Flower Pot Friends - Part Three... The Pot

I use this pattern whenever I need a crocheted base for a figure or a place for a plant to bloom. I've also used this versatile little pot for cacti and house plants! :D All crocheted, of course. Simple and super fast to work up... I can't wait to see what you do with it!

This pattern is written in American crochet terminology.

This pattern is an intermediate beginner pattern. If you know how to make the following stitches and use the following techniques and can follow a pattern you can make this project.

• Magic Ring/Magic Circle or 2 CH beginning, Working in the Round, Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet, Back Loop Only Single Crochet, Front Loop Only Half Double Crochet, Single Crochet Increase, Single Crochet Decrease, Slip Stitch, Join a new color of yarn while working, and Sew in your ends.

SUPPLIES
DK weight yarn in color(s) of choice. I used Paintbox Simply DK in Brown and Green
4mm crochet hook
Polyfil stuffing or other chosen stuffing
Polyfil beads or dry beans/lentils- to add weight to the pot
Cardboard circle cut from recycle cardboard of your choice
Pen for tracing your circle
Scissors for cutting cardboard
Scissors for cutting yarn (these really shouldn't be the same ones)
A removable stitch marker or contrasting piece of yarn to use as one
Darning or Yarn Needle

Optional Supplies
Crochet Daisy made from Part One... The Daisy pattern on this blog (will include additional supplies)
Crochet Heart made from Part Two... The Heart pattern on this blog (will include additional supplies)
I used a small amount of yarn to embroider hearts onto the pots. You can also stitch a cute button or glue a piece of felt into place as a decoration.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STITCH MARKERS FROM THE DESIGNER:
I cannot insist that you use a stitch marker. There seems to be a number of crochet artists who find them offensive for some reason utterly unknown to me. What I can tell you is that it is MUCH EASIER if you use one, even if you only use a piece of contrasting yarn to mark the start of a Round where you've changed the stitch count or changed your pattern in some way. Trust me, you'll do less tearing out (known as frogging) if you use one.

ABBREVIATIONS
CH = Chain
MR = Magic Ring or Magic Circle
SC = Single Crochet
HDC = Half Double Crochet, created by yarning over as though you will create a Double Crochet and then pulling through all three loops on your hook at once. Taller than a SC and shorter than a DC.
DC = Double Crochet
INC = Increase, work 2 of the same stitch in the same space
DEC = Decrease, work 2 stitches together to combine them
BLO = Back Loop Only, when looking down on a crochet stitch you can see a V shape, working in the back side of this is considered working the Back Loop Only. It is used to cause the work to "fold" on this line of stitches and will be utilized on the bottom of the plant pot and the top rim where the "dirt" begins
FLO = Front Loop Only, when looking down on a crochet stitch you can see a V shape, working in the front side of this is considered working the Front Loop Only. It is used to cause the slight ridge of the last Round of stitches on the plant pot.
SL ST = Slip Stitch, done by pulling your yarn over through the whole stitch to end your work or to end a Round
F/O = Finish Off... this can be done by simply snipping your yarn and pulling the tail through all the stitches. I usually add a CH and then snip and pull my yarn through. Both are accurate ways to do this.
Round = A counted row of stitches that leads directly to the next row without finishing
(#) = Number of stitches in that Round

THE POT
Small - for single flower or heart
Round 1: 6 SC in MR (6) - draw tight and sew in your ends after Round 2
Round 2: INC in each around (12)
Round 3: SC then INC and repeat around (18)
Round 4: 2 SC then INC and repeat around (24)
Round 5: 3 SC then INC and repeat around (30)
Round 6: 4 SC then INC and repeat around (36)
I add a piece of recycled cardboard to the bottom of the pot - now is when I trace my piece and cut it out.

Because of the nature of crochet and the fact that your outline will always be bigger

I recommend you do it and cut it and then trim it when you add it after Round 12

The cardboard should fit snugly at the bottom of the pot without stretching it much. 

If you're making more than one, I recommend tracing this one once you have 

trimmed it to fit into your pot.

Round 7: BLO SC in each around (36)

 Top of the stitch looks like a V - BLO means go into the back side of that V only

 This will form a "bend" so that your pot goes upward from here

And will leave a row of little left over stitch parts at the bottom, kind of like a lip or edge.

