Macro shot of blooming snowdrops showcasing their delicate white petals in a spring garden.

February Flower

Snowdrop for Hope

Spring is on it's way!

The resilient growing stems of the Snowdrop have been pushing through the soil during the cold, rain and wind.

 

Then as the days start to lengthen, out pop their beautiful, bobbing heads in clumps of white petals surrounded by slim, dark green leaves.

 

A sign of change and renewal when most of the plant world is still.

 

One of the reasons that Snowdrops can flower so early is because they grow from bulbs and those bulbs are very special.

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Snowdrops and science

Snowdrops are good for early pollinators and produce seeds which are spread by early emerging queen bumblebees on good weather days.

 

The Latin name for the Snowdrop is Galanthus nivalis.  In modern medicine, a naturally occurring substance within the bulbs and flowers of the plant, called galantamine, is used to help treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

However, the bulbs themselves are poisonous to humans and can cause nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting if eaten. So beware!

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The Symbolism of Snowdrops

Snowdrops have been embedded into different cultures over hundreds of years. They have come to represent resilience, hope, compassion and grace.

 

Needless to say, I think that Snowdrops are wonderful and powerful symbols of many good things.

 

Maybe, like me, you want to incorporate Snowdrop symbolism into your knitting. Perhaps as a meditation on the words, perhaps as visual reminder of the sentiments, perhaps stitched into a gift to someone in need.

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The Snowdrop Eyelet Stitch

Luckily for us knitters we don’t have to create such a stitch to do this. The Snowdrop stitch, or Bluebell stitch, is found in many stitch dictionaries and YouTube videos, but I have written a version for you below.

 

It’s a fancy knit 3, purl 2 rib with one row where you create the eyelets that make the flower shape.

 

You could use it as an edging for garments perhaps, or the basis of a sock, hat or cowl. Work flat for a scarf or wrap. So many possibilities!

 

Here I made cuffs using DK yarn 3.75mm (US 9) needles and 45 stitches.

Snowdrop Stitch - instructions

Knitting in the round

Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches.

Rounds 1-4: purl 2, knit 3. Repeat these 5 stitches all the way round.

Round 5: purl 2, yarn over, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, yarn over. Repeat these instructions all the way round.

 

Knitting Flat

Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches plus 2.

Rows 1 and 3: purl 2, knit 3; repeat these 5 stitches until 2 remain, purl 2.

Rows 2, 4 and 6: knit 2, purl 3; repeat these 5 stitches until 2 remain, knit 2.

Row 5: purl 2, yarn over, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, yarn over. Repeat these instructions to the last 2 stitches, purl 2.