Crochet Thistle Explanation

 Crochet Thistle Explanation

Thistles are a big family   and many are appreciated both in the culinary and medicinal fields. With due attention to its multiple thorns, the thistle when it is dry also becomes a beautiful decorative plant.

To make the crochet thistle you need to prepare: the flower head, the floral tuft and small leaves.

Needed: cotton number 20 - 1.0 mm crochet hook - scissors - needle -  0.45 mm galvanized iron wire - plasticized iron wire - pliers.

Explanation of the flower head

Start 4 chains and in the first make: 15 double crochet (total 16).

1st round: 32 high points.

2nd round: 4 double crochet, 9 chain stitches and in these make: 4 single crochet, 4 half double crochet. A very low point in the fourth high point.   Repeat the same for a total of 8 times.

3rd round: fold the toes forward and always do 32 double crochet plus an increase over each toe. In total there will be 40 high points.

4th round: 3 double crochet, 11 chain stitches and in these do: 5 single crochet, 5 half double crochet. A very low point in the fourth high point. Repeat for a total of 8 times but starting with 5 double stitches.

Turn the work over to have the tips of the thorns out.

Make all the flower heads you need for your composition. If you need to starch the tips of the thorns.

For the main stem, cut a piece of plasticized iron wire of the appropriate length and thickness for the work being carried out.

To create the floral tuft to be placed inside the flower head, create a fairly thick cotton skein by wrapping the cotton several times on 3 fingers of the hand. Fold it in half and lock it in the center by bending a tip of the stem twice. Press well with the pliers making sure that the skein is firm.

Insert the tuft inside the flower head and shape it by cutting off the excess with scissors.

To create the secondary branches, cut about 25 cm of galvanized iron wire, place the cotton skein in the center and knot the iron wire to lock it. Twist the remaining wire to create the branch except about 2 cm per side which will be used to connect it to the main stem. Insert the tuft inside the flower head and cover the cotton branch by working the chains around it.

Create all the branches you need for your composition and tie them to the main stem, also covering it with cotton by working the chains around it.

Small leaves will be sewn near the union of the secondary branches to the stem.

Explanation of the leaf

Start 17 chain stitches

1st round: 2 low points. A slip stitch 3 chain stitches and a high stitch in one point. A half double crochet, a single crochet, a slip stitch 3 chain stitches and a double crochet in one point. A half-crochet with a single crochet. Repeat for a total of 4 tips. 2 low points. Make the other side of the chain stitches identical in reverse. 
Close the work by keeping the cotton a little long. Sew near the union of the secondary branches. 

If you want to make a thorny stem like mine, do: 3 chain stitches every 20 chain stitches and in these do: a single crochet, a half double crochet. Repeat for the entire length of the stem.

Mine is just an example that I hope I have best explained and that you can modify and customize by following your imagination.

See you next time. Hello everybody.