Bloomin Bluebell
The Bloomin' Bluebell wants desperately for you to knit him and then place him somewhere in. your city with a little tag inviting people to visit their local woods and support VisitWoods and the UK's green spaces. Get out and knit in the sunshine and fresh air, as nature intended. You can take your bluebell with you. Go on.
Materials
15g DK acrylic yarn in lavender (bells) 15g DK acrylic yarn in dark green (stem and leaves) Tiny amount of DK acrylic yarn in cream (pollen) 3mm double-pointed knitting needles or 60cm circular needle for magic loop Scissors Tapestry needle Six seed beads for eyes (optional) Wire or skinny pipe cleaner Cardboard or small flower pot for base (optional)
Size
16cm (6") approx. from roots to stem bend
Skills you'll need
Knitting in the round. I-cord (explained in pattern). Green fingers.
Abbreviations
K = knit P = purl Inc1 = increase one Sts = stitches Sl1 = slip one k2tog = knit two together
Pattern
Bell
Cast on 1 stitch on one 3mm needle Row 1. Knit Row 2. Purl Row 3. Inc1 (2 sts) Row 4. Sl1, p Row 5. Sl1, k Row 6. Sl1, p Place stitches on a holder Repeat this 4 more times to make 5 petals. Row 7. Place all 5 petals on 1 needle and knit across to join them up (10 sts). Knot and cut yarn at petal tips.
Divide stitches onto three DPN needles and join. Rows 8-16. Knit around Row 17. K2tog around (5 sts) Row 18. K, k2tog, k2 (4 sts)
Darn in lavender ends. Change colour to green. Knit 60 rows as i-cord then thread yarn through sts.
How to knit i-cord stem
1. Knit stitches on DPN 2. Push stitches to opposite end of needle 3. Turn needle, pull yarn tight and knit stitches 4. Push stitches to opposite end of needle 5. Turn needle, pull yarn tight and knit stitches 6. Repeat over and over to create i-cord
Extra bells
Repeat instructions for main bell to colour change. Knit 6 rows of i-cord. Thread yarn through stitches.
Leaves
Pollen
Take about 10cm of cream yarn. Tie a tight knot in one end and trim. Sew knot into bell mouth. Cast on 4 sts Knit 38 rows in stocking stitch (odd rows knit and even rows purl) Row 39. K2tog, k2tog (2 sts) Row 40. P2 Row 41. K2tog (1 st) Row 42. P Thread yarn through stitches and darn in end. Repeat two more times for each bell
Finishing
Your bluebell lives!
Once you've finished your bluebell you could do anything with him - but wouldn't it be nice to share him with the world? Turn him into a graffiti yarnstorming flower by adding your name to the tag below (cover the tab in sticky tape to waterproof it), tying the tag on tight, leaving him somewhere and then running away giggling.
Pass wire through mouth and down i-cord stem. Make sure to bend ends of wire into loops to avoid sharp ends. Bend neck so flower droops. Sew on extra heads on where stem bends. Sew on leaves either side of stem. Sew on eyes to bring your bells to life.
If you want you can stick him onto a cardboard base, or pop him in a plastic pot or a fancy vase. The Bloomin' Bluebell is happiest left in the wild. Leave him somewhere that needs colour.
