Felted Poinsettia Brooch
I had to go to a holiday party today in which the theme was
ugly Christmas sweaters. Now I would like to think that I am way too
fashionable to own an ugly Christmas sweater, so I got out my trusty needles to
make my own. I used a simple leaf pattern that I have used so many times that I
don’t remember where I even got it. So I
thought I would share it with you.
I still don’t think it made my sweater ugly.
PATTERN:
Scraps of
100% wool yarn in red, green and gold.
Sizes 8
and 5 needles
Six gold
beads
Spools of
thread in matching colors
Bar Pin
Gauge: Not critical
With green
yarn and size 8 needles, cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: K
all stitches
Row 2 and
all even numbered rows: P all stitches
Row 3: K 1,
kfb*, kfb, k 1 (6 stitches).
Row 5: K
1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 (8 stitches).
Row 7: K
all stitches.
Row 9:
K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, k1. (6 stitches)
Row 11:
K1 SSK, K2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
Row 13:
SSK, K2tog (2 stitches). Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through
remaining 2 stitches.
*Although most knitters use a knit in the
front and back of one stitch to increase, I use a little method that creates a
stronger line. I knit 1 stitch.
Then I
pick up yarn from in front of the stitch I want to increase and knit it.
Then I
knit the main stitch. This slants the increases to the right.
For the
left slant, I knit the main stitch first. Then I pick up the yarn from the side
and put it on the needle and knit it.
With red
yarn and size 5 needles, cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: K
all stitches
Row 2 and
all even numbered rows: P all stitches
Row 3: K 1,
kfb*, kfb, k 1 (6 stitches).
Row 5: K
1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 (8 stitches).
Row 7: K
all stitches.
Row 9:
K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, k1. (6 stitches)
Row 11:
K1 SSK, K2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
Row 13:
SSK, K2tog (2 stitches). Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through
remaining 2 stitches.
Center (Make 1):
With size
8 needles and gold yarn, cast on 2 stitches.
Next Row:
K1. In next stitch, k, p, k, p, k, p.
Next Row:
K all stitches. Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through all stitches
and pull them together. Make a knot with the two ends.
Felting:
Put all piece in a lingerie bag or pillow case. Felt
in machine on hottest cycle. I just put it in with my regular wash. Once the
pieces are felted, trim the ends. No
need to weave in the ends. Felting secures them. Lie each piece flat to dry. I
put a cookie sheet over the pieces to keep them flat.
Finishing:
With sewing
thread, insert the needle through the bottom corner of a green leaf and then
down through the other corner. Repeat sewing until all six are joined in a
line. Attach the last leaf to the first leaf to form a circle. Draw the thread
up to tighten. Knot ends.
Repeat
the same technique with the red flower leaves.
Put the red
circle on top of the green circle, placing the circles staggered. Tack the two
circles together.
Place the
gold felted ball in the center and tack it down.
Add beads
around the gold ball.
Sew a pin
bar to the back.
Attach your
poinsettia pin to your ugliest sweater and wear to your next holiday party.
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