Step-by-Step Guide: Making a Spring Flower Newborn Cocoon Photo Prop

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This pattern is now available as a FREE Ravelry download! 

Click >>HERE<< to get your free PDF copy!
One of my friends is about to have a baby, seriously, just any day now. She's having a girl and she asked me to make her a baby cocoon that looks like a flower. She sent a picture of one that to me, looked like it had been made on a Knifty Knitter loom or something similar. Now I've got several sizes of those looms floating around in my closet but heaven knows I'm too afraid to venture into it! That's an all day job is what that is. So, I crocheted her one.

I wanted to share the pattern with you guys so that's what today's post is about. Let's get to it.




Spring Flower Newborn Cocoon
by Karen Vaughn

Materials:
  • Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
  • Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuggly Yarn
  • Size I/9 - 5.5MM crochet hook
  • yarn needle for weaving in the ends
  • scissors
  • tape measure
Stitches/Terms Used: (American Terminology)
  • Chain - Ch
  • Single Crochet - SC
  • Half Double Crochet - HDC
  • Double Crochet - DC
  • Slip Stitch - slst
  • Back Loop Only - BLO
  • Double Crochet Decrease - DC dec
  • Double Crochet 3 Together - DC 3tog
  • Picot stitch - ch 3, slst to first ch
Notes:
I recommend this for the Intermediate crocheter but a brave Advance Beginner might be able to handle it as well!

I used colors Baby Pink Marl and White from Bernat Softee Baby and Silly Sprite from Loops and Threads. You can pick any color or color combination that you desire. 

Starting method used here is chaining and making a loop but you can use the Magic Circle method if you prefer.

Ch 2 at the END of each row does NOT count as a working stitch. This is a hidden join method that will hide joining lines when done correctly. When joining at the end of the row IGNORE the ch 2 and join to the top of the DC.

Begin Pattern

Cocoon:
With main color and I/9 crochet hook, chain 5 and join to make a loop.
Row 1: Ch 3 (this counts as the first DC) , 11 DC in loop. Join to top of first DC. Ch 2. (12 DC)
Row 2: 1 DC in each stitch around. Join. Ch 2. (12 DC)
Row 3: 1 DC in first stitch, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (18 DC)
Row 4: 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (24 DC)
Row 5: 1 DC in next 3 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (30 DC)
Row 6: 1 DC in next 4 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (36 DC)
Row 7: 1 DC in next 5 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (42 DC)
Row 8: 1 DC in next 6 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (48 DC)
Row 9: 1 DC in next 7 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (54 DC)
Row 10: 1 DC in next 8 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat around, join. Ch 2. (60 DC)

At this point use your tape measure to check the width of the piece. Measuring across you should have 7" to 8". This makes a circumference of 14" to 16" which is perfect for a normal weight newborn. 

Rows 11-40: 1 DC in each stitch around. Join, ch 2. (60 DC)

Maintain a count of 60 DC throughout the remainder of the cocoon. At Row 40 the length should be between 20" and 21". The "average" length of a newborn is 20" so this will fit nicely.

When you're finished with the body of the cocoon, DO NOT cut your yarn. We'll be making the first petal right away.

Petal 1:
Row 1: Ch 2 and turn. Working in BLO, 1 DC in same and the next 14 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (15 DC)
Row 2 - 4: 1 DC in same and the next 14 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (15 DC)
Row 5: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 11 stitches, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (13 DC)
Row 6: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 9 stitches, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (11 DC)
Row 7: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 7 stitches, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (9 DC)
Row 8: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 5 stitches, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn.(7 DC)
Row 9: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 3 stitches, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (5 DC)
Row 10: DC dec over first 2 stitches, 1 DC in next stitch, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (3 DC)

Cut and tie off leaving a tail for weaving.

Petals 2-5:
Looking at the petal just made, join your yarn with a slst to the 3rd DC from the left on the first row made. [see pic]

Join to base of the 3rd DC from the left of last petal made.

This shows 3 DC stitched at the base of the last petal made.



Row 1: Ch 2, DC in same. 1 DC in base of next 2 DC from Petal 1. (This is the petal overlap that makes the flower part so cute) 1 DC in BLO of next 12 stitches. Ch 2 and turn. (15 DC)
Rows 2-10: Repeat rows 2 through 10 of Petal 1.

Petal Trim:
Row 1: With White; join to base of any petal with slst, ch 1. SC in same and SC evenly along the sides of the petal to the end, place 2 SC in each "corner" of the petal tip, then SC evenly along the opposite side. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: Slst to first stitch, SC along the sides, putting 2 SC in each "corner" of the petal, SC down opposite and slst to last stitch. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 3: **SC in first stitch, SC with Picot in next. Repeat from ** around to the opposite side, ending with a SC. Slst to first row made to secure. 

Repeat for all petals.

Stem:
Row 1: With green, chain 5 and join to make a loop. 10 HDC in loop. Join, ch 1. (10 HDC)
Rows 2-5: 1 HDC in each stitch around. Join, ch 1. (10 HDC)
Row 6: 2 HDC in each st around. Join, ch 1. (20 HDC)

You can stop here if you want a stem with a flat edge. Join to bottom of the cocoon with same color yarn as the stem.

If you want the stem to have petals, end with a ch 2.
Row 1: Dc in same and in next 4 stitches (5 DC). Ch 2. Turn.
Row 2: DC dec over next 2 stitches, DC in next, DC dec over last 2 stitches. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 3: DC 3tog. Ch 1. Slst down side of petal to first row of DC stitches.
Repeat 3 more times for a total of 4 stem petals.

Attach to cocoon base with same color yarn as stem. You can lightly stuff the stem if desired, just do it before you sew it onto the cocoon. 


And that's my version of the newborn flower cocoon! I hope you enjoy it!

Peace and blessings,
~~Karen~~


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