Zinnia Stitch Markers
by Allison Weaver
Materials: #10 crochet thread #7 (1.5mm) steel crochet hook Split rings of preferred size Stitches Used: Ch - Chain sl st - Slip stitch dc - double crochet tr - triple crochet
Special Stitches:
Stem: Ch 4, remove hook, place ring over chain and replace hook in last chain and then (moving back down the chain) sl st loosely in the back of each stitch. If you don't do the sl st loosely, your stem will curl -- which is actually another option. J&P Coats Royale Classic Crochet Thread #10 in Shaded Purples and Mexicana and Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet Thread #10 in Victory Red were used for the samples.
Small Zinnia:
Chain 3, join with sl st to first chain to form a ring. Rnd 1: Ch 4, $^*_{\mathrm{SC}}$ in ring, ch 3. Repeat from \* 7 more times ending with a sl st in the first chain in the beginning ch-3. (9 petals) Go to final rnd.
Medium Zinnia:
Chain 4, join with sl st to first chain to form a ring. Rnd 1: Ch 5, $^*_{\mathrm{SC}}$ in ring, ch 4. Repeat from \* 9 more times ending with a sl st in the first chain in the beginning ch-4. (11 petals) Go to final rnd.
Large Zinnia:
Chain 5, join with sl st to first chain to form a ring. Rnd 1: Ch 6, \*sc in ring, ch 5 or 6. Repeat from $^{*}11$ more times ending with a sl st in the first chain of the beginning ch-6. (13 petals) Go to final rnd. Final Rnd for all: Make stem (see page 1). Cut thread and weave in ends.
NOTE:
The look of any of these can be altered by using a slightly larger or smaller hook, doing more or fewer petals or more chains in each petal. They use so little thread that a single variegated thread (like the Royale Classic Mexicana) can be used to create very differently colored flowers by altering where in the color sequence you start. The stem can be made longer by adding more chains.
