Of all the winter and spring flowers, the nodding hellebores might be my very favourite. Modest and demure, they wait the winter out with quiet stoicism, eyes to the ground, adorned in gentle purples and pinks and creams. In second place are the snowdrops which appear almost overnight, unnoticed until they ring their little white bells. They are both the sort of flowers that you have to look for, crouch down by, gently lift to admire their blooms. Winter flora, even in the midst of the cruellest frost.

These little dabs of colour are such a joy in the midst of the grey that so characterises the British winter. So what better way to celebrate this colour and beauty than to bring a bit of it inside to work on by the fire? This pattern celebrates the gentle colours and delicate shapes of my two favourite winter flowers. I’ve lain them in a bed of moss, with moss stitch borders at either end to complete the illusion. Laid flat, the flowers are clearly depicted, but once on, the design is more subtle.

This pattern is aimed at experienced knitters. Please note that the colourwork sections are charted (only) and the rest of the pattern is written using standard abbreviations.

To complete this pattern, you need to be able to use a circular needle to knit magic loop, knit in the round, read a charted pattern, knit with two colours and wrap your floats as you work.

Gauge: 23 stitches x 30 rows over a 10cm/4” square

You will need:
Yarn A: 1 ball Drops Alpaca Dark Olive Mix (colour 7238)
Yarn B: 1 ball Drops Alpaca Off White (colour 0100)
Yarn C: 1 ball Drops Alpaca Old Pink (colour 3800)
3.5mm circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge

This pattern is available in one size, approx. 34cm/ 13.5” wide.