Crocheted Carnation

"Linda Kolman" <lindayk@earthlink.net>

Size:  About 4" across x 15" long.
Materials (per flower)"  Worsted weight yarn, 70 yds. pink. Size G aluminum crochet hook, or size required for gauge.

Trimmings (per flower):  18" length 18 gauge green cloth-covered stem wire one 1 ¾ " plastic calyx, green florist tape.

Gauge:  4sc = 1"

Instructions:

Ch 4, join to form a ring.

RND 1 (right side):  Ch 4 (counts as an hdc and a ch-2 sp on this and following rnd), *hdc in ring, ch 2; rep from * 6 times more; join in 2nd ch of beg ch-4; 8 ch-2 sps.

RND 2:  Sl st in next ch-2 sp; ch 4, in same sp work (hdc, ch 2) 4 times; in each rem ch-2 sp work (hdc, ch 2) 5 times; join in 2nd ch of beg ch-4; 40 hdc.

RND 3: Sl st in next ch-2 sp; ch 5 (counts as an hdc and a ch-3 lp), in same sp work (hdc, ch 3) twice; in each rem ch-2 sp work (hdc, ch 3) 3 times; join in 2nd ch of beg ch-5: 120 hdc.  Finish off and weave in ends.

Finishing:
STEP 1:  Push one end of wire from wrong side to right side of flower through any ch-2 sp of RND 1.  Fold end of wire over 3" and push back down through flower hooking folded wire around center of flower.

STEP 2:  Slide calyx up wire and over doubled wore end.  Holding calyx tightly under flower center, wrap florist tape several times under calyx and around doubled end of wire.