DIY Network

It's a Bloomin' Holiday: Knit Poinsettia Wreath Real poinsettias are long-lived flowers; knit ones are practically immortal! From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-513

Happy holidays, Knitty Gritty style! Maggie Pace, the owner of Pick Up Sticks!, shares her design for a knit poinsettia that makes a versatile holiday decoration. When all the petal sets are complete, she will felt the flowers in the washing machine and combine them to create a wreath.

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Knit Poinsettia Wreath

Materials (enough for 7 poinsettias):

Cascade 220 yarn: 475 yd. red (9404), 50 yd. green (9430), 15 yd. yellow (7827) (or any 100% wool or wool-blend yarn that will felt)
double-pointed needles, US size 10
yarn needle
1/4" ribbon (seven 18" lengths)
14 safety pins
18" florist wires (seven 18-gauge, to hold up flower and stem)
1 yd. 26-gauge thread wire
needle-nose pliers
12" wire wreath frame

Note: Remember that many yarns are seasonal and could be discontinued. If the specific yarn called for is not available, purchase a substitution yarn that comes closest to the specified gauge in your pattern. And be sure to make that all-important swatch to see whether the yarn works for your particular pattern.

Note on shaping:
Our poinsettia is created in four sections: a green stem and three large outside petals; a second group of large outside petals; a medium-sized group of inside petals; and a small group of inside petals. The four sections are knit and felted separately and then placed on top of one another to create the final flower. You will need seven poinsettias to make the wreath.

Create flower stem:
Using two size-10 double-pointed needles and green yarn, co 4 stitches (figure A). *K one row. Without turning work, slide stitches across needle. Pull the yarn tightly from the end of the row and repeat from *. Do this 45 times. Inc 1 st in the middle of every row over the next 5 rows (9 sts).

Note: You are still sliding stitches after every row as you increase. Break green yarn, leaving long tail.

Figure A

The stem is worked as a hollow I-cord; later, wire will be threaded through the tube.

Figure B

Distribute the 9 green sts evenly over 3 dpns (3 per needle). Using red (figure B), work 7 rounds on dpns. Keep 3 sts on needle and slide the remaining 6 sts onto a holder.

You are now going to work only these 3 sts; you will work them as if they are on straight needles, by turning your work after each row. Orient your work so the p side is facing. You will start out in k, even though p side is facing. This breaks the St st pattern, but it is correct. The goal is to have the k side of the petal face upward as it comes out of the I-cord tube. If necessary, break red yarn and pick up a new strand of red (it may not be necessary, depending on which stitches you slid on the holder).

Petal Group 1

First trio of outside petals:
(Use a bar increase, where you create 2 sts by knitting in the front and back of one.)
**Row 1: Knit, increasing one st at each end (5).
Row 2: Purl, increasing one st at each end (7).
Row 3: Knit, increasing one st at each end (9).
Row 4: Purl, increasing one st at each end (11).
Row 5: Knit, increasing one st at each end (13).
Rows 6-12: Work in St st.
Row 13: Knit, dec 1 st at each end (11).
Row 14: Purl.
Rows 15-20: Repeat rows 13 and 14 three times (5).
Row 21: K1, K2 tog twice (3).
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K 2 tog, K1 (2).
Row 24: Purl 2 tog (1). Break red yarn. Thread end back through last st and weave in end.**

Second petal:
Remove next 3 sts from the holder. Place on dpn. Orient work so p side is facing. Using a new strand of red yarn, follow pattern between **s.

Last petal:
Remove last three sts from the holder. Place on dpn. Using a new strand of red yarn, follow pattern between **s. When you are done with this first grouping of petals, weave in all ends.

Petal Group 2

Second trio of outside petals:
In red, co 9 sts on a dpn and distribute sts evenly over 3 dpns (3 per needle). Join yarn to work in rounds. Work 7 rounds. Keep last 3 sts on needle and slide the remaining 6 sts onto a holder. Orient work so p side is facing. Next, repeat instructions for Petal Group 1.

Petal Group 3

Medium petals
In red, co 9 sts on size-10 straight needles (you can use dpns if you'd like.) Use a bar increase, where you make two st by knitting in the front and back of one st.

Row 1: Working in k, inc 1, k 1, inc 1 (5). Stop! Place the remaining 6 sts on a holder. Now turn your work and continue in the pattern below.

*Row 2: P1, inc 1, p1, inc, p1 (7).
Row 3: K1, inc 1, k2, inc 1, k2 (9).
Rows 4-7: Work in St st.
Row 8: P1, p2 tog, p3, p2 tog, p1 (7).
Row 9: K2, k2 tog, k3 (6).
Rows 10-11: Work in St st.
Row 12: P1, p2 tog twice, p1 (4).
Rows 13-14: Work in St st.
Row 15: K1, k2 tog, k1 (3).
Row 16: P2 tog, p1 (2).
Row 17: K2.
Row 18: P 2 tog. Break red yarn. Thread end back through last st and weave in end.*

Second petal:
Remove 3 sts from holder.
Working in k, inc 1, k 1, inc 1 (5).
Stop! Turn work and work pattern between *s.

Third petal:
Remove last 3 sts from holder.
Working in k, inc 1, k1, inc 1 (5).
Stop! Turn work and work pattern between *s.

Weave in all ends. As you weave in the co tail, sew the first and last petal together at their bases so they form a trio of petals.

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