Tissue Paper Flowers & A New Cross Stitch Project

I've been a homebody lately, puttering around the house soaking up the sunshine and happy things.  I've been dabbling with needle and thread (more about this in a bit) and had a little flower making extravaganza to add some cheerful goodness to our home.  They are beautiful to have some extra on hand to put on top of a gift too.

To make a tissue paper flower, all you'll need is:

• Tissue Paper
• Scissors
• Pipe Cleaners

I got the mega pack of tissue in the gift wrap aisle...isn't it happy and colorful?

Select a piece...I cut mine in half, now fold in half,

If you like, you can fold it again to make a smaller flower, or a above for a larger flower.

Now fold into a zig zag/accordion,

Fold the accordion and a pipe cleaner in half,

Secure the pipe cleaner around the tissue accordion as shown below with a tight twist to keep in place,

You can skip the next step if you like, but I wanted mine to have a little leaf.  To make the leaf, bend the pipe cleaner as shown below,

Wrap it around,

And bend it down.

Twist at the base of the leaf to secure.

Bend the leaf apart to make it more "leafy" looking.

Trim the edges of the accordion at the top to give it more of a flower shape.  Try experimenting with both pointy tipped petals and rounded petals for a variety of different looking flowers.

Gently pull apart the paper and it fluff up.  I found that the less I handled the paper the crisper and less crumpled they looked.

Pretty...plus they'll never wilt!

And onto the cross stitch,

I'm in the very beginning stages of a cross stitch sampler.  It is for a wedding, with the names and dates to be put on later.  It is very traditional in its layout...geometric with different borders, edges, and block letters.

The rectangular shape will eventually be a lovely 3-tiered cake.  Can you tell by looking at it that I like to jump around from area to area?  I'm not sure that is the "proper" way to go about doing it, but it's how I like to work on it.  It keep things interesting.

However you are making your stitches today dear readers, whether with a needles or a hook, enjoy!

Ground Cover Public Art Project

Photos contained in the packet are ©Ann Morton

I recently discovered a really interesting community project called the Ground Cover Public Art Project.  Based in Phoenix, Arizona and conceptualized and ran by artist Ann Morton, its aim is to create a large ground covering made up of 300 knitted, crocheted, and quilted blankets.  They will form a giant image of a desert flower that will cover an entire empty lot!  After that, each of the 300 blankets will be distributed to homeless people--just in time for the cold months.

Photos contained in the packet are ©Ann Morton

While I don't live anywhere Arizona, this project really spoke to me and I just had to get involved.  It is a wonderful concept that reaches out to a community in need, but also promotes awareness and pro-activity by informing and involving the community.  Being an art lover and stitcher, I immediately signed up for one of the blanket sections and received this wonderful packet, everything is incredibly organized and straightforward.  I immediately ran out and got the yarn my section called for.  I am planning on updating when I complete the blanket.  See that dark brown in the color chart?  That is what I'm working with right now.

Photos contained in the packet are ©Ann Morton

Check out what the finished image will look like in the photo above!  So pretty!  I just checked this morning and all of the blanket sections have been assigned, however there is a waiting list (with many spots available as of this morning) in case someone who has signed up is unable to make or complete their blanket.  If you live in the area, check and see if they might need volunteers for other things.  Below are links to the main site and the Ravelry community group.  So exciting to be part of this project!

Check out Ground Cover's website here

Here is the Ravelry group for Ground Cover

Free Crochet Pattern...Berry Season Blanket

This sweet blanket celebrates berries in season.  It is crocheted in rounds with pretty shades of strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry in an easy to follow granny square pattern.  Make a tiny one for a dolly, a small one for a special baby, a medium one for a throw.  Or, try making a very large one for a lovely full size afghan or bed covering.  The number of rounds will determine the size.

Berry Season Blanket
By Jennifer Dickerson

Yarn for a medium to larger sized blanket (for a dolly or baby blanket, you'll use less, for a very large blanket, you may need more):

• 1 Skein Red Heart Super Saver, Shocking Pink (Color A)
• 1 Skein Red Heart Super Saver, White (Color B)
• 1 Skein Red Heart Super Saver, Orchid (Color C)
• 2 Skeins Vanna's Choice Baby, Pink Poodle (Color D)
• 1 Skein Red Heart Super Saver, Lavender (Color E)

Other Materials:

• H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Instructions:

This blanket is a classic granny square with a simple color pattern. Here is a photo tutorial to guide that may help you when making your granny square:

Here is a photo tutorial on how to make a basic granny square

Color sequence as shown (this is one full repeat of the color pattern, repeat this as many times as you like for preferred sizing):

• 3 Rounds Color A
• 1 Round Color B
• 3 Rounds Color C
• 1 Round Color B
• 3 Rounds Color D
• 1 Round Color B
• 3 Rounds Color E
• 1 Round Color B

Chain 4, join into a ring with a slip stitch.

 Round 1: Chain 4, work (3 dc into center of ring, chain 1) 3 times, then 2 dc into center of ring.  Join to close with a slip stitch.

Round 2: To work the corner of round 2, first chain 4, then 2 dc in same space, then chain 1, then 3 dc in the same space...first corner done!
Then chain 1, then work the next corner by working 3 dc in next space, chain 1, then 3 dc in same space, chain 1, repeat two more times to complete the round.

Round 3: Work the corner in the same manner as the previous round: chain 4, 2 dc in same space, chain 1, 3 dc in same space, chain 1.  To work the sides, simply work 3 dc in the next space then chain 1...repeat until you reach a corner again.

Keep working in this manner, with two clusters in the corners and one cluster on the sides until you finish the round. Just be sure there is a ch 1 in between each grouping of 3 dc as you work each round. That is what gives you those pretty spaces in between each cluster and keeps it nice and flat.

Repeat round 3 as many times as you want to achieve the desired size.

A note about making multicolored rounds:

• To begin a new round in the same color, simply slip stitch until you reach a ch1 at the corner and keep going.  
• To begin a new round in a new/different color, cut yarn, leaving a tail, and fasten it with a slip stitch. Join the new yarn at one of the corners as shown and tie securely.

Finishing:
Weave in any ends.

© Jennifer Dickerson 2013
Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  In addition, if you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog (including other languages).  Thank you!

How To SKP (Slip, Knit, Pass)

SKP (slip one stitch, knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over) is a left-leaning decrease in knitting.  It is also can shown in patterns like this:

sl 1, k 1, psso (psso meaning "pass slipped stitch over")

To work the SKP in your project, knit to the area in which you'd like to work the stitch,

Next, slip the stitch as if to knit,

Knit the next stitch,

Now pass the slipped stitch over with your left needle. This step is similar to when you bind off your knitting project.

All finished!  Here's what it will look like when you are done: