White Day

For Valentine's Day, I received (quite by surprise) a duct tape rose.  I've never liked giving or receiving flowers (unless they're potted or can otherwise be planted and even then I'm still not excited about the idea) because it's a waste of money and it's rather depressing to watch something so beautiful die.  Plus, is that really the message you want to send to someone you love or care about, or who's in the hospital recovering?

Anyway, I was absolutely tickled that I didn't have to give this flower schpeal of mine and wanted to return the gesture.  So I searched for a pattern for a relatively realistic long-stemmed rose, as I really had no idea how to go about such an endeavor.  While there was a super-detailed, super-delicate one available via Etsy, I went with this one, as it was simpler and free-er.

For the flower, I used an E-4/3.50mm hook and white Sugar 'n Cream yarn.  I didn't have a yarn needle to secure the bottom after rolling it up, but I made do with my C-2/2.75mm hook and stitched a little more to keep the outside edge of the spiral from coming up.

For the calyx, I used the same E-4/3.50mm hook and a green medley Sugar 'n Cream.

Being a college student, and one without a car, I had to make due without a pipe cleaner or other wire.  I substituted a chopstick as the stem.  I had to work it slowly into the flower and through the calyx then remove the blossom and push the calyx down the stick so it was out of the way.  I then poured a little super glue into the hole in the blossom, dribbled a bit around the end of the chopstick and inserted the stick into the flower, checking to make sure it couldn't be seen through the petals.  I dribbled a bit more glue around the chopstick and pushed the calyx up so it met with the blossom.

When that dried, I tied the green yarn onto the bottom of the calyx and wrapped the rest of the chopstick, securing the yarn by dribbling superglue around the bottom of the stick and on the yarn.

It was a real quick project, very adaptable, very easy.  I sprayed the flower with a little floral body mist and sent it off for White Day.  In Japan, Valentine's Day is basically broken into two days.  February 14 is for girls to give the men in their life handmade gifts.  March 14 is for guys to return the favor with gifts that are typically white.  I like that it divides the responsibility and doesn't focus on love or significant others necessarily.