“Life handed him a lemon,
As Life sometimes will do.
His friends looked on in pity,
Assuming he was through.
They came upon him later,
Reclining in the shade
In calm contentment, drinking
A glass of lemonade.”

Life has handed me a lot today so I thought to myself…

What am I going to do with all these lemons?

Why, use them for inspiration, make a lovely coaster for a cool drink and share the pattern with you!

 No tutorial this time, as the light is fading (so is the cool drink!) but if anyone has any questions, I’d be happy to help.

Here goes….grab yourself

20 minutes, some scraps of yellow & green 4ply yarn,

a 2.75mm hook and
a tapestry needle. 

Set up

Make a magic loop, sl st to secure, ch3 (counts as 1tr now and throughout), work 9tr in ring, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. Pull tail to tighten. (10 sts)

If you are unfamiliar with the magic loop technique, Craftsy have a great tutorial here.

Rnd 1

Ch3, work 1tr in base of ch, 2tr in each st around, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (20 sts)

Rnd 2

Ch3, work 2tr in next st, *1tr, 2tr in next st; rep from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (30 sts)

Rnd 3

Ch3, 1tr, work 2tr in next st, *2tr, 2tr in next st; rep from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (40 sts)

Rnd 4

Ch3, 2tr, work 2tr in next st, *3tr, 2tr in next st; rep from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (50 sts)

Rnd 5

Ch3, 3tr, work 2tr in next st, *4tr, 2tr in next st; rep from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (60 sts)

Rnd 6

1ch, 19dc, *2htr, 2tr, 1dtr, 3dtr in next st, 1dtr, 2tr, 2htr, 19dc*, rep from * to *, sl st to first dc to join.

Fasten off.

Leaf

Using the green yarn and 2.75mm hook, chain 11 sts.

Row 1

Work 1dc in second ch from hook and in each ch across.

Row 2

Turn, work 2dc, 1htr, 1tr, 2dtr in each of next 2 sts, 1tr, 1htr, 2dc.

Row 3

With the front of the leaf still facing you, turn it 180 degrees and rep Row 2, working into the bottom of the chain (the underside of the dc previously worked).

Stalk

Sl st into the top of the leaf, ch6, turn and (starting in the second ch from the hook) work 1dc into each ch back down towards the leaf.

The reason for adding the stalk at the end is so that it doesn’t twist whilst working the leaf.

Fasten off.

Weave in all ends, sew the leaf into desired position.

Block and enjoy.

What do you like to make when life hands you lemons?

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Poem: ‘The Optimist’ by Flynn, Clarence Edwin (November 1940)