Crochet Flowers are Better than Cut

I am currently in love with free crochet flower patterns as a fun and thrifty way to decorate, embellish and make homemade gifts. Crochet flowers can adorn felted bags, complete kitchen dishcloths and become pretty brooches or lasting bouquets with a bit of florist wire. With scrap yarn from my stash, a few hours to spare and my favorite free crochet flower patterns, I can make colorful home accents in the form of my favorite crochet flowers.

Thought cut flowers are the traditional token of love, celebration and amends, crochet flowers are far superior. What is the appeal of watching cut flowers brown and inevitably die on the counter? Cut flowers are lovely while they last, but they never last for long. Throughout the years, friends have shown off their fresh cut flower bouquets sent by significant others, while I have demanded not to be given such bouquets. Crochet flowers, especially homemade crochet flowers, make much better gifts.

The benefits of crochet flowers extend far beyond pretty embellishments and thrifty gifts. As an alternative to cut flowers, crochet flowers may be better for the environment. The vast majority of the 6.5 billion worth of cut flower stems and bouquets sold in America each year are imported. Up to 80% of cut flowers in American come from South America, especially Columbia and Ecuador. Cut flowers must be refrigerated the entire journey, up to 10 days, from South American to Miami and to the rest of America. Unlike crochet flowers, cut flowers have a huge carbon footprint, with emissions from production, transportation, distribution and constant refrigeration.

Hardly requiring extensive transportation, crochet flowers can be made inside the home with free crochet flower patterns or purchased from a local crafter. Crochet lovers can purchase yarn for crochet flowers from local craft stores or ideally from independent yarn spinners. Etsy provides a good resource for finding yarn spinners near you. Many big-name yarn manufacturers also produce environmentally friendly yarns made from sustainable resources such as bamboo, soy silk and hemp. These yarns are also a good choice when trying to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

Unlike cut flowers, crochet flowers do not require dangerous chemicals for their production. Pesticides, fertilizers and other chemical agents are used extensively in the production of cut-flowers imported to the U.S., almost 80% of which come from Columbia or Ecuador. In fact, flower greenhouses in these countries use chemicals deemed too toxic for use within the U.S. or E.U, such as infamous DDT. According to a 2007 study from the International Labor Rights Fund, more than 66 percent of Ecuadorian and Colombian flower workers suffer from work-related health problems stemming from prolonged exposure to toxic pesticides and fungicides.

Cut flowers are hardly an innocent gesture of love and appreciation, unless they happen to come from your own garden. Instead of cut-flower bouquets, people can make crochet flower bouquets to give as gifts or decorate their own homes. Crochet flowers satisfy the need for color, but are guilt-free. With free crochet flower patterns and a touch of craftiness, crochet flowers can save you loads of money too. Ill be making a cheerful bouquet of Daisies for my kitchen.

Tagged with: Crochet

Filed under: Crochet

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