Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Modern Crochet Garden: Stylish Flower & Succulent Patterns to Stitch in a Day

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As a crochet enthusiast, I have been eagerly waiting for the delivery  of “Modern Crochet Garden: Stylish Flower & Succulent Patterns to Stitch in a Day” by Amy Gaines. And I must say, it did not disappoint! This book is a treasure trove of inspiration and creativity for anyone who loves flowers, succulents, cacti, and crochet.

I have been recently obsessed with amigurumi and trying to improve my skills and this book was a perfect fit for me. It has a wide range of projects that are simple enough to make in a day, but stylish enough to display or give as gifts. The book is organized into two main themes: flower projects and succulent projects, which made it easy for me to navigate and find exactly what I was looking for.

The flower chapter starts with tutorials for making 10 different flowers, such as a daisy, a rose, and a ranunculus, as well as four kinds of leaves. This was a great way for me to learn new techniques and improve my skills. After mastering the basic elements, I moved on to a variety of flower-based projects. The succulent chapter provided a wide range of plant and cactus projects that I found to be unique and creative.

Throughout the book, I found practical projects like cactus coasters, a cactus pencil holder, a dish scrubber, and a table runner as well as decorative items like potted plants, a floral wreath, a garland, a dreamcatcher, and wall art, and personal accessories like floral hair clips, two different purse designs, and a headband.

The book comes with detailed stitch instructions, a shopping list, the finished size, and the skill level which made it easy for me to understand and follow along. The general crochet instructions, stitch diagrams, and yarn information was also a great addition.

Overall, “Modern Crochet Garden” is a must-have for any crochet enthusiast looking to add some green into their life. It’s a modern guide to crocheting plants and flowers and it will definitely bring some creativity and fun into your crochet projects. And the best part, no watering is needed!

 

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Dove Ornaments With a Printable Gift Poem

There is something especially lovely about a handmade gift that comes with a few thoughtful words. These crochet Christmas birds pair a folded yarn ornament with a decorative poem card, turning a little crochet project into a keepsake.

The design has a rounded head, a tiny embroidered eye and beak, and a forked tail. A broad overlapping section forms the wing, giving the bird that folded, origami-inspired appearance. It is a simple-looking shape with plenty of handmade charm.

A Crochet Bird That Doubles as a Gift Topper

What appeals to me most is the idea of using the bird twice. Tie it onto a wrapped present as a gift topper, then let the recipient hang it on their Christmas tree afterwards. The wrapping gets recycled, the ribbon goes into somebody’s “far too useful to throw away” drawer, and the bird becomes part of next year’s decorations.

Cream would be a lovely choice for a Christmas dove, while cranberry red, sage green and dusty blue offer a different seasonal look. Keeping the wing plain lets the crochet texture and folded layers stand out.

For a personalised crochet gift tag, an embroidered initial is a sweet addition. One small letter gives the ornament a purpose without needing to squeeze an entire name onto the wing.

The Printable Christmas Dove Card

The accompanying printable brings the gift together. Watercolour-style holly, evergreen branches, berries and gold accents frame the card, with space above the poem for attaching the crocheted bird.

The original Christmas poem shares wishes for peace, joy and love, then invites the recipient to hang the dove on their tree. There is also a “With love from” line, so the finished card feels like a complete little present.

I would print it on firm cardstock and attach the bird with a removable thread or ribbon loop. That way, the recipient can lift it off the card easily when it is time to decorate the tree.

It is a thoughtful Christmas gift concept, especially for crafters who enjoy making small decorations with a personal touch. The bird and poem card belong together: a little handmade ornament, a Christmas wish, and something to bring out again next December.