Fabric Crochet: A Touch of Country with This Sunflower Trivet

Dig through your fabrics or use up scraps left over from other projects to use for crocheting decor items. This rag crochet sunflower trivet is the perfect addition to a country or Tuscan style kitchen. It uses very little fabric and is easily accomplished in an evening. Crocheting with fabric works up very quickly and gives instant results. The difference between working with fabric instead of yarn means a larger stitch gauge and ultimately less work. Depending on the fiber content of some fabrics, you may need to add a little bit of talcum powder to the hook and lightly on the fabric strips to allow the fabric to glide smoothly on the hook while you crochet.

Prepare the fabric:

Cut 1 inch strips across the width of the yellow and brown fabrics. For each color, attach the pieces together. Cut a small slit approximately a 1/2 inch from both ends on each 1 inch strip of fabric. With the right sides of the fabric facing up, place the end of the joining strip over the end of the beginning strip, matching the slits. Insert the free end of the joining strip through both slits from the bottom to the top. Pull the strips to form a knot. Continue to attach all strips.

Supplies needed:

1/2 yard brown cotton fabric

1/2 yard yellow cotton fabric

Q crochet hook

Scissors

Ruler

Sunflower center:

Round 1. Using the brown fabric, chain two. Crochet six single crochet in the second chain from the hook. Do not turn, work the sunflower center in rounds. (6sc).

Round 2. Crochet two single crochet in each stitch around. (12sc).

Round 3. *Single crochet in the first stitch, two single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. (18sc).

Round 4. *Single crochet in two stitches, two single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Finish off the brown fabric. (24sc).

Sunflower petals:

Round 5. Attach the yellow fabric. *Single crochet in three stitches, two single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. (30sc).

Round 6. *Single crochet in four stitches, two single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Finish off the yellow fabric. (36sc).

Weave in the ends. Cut eight strips of brown fabric 6 inches long. Lay the sunflower trivet on your work surface. Insert a brown strip through a stitch between the last brown row and the first yellow row. Bring the ends together around both yellow rows, cinch and tie a knot. On the opposite side of the sunflower trivet, insert a brown strip between the last brown row and the first yellow row. Bring the ends together around both yellow rows and tie a knot. Evenly space the remaining strips around the sunflower edge. Trim the tie ends to 1 inch.