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# Lotus Bud Door Hanging

A pretty, single-colour lotus bud worked in fuchsia-pink worsted yarn, designed to hang from a door frame. The closed-bud silhouette is formed from a central cone surrounded by two rings of overlapping petals, topped with a sturdy hanging loop. A lovely quick make for beginners.

**Finished size:** Approximately 14 cm wide × 16 cm tall (including hanging loop).

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran/medium, #4) acrylic or cotton blend, in fuchsia pink. Approx. **70 m (75 yd)** — one 50 g ball is ample.
- **Hook:** 4.5 mm crochet hook.
- **Notions:** Tapestry/yarn needle, scissors, toy stuffing or yarn scraps (small amount, optional, to plump the bud), stitch marker.

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## Tension (Gauge)

16 dc × 18 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm in double crochet (UK).

Tension is not critical for a hanging decoration, but a firm fabric helps the bud hold its shape. If your fabric is loose and floppy, drop to a 4.0 mm hook.

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## Sizes

One size, as a decorative motif. Adjust by changing hook/yarn weight if desired.

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## Abbreviations (UK terminology)

- **ch** – chain
- **ss** – slip stitch
- **dc** – double crochet (= US single crochet)
- **htr** – half treble (= US half double)
- **tr** – treble (= US double)
- **dc2tog** – double crochet 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **rep** – repeat
- **sp** – space

> **Note for US crocheters:** UK dc = US sc; UK htr = US hdc; UK tr = US dc.

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## Pattern Notes

- The lotus is made in **three parts**, all in the same colour: a **central bud cone**, **6 inner petals**, and **6 outer petals**. These are sewn together, then a **hanging loop** is added.
- The bud cone is worked **in joined rounds**; do not turn between rounds unless stated.
- Petals are worked **flat in rows**, both loops unless stated.
- Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of each round/row.
- Turning chains on petals **do not** count as a stitch.
- Use a stitch marker to track the first stitch of each round on the cone.

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## Special Stitch

- **dc2tog:** Insert hook into next st, yarn over (yo), pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into following st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops), yo, pull through all 3 loops. (1 st decreased.)

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## Instructions

### Part 1 — Central Bud Cone (make 1)

Worked from the top (tip) down to the open base, in joined rounds.

**Round 1:** Make a magic ring. Work 6 dc into ring. Pull tight. Join with ss to first dc. **(6 sts)**
- *Check: 6 dc = 6 sts. ✓*

**Round 2:** ch 1 (does not count), 2 dc in each st around. Join with ss to first dc. **(12 sts)**
- *Check: 6 × 2 = 12. ✓*

**Round 3:** ch 1, dc in each st around. Join with ss. **(12 sts)**

**Round 4:** ch 1, dc in each st around. Join with ss. **(12 sts)**

**Round 5:** ch 1, dc in each st around. Join with ss. **(12 sts)**

Lightly stuff the cone with a small amount of stuffing or yarn scraps if you'd like a plumper bud (optional).

Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm tail for sewing. The open edge of Round 5 (12 sts) is the **base ring** the petals attach to.

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### Part 2 — Inner Petals (make 6)

Worked flat. Each petal starts with a small chain and grows then tapers to a point.

**Foundation:** ch 4.

**Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 2 ch, turn. **(3 sts)**
- *Check: 3 ch worked = 3 dc. ✓*

**Row 2:** ch 1 (does not count), 2 dc in first st, dc in next st, 2 dc in last st, turn. **(5 sts)**
- *Check: 3 + 2 increases = 5. ✓*

**Row 3:** ch 1, dc in each st across, turn. **(5 sts)**

**Row 4:** ch 1, dc2tog, dc in next st, dc2tog, turn. **(3 sts)**
- *Check: 5 − 2 = 3. ✓*

**Row 5:** ch 1, dc3tog over the 3 sts** (work as dc2tog but across all 3 sts) to bring to a point. **(1 st)**

Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm tail. Make **6 inner petals** in total.

> **dc3tog:** [insert in next st, yo, pull up loop] 3 times (4 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 4.

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### Part 3 — Outer Petals (make 6)

Worked flat, slightly larger than the inner petals.

**Foundation:** ch 5.

**Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, turn. **(4 sts)**

**Row 2:** ch 1, 2 dc in first st, dc to last st, 2 dc in last st, turn. **(6 sts)**
- *Check: 4 + 2 = 6. ✓*

**Row 3:** ch 2 (does not count), htr in first st, tr in each st to last st, htr in last st, turn. **(6 sts)**
- *This row adds gentle height/curve to the outer petals.*

**Row 4:** ch 1, dc in each st across, turn. **(6 sts)**

**Row 5:** ch 1, dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. **(4 sts)**
- *Check: 6 − 2 = 4. ✓*

**Row 6:** ch 1, dc2tog twice, turn. **(2 sts)**
- *Check: 4 − 2 = 2. ✓*

**Row 7:** ch 1, dc2tog. **(1 st)**

Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm tail. Make **6 outer petals** in total.

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## Assembly

1. **Position the cone** open-base up. The 12 base stitches are your anchor points (think of them as 12 points around a clock).

2. **Attach outer petals first** (so inner petals sit in front). Using the long tails and a tapestry needle, sew the foundation (Row 1) edge of each **outer petal** to the **outside** of the base ring. Space them evenly — one petal every **2 base stitches** → 6 petals around the 12-st ring.
   - *Check: 12 sts ÷ 6 petals = 1 petal per 2 sts. ✓*
   - Angle the petal tips slightly outward so they cup the bud.

3. **Attach inner petals** to the **inside** of the base ring, positioning each one **between** two outer petals (offset by one base stitch). Sew the foundation edge of each inner petal to the ring.
   - This gives the classic overlapping closed-bud look.

4. **Close the base slightly:** thread one remaining tail through the 12 base loops, draw up gently to gather (do not close fully — leave a small flat base), and secure. This forms the rounded bottom of the bud.

5. Weave in all petal tails on the wrong side.

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## Hanging Loop

Worked directly into the top tip of the bud cone (Round 1 area).

1. Join yarn with a ss to the very tip of the cone (the magic-ring centre point).
2. **ch 30.**
3. Fold the chain to form a loop and ss back into the **same** tip stitch to close the loop.
4. **Reinforce:** work **dc evenly along the entire chain loop** (approximately 30 dc), then ss to the tip again. **(approx. 30 dc)**
   - This double pass makes the loop strong enough to bear the motif over a door-frame hook or nail.
   - *Loop circumference ≈ 30 ch × 0.6 cm ≈ 18 cm, giving a hanging drop of ~7–8 cm.*
5. Fasten off and weave in the end securely.

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## Finishing

- Weave in any remaining ends on the wrong side and trim.
- Gently shape the petals with your fingers, curving the outer petals outward and pinching the inner petals toward the tip to emphasise the bud shape.
- For extra crispness, lightly steam-block the petals (hold a steam iron above — do not press directly, especially on acrylic) and let dry.
- Hang from a small hook, screw, or adhesive door-frame hook.

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## Tips

- **Tail management:** Leaving generous 20 cm tails makes sewing the petals far easier — you won't need to join new yarn.
- **Symmetry:** Pin all petals in place before sewing to check even spacing.
- **Sturdier hang:** If hanging outdoors or on a frequently used door, use cotton yarn and add a second ch-30 reinforcement pass to the loop.
- **Colour:** This pattern uses a single colour throughout (fuchsia pink), as requested — no colour changes needed.

Enjoy your blooming lotus bud! 🌸