Giant Flowers

I have challenged myself to learn some new stitches. It started when I saw a cute blanket on pinterest that used the bobble stitch. I had a bunch of pink yarn so I started making a blanket. The stitch was fun and so I made a little cup using it. Since I am new to this stitch I didn't feel comfortable making a pattern but here is a picture so you know what I am talking about.

The blanket isn't done but I'll get back to it soon. Right now I am learning another stitch, the loop/fur stitch. It reminds me of shag carpeting but its kinda fun. I had a big vase that needed to be filled with flowers but I also have a little two-year-old so I couldn't put anything breakable in it. I decided to make some giant flowers.

Here is my first attempt.

To make the stem stiff I used a section of an old garden hose.

The flower itself is the fur/loop stitch worked in a rectangle (mine was 6 inches by 16 inches) and then cinched into a ball. Here is my poor attempt at explaining it by drawing the process.

Did that make it more or less clear? Well here is the pattern:

Stem:
Cut a section of garden hose the length you want it (Mine are around 20 inches long)
Using the magic circle, sc6 in a circle
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 2-? : sc around (12) for as long as you want your stem to be. It will need to be just a little longer than the hose. Slip it onto the hose when it is long enough. You can do this by twisting it back and forth and pushing till it slips on.
End Rnd: decrease around (6) Seal up hole and hide ends.

Flower:
Learn the loop/fur stitch here
Make a 16 inch long chain and start doing the stitch back and forth until you have a 6 inch wide rectangle. Sew it into a tube with loops out. Weave yarn through top of tube and cinch tight. You might need to stitch any remaining hole closed. Weave yarn through bottom of tube and cinch almost all the way tight, stuffing as you tighten. Leave a rounded area in the stuffing for the stem to sit in. When you have cinched it tight enough to equal the width of the stem put the stem in (it should go through most of the flower for stability). Sew flower to stem.

Size reference picture with my four-year-old hiding it behind her back:

I have several more stems already made. I look forward to trying different types of flowers and then deciding my favorite.