Christmas Stories & Legends, Part 3


During the month of December, I thought it might be fun to post each week leading up to Christmas with trivia about some popular Christmas traditions and stories. In the spirit of the season, I hope you find them interesting and inspiring.

I will also include a free pattern each week as my gift to you! Enjoy!

Ponder the Poinsettia

The poinsettia is synonymous with the spirit of Christmas, not only because it blooms in wintertime, but because of the legend that associates it with the Christ child.

This story tells that the poinsettia was once a nondescript roadside weed. Desperate for a gift to offer the baby Jesus, an impoverished little Mexican girl presented the Messiah with an armload of poinsettia branches she had picked and tied together with hand-woven twine. Once in the Christ child’s holy presence, the uppermost leaves on the branches spontaneously turned a vivid red.

The poinsettia was introduced into the United States by Joel Robert Poinsett, the American Minister to Mexico in the 1920s, and for whom the plant was later named.

Here is a pattern for a pretty poinsettia that makes a beautiful ornament, or you can work just the center flower for a special pin.

Poinsetta Ring

 POINSETIA ORNAMENT OR PIN

SKILL LEVEL Easy

FINISHED SIZE 3 inches in diameter

MATERIALS

Crochet cotton size 10 with metallic thread (100 yds per ball): 50 yds red/green, 50yds green/red, 5 yds gold/gold (Note: this project would also be beautiful worked in non-metallic red, green and gold threads.)

Size B1/2.25 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

Gold ring for ornament: 3 inch (optional)

Pin back for pin: 1¼ inch (optional)

Fabric stiffener

Plastic wrap

Wire ornament hanger for ornament

Craft glue or hot-glue gun

GAUGE

Rnds 1-3 = ¾ inch. Check gauge to save time.

PATTERN NOTES

Weave in loose ends as work progresses.

Join rounds with a slip stitch unless otherwise stated.

SPECIAL STITCH

Picot: Ch 3, sl st in top of last st worked.

FLOWER CENTER

Rnd 1 (RS): With gold/gold, ch 2, 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join in beg sc. (8 sc)

Rnd 2 (RS): Ch1, sc in each sc around, join in beg sc.

Rnd 3 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join in beg sc. Fasten off. (16 sc)

SMALL PETALS

Rnd 4 (RS): Working in front lps only, attach red/green, ch 1 (sc, ch 3, dc, picot ̶ see Special Stitch, dc, ch 3, sc) in same st as beg ch-1, sc in next st, *(sc, ch 3, dc, picot, dc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sc in next st, rep from * 6 times, join in beg sc, (8 petals)

Rnd 5: Working in rem back lps only of Rnd 3, ch 1, sc in each st around, join in beg sc. (16 sc)

LARGE PETALS

Rnd 6: Working in front lps only of Rnd 5, ch 1, [(sc, ch 4, tr, picot, tr, ch 4, sc) in next st, sc in next st] 8 times, join in beg sc. Fasten off. (8 petals)

LEAF PETALS

Rnd 7: Working in rem free lps of Rnd 5, attach green/red, ch 1, [(sc, ch 4, tr, picot, tr, ch 4, sc) in next st, sc in next st] 8 times, join in beg sc. Fasten off.

FOR ORNAMENT – RING ATTACHMENT

Rnd 8: Attach green/red to gold ring, ch 1, sc over ring 4 times, *insert hook into picot of Rnd 7, working over ring, complete sc st (attaching picot of leaf petal to gold ring) **, work 8 sc over ring, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, work 4 sc in ring, join in beg sc. Fasten off. (72 sc)

FINISHING FOR ORNAMENT & PIN

  1. Apply fabric stiffener according to manufacturer’s instructions. Shape and allow to dry on flat surface covered with plastic wrap.
  2. For ORNAMENT, attach wire hanger to ring.
  3. For PIN, glue pin back to WS, let dry.

© Annie’s. All rights reserved.


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