I'm on a flower kick...

I really need it to be spring. The snow that accumulated the last 2 days has pretty much completely melted, but I don't hold out much hope for warm weather until May. So, since I have only a few sad looking, frostbitten crocuses in my yard, I need to crochet flowers in order to feel vernal. So, here is my bluebell bookmark-- what do you think? This one is done with scraps of Sinfonia yarn, but size 3 cotton would work just as well. I used a 3mm hook. The pattern is in American terms. This pattern is not tested by anyone but myself. Please contact me with any questions or if you spot any errors.

Bluebell Bookmark-- by Alice Kaufman Rich (copyright 2009)

Materials: less than an ounce (28 g) of sportweight cotton yarn in blue and green, 3 or 6 yellow large holed beads at least 4 mm, one large (10 mm-ish) bead.

Notes: blo-- back loop only, flo-- front loop only

Flower:

Rnd 1: Form magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, ss into 1st st. Pull end of yarn to tighten ring.

Rnd 2: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 2 times (8 sts), ss into first st.

Rnd 3: (sc, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) 2 times (10 sts), ss into first st.

Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) 2 times (12 sts) ss into first st.

Rnd 5: (sc, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (18 sts)

Rnd 6: (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in sixth st) 3 times (21 sts)

Rnd 7: work even in dc

Rnd 8: (dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in seventh st) 3 times (24 sts)

Rnd 9: work even in sc (24 sts)

Rnd 10a: working in flo sc, ch 3 in each st (24 sc's) do not ss into 1st st, put your hook into the unworked back loop and start rnd 10b.

Rnd 10b: working in the blo of rnd 9, sc, ch 3 in each st (24 sc's) this creates a small double ruffle. ss into first sc.

Weave in ends

Stamen:

Place the yellow beads on the green yarn.

Leaving a 12 inch tail, ch 9, pull up a bead (or 2)make last ch w/ beads, ss back over the 9 sts, repeat 2 more times so you have a "Y" shape with beads at the end. With your hook or a tapestry needle, pull the tail through the bottom of the flower. You will use this to sew on the calyx.

Calyx:

Rnd 1a: Leaving a 5 foot (1.5 m) tail, ch 12, ss to join. Into the chain (not the ring)-- [sc, hdc, (dc, tr, dc) in next st, hdc] 3 times. ss into first sc.

Rnd 2a: (ss from rnd 1 counts as first st.) [sc into hdc of pervious rnd., 2 hdc into dc, (dc, tr, dc) into tr, 2 hdc into dc, sc int hdc, ss into sc] 3 times. Fasten off.

Turn work so you are looking at the bottom of the calyx.

rnd 1b: With tail, into the back of the chain sc 2 tog 6 times, join with ss.

rnd 2b: sc3tog twice, join with a ss.

Using the remainder of the tail, ch 50. Fasten off. place large bead on the tail and use tail as the hanger for the tassel. (Here is a link to a tutorial for making a tassel, or you can go without if you choose.) Using a tapestry needle, sew the calyx onto the flower, going up through the bottom of the flower and the stamen several times (I also went around fastening the tips too).

This pattern is my own work, feel free to post a link to this page, but do not post a copy of the pattern itself .  Do not copy and distribute this pattern.  However, whatever you wish to do with the finished object is your choice.  I'd love to hear your feedback if you make the bookmark though!