A crocheted table centrepiece with roses arranged around a candle, finishing at 6 1/2 inches tall by 7 1/2 inches across. Skill level: average. Designed by Beverly Mewhorter.
Use a battery candle
This is the important point on this page. The centrepiece surrounds a candle with crocheted yarn, and a real flame in the middle of a yarn arrangement is a fire risk however carefully it is positioned.
A good LED candle solves it completely. Modern ones flicker convincingly, they can be left unattended, and they let the piece sit on a table with a cloth on it without anyone having to think about it.
If you use a real candle, use a tall glass hurricane so the flame sits well below the top of the glass and the crochet never comes near it.
Making the roses
Crocheted roses are worked as a long strip with one shaped edge, then coiled and stitched at the base. The shaping is what makes the petals flare as the strip is rolled.
Roll them loosely. A tightly rolled rose looks like a bud; a loose one opens out and looks like a bloom. Try rolling before stitching and adjust until it looks right – there is no fixed answer and it is easy to change.
Stitch the base securely once you are happy. That is the only thing holding the coil.
Colours
Deep reds and soft pinks are traditional. Cream and white read as elegant rather than seasonal, which suits a piece that will sit on a table year round.
Green for the leaves, in more than one shade if you have it – a single flat green looks artificial, while two shades used unevenly looks considerably more natural.
Stiffening
A light spray starch on the leaves and the base helps the arrangement hold its shape. Leave the roses themselves soft; stiffened petals look like plastic.
Storage
Store it in a box that does not compress it, with the roses uppermost.
