Monday Project - "Something Blue" Bridal Garter

The niece of one of my friends got married in April and my friend was in charge of providing her with the "something blue" part of the traditional wedding good luck tokens.  I volunteered to crochet a lacy, bridal garter - and then ran into a problem.  This was supposed to be a surprise, but every pattern I found required having a leg measurement.  After way too long of pondering how to make sure the garter fit tight enough to stay up but not so tight as to cut off the bride's circulation by the end of the reception, I came up with an obvious answer.  Crochet a long piece of lace and weave a ribbon through that can be tied around the leg!  This goes together pretty quickly, if you're looking for a last minute special token for a bride you know.

Materials:
*size 10 crochet thread - I used Aunt Lydias bamboo thread because of the great softness it has - you'll need blue for the garter and white for the flowers
*green embroidery floss for the leaves
*about 1 1/2 yards of 1/4 inch satin ribbon
*size 7 (1.5mm) crochet hook
*two small beads

1.  With blue thread, chain 150 loosely.
Row 1:  Single crochet in second chain from hook and in each chain across.
Row 2:  Chain 1.  Single crochet across.
Row 3.  Chain 7.  Skip 2 stitches and triple crochet in the next stitch.  *Chain 2, skip 2, triple crochet in next stitch.*  Repeat instructions between *s across.
Row 4:  Chain 1.  Single crochet across, putting 2 stitches in each chain 2 space.
Row 5:  Chain 1.  Single crochet across.
Row 6:  Chain 2, skip 1 stitch, single crochet in the next stitch.  *Chain 1, skip 1, single crochet in the next stitch.*  Repeat instructions between *s across.
Row 7:  Chain 1.  Single crochet, *chain 3, skip 1, single crochet.*  Repeat instructions between *s across.
Row 8:  Chain 1.  *In first chain 3 space, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, chain 2, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet.  In next chain 3 space, single crochet, make a chain 3 picot (chain 3 and then single crochet in the bottom of the chain), and then single crochet again.*  Repeat instructions between *s across.  Finish off.

Here's a close up of the pattern:

2.  Crochet two flowers and two leaves - sew them onto the garter with sewing thread.  Don't tie off the thread - you'll be using it to attach beads.

Flowers:  
1.  Chain 4, slip stitch to join.
2.  Chain 1 and then place 10 single crochets in ring.  Join to first chain.
3.  Chain 1.  In first stitch, *make 1 single crochet, 1 half double crochet, 1 double crochet, 1 half double crochet, and 1 single crochet.  Slip stitch in next stitch.*  Repeat instructions between *s across.  Join to first chain and finish off.

Leaves:
1.  Chain 6.
2.  In second chain from hook, single crochet.  In the next stitch, half double crochet, in the next double crochet, in the next half double crochet, and in the last stitch single crochet.  Working on the other side of the chain, in the next stitch half double crochet, in the next stitch double crochet, in the next stitch half double crochet, and in the final stitch single crochet.  Fasten off.

3.  Sew a bead into the center of each flower.

5.  Thread ribbon through the triple stitches.

Tie the ribbon in the back of the thigh, just above the knee.

Happy Creating!  Deborah