Rounds 8-12: SC in each around (36) Insert the cardboard cutout you made for the bottom now.

Round 13F: FLO HDC in each around and F/O without an extra CH.

I sew my top or shown ends in this way...

 Just the end pulled up through my last stitch

 sew it down through the back loop of the next stitch

 and back out to the front under BOTH of the loops of the NEXT stitch

 then up through only the front loop of the second stitch (where you went 

down through the back before)

 then down through your finishing stitch

and back under the stitch you just sewed, the one you went through the back loop of first.

It seems confusing, and I do it this way because it creates a clean edge that isn't as clearly a place where you stopped crocheting in the round. :D You can always just sew in your end.

QUICK TIP:

Because we're working in the round, which is like a spiral, the first stitch of each row will be "lower"  than the last stitch.

 LAST BLO behind the stitch of Round 13

FIRST BLO behind the stitch of Round 13

When I am working with an added color I like to jog my start over so that I go across this gap and it hides it a little... so I will start the color change below in the 2nd to last of the BLO and go across the gap as if it isn't there. This sort of pulls the stitches up into a more level position in this Round AND in the one you can see from the outside. :D

COLOR CHANGE

 Loop the new color of yarn over the hook and draw it through, then form

a SL ST and tighten it down. Then SC in the SAME STITCH. This is 1.

SC around as usual...

Round 13B: (see color change above) 4 SC then DEC and repeat around (30)

Because of the tie-in, make sure you get your 1st stitch. :D

Round 14: 3 SC then DEC and repeat around (24) 

Round 15: 2 SC then DEC and repeat around (18) Add pellets/beans and fiberfill now.

 pellets add weight - I used about 2 TBS of them. 

you need to leave just enough room to top them with a thin layer of 

polyfil fluff

 I work slowly and carefully without pulling OUT on the sides to get my little

disc of polyfil to cover the pellets or beans and not let them slip up and out

I tend to keep one finger down IN the hole and brace with my other fingers of 

the yarn hand to close the rest of the top of the pot, it just helps me prevent

pellet/bean leaks and hold the shape securely while I'm finishing.

Round 16: SC then DEC and repeat around (12)

Round 17: DEC all the way around (6) F/O and leave a long tail to sew closed. Weave your ends in and then lose the rest of the yarn down into the pot.

Large - for a pair of flowers or heart
Round 1: 6 SC in MR (6) - draw tight and sew in your ends after Round 2
Round 2: INC in each around (12)
Round 3: SC then INC and repeat around (18)
Round 4: 2 SC then INC and repeat around (24)
Round 5: 3 SC then INC and repeat around (30)
Round 6: 4 SC then INC and repeat around (36)
Round 7: 5 SC then INC and repeat around (42)
Round 8: 6 SC then INC and repeat around (48)
Trace around your bottom on a piece of recycled cardboard as shown above. You'll want to trim it and make it fit at Round 15. If you're making multiples of this size you will want to trace more at that time.
Rounds 9-15: SC in each around (48)
Insert your cardboard bottom now and make any final adjustments to the fit.
Round 16F: FLO HDC in each around and F/O without an extra CH. Refer to instructions above for how I weave in my end on the pot edge for a cleaner look or just tie off.
Round 16B: COLOR CHANGE - 6 SC then DEC and repeat around (42) pay attention to that first stitch because of the tie-in.
Round 17: 5 SC then DEC and repeat around (36)
Round 18: 4 SC then DEC and repeat around (30)
Round 19: 3 SC then DEC and repeat around (24)
Add the stuffing according to the instructions and photos above beginning with pellets/beans and then topping with just a little polyfil.
Round 20: 2 SC then DEC and repeat around (18)
Round 21: SC then DEC and repeat around (12)
Round 22: DEC in each around (6) and F/O with a tail for sewing closed. Lose your tail in the pot.

The size is really almost irrelevant when you see how cute and easy they are to make!

Please please please make and gift and sell items made from my patterns and ALSO please please please remember to give me credit for the pattern. I love to see what you make... tag me on Instagram at #12SquaredCreations and @12SquaredCreations so that I can see, too!