Centerpiece is a charming arrangement of faux pussy willows with magnificent hydrangea.

Size

This bouquet can be any size you desire. 

Materials

PussyWillows

1 Hank Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (50 grs), #4205 Dark Chocolate

1 Hank Berroco Ultra Alpaca (100 grs), #6208 Couscous

Crochet hook, size 3.50 mm (E)

Cloth-covered floral wire (18 gauge) from Michael’s

Tapestry needle

Hydrangea

1 Hank each Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (50 grs), #4283 Lavender Mix, #4240 Blue Violet, #4249 Fennel and #4275 Pea Soup Mix

Crochet hook, size 3.50 mm (E)

Cloth-covered floral wire (32 gauge for florets and 18 gauge for main stem) from Michael’s

Green floral tape

Note 1

There are no gauge requirements for these projects.

Stitch Glossary

3 dc tog

(Yo, pull up a loop, draw through 2 loops on hook) in next 3 sts, yo and pull through all loops on hook – 2 sts dec’d

bptr (back post triple)

Yo twice, insert hook from back to front around post of st on previous row and pull up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

fptr (front post triple)

Yo twice, insert hook from front to back around post of st on previous row and pull up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times

Pussywillows

Stem: Cut 18 gauge wire to desired length of pussywillow. Holding end of chocolate yarn along wire, wrap entire length with yarn. When you reach the end, wrap yarn back along stem for a short way and tie off. Note: If a slightly thicker stem is desired, use the wire as a knitting needle and cast sts onto the wire using a spare knitting needle and the long-tail method of casting on.

Puffs: With crochet hook and Couscous, ch 3, (yo, draw up a loop about ¼” long) 3 times, yo, draw through all loops on hook. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Cups for Puffs: With crochet hook and Chocolate, ch 5, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, working into ring, sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc, join with sl st in beg sc. Fasten off leaving a 6” long tail for sewing.

Finishing

Sew puff into center of cup. Sew puffs to stem as shown in photo. Note: Sew one puff over the place where you tied off the yarn near end of stem.

Hydrangea

Note

Each hydrangea is made up of small bunches of florets wired together. The bunches are then twisted tog and taped to the 18 gauge wire center stem. In nature, no two flowers are ever identical. Hydrangeas come in all different sizes and one or more colors. The photo shows how florets are wired together in bunches allowing you to vary colors and size of bunches as desired.

Florets: With crochet hook, using Blue Violet, Lavender or Fennel, ch 5, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: * Ch 4, working into ring, work 3 tr, ch 4, sl st, rep from * 4 times for 4-petal floret (3 times for 3-petal floret, 2 times for 2-petal floret – make a variety of florets with different numbers of petals using all 3 colors). Weave in ends. Thread a 6” long piece of 32 gauge wire into tapestry needle and weave through sts at base of florets. Make up small bunches using different sizes and colors of florets.

Buds: With crochet hook, using Fennel, ch 5, join with a sl st to form a ring. Ch 1, work 10 sc’s into ring, join with a sl st in beg ch-1. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Thread wire into base of buds same as florets. Add buds to bunches of florets.

Note: Directions for leaves are for small leaf. Changes for large leaf are in parentheses.

Leaves: With crochet hook, using Pea Soup Mix, ch 14(17). Sl st in 2nd ch from hook. Work 1 sl st in each of the next 6 ch’s, ch 9(12).

Row 1: Work 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) ch’s, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 tr in next st (top of stem), 3 dc tog over next 3 ch’s, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) sts, 3 dc in last ch. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) ch’s, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1bptr, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) sts, 3 dc in top of ch-3. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, skip first st, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) sts, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 fptr, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 dc in each of the next 2(5) sts, dc in top of ch-3. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, skip first st, 1 dc in each of the next 0(3) sts, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, bptr, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 dc in each of the next 1(3) sts, 1 dc in top of ch-3. Turn.

For Large Leaf ONLY: Row 5: Ch 3, skip first st, 1 dc in next st, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, fptr, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in top of ch-3. Turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, bptr, 3 dc tog over next 3 sts, 1 dc in top of ch-3.

For Both Sizes: Last Row: Ch 3, work next 4 sts tog same way as 3dc tog, ( 1dc, fptr, 1dc,1dc in top of ch3). Fasten off. Weave in ends. Thread a 6" wire thru the center of leaf. Tape to main stem.

Finishing

Cut a piece of 18 gauge wire the desired length of stem. Wrap wires from small bunches of florets around top of stem as in photo. Wrap wires from leaves around stem below florets. Starting just under florets, wrap all wires with green floral tape twisting as you wrap.