Crochet Parfait: mehndi tattoo

Henna tattoos are becoming more and more popular. It is traditional in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Arab countries for brides to have Mehndi, or temporary henna tattoos applied for their weddings.

Mehndi Styles for Brides

Since most brides in America wear white, I thought it might be kind of cool to wear a white Mehndi inspired glove for the right hand, keeping the left free for the wedding ring.

Level: Experienced

Materials:

White cotton crochet thread, I used DMC Baroque size 10 cotton thread
Size 5 steel (doily) crochet hook
metal darning needle with a large eye
A button of your choice

Abbreviations

YO--yarn over st(s)--stitch(es)

lp(s)--loop(s) ch(s)--chain(s)

sl st--slip stitch beg--beginning

dc--double crochet sc--single crochet

Special Stitches: dc2tog (double crochet 2 stitches together) YO hook, insert hook in st, pull up a lp, 3 lps on hook. YO hook, pull through 2 lps. YO hook insert in next st, pull up a lp, 4 lps on hook. YO, pull through 2 lps, 3 lps on hook. YO pull through last 3 lps. One dc2tog made.

Here's a hint, for the last time you pull the yarn through on a dc together st, there will be one more lp than sts you are bringing together.

dc3tog (double crochet 3 stitches together) YO hook, insert hook in st, pull up a lp, 3 lps on hook. YO hook, pull through 2 lps. YO hook insert in next st, pull up a lp, 4 lps on hook. YO, pull through 2 lps, 3 lps on hook. YO, insert hook in next st. YO, pull up a lp, 5 lps on hook. YO, draw through 2 lps, 4 lps left on hook. YO draw through all 4 lps left on hook.

last 4 loops left on hook, draw yarn through all loops

dc3tog

dc4tog (double crochet 4 stitches together) YO hook, insert hook in st, pull up a lp, 3 lps on hook. YO hook, pull through 2 lps, 2 lps left on hook. YO hook insert in next st, pull up a lp, 4 lps on hook. YO, pull through 2 lps, 3 lps left on hook. YO, insert hook in next st, pull up a lp, 5 lps on hook. YO, draw through 2 lps, 4 lps left on hook. YO hook, insert in next st, draw up a lp, 6 lps on hook. YO, draw hook through 2 lps, 5 lps left on hook. YO draw yarn through all 5 lps on hook.

dc5tog (double crochet 5 stitches together)

Picot--*ch 3, sl st in same st (forms a small loop)* 3 times.

Pattern

Finger Flowers

Start with a magic circle, leaving a long tail

First Flower: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc2 tog in ring, *ch 4, dc3tog in ring* 4 times (5 petals). Ch 4, sl st in top of first ch 3.

Pull the short end to make the center of the flower as tight as possible.

Second Flower: Ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook. Repeat instructions for first flower, doing sts into ring just formed.

When you sl st into the 3rd ch, try to get under 2 lps (not like the picture), that way when you make your flower, the center will be tighter

Here you can see the center of the flower is nice and tight.

Third Flower: Repeat instructions for second flower, ch 18, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.

Hand Flower

Rnd 1: 12 scs in ring just formed. Sl st in first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc4tog in same sc, ch 5, sk 1 sc, (dc5tog in same sc, ch5, sk 1 sc) 5 times (6 petals). Sl st in top of beg ch 3.

Rnd 3: *Picot in first sc, 5 scs in 5-ch sp, sl st in top of next petal* 6 times, sl st in base of beg Picot.

Then sl st up middle Picot.

Rnd 4: *Ch 6, sl st in next lobe of Picot* 18 times, sl st in beg middle lobe of Picot. Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing.

Conch Shell Bracelet

First Shell

Ch 6, join with sl st to form ring.

Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 13 dcs in ring (14 dcs altogether), ch 1 turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in first dc, *ch 5, 1 sc in each of next 2 dcs* 6 times. Ch 6, turn.

Second Shell

Row 3: Sl st in next ch 5 loop, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 13 dcs in 6-ch loop (14 dcs altogether), sl st in first sc of first shell, ch 1 turn.

Row 5: Sc in first dc, *ch 5, 1 sc in each of next 2 dcs* 6 times, putting last sc in top of turning ch. Sl st in next ch-5 loop of previous shell, ch 6, turn.

Third Shell

Row 6: Sl st in first free 5-ch loop of last shell, turn.

Row 7: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) 13 dcs in ch-6 sp, sl st in next free 5-ch loop of previous shell, ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Sc in first dc, *ch 5, sc in each of next 2 dcs* 6 times, putting last sc in top of turning ch. Sl st in next free 5-ch loop of previous shell, ch 6 turn.

Repeat Rows 6 to 8, 8 more times.

Last Shell

Row 9: Ch 8, sl st in 6th ch from hook. Turn.

Row 10: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 13 dcs in newly formed ring. Sl st in next ch-5 loop of previous shell, ch 1, turn.

Row 11: Sc in 1st dc, *ch 5, 1 sc in each of next 2 dcs* 2 times, ch 15, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to bottom of ch. Sc in next dc, sl st in loose end of sl st-ed ch (forms the button hole.)

Sc in next dc, *ch 5, sc in each of next 2 dcs* 3 times.

Sl st in next free 5-ch loop of previous shell. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Finishing

To finish ring flowers, use tail to fasten flowers together and to the 18 ch link to the hand flower, making sure the hand flower faces in the same direction. Weave in ends.

To form lps for ring, attach thread to side of bottom flower in the top of a flower petal.

Ch 15, or enough to go around the top part of your finger. Sl st in petal on opposite side of flower.

Sl st around to outside middle of next flower, to middle flower petal. Ch 13 (or size of finger), sl st in petal on opposite side.

Sl st around to outside middle of top flower. Ch 11 (or size of finger), sl st in petal on opposite side. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Next weave in ends on Conch Shell bracelet.

Attach crochet thread in 7th lp on Hand flower from the 18 chs.

Ch 14, sl st in 5th loose 5-ch lp of Conch Shell bracelet from button hole.

Ch 12, sl st in 2nd 6-ch lp in hand flower.

Ch 12, sl st in 4th loose 5-ch lp of Conch Shell bracelet.

Sl st back up chain 2 times

Picot, *sl st in next 3 chs, Picot* 2 times.

Sl st up chain to lp. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Sew button onto Conch Shell bracelet on the opposite side from the button hole. Put the bracelet around your wrist to measure where to put the button.