Knitted Stem Rose

This knit flower may not be the color of any actual flowers in existence. Oh, well.



Stem Rose
by Egret Effects (Theresa B)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Height: 11.5”
Width: 3-4”

MATERIALS
[C1] Lion Brand Wool (100% wool; 85 g/158 yds). Color 178 Dark Teal; GAUGE
Doesn’t matter!

PATTERN
Large Petal (make 3)
Using straight needles and [C1], cast on 24 sts.

Using this key…
A = Purl
B = K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1
C = (K1, ssk) twice, knit to last 6 sts, (ssk, k1) twice

work rows as follows:
A
B
A
C
A
B
A
C
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
Bind off all.

Medium Petal (make 2)
Using straight needles and [C1], cast on 16 sts.

Using the same key as for the large petals, work rows as follows:
A
B
A
C
A
B
A
B
A
Bind off all.


Small Petal (make 2)
Using straight needles and [C1], cast on 2 sts.

Using this key…
A = Knit
B = Kfb all
C = K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1
D = K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1

work rows as follows:
A
B
A
C
A
C
A
D
A
D
A
Bind off all.


Stem
Using DPNs and [C2], cast on 5 sts.

Work I-cord for 40-50 rows, depending on how long you want the stem (pictured is 50 rows; about 8”).

Still working in I-cord fashion…
- K1, kfb, k3
- K3, kfb, k2
- K5, kfb, k1

Turn work and purl
Turn work and k1, kfb, k4, kfb, k1
Turn work and purl
Turn work and bind off all.

Now pick up 3 sts on the open side of the base of your I-cord increases and work rows as follows:
Purl
K1, kfb, k1
Purl
K1, kfb, kfb, k1
Purl
K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1
Purl
Bind off all.

Make the stamen using [C3]. Pick up 4 sts at the base of the inside of one of the flaps and knit I-cord for 5 rows.
Bind off all.

FINISHING
Sew the petals onto the base of the stamen one at a time, starting with the small petals. Unless you want the flower to be wide open, make a few stitches higher up to attach the petals to each other. Make sure to leave a small opening at the top of the stem to put in your pipe cleaners or wire.

Felt the whole flower. If you felt things really small and tight, you might want to feed the wire into the stem beforehand. Otherwise, feed it in afterwards.

Clip the wire a bit longer than the stem is and stuff the top end up into the flower or stamen to add support.

Sew the green flaps to the base of the flower to cover the wire and opening. Put a rubber band around the petals until they're dry.

If your wire or pipe cleaners aren’t strong enough to hold up the heavy flower, you can add a decorative wire around the outside of the stem, as pictured. Any bead store should carry memory wire that is really thick and holds its shape. The pictured flower has memory wire made for a choker that has been wound around a stem-sized tube to re-shape it (it’s hard, wear gloves!). You could add beads to it if you like some sparkle, or you could wind real or silk leaves into it if you like something more organic looking.


CLARIFICATION
Danielle asks:
Hi there, firstly thanks for the great pattern. Im right in the middle of making my first flower and im stuck... could you please explain to me exactly where i should pick up the stitches for the top of the stem. I'm new to picking up stitches so i apologise if im being an idiot!

You are most certainly not an idiot...the problem is more likely that I am not a pattern writer. I should've taken pictures of the work as I was going, but since I didn't, I have tried to answer your question via illustration. I'm so sorry. The "V" marks are supposed to be knit stitches and the flatish "U" shapes are purl ridges. Don't pay any attention to how many marks there are - it is no indication of how many stitches there should be. You can click to enlarge it. I hope it helps!