Wedding Posy Holder...

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by Frances Powell of Buttercup Miniatures...

Posy holder for a Bride or Bridesmaid with flowers and buttonhole for Bridegroom

®®® For Experienced crochet workers

Abbreviations: ch - chain; dc - double crochet; tr - treble crochet; htr - half treble crochet; st - stitch; sl - slip; ( ) or { }repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in pattern; V-stitch – work 1tr, 1 ch, 1 tr all into next stitch; sp - space.American readers please note:dc=single crochet; tr=double crochet; htr=half double crochet

Posy holder

Materials required: 0.40 mm crochet hook, small amount No. 100 crochet cotton. For starching, see below.

(NOTE: a larger hook and thread can be used, but the finished posy holder will be much larger than that shown), thin ribbon-optional.

This is worked in rounds

Foundation ch: 2 ch [2^nd ch counts as 1^st dc], 6 dc into 1^st ch, join with a sl stitch to top of 1^st dc. [7 dc]

Round 1: 3 ch [1^st tr], 1 tr into each of next 6 dc, join with a sl st to top of 1^st tr. [7 tr]

Round 2: 3 ch [1^st tr], 1 tr into each of next 6 tr, join with a sl st to top of 1^st tr.

Round 3: 4 ch [1^st tr, 1 ch], 1 tr into same place, (V-stitch next tr) six times, join with a sl st to top of 1^st tr. [7 V-sts]

Round 4: sl st into 1^st V-stitch, 1 dc into same sp, (3 ch, 1 dc into next V-stitch) six times, 1 ch, 1htr into 1^st dc to join. [7 loops]

Round 5: 1 dc into 1^st loop, (4 ch, 1 dc into next loop) six times, 2 ch, 1 htr into 1^st dc to join.

Round 6: 4 ch, 1 tr into 1^st loop, (3 ch, 1 V-st into next loop) six times, 3 ch, join with a sl st to top of 1^st tr.

Round 7: sl st into 1^st v-st, 1 dc into same sp, ({3 ch, 1 dc into next loop} twice, 3 ch, 1 dc into next V-st) six times, (3 ch, 1 dc into next loop) twice, 3 ch, sl st to top of 1^st dc to join.Sew in all loose ends. Stiffen as shown below

Roses (make 3)

Foundation chain: ch 10

Row 1: [1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc] all into 3^rd ch from hook, ([1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc] into next ch) twice, ([1 dc, 1 htr, 2 tr,1 htr, 1 dc] into next ch) four times.

Fasten off and run a line of gathering stitches along base of petals (flat edge of crochet) roll strip of crochet up to form a rose shape, cut a piece of green wire and thread through centre of rose flower as for rose bud, pull thread tight.

Sew across base of flower to keep petals in place. Tease outer petals slightly downwards as if the rose is fully open. Sew in loose ends. Put a dab of glue under the flower head where the wire and flower head touch to keep wire in place. Cut wire to length.

To stiffen posy holder:

A. Traditional sugar solution method

Make a solution of two teaspoons boiling water to one level teaspoon sugar.
Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Place crochet in the solution until the crochet is completely wet through. Wring out excess solution or sugar crystals will form on the finished work!
Pin the crochet out on a piece of corrugated cardboard or polystyrene covered in cling film, using rustproof pins (as normal steel pins will rust and leave unsightly marks). The bowl of the posy holder will need to be put on a cone made of plasticine or blu tak covered in cling film to form a bowl shape for the flowers to sit in (see photos). Only pin around the edges of the posy holder as shown, making sure all the loops are pulled out to form points. Pull the crochet into shape as you work around, making sure edge of the posy holder stays flat where the pins are put in. Pull the handle up into shape so it is slightly curved as shown.

Leave to dry in a warm place for 24 hours minimum.

Leaf clusters (make 10)

Worked in the round

Round 1: 4 ch, 1 tr into 4^th ch from hook, 1 tr, 3 ch, 1 dc into same space, (3 ch, 1 tr, 3 ch, 1dcinto same space) four times. Join with a sl st to starting ch.

Finish off and sew in loose ends.

Push stem of flower through hole at centre of leaf cluster. Push up to base of flower and hold in place with a dab of glue.

B. The item can be starched with laundry starch

Work as above starting at 3

C. PVA Glue A solution can be made from PVA glue and water, however this will dry clear and slightly shiny. Proceed as from point 3 on sugar starching.

To finish:When the posy holder is completely dry remove the pins carefully and lift off cone. Leave to dry for a further hour before gluing any flowers inside.

To assemble posy

Cut wires on flowers to approx ½-inch/1.25 cm from base of leaf cluster. Place a dab of glue inside centre of posy holder, position flowers in place so that the stems go into the handle slightly.

Leave to dry for 12 hours. Once dry the wires can be adjusted by bending if required. If required ribbons can be tied around handle of posy holder to trail down.

Flowers

Materials required: 0.60 mm crochet hook, small lengths of No 80 crochet cotton or No 70 tatting thread for flowers, thin green wire, tacky glue.

Rose buds (make 7)

Foundation chain: ch 5

Row 1: [1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc] all into 3^rd ch from hook, ([1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc] into next ch) twice.

Fasten off and run a line of gathering stitches along base of petals (flat edge of crochet) roll strip of crochet up to form a bud shape, cut a piece of green wire and thread through centre of rose bud, (hook the top end over slightly and push downwards through centre of flower, so as it does not fall out of bud), pull thread tight to enclose wire. Sew across base of bud to keep in place. Sew in loose ends. Put a dab of glue under the flower head where the wire and flower head touch to keep wire in place. Cut wire to length.

Put one rosebud to one side for bridegroom’s buttonhole.

This pattern may not be reproduced in any form (including knitted up) for commercial gain without written permission from Buttercup Miniatures.