I developed this motif based on this rosebud pattern I came across. I previously shared my version of that pattern, Field of Rosebuds.
Rosebud Wreath Motif
Yarn Colors
- A: Wreath Center color: Something that contrasts nicely against your leaf color.
- B: Leaf color. A nice shade of green.
- C: Background color. Something your rosebuds will show up nicely against, like white, black, cream, or even sky blue.
- D: Rosebud color. Red, pink, maroon, gold, or any color you’d like. I think this pattern would be really interesting with a slow striping yarn so the roses gradually change color as you work.
- E: Inner Frame. A darker or lighter shade of your background or outer frame color.
- F: Outer Frame. A deep, dark color that doesn’t detract from your rosebuds.
Yarn
Use your favorite. I used Lion Brand Bon Bons sport weight cotton for this tutorial, resulting in a square approximately 5.5″. I show the results using a lace weight acrylic-wool blend at the end of this tutorial, which resulted in a 3″ square.
The Pattern
This pattern uses U.S. crochet terms.
With yarn A, chain 6 and join (or use a magic circle if you prefer.
Round 1
Chain 4. [DC into ring, CH 1] 11 times, and join to third CH of starting chain, for a total of 12 DCs and 12 CH 1 spaces.
Round 2
SC 3 into each CH 1 space. Join, and finish off color A.
Round 3
Join color B, either with a SS, CH, SC into the same stitch, or a standing SC as shown here.
Leaf Stitch
SC into the next stitch.
CH 4 and SC into the same stitch.
CH 6 and SC into the same stitch.
CH 4 and SC into the same stitch.
SC into the next stitch.
Repeat [SC, leaf stitch, SC] 11 times. Join and finish off color B.
Round 4
Join color C into any SC immediately before a leaf stitch, with a standing SC or your favorite method.
SC, CH 1. Working behind each leaf stitch (as shown in the following photos): skip leaf stitch, SC into the next stitch. Repeat [SC, CH 1, skip leaf stitch, SC] 11 times. Join.
Round 5
CH 1 and SC into same stitch. SC into each SC of the previous row, SC 2 into each CH 1 space. Join. (48 SC)
Round 6
CH 1 and SC into same stitch. SC 2, SC 2 into same space. [SC 3, SC 2 into same space] 11 times. Join. (60 SC)
Round 7
CH 1 and SC into same stitch. SC 3, SC 2 into same space. [SC 4, SC 2 into same space] 11 times. Join. (72 SC)
Round 8: Rosebuds
Bring in color D (rosebud color) and “hide” it under your background color stitches. CH 1 and SC into same stitch.
SC, switching to color D by dropping color C and finishing off the stitch with color D.
The Rosebud: DC Spike Popcorn Stitch
The rosebud stitch should be centered right above the CH 1 space from round 3, centered over the leaf. Do a DC spike stitch through the center leaf and the CH 1 space: yarn over, insert hook through center leaf (the CH 6 loop), insert the hook through the CH 1 space above the leaf stitch, hook the yarn from the back, and pull it through the space and the leaf, as shown here. Make sure to hide yarn C (background color) under your stitches.
Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook, then yarn over and pull through the second two loops on the hook. Make sure you haven’t pulled the “spike” too tightly or your work will buckle.
Repeat the DC spike four more times, through the same leaf and space. Remove your hook and insert it (from the front) through the top of the first DC spike stitch, then through the loop.
Drop color D. Yarn over color C and pull it through all the loops on the hook. Snug up the stitch to close the popcorn stitch.
Skip the SC directly below the popcorn stitch. [SC into the next 5 stitches, rosebud (popcorn DC spike stitch)] 11 times. SC in the last four stitches and join. Finish off color D.
Round 9
The beginning of the round should start a the stitch just before the top of a rosebud. If it doesn’t slipstitch over to that point. CH2, skip the stitch at the top of the rosebud, SC into the stitch just after the rosebud. CH 4, skip 3, [SC, CH 1, SC, CH 4, skip 3] 11 times. Join to first stitch.
