Orchid Interlude Motif Pattern #P-321

MATERIALS:
J. & P. Coats or Clark's O.N.T. Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, Size 30:
Small Ball:
J. & P. Coats—2 balls each of No. 37 Dark Lavender and No. 18 Shaded Lavenders, or
Clark's O.N.T.—3 balls each of No. 37 Dark Lavender and No. 18 Shaded Lavenders.
J. & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, Size 30, 1 ball of No. 48 Hunter's Green.
Clark's O.N.T. "Brilliant"—1 ball of No. 206 Dark Yellow.
Steel Crochet Hook No. 10.
A pair of yellow pillow cases.

STEM … Starting at top with Hunter's Green, ch 5. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: 6 sc in ring. 2nd rnd: Sc in each sc around. 3rd rnd: (Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times. Now make sc in each sc around until piece measures 1½ inches in all. Break off.

STAMEN … Cut 20 strands of Dark Yellow 7 inches long. Working over strands make sc closely along until piece measures 5 inches. Break off. Insert hook through starting ring on stem and draw one end of Stamen through stem. Fold remaining piece of Stamen over to meet edge of Stem and sew securely in place.

CENTER PETAL … Attach Dark Lavender to last sc made on stem. 1st rnd: Ch 3, dc in each sc around. Join. 2nd to 5th rnds incl: Ch 3, dc in each dc around. Join. Now work in rows as follows: 1st row: Ch 3, dc in next dc and in each dc around. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: Dc in first dc (1 dc increased at beginning of row), dc in each dc across, 2 dc in top of turning chain (1 dc increased at end of row). Ch 3, turn. 3rd to 9th rows incl: Repeat 2nd row, making ch 4 at end of 9th row. Turn. 10th row: Holding back on hook the last loop of each dc, make 3 dc in first dc, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (cluster made), dc in each dc across, holding back on hook the last loop of each st make 3 dc and 1 tr in top of turning chain, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (another cluster made). Turn. 11th row: Sl st in tip of cluster and in next 3 dc (3 sts de­creased), ch 3, dc in next dc and in each dc across to within 2 dc of cluster. Ch 4, turn (3 more sts decreased). Repeat 10th and 11th rows 2 more times. Ch 3 to turn at end of last row. Next row: Dc in next dc and in each dc across and in top of turning chain. Break off. Attach thread to first free st at side of petal, sc in same place, ch 5, in same st make (sc, ch 5) twice; * in next st make (sc, ch 5) 3 times. Repeat from * to within last row preceding decreases. In next st make (sc, ch 5) 6 times. Continue making ch-5 loops closely around. Complete other side to correspond. Break off.

SMALL PETAL (Make 3) … Start­ing at center with Shaded Lavenders, ch 25. 1st rnd: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, half dc in next 2 ch, dc in next 16 ch, half dc in next 2 ch, sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Work along opposite side of starting chain to corre­spond making 2 sc in last ch. Join with sl st to first sc. 2nd rnd: Ch 1, sc in each st around, making 3 sc in center sc of 3-sc group at each end. Join. 3rd rnd: Sc in same place as sl st, * ch 5, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

LARGE PETAL (Make 2) … Start­ing at center with Shaded Lavenders, ch 33. 1st rnd: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, half dc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 20 ch, dc in next 2 ch, half dc in next 2 ch, sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Work along opposite side of starting chain to correspond, making 2 sc in last ch. Join. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in same place as sl st, 2 dc in each st around. Join. 3rd rnd: Sc in same place as sl st, * ch 5, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

CIRCLE … Starting at center with Shaded Lavenders, ch 12. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 4, 29 tr in ring. Join. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, * 2 dc in next tr, dc in next tr. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.
   Sew end of one Small Petal to Circle. Sew ends of two Large Petals to Circle, placing one on each side of the Small Petal. Sew remaining two Small Petals to Circle below Large Petals. All petals should be spaced equally apart.
   Slip Stem through front of Circle, having the one Small Petal over Stem—one Orchid completed. Make 2 more Orchids in this manner.

BOW (Make 3) … With Hunter's Green, make a chain 20 inches long. 1st row: Half dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Break off. Tie into bow around stem. Sew Orchids and Bows to pillow case. Starch lightly and press.