Introducing a vibrant floral bouquet accent that artfully blends the delicate charm of cotton with your crochet floral bouquets and arrangements!
The Cotton plant, belonging to the genus Gossypium, is a significant agricultural crop cultivated primarily for its fluffy staple fiber, which is harvested and processed into cotton textiles. The plant features broad leaves and large, white or yellow flowers that develop into bolls, which contain the fibers and seeds. Let’s create the yarn version of the Cotton Stalk!
TOOLS + MATERIALS
5 PLY COTTON BLEND YARN
COLORS: WHITE, LIGHT BROWN
4 MM CROCHET HOOK
0.3 MM JEWELRY WIRE
FLORAL CRAFT ROD / BAMBOO SKEWER
GLUE GUN + GLUE STICK
FIBERFILL
DARNING NEEDLE
SCISSORS
** Half Double Crochet Cluster (HDC CL): Yarn Over (YO) and insert your hook onto the designated stitch and pull up a loop, YO and insert your hook on the same stitch and pull up a loop, YO and pull through all 5 loops on your hook.
*** Half Double Crochet Cluster Decrease (HDC CL DEC): YO and insert your hook onto the designated stitch and pull up a loop, YO and insert your hook onto the next stitch and pull up a loop, YO and pull through all the loops on your hook.
LARGE COTTON BALL (2)
Using your White yarn and 4 MM crochet hook, create a Magic Ring (MR) and Chain (CH) 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 6 Single Crochets (SC) inside the MR and pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 6
ROUND 2: Half Double Crochet Cluster Increase (HDC CL INC) (Photo 2) in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 12
ROUND 3: * Half Double Crochet Cluster (HDC CL) in the next stitch, HDC CL INC in the next stitch. Repeat * 6 times. Total Stitches: 18
ROUND 4 TO ROUND 5: HDC CL in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 18
ROUND 6: * HDC CL in the next stitch, Half Double Crochet Cluster Decrease (HDC CL DEC) in the next stitch (Photo 2). Repeat * 6 times. Total Stitches: 12
ROUND 7: HDC CL DEC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 6
Insert fiberfill into the Cotton Ball until firm (Photo 3) and sew the opening close.
LARGE COTTON BALL SEPALS
Join your Light Brown yarn in Round 7 of the Large Cotton Ball with a Slip Stitch (SL ST) and * CH 5 (Photo 4), SC in the 2nd CH from the hook, Half Double Crochet (HDC) in the next 2 CHS, SC in the next CH, SL ST in the next stitch. Repeat * 5 times. Fasten off and leave a 7 inch tail. Using the white yarn from the Cotton, create an indentation on the small cotton ball by pulling tightly on the yarn and sewing on opposite ends 2 times, creating an ” X ” on the ball. Set aside. Repeat the process for the other Large Cotton Ball.
SMALL COTTON BALLS (2)
Using your White yarn and 4 MM crochet hook, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 6 SC inside the MR. Pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 6
ROUND 2: HDC CL INC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 12
ROUND 3 TO ROUND 4: Half Double Crochet Cluster (HDC CL) in every stitch in the round (Photo 6). Total Stitches: 12
ROUND 5: HDC CL DEC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 6
Insert a small amount of fiberfill into the Small Cotton Ball, fasten off and sew the opening close.
SMALL COTTON BALL SEPALS
Join your Light Brown yarn in Round 5 with a SL ST. * CH 6, SL ST in the 2nd CH from the hook, SL ST in the next CH, SC in the next 2 CHS, HDC in the next CH, SL ST in the next stitch. Repeat * 3 times. fasten off and leave a 7 inch tail. Using the white yarn from the Cotton, create an indentation on the small cotton ball by pulling tightly on the yarn and sewing on opposite ends 2 times, creating an ” X ” on the ball (Photo 7). Set aside. Repeat the process for the other Small Cotton Ball.
COTTON BUD
Using your White yarn and 4 MM crochet hook, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 5 HDC CL inside the MR, pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 5
ROUND 2: HDC CL in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 5
Fasten off and sew the opening close.
COTTON BUD SEPALS
Using your Light Brown yarn and 4 MM crochet hook, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 6 SC inside the MR, SL ST in the next stitch, pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 6
ROUND 2: *CH 4 (Photo 9), SL ST in the 2nd CH from the hook, SL ST in the next CH, SC in the next CH, SL ST in the next stitch. Repeat * 6 times. Fasten off and leave a 7 inch tail.
Position the Sepal onto the bottom of the Bud and sew the sepals onto the top of the 2nd round of the bud (Photo 10). Set aside.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Position the Large Cotton Ball onto its Sepal and sew onto the top of Round 4. Position the Small Cotton Balls onto its Sepals and sew into Round 3 of the Small Cotton Ball.
Cut 4 pieces if floral craft rod or bamboo skewer measuring 2 inches in length. When using bamboo skewers, remove the pointy end with scissors.
Attach the Cotton Balls and Cotton Bud on top of the floral craft rod or bamboo skewer with hot glue. Wrap the excess yarn around the floral craft rod or bamboo skewer, working your way 2 inches down the main stem. Secure the end with a drop of hot glue. Cut off excess yarn. Attach the Large Cotton Ball onto the main stem and secure with hot glue. Wrap Light Brown yarn around the main stem and Large Cotton Ball stem, working your way down several inches. Secure the end with hot glue. Cut off any excess yarn.
Repeat the process with the remaining Cotton Balls, alternating between the Large and Small Cotton Balls. Wrap light brown yarn until you reach the bottom of the main stem. Secure in place with hot glue. Cut off any excess yarn. Bend the stems of the Cotton Balls for a more natural appearance.
