June 4, 2025

1230 hrs.
I’m back down to round 4! I only just noticed a ch2 where it was supposed to be ch1.

June 5, 2025

1604 hrs.
Second start with 3.5 mm hook.
It still cups, but the feel of the fabric is nicer.
I now believe the cupping is normal, and will be tamed by the eventual border. I’m loath to try again with a bigger hook.
I’ll continue with the 3.5mm hook and unravel the first start.

June 10, 2025

1130 hrs.
Found same pattern at: https://share.temu.com/5RxKiEoAW2A

June 12, 2025

1650 hrs.
So, five balls of white only had two knots. Not bad! Yes, there were a half-dozen itsy-bitsy knots - in one of the two plies in one of the four plies that make up the strand - and I worked right over them.

Now, if only I could count! It sure would save me from time wasted ripping back and redoing!

June 14, 2025

0145 hrs.
The first leaves are done. I’m not thrilled by how curly they are, but I’m not going to sweat it.

June 18, 2025

0400 hrs.
I had grabbed a stray ball of less-Christmassy rose to make the roses, just because it was at hand. No ball-band. Seems to be sport weight or maybe DK. Not as soft as the kit’s yarns, but that doesn’t matter.

Only ten more roses to make, then the sewing of them into shape. Not as bad as I expected.

Since I hadn’t preplanned, almost all are spaced three leaves apart. There will be a smaller gap - only two leaves - between the last two. Well, I will always know where the beginning/end of the round is!

0555 hrs.
Fearing a lack of yarn to complete the last four roses, I have measured out the remainder of this yarn - Jessica-arm-to-extended-chin - and have 17 knots.

1715 hrs.
Sixty inches leftover after making forty-three roses!! That’s cutting it close!

Now, to sew the loose curlicues into solid roses.

2150 hrs.
Four more roses sewn! Only 37 left.

June 20, 2025

1430 hrs.
My roses aren’t exactly identical. Neither are natural roses.
I do begin the sewing up process the same way, by a neat, tight, square knot. After that, the two ends meander in the tacking down of the curlicue into a semblance of a rose.

July 12, 2025

0315 hrs.

35 rounds of white.

July 15, 2025

No photos yet, but it CAN be machine washed/dried. However, I will wash the current one (#3) before adding the greenery and flowers. The white is soft. It lost a lot of lint in the dryer, and some of that deposited itself onto the dark colours. Invisible at a distance, but irks me closeup. I’m hopeful a prewash will reduce it.

HOW I washed it:
In a thick mesh bag intended for washing shoes: https://share.temu.com/0VsRuxp3ayA

On the Perma-Press setting, with added pre-wash and added rinse, along with about seven of my husband’s shirts.

Dryer at Perma-Press setting.