The Blush Bloom Garland is a light, airy string of open-petal flowers in soft blush-peach, spaced out with natural wooden beads. Each flower has a solid round center with a small hole in the middle and eight outlined petals that let light through. It looks lovely against a window.
The style is simple and quietly Scandinavian: one yarn color, raw wood beads and a natural cord. It works year-round. Hang it in a window in winter, on a mantel in spring, or over a nursery shelf.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each flower is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across. The finished garland has 9 flowers. The decorated section is 40.25 in (102.2 cm) long, and with a 12 in (30.5 cm) hanging tail at each end, the total length is 64.25 in (163.2 cm).
Construction is quick. Each flower is worked in the round: a center disc, a round of chain loops, and a petal round that covers each loop with stitches. You make 9 flowers, block them, and string them on cord with bead groups and locking knots.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished garland: 64.25 in (163.2 cm) total; decorated length 40.25 in (102.2 cm)
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 9 flower motifs
- Layout: 1 row of 9 flowers, strung left to right
- Piece size: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across; center disc 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- Size before border: flower span 39.75 in (101.0 cm), from the outer petal of the first flower to the outer petal of the last
- Border depth: no border on the flowers; the “border” is the cord finish, with one end bead group of 1.75 in (4.4 cm) and a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail at each end
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton DK. Cotton holds the petal loops crisp and open, and it blocks flat. Avoid fuzzy acrylic, which softens the open petals.
- Blush peach: 50 g / about 115 m (1 ball). Nine flowers plus a test flower use about 40 g / 92 m.
Tools and notions:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- 80 in (203.2 cm) of 3 mm natural cotton macramé cord or twisted twine
- 20 small wooden beads, 12 mm, hole at least 4 mm
- 10 large wooden beads, 20 mm, hole at least 4 mm
- Blocking mat, rustproof pins and a spray bottle
- Ruler or tape measure
The yarn and cord amounts include a margin for a test flower, knots and weaving in.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Covered petal: Work (3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc) into one ch-12 loop. Work into the loop space, not into the chains. The 15 stitches bunch around the chain and form a rounded teardrop outline with an open center. The 3 dc form the rounded tip.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one test flower before anything else. Measure it at each stage below, unblocked and lying flat.
- After Round 1: the disc is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across, with a small open hole in the middle.
- After Round 2: the disc is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
- After Round 4: each petal is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long from the disc edge and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide. The whole flower is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from petal tip to opposite petal tip.
A difference of up to 0.25 in (0.6 cm) is fine. Blocking will even it out.
If the flower is too big: go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If only the petals are too long, chain 11 instead of 12 in Round 3 and still work 15 stitches per petal.
If the flower is too small: go up to a 3.75 mm hook. If only the petals are short or tight, chain 13 instead of 12.
If the petal centers close up: the covering stitches are too tight around the chain. Loosen your tension on Round 4 only.
Flower Motif Pattern
Make 9. Work in the round with the right side facing; do not turn.
Foundation: Ch 4 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Using a chain ring (not a magic ring) leaves the small open hole in the center.
Round 1: Ch 1. Work 16 sc into the ring. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Count: 16 sc.
Round 2 (growth round): Ch 1. Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Count: 24 sc (16 sts worked once + 8 increases).*
Check that the disc measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Round 3 (conversion round – loops): Ch 1. Sc in the next st, ch 12, sk the next st, sc in the next st; rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Count: 16 sc + 8 ch-12 loops. Each repeat uses 3 stitches of Round 2: 8 × 3 = 24, so the round closes exactly.*
You now have 8 loops. The 2 sc placed side by side between neighboring loops become the gap between petals.
Round 4 (petal round): Work a covered petal into the next ch-12 loop: (3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc). Sl st in each of the next 2 sc; rep from * 7 more times. On the last repeat, the second sl st goes into the joining sc of Round 3. Fasten off.
Count: 136 sts (8 petals × 15 sts = 120 petal sts + 16 sl sts).*
Shaping check: As you work each covered petal, push the stitches together along the chain. When the petal is done, it should be a closed, rounded teardrop with a clear open center about as wide as a pencil. The 2 sl sts between petals pull the petal bases in toward the disc, so the petals look separate from one another.
Weave in both tails along the back of the disc. Keep them out of the petal outlines so the open centers stay clean.
Make All Pieces
- Blush peach: 9 flowers (count your test flower as one if it matches the gauge)
- Small wooden beads: 20
- Large wooden beads: 10
Each bead group (B) is: small bead, large bead, small bead, about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long.
Layout grid (left to right, one row):
ROW 1: TAIL – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – FLOWER – B – TAIL
That is 9 flowers and 10 bead groups: 8 between flowers and 1 at each end.
Before stringing, block all 9 flowers flat (see Final Blocking) so the petals are open and easy to thread.