Round 10
SS into CH 1 space. CH 1, SC into same space. DC 5 into CH 4 space. [SC into CH 1 SP, DC 5 into CH 4 SP] 11 times. Finish off color C.
At this point, you have a nice round motif. You can stop here, use this as the center of a round doily or mandala, or continue on to Round 11 to square up the motif into a block.
Round 11
With color E, start the first stitch with either a CH 3 or a standing DC in any SC: [DC, CH 3, BPSC around third/center DC of the next fan, CH 3] 12 times around.
Round 12
CH 1. [SC 4 into CHSP, HDC 4 into next CHSP, DC 4 into next CHSP, CH 2, DC 4 into next CHSP, HDC 4 into next CHSP, SC 4 into next CHSP] four times. Join and finish off color E.
Round 13
Join color F with a standing SC into any SC of the previous row. Work an SC into each SC, an HDC into each HDC, a DC into each DC, and TR 5 into each CH 2 corner space, Join.
Round 14
CH 3. DC into each stitch of previous row, working TR 5 into the third TR of each corner. Join and finish.
Example Motif in Lace Weight Wool Blend
With the right yarn and color scheme, this block can be quite elegant. Here I’ve chosen muted colors matching a scarf project I’m working on, with neutral beige, taupe, and very dark burgundy background and framing colors to let the gorgeous wine and moss green roses stand out.
The Pattern in Compact Form
Stitches
- LS (Leaf Stitch): SC, CH 4, SC into same stitch, CH 6, SC into same stitch, CH 4, SC into same stitch
- RB (Rosebud): DC spike stitch 5 times into the chain space three rows below (the one above the leaf stitch). Remove hook, insert through the loops of the first DC, then through the last loop, yarn over with color C, and snug up the rosebud. This stitch is basically a popcorn stitch with double crochet spike stitches.
The Pattern
This pattern assumes you know how to start a new row, either with the appropriate number of chain stitches (e.g., CH 3 as a DC) or standing stitches, and count those starting stitches appropriately.
With color A, CH 6 and join to make a loop, or start with a magic ring if you prefer.
- R1: Color A. [DC, CH] 12 times into ring. Join. (24: 12 DC, 12 CHSP)
- R2: [SC 3 into CHSP] 12 times. Join. Finish color A. (36)
- R3: Join color B into first SC in any CH3SP. [SC, LS, SC] 12 times. Join. Finish color B. (24 SC, 12 LS)
- R4: Join color C into any SC immediately before a LS. [SC, CH, skip LS, SC] 12 times. Join. (26: 24 SC, 12 CHSP).
- R5: SC into each SC, and SC 2 into each CHSP of previous row. Join. (48)
- R6: [SC 2, SC 2 into same space] 12 times. Join. (60)
- R7: [SC 3, SC 2 into same space] 12 times. Join. (72)
- R8: Bring in color D and “hide” it under stitches of color C. With color C, SC. [Color D, RB. Color B: SC 5] 12 times, leaving off the last SC. Join. Finish color D. (72: 60 SC, 12 RB)
- R9: SS to get to stitch just before the top of the RB stitch. [SC, CH, skip over RB, SC, CH 4, skip 3] 12 times. Join. (84: 24 SC, 12 CH1SP, 12 CH4SP)
- R10: SS into CH1SP. [SC into CH1SP, DC 5 into CH4SP] 12 times. Join. Finish color C.
- R11: Join color E into any SC. [DC into SC, CH 3, BPSC around third DC, CH 3, skip 2 DC] 12 times. Join.
- R13: [SC 4 into CHSP, HDC 4 into next CHSP, DC 4 into next CHSP, CH 2, DC 4 into next CHSP, HDC 4 into next CHSP, SC 4 into next CHSP] four times. Join. Finish color E.
- R14: Join color F into any SC of previous row. SC into each SC, HDC into each HDC, DC into each DC, TR 5 into each CH2SP. Join.
- R15: DC into each stitch of previous row, with TR 5 into third TR in each corner.