Now it is time to really add some pizzazz to our crochet paintings. In part three, we will be creating crochet appliques that add a 3D effect and character to our crochet paintings.
Crochet Paintings: Part 3
In this post, you will be focusing on the crochet appliques that are made with several different types of stitches. First, we will look at how you can find appliques and adjust them to work with your crochet painting. This will allow you to customize your work of art.
If you haven’t started your crochet painting yet, you can learn how to start one here.
Sunflower Crochet Appliques
To make your painting look just like the sample paintings, I have included the written patterns for the appliques below. Since the sunflower applique is a bit complex so, I have also included a quick video tutorial.
Cactus Crochet Appliques
The cactus appliques written patterns are also below as well. You will find above every pattern is a picture of the final pieces and a crochet chart. I am not expecting you to know how to read a crochet chart. I just think they make nice clear visual aids when working a pattern that uses several different types of stitches in a single row.
Don’t forget to pin this post for later!
How to Customize Your Flower Bouquet
We have reached a part where we can really get creative and customize out crochet paintings. The way we can do this is by picking out different appliques, flowers, and cacti to make our crochet paintings unique.j
To find different appliques you can do a search on Pinterest for flowers and cacti appliques. You can also make the same search on Youtube. Once you find the pieces you are looking for, you will want to make a sample applique to see how big it is. It is also good to practice the applique as applique patterns tend to be complex patterns.
Adjusting Crochet Appliques
Now that we have chosen patterns that we love, and we have made a practice piece, it is time to place the piece on our crochet painting and decide if we are happy with the size of the flower/cactus.
If it is too large or too small we can change our hook or yarn size to make the piece larger or smaller. Below is a photo of three sunflower appliques. Each was made with a different size hook and for every millimeter larger hook I used, the final flower ended up being roughly 1/2 an inch larger. When I went from a 5 mm hook to a 5.5 mm hook the flower was only 1/4 of an inch larger.
Changing your hook size would be the first way I would try and adjust an applique. If you find an amazing pattern that is just ginormous, then you really need to shrink it down. In this case, I would recommend adjusting both your hook and yarn size. We are using size 4 worsted weight yarn for this project. If you switch to a size 3 lightweight yarn, like Lion Brand’s Mandala, it will make your appliques smaller.
You will have to play around and probably make up several samples before the proportions are just right. If you take your time to create the perfect size applique your crochet painting will be a true masterpiece.
If you have any questions about changing the size of an applique, ask them in the comments below.
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Crochet Appliques Patterns
All the applique patterns provided use size 4 worsted weight yarn and a size H 5 mm crochet hook. Patterns are written in US terms.
Stitches and Abbreviations
CH – Chain
SC – Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
DC – Double Crochet
DC2TOG – Double Crochet two stitches together.
SLST – Slip Stitch
ST(S) – Stitch(es)
Magic Circle – Learn this technique here!
Sunflower Crochet Applique Pattern
Notes:
-When you reach row 2, we will be working a flower petal over 2 stitches. You will slip stitch to the first stitch, chain 3, work a double crochet decrease over the first and second stitch, create a picot at the top of the decrease that you made, and then chain 3 and slip stitch to the second stitch. This is all displayed in the video tutorial found below the pattern.
-Make as many flowers are you would like for your painting.
With your flower center color.
Row 1: CH2, Work 12 DC into a Magic Circle. SLST to the first DC. Fasten off and weave in your end.
With your flower petal color, your first SLST will join your new color to your work.
Row 2: *SLST to the next stitch, CH2. Work a DC2TOG into the same stitch as you first SLST and into the next ST. CH3, SLST to the top of the DC2TOG. CH2, SLST to the second stitch that your decrease was worked into.* Now you will move to the next two stitches and work from *to* to create your next flower petal. Repeat from *to* until you have a total of 6 flower petals. Fasten off leaving a long tail to use to sew the gap between the first and last SLST together and to sew the applique to your crochet painting.
When you have made all your flowers, place them and your vase on your painting and sew them in place. Remember we will be embroidering extra flowers onto the painting, so leave room between your flowers.
Leave around 1/2 an inch between any applique and the edge of the painting if you are planning to frame the painting.
Aloe Plant Appliques
Make 5 or more Aloe leaves to create an aloe plant. The leaves are made separately then sewn clumped together.
CH10
Row 1: SC into the 2nd CH from the hook, HDC into next CH, Work 2 DC into each of the next 2 CH, DC in next CH, Work 2 DC into next CH, HDC into next 2 CHs, SC into last CH. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the painting background.
Make more leaves, flip some over to curve the other way when laying the leaves out to look like an aloe plant.
Barrel Cactus
For the smallest plant pot, we are crocheting a barrel cactus. This cactus simple consists of two circles of different sizes.
Larger Barrel Cactus
Row 1: CH2, Work 12 DC into a Magic Circle. SLST to the first DC. (12)
R2: CH2, *HDC into next ST, Work 2 HDC into next ST* repeat from *to* a total of 6 times. SLST to first HDC. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to your painting later. (18)
Smaller Barrel Cactus
Row 1: CH2, Work 10 HDC into a Magic Circle. SLST to first HDC. (10)
Row 2: CH1, *SC into next ST, Work 2 SC into next ST.* Repeat from *to* a total of 5 times. SLST to first SC. Fasten off leaving a long end to sew to crochet painting. (15)
Tall Cactus Crochet Appliques
This cactus is made from several small and one large applique.
Smallest Branches (Make 2)
Row 1: CH1, Work 6 SC into a magic circle. SLST to first SC. Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew to crochet background.
Medium Branch
Just make one of the medium branches. This branch will be attached to the top of the cactus body piece. This branch is designed to be an oval but may need to be stretched out a bit to look correct.
Row 1: Ch1, Work 6 SC into a magic circle. SLST to first SC.
Row 2: CH1, Work 2 SC into each of the next 2 STS, Work 2 HDC into the next ST, work 2 SC into each of the next 2 STS, Work 2 HDC into the next ST, SLST to the first SC. Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew to the crocheted background.
Large Branch
Make one large branch, when you sew this onto your painting you will be placing the two small branches as if they are growing off of the large branch.
Row 1: CH2, Work 10 HDC into a Magic Circle. SLST to first HDC. (10)
Row 2: CH1, *SC into next ST, Work 2 SC into next ST.* Repeat from *to* a total of 5 times. SLST to first SC. Fasten off leaving a long end to sew to crochet painting. (15)
Tall Cactus Body Pattern
The cactus body is worked in rows. You will create a chain and work up the chain and back down the other side of the chain.
Row 1: CH 10, SC in the 2nd Ch from the hook, SC in the next 3 CH, HDC in the next 3 CH, DC in the next CH, Work 6 DC into the very last CH. Working down the other side of the CH, DC into the next CH, HDC into the next 3 CH, SC into the last 4 CH.
Row 2: CH1, turn, SC into the next 8 STs. Work 2 SC into the next 6 STS, SC into the next 8 STS.
Row 3: CH1, turn, SC into the next 8 STS, *Work 2 SC into the next ST, SC into the next ST,* repeat from *to* a total of 6 times. SC into the last 8 STS. Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew the cactus to the crocheted background.
Start Assembling your Crochet Painting
Now take your appliques and lay them on top of your background and position them where you like them. First, sew the cactus in place then sew the pots on top of them, just barely overlapping the bottom of the cactus.
Check back next week for part 4 where we will add extra details by embroidering on our crochet appliques and background.
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