Joining
Method: Thread the flowers onto the cord. Thread each flower through the open center of one petal, called the top petal. Tie a snug overhand knot right against each side of that petal to hold the flower in place.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The cord goes in through the front of the top petal and out through the back, passing through the open center. It does not go through any stitches. The 3 dc tip then rests on the cord, and the flower hangs straight down with the opposite petal at the bottom. Choose the top petal so the Round 1 join is at the back or to the side.
Spacing:
- Tie an overhand knot 12 in (30.5 cm) from one end of the cord. Thread on an end bead group and slide it against the knot.
- Thread flower 1 and slide it against the bead group. Tie a knot on its far side.
- Thread the next bead group and leave it loose.
- Measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm) of cord from the last knot. Tie a knot there, thread flower 2, and tie a knot right after it.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for flowers 3 to 9.
- Thread the last end bead group, slide it against flower 9’s knot, and tie a locking knot after it. Trim the tail to 12 in (30.5 cm).
Tension advice: Tighten each knot firmly, but don’t squash the petal. The petal should sit flat against the cord, not curl around it.
Size checkpoint: The centers of neighboring flowers should be 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart (3.75 in of cord + 0.75 in of petal). From the center of flower 1 to the center of flower 9, measure 36 in (91.4 cm).
Border
On a garland, the border is the cord finish: the bead groups and knots around the row of flowers. The “border gauge” is the cord measurement between knots.
Border gauge: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) of cord between petal knots. Each bead group is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and slides freely in that space.
Between flowers (8 segments): each has 1 bead group (2 small + 1 large) and 2 knots, one at each end.
8 segments × 3 beads = 24 beads (16 small + 8 large).
Ends (2 segments): each has 1 bead group locked between the flower knot and an outer knot, plus a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
2 segments × 3 beads = 6 beads (4 small + 2 large).
Total: 30 beads (20 small + 10 large).
Why the math works:
- Petals on the cord: 9 × 0.75 in = 6.75 in.
- Gaps between flowers: 8 × 3.75 in = 30 in.
- Together: 6.75 + 30 = 36.75 in (93.3 cm).
- Add 2 end groups of 1.75 in each: 36.75 + 3.5 = 40.25 in (102.2 cm) of decorated cord.
- Add 2 tails of 12 in each: 40.25 + 24 = 64.25 in (163.2 cm) total.
The 80 in (203.2 cm) cord leaves about 15.75 in for knots and trimming.
The flowers clear each other too. With centers 4.5 in apart and flowers 3.75 in wide, there is a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) gap between the side petals of neighboring flowers.
Final Blocking
- Block the flowers before stringing them.
- Spritz each flower with water until it is damp, not soaked.
- Pin the center disc flat on the mat.
- Pull the 8 petals out evenly from the center, like clock points 45° apart.
- Put a pin inside each petal’s open center to hold it open, and one at each tip.
- Check that the flower measures 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tip to tip in two directions.
- Let it dry completely, at least 4 hours.
- After stringing, hang the garland and steam gently from a distance to relax any twist in the cord. Do not touch the beads with the iron.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All 9 flowers measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm), within 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
- Every flower has 8 petals and a small open hole in the middle.
- Every petal center is open and its outline is even.
- No tails show inside a petal outline.
- 10 bead groups are in place: 20 small and 10 large beads.
- Flower centers are 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart; flower 1 to flower 9 is 36 in (91.4 cm).
- All flowers hang straight with the top petal on the cord.
- Both tails are 12 in (30.5 cm); the total is 64.25 in (163.2 cm).
Troubleshooting
Petals look like a solid lump. The covering stitches are too tight, or you worked into the chains instead of the loop space. Redo Round 4 into the space with looser tension.
Petals are floppy and pointed. The chain is too long for your tension. Use ch 11.
The disc cups or ruffles. Cupping means Round 2 is too tight; ruffling means the hook is too big. Check the 1.25 in (3.2 cm) checkpoint.
The center hole is closed. You used a magic ring and pulled it tight. Use the ch-4 ring.
Flowers spin on the cord. Tighten the knots against the petal, or add a small tacking stitch of peach yarn at the petal tip.
Beads won’t fit on the cord. Wrap the cord end tightly with tape to make a point, or choose beads with larger holes.
Care
Spot clean the garland. To wash the flowers more thoroughly, untie them, hand wash in cool water, and block them flat to dry. Keep the wooden beads dry.
Final Notes
Here is the full measurement chain. Round 1 is 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Round 2 is 1.25 in (3.2 cm). Each finished flower is 3.75 in (9.5 cm). The flowers sit 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart, center to center, making 36 in (91.4 cm) from first to last. The decorated length is 40.25 in (102.2 cm), and the total length is 64.25 in (163.2 cm).
Check your test flower against these numbers and every later stage will line up. Happy crocheting!