Multiple Layer Crochet Flower Petals

UPDATE: There are now detailed instructions (including photos) for the first 8 rounds of this pattern on my blog here. Part 2 of the detailed instructions is here. Part 3 is here. Please let me know if anything is still unclear. You are, of course, welcome to just use the recipe below, as ever!

[The discussion uses British terms, but pattern rows are given below using American terms.]

This is the method I used to make my Pink Flower Baby Blanket and it makes a very effective 3D fabric which is just the right size for babies to grab without catching their fingers (that last being the reason I didn’t do Irish crochet rose petals). My father pointed out it makes a good surface for stacking balls on!

The layers are made by doing the petals in the front loop only, then a row of plain stitches in the back loops, to give you front and back loops again. For the blanket I began by doing plain rounds of double crochet, then after about 10 petal rounds switched to half treble, then after another 10 to trebles. (The stitches in the back loop will pull the front loops taut again, so don’t worry if the front loops get quite large.)

Any petal could use these method for multiple layers, but my preferred petal goes across 6 stitches (all in front loops):

sc in first stitch, (dc, htr) in next stitch, 2tr in next stitch, dtr in next stitch, 2tr in next stitch, (htr, dc) in next stitch. Repeat all the way around. End with sc in last stitch to end petal.

In the round increases should be made on the plain crochet rounds. I amn’t very good at working out where these should be, but try to keep them even.

If these petals are being done in rows back and forth do the petals in the front loops of the right side, then the plain crochet in the front loops of the wrong side.

If making a blanket or similar, end on a petal round in both loops.

——————

Using American stitch names:

Row 1: sc across, if you don’t already have both front and back loops available.

Row 2: (right side) All in front loops *ss in first stitch, (sc, hdc) in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch, tr in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch, (hdc, sc) in next stitch. Repeat from *. End with one ss to finish last petal.

Row 3: sc across remaining loops of every stitch of Row 1 increasing as necessary.

Repeat rows 2 & 3 for pattern.