to end Round 3.
Round 4: Working only in ch-2 spaces, *(sc, hdc, dc, ch 2) in ch-2 sp. In next ch-2 sp, (dc, hdc, sc, sl st)* Repeat from * to * 9 more times. (10 petals made)
(First petal of Round 4 worked in ch-2 spaces)
(Last petal of Round 4)
Flip sunflower over.
Sl st into base of first petal made of round.
Finish off.
Weave in end.
Finishing
Depending on the number of sunflowers you use for your garland, you will need to cut enough 13” lengths of twine to tie bows between each one and then one for each end to use as a hanging loop.
If you are making the photo frames, you can use a couple spots of hot glue to keep your photo in place or if you’re lazy like me, staples! I stapled each photo to the back petals. Hey, it works. 😛
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Upcycled Sunflowers pattern!
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Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you, Shirley!
Clever!