Crochet: Felted Flower Corsage Gifts

I have been hand making gifts for a group of girlfriends with whom I exchange small birthday gifts and was wondering what to do this year for the two December birthdays. Last year I gave them earflap hats in brown, pink and cream, an upsized version of the hat I made for Audrey. This year I decided to do felted flower corsages--fast and fasionable in my opinion.

I made a bunch of these flowers for a crochet dress for Audrey last year and have always thought they'd be cute on their own. I based them on this Crochet Today pattern for the large and altered it to make them a bit smaller--a medium and a small version.

Then I sewed on a pin on the back to create a corsage.

Here is the pattern:

FELTED FLOWERS

Materials:
· 1 skein Moda Dea Cartwheel yarn (or some other 100% wool worsted weight yarn suitable for felting)
· Size 7/10 hook

MEDIUM-SIZED FLOWER (THREE ROWS OF PETALS)

FOUNDATION RING:
Chain 3, join chain with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as one double crochet), work 14 double crochet in ring, join round with a slip stitch in 3rd chain of beginning chain-3. (15 double crochet)
Round 2: Chain 6 (counts as one double crochet and chain 3), skip next stitch, *double crochet in next double crochet, chain 3, skip next double crochet; repeat from * 5 times more, join round with a slip stitch in 3rd chain of beginning chain-6. (7 chain-3 loops)
Round 3: (this is the back row of petals) *Work (single crochet, half double crochet, 3 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet) in next chain-3 loop; repeat from * around, join round with a slip stitch in first single crochet. Fasten off (or not—see below!) (7 petals)
[Most patterns would fasten off at this point and then join the yarn in a skipped double crochet of round 2. Instead I use a couple slip stitches to work down to a Round two skipped double crochet and continue working. It’s quicker and avoids yet another tedious weaving in of a loose end!]
Round 4: (this is the center row of petals) Working off a round two skipped double crochet, chain 3, *slip stitch in next skipped double crochet, chain 3; repeat from * 5 more times, join round with a slip stitch in firs slip stitch. 7 chain-3 loops.
Round 5: *Work (single crochet, half double crochet, 3 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet) in next chain-3 loop; repeat from * around in each chain-3 loop, join round with a slip stitch in first single crochet. Fasten off (or not—see below!) (7 petals on center row)
[Again, most would fasten off here but instead I use a couple slip stitches to get to a double crochet in round 1.]
Round 6: (Front row of petals) Chain 2, skip next 2 double crochet, *slip stitch around post of next double crochet, chain 2, skip next 2 double crochet; repeat from * 3 times more, join round with a slip stitch in first slip stitch. 5 chain-2 loops.
Round 7: *Work (single crochet, half double crochet, 2 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet) in next chain-2 loop; repeat from * around on each chain 2 loop, join round with a slip stitch in first single crochet. Fasten off. (5 petals on front row)

SMALL SIZED FLOWER (TWO ROWS OF PETALS)

FOUNDATION RING:
Chain 3, join chain with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as one double crochet), work 10 double crochet in ring, join round with a slip stitch in 3rd chain of beginning chain-3. (10 double crochet)
Round 2: Chain 6 (counts as one double crochet and chain 3), skip next stitch, *double crochet in next double crochet, chain 3, skip next double crochet; repeat from * 3 times more, join round with a slip stitch in 3rd chain of beginning chain-6. (5 chain-3 loops)
Round 3: (this is the back row of petals) *Work (single crochet, half double crochet, 3 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet) in next chain-3 loop; repeat from * around, join round with a slip stitch in first single crochet. Fasten off (or not—see below!) (5 petals)
[Most patterns would fasten off at this point and then join the yarn in a skipped double crochet of round 2. Instead I use a couple slip stitches to work down to a Round two skipped double crochet and continue working. It’s quicker and avoids yet another tedious weaving in of a loose end!]
Round 4: (this is the front row of petals) Working off a round two skipped double crochet, chain 3, *slip stitch in next skipped double crochet, chain 3; repeat from * 3 more times, join round with a slip stitch in firs slip stitch. 5 chain-3 loops.
Round 5: *Work (single crochet, half double crochet, 3 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet) in next chain-3 loop; repeat from * around in each chain-3 loop, join round with a slip stitch in first single crochet. Fasten off. (5 petals on front row)

Finishing: Weave in all ends

Felting: Place the flower (or flowers) in a pillowcase cover (use zippered cover or close with a rubber band). Fill washing machine to low water setting at a hot temperature. Add about a tablespoon of a detergent such as Woolite and the pillow case. Put on gentle wash cycle. (I use the hot/cold setting). When cycle is complete check the flower. If it is too large put through a second cycle. (I typically like the results I get from two cycles). Remove flower(s). Form flower into shape and allow to air dry.