Say Hello to Dandy!

Bring a whimsical touch of spring ... and a sprightly splash of color ... to these cold, bleak winter days with this quick knitted/felted flower! Introducing ...

 Dandy

A Sweet Little Flower 

Copyright © 2016 Anita M. Wheeless

What you'll need:

• 100% wool worsted weight yarn (not superwash!) in green, yellow and fuchsia (or whatever colors you'd like!)
• Size US 8 double-pointed knitting needles
• Locking-ring stitch marker (to mark start of round)
• Regular stitch markers (for marking increases for leaves)
• Matching thread
• Scrap yarn or stitch holders
• Wool stuffing
• Water-soluble embroidery stabilizer
• Embroidery floss (use three strands each of black and red for eyes, eyebrows and mouth)
• Sewing and embroidery needles
• Optional 18-gauge wire so your flower can bend
• Lingerie bag

Holding two strands of yarn together, cast 9 stitches onto a size US 8 double-pointed needle. On the first round, divide by knitting three stitches onto each of three needles. Place a locking-ring stitch marker in front of the first stitch on the first needle, joining on the next round.

Knit for 40 rounds.

Round 41: On Needle One, knit 1, place a marker, increase in next, place a marker, knit one (4 stitches)

On Needle 2: Knit the three stitches.

On Needle 3: Knit the three stitches.

Round 42: Needle One: Knit 1, place marker, increase in next, k1, place marker, k1 (5)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: Knit (3)

Round 43: Needle One: Knit 1, place marker, increase in next, k1, place marker, k2 (6)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: Knit (3)

Round 44: Needle One: K1, slip stitches between markers onto waste yarn or a stitch holder (3), then knit the remaining two stitches on the needle (3 stitches on the needle, 3 stitches on the waste yarn)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: Knit (3)

Rounds 45-54: Knit these 10 rounds

Round 55: Needle One: Knit (3)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: K1, place marker, increase in next, place marker, K1 (4)

Round 56: Needle One: Knit (3)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: K1, place marker, increase in next, k1, place marker, K1 (5)

Round 57: Needle One: Knit (3)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: K1, place marker, increase in next, k1, place marker, K2 (6)

Round 58: Needle One: Knit (3)

Needle 2: Knit (3)

Needle 3: k1, slip stitches between markers onto a piece of scrap yarn or a stitch holder, k2. Again, 3 stitches are on the needle and 3 stitches are on the scarp yarn.

Rounds 59-68: Knit these 10 rounds.

Switch to the color yarn you would like to use for Dandy's center (face). 

Round 69: K1, increase in next, k1 (4) on each needle

Round 70: Knit (4 stitches on each needle now)

Round 71: K1, increase in next, k1, increase in next (6) on each needle

Round 72: Knit (6 stitches on each needle)

Round 73: k1, increase in next, k1, increase in next, k1, increase in next (9)

Round 74: Knit (9 stitches on each needle)

Round 75: K2, increase in next, k2, increase in next, k2, increase in next (12 stitches)

Rounds 76-77: Knit these two rounds

Now begin to decrease:

Round 78: k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog (9 on each)

Round 79: Knit

Round 80: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog (6 on each)

Round 81: Knit

Round 82: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog (4 on each)

Round 83: Knit

Round 84: k2tog, k2tog (2 on each)

Bind off ... leaving a little hole for stuffing later.

Back to those hanging stitches! They are the leaves:
Slide the three stitches onto a needle.
Working back and forth:
Row 1: Increase in each stitch (knitting front and back) 6 stitches now.
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: k2tog, k2, ssk
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: k2tog, ssk
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: k2tog
Pull to tighten. Knot off. Cut yarn. Repeat for other leaf.

Now, for the petals!

There will be 7 petals. Each will be knitted back and forth separately. Again, holding two strands of yarn together, choose the color you want for the petals and begin.

Row 1: Pick up 7 stitches along the outer edge of the center you've just finished. 

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Purl

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: Purl

Row 8: k2tog, knit to last 2, SSK these last two stitches

Row 9: Purl

Row 10: k2tog, k1, SSK (3)

Row 11: Purl

Row 12: k2tog, k1 (2)

Row 13: Purl

Row 14: k2tog (1)

Pull to tighten. Knot off. Cut yarn.

Repeat these 14 rows for each of the remaining petals.

When you have finished, put the flower in a lingerie bag and drop it in the washer. Set your washer on the smallest load with the hottest water. Add tennis balls for more agitation, if you'd like ... and just a little sprinkle of powdered laundry detergent or a drop of liquid laundry detergent. 

Continue to check on your flower about every 5 minutes. It helps keep the flower stem from felting together if you poke a skewer up inside every time you check. 

After the stitch definition has all but melted away into a nice, firm fabric, take your flower out and rinse it. Then, towel it dry.

You can pull it a bit, shaping the petals and the stem.

If you'd like your flower to be able to bend, measure the stem and cut this amount (it will be about 12 inches long) of 16 or 18-gauge wire. Bend the ends under with a needle-nosed pliers. Wrap wool tightly around the wire, completely covering it. Carefully push the covered wire all the way up through the stem as far as it will go. Using more wool, and a wooden skewer, stuff little bits all the way up the stem, around the wire. Also stuff the little flower's face through the tiny hole you've left in the center. When completely stuffed, sew up the center hole and the bottom of the stem, using matching thread.

Embroidering the face:

Take a bit of water-soluble embroidery stabilizer (or just try embroidering freehand) and draw a little face. Pin the stabilizer to the center of the flower. Using three strands of black embroidery floss, first use a satin stitch and embroider the eyes ... and use a back stitch to embroider the eyebrows. 

The mouth is worked with three strands of red embroidery floss. Use a back stitch to to stitch the top of the mouth line and again for a smaller line underneath.

If you've used the stabilizer, you must remove it with boiling water. Remember ... it must be boiling, not just hot if you want to get it all off. (And believe me, you do!) Pour the water over the face.

Set it aside to let it cool and dry. That's it! Stay tuned for Dandy's friend Daisy!!!
Please do let me know if you decide to knit her! As always, if you run into any bumps or trouble spots, please email me and I'll help!