Flower Fairies revisited- Free Pattern, a year after their first appearance

 Through membership of 'Croydon Writers' I got to hear about an exhibition in Croydon Museum (upstairs at the Library) curated by local theatre company, 'Good Wolf People' called

 'Storytelling in Croydon.'

                                                      
I designed some finger puppets/dolls based on Cicely Mary Barker's wonderful Flower Fairy illustrations. My aim was to design a basic 'fairy' which was  relatively simple to make, so it could easily be replicated. Here they are at the Exhibition, posing with the books which inspired them. I made them in a variety of skin tones to reflect the cultural diversity of modern day Croydon.  Cicely was a member of Croydon Writers, which has been going since 1945, one of the cases in the exhibition showcases our history.

They are basically three lengths of crocheted (or knitted) i-cord,two long ones for arms and legs, joined to a smaller length in the middle for the body, with a bobble for a head.
The Lesley Stanfield book, 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet was helpful for some of them.
There are so many flower fairies, I'd love to see what other people come up with!

Beech tree, Cornflower and Narcissus Fairies

Shirley Poppy Fairy

Poppy Fairy

Speedwell Fairy

So excited! Three of the fairies have been selected by Croydon Museum to go in a Virtual Handling Collection. Full story, here:

https://museumofcroydon.com/storytellers-virtual-handling-box?fbclid=IwAR1Gk6cmCrUFIUikXGJXfP_u7NMwBtPq8iemWaXZlC7z_KWkwxU-mxhmXVE

My efforts at getting this pattern published did not amount to anything, so here it is, in case anyone would like to try it. I tried to make them as simple to make as possible- when I was a child, we used to make dolls out of pipe cleaners with wool wrapped around them- that could work, too.

Flower Fairies-Basic Body

The body of the fairy is made using i-cord- knitted or crocheted. I-cord can also be made using a knitting dolly, a cotton reel with 4 nails in the top, and is known as ‘french knitting.’

(There are many tutorials on youtube demonstrating various i-cord techniques.)

Make 2 long lengths of i-cord in flesh colour for arms and legs and sides of body, with a shorter piece with a bobble at one end for the head and the middle of the body,  By using a different colour yarn in the middle of the long i-cords, and for the smaller length in the middle, you can start to ‘dress ‘ the fairy. If doing this, leave long ends for sewing the pieces together.

Heres a sketch showing how the fairies are assembled

Materials:

Oddments of DK yarn, with a 3mm hook. Toy stuffing optional. Tapestry needle for sewing up.

To make crocheted i-cord

Make 3ch. Work into 2^nd and 3^rd ch from hook, but leave all three sts on the hook.(Do not do crochet stitches with them)

*Remove first 2 sts from hook and pinch them between finger and thumb. Make a dc with remaining stitch on hook, them work a dc into each of the two ‘pinched’ sts. You should have 3 sts on hook.

Repeat from * to desired length.

To finish, make 2 dc with remaining 3 sts on hook until there is only 1^st, pull yarn through to close it.

To make knitted i-cord

With a double pointed needle (dpn), cast on 3 sts.Knit all 3 sts

* Slide sts to right end of dpn and taking yarn around the back of sts from left to right,k3 sts again.

Repeat from * to desired length.

To make bobble head

With flesh colour, make a magic ring and work 6 dcs into it. Use a stitch marker for start of row if you find it helpful.

Rnd 1: 2dc into each st(12sts)

Rnd 2:Work 4 extra dcs evenly in next round.(16sts.)

Rnds 3-6 inclusive: 1dc in each st all around.(16sts.)

Rnd 7: (dec rnd): Dec 4 times evenly in next round (12sts.)

Stuff head, using toy stuffing or oddments of same coloured yarn.

Rnd 8: 2dc together all around(6sts).

Rnd 9: As Rnd 10 (3sts)

Commence i-cord body

 Follow i-cord instructions to desired length, doing a couple of rounds in flesh colour for neck before changing to bodice colour.

Finishing

Using long ends of yarns, sew three pieces together in the middle using mattress stitch. Sew in any ends.

With sewing thread, embroider features. For hair, make long satin sts, or invent your own way of doing hair.

Flower Dresses

I  referred to the Flower Fairy illustrations themselves, and Lesley Stanfield's book, '100 flowers to knit and crochet' was helpful, too. The flower dresses need not be crocheted- fake flowers and leaves can be adapted, as in the Beech Tree fairy (pictured above.) 

Butterfly Wings

There's a diagram for these, see below.I like doing them with variegated yarn. Although you could just as easily make your own with a piece of tulle or gauze.

This pattern is free, intended to spark creativity in others, rather than be slavishly adhered to.However, if its been useful, any donations to Chartwell Children's Cancer Lily Pad Appeal at Croydon University Hospital  would be gratefully received.