inspiration

Crocheted daffodils are just what you need to adorn an Easter bonnet! I realised that despite having lots of daffs in the garden every spring, I’d never designed any crocheted daffodils. So a few weeks ago, I put that right!

But first, here’s the inspiration for these crocheted daffs.

Autumn planting, spring colour

Every autumn I plant lots of bulbs in planters. I’m lucky to have so much choice at Youngs Nurseries, which is just a short walk away from my home along a footpath through the fields. The walk is a joy in itself.

To be honest, I’m never sure which variety is planted in which container, so it’s a lovely surprise when they eventually pop up in all their glory. They provide such a cheerful sight once February and March come around. It makes all the waiting worthwhile.

Here are just a few of the lovely blooms in my garden.

There are so many colours to choose from!

From classic long-trumpeted daffs…

to tiny, delicate blooms…

From yellows and oranges…

to whites and lemons…

Of course, daffodils (or narcissi to give them their proper name) come in all shades of yellow, white and orange. So the crocheted daffodils I designed can be made in any shade you wish too! The trumpet can be short or long. Why not create a variety, for a lovely multi-shade bunch. You can add pipe-cleaner stems too… A bunch of those in a little vase will definitely brighten up an Easter table.

Crocheted daffodils and Easter bunnies

I’ve even combined a few of these crocheted daffodils with the pretty little Easter bunny garland I designed last Easter. In fact I taught students how to crochet both at a day course for Kent Adult Education just last weekend. If you’d like to learn, too, don’t forget I teach 1-2-1 sessions or small group sessions in Thanet privately – just get in touch with me or see the Lessons in Thanet or North London page for more details.

I’ll be sharing the pattern on here very soon, so keep an eye out. Happy Easter!

Crocheted plantpots at the ready!

‘Crocheted plantpots?’ I hear you asking. ‘Is that what you’ve been busy with recently? I realise that I’ve not posted here for some time now, but I have indeed been VERY busy. When not teaching in person and on Zoom I’ve been working on my new allotment… (Don’t forget, if you’d like a crochet or knitting lesson, see here, face-to-face in Thanet, and on Zoom anywhere).

The tiny, overgrown, weed-infested plot became mine a few months ago. I’d waited a year for one to become free. Here’s how the plot looked when I took it over. Quite a daunting prospect!

So to work!

Every spare moment recently I’ve been digging, weeding, raking, more weeding! I needed lots of advice from allotment neighbours and websites, like this one – the National Allotment Society.

It’s been backbreaking work, but at least on rainy days, I found time to pick up my crochet hook. The allotment was still on my mind, so I came up with these sweet, crocheted plantpots to sit on top of my bamboo canes. Here’s one with a (real) little marigold plant I grew at home.

They were used to mark my rows of potatoes, and brightened up the allotment before the veg started growing.

Sunflowers and beetroot join the crocheted plantpots

The plantpots looked so cheerful that I decided to design some other toppers! And here are the next couple – sunflowers and beetroot.

(And now I really do have sunflowers and beetroot planted on the plot too.) I crocheted the toppers in acrylic yarn to make them stand up to the weather and lightly stuffed them with polyester filling. Each has a hole in the bottom, so it fits over the top of the cane. I then simply tied the topper place with garden twine.

My toppers have so far been drawing admiring glances from my fellow allotmenteers.

The allotment takes shape

I’ve now cleared half of my allotment.

I’ve actually planted potatoes, broad and French beans, beetroot, sunflowers, Swiss chard and runner beans. (Can you spot the cane toppers in the background?). I have tomatoes, kale and broccoli waiting at home in the cold frame. So hopefully soon, it’ll be my veg attracting compliments too!