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Happy Mother's Day! - Tulips and Vase Pattern


First of all, to all of the mothers out there, happy mother's day! I know I would not be where I am today without my mom!

I find it so hard to think of gifts for my parents. As I was thinking about mother's day and what to get my mom this year, I had a flashback to freshman year of college when I was in the middle of finals and didn't even realize mother's day was coming up. In a panic I bought my mom flowers because I didn't know what else I could mail that would get there on time. I began to think that in the midst of a pandemic, buying my mom flowers might be the move again. 

And then it hit me: why buy her flowers when I can knit her flowers. As I did some research on my favorite site to get free knitting patterns, Ravelry, I began to realize there weren't many patterns out there for flowers. At this point, I also had it in my head that they had to be tulips as those are my mom's favorite flowers. I found a few patterns for flowers that seemed within my skill set, but I really wanted those tulips. I turned to pinterest and was able to find a few patterns but I wasn't fully sold on them. So what could I do but use the patterns I found and somehow create my own. 


Please enjoy this knitting pattern for tulips and vase!



Materials:
Yarn: anything between fine and medium weight (I used all scrap yarn for this)
Needles: 4 double-pointed needles size 3.25mm (US 3) and 4.0mm (US 6)
tapestry needle
Scissors
Wire (I bought 18 gauge aluminum wire at Home Depot)

Abbreviations:
Sts = stitches
K = knit
P = purl
Kbf = Knit back and front of stitch
Kfb = knit front and back of stitch
Rs = right side
Ws = wrong side
P2tog = purl two together
K2tog = knit two together
C8b = put 4 sts on cable needle and hold in back, knit next 4 sts, knit 4 sts on cable needle
*...* = repeat between the *
Tulip Pattern:
Cast on 6 sts onto 3.25mm needles. I found it easiest to hold them on 2 needles.

Stem:
Knit 6 sts in the round until the stem reaches desired length. I did between 35-40 rounds or between 4-5 inches.
When the stem reaches desired length:
Next row: pbf (or pfb, I find pbf easier) all 6 stitches so that you now have 12 sts.
At this point it is best to move the sts between 3 needles.
Next rows: knit 3 rows

Outside Bulb (pictured below):
Switch to flower color
Row 1: * Kfb, K2, Kfb * (18sts)
Row 2: knit all
Row 3: * 2Kfb, p2, Kfb * (30 sts)
Row 4: knit all
Row 5-10: knit all
Row 11: * K2tog, K, K2tog* (24 sts)
Row 12: knit all

At this time we will work each petal separately. Each needle holds one petal with three petals in total. Each petal should have 8 sts. Repeat this next section 3 times, once for each petal. Be sure to cut yarn at the end of each petal with 3-4 inches to spare as this will be used later on.


Row 11(rs): k2tog, k4, k2tog (6sts)
Row 12 (ws): purl all
Row 13 (rs): k2tog, k2, k2tog (4sts)
Row 14: (ws): bind off in pattern (purl)


Inner Bulb (pictured on the left above):
Cast on 12 sts between 3 size 3.25mm needles. Purl in the round.

Row 1: * Kbf, K2, Kbf * (18 sts)
Row 2: knit all
Row 3: * Kbf, K4, Kbf * (24 sts)
Row 4: knit all
Row 5 -10: knit all
Row 11:  * K2tog, K4, K2tog * (18sts)
Row 12: knit purl all

At this point we will make individual petals again. There should be 1 petal on each needle with 4 sts per petal. This will be repeated 3 times, once for each petal.

Row 13: *p2tog, p2, p2tog * (4 sts)
Row 14 (ws): purl all
Row 15 (rs): k2tog, k2tog (2 sts)
Row 16 (ws): bind off in pattern (purl)

Construction: 
  1. Weave in loose ends so that they meet at the base of the bulbs.
  2. Flip the outer bulb inside out.
  3. Using the yarn that has been weaved in, tie the outer bulb to the inner bulb.
  4. Flip outer bulb right side in.
  5. Weave in any other lose strings. I find it easiest to put them into the stem if possible.
  6. Insert wire into the stem to provide some stability.



Vase:
Cast on 48 sts between 3 double pointed needles size 4.0mm.

Row 1: knit all in the round
Row 2: knit all
Row 3: knit all
Row 4: * k4, c8b, k4 *
Repeat rows 1-4 until desired length. I did 32 rows.
Row 33 (or next row): purl all
Row 34: * k2tog, k2 *
Row 35: knit all
Row 36: * k2tog, k1 *
Row 37: knit all
Row 38: k2tog all
Row 39: knit all
Cut the yarn and bind off by pulling yarn through remaining sts.

I also inserted wire into the vase to provide some stability.

Place tulips in the vase and enjoy!

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