Introduction: How to Crochet Air Plant Pods

By Birdz of a Feather
About: Like Birdz of a Feather, let's flock together to create sustainably. After all, good planets are hard to find! We're a husband/wife team that takes our inspiration from everything around us; especially things …

There's nothing I love more than air plants to bring in nature and give a boost to our home decor! These pods crochet up quickly to cradle your air plants. Then they're ready to hang anywhere you’d like to hang them - like in a window or even on the fridge. They'd be a great gift for mother's day :).

This project starts with some thrifted yarn and two sizes of loose-leaf binder rings! Because it adds to the structure, the rings are integral to holding the shape.

I wish I had a cone of every colour under the rainbow of this thrifted yarn! The yarn is Egyptian cotton made in Greece and has a glorious sheen. You can easily use up your scrap yarn to make these but if you want the exact same size as mine, crochet a swatch first to match my gauge (more about that in the next step).

You can crochet right along with me by watching the video above or use the written directions that follow.

Supplies

1" and 2" loose leaf binder rings

3.5 mm crochet hook

3 ply cotton, 5/2 or equivalent (see gauge next section)

Hangers such as stainless steel S-hooks or magnetized knobs

Step 1: Gauge

9 sts and 9 rows should equal 2" for a comparative gauge to mine. Chain 10 using a 3.5 mm crochet hook. Using a single crochet stitch, crochet a swatch that's 9 rows high and then measure. If your result is a little bigger or smaller, it should still be fine: these pods only take half an hour to make, so try one to see how it looks!

Step 2: Attach 1" Ring

Create a slip knot then feed yarn through the 1" loose leaf ring from back to front. Insert hook through loop, then pull yarn through the ring to attach to ring with a slip stitch. This slip stitch is not counted as a stitch.

Step 3: Row 1

Row 1. Single crochet (sc) 20 times onto ring, splitting 10 stitches before and after the break. Ch 1, turn (20 sts)

After the first row, you should have a gap in the middle as shown in the 2nd pic.

Step 4: Row 2

Sc 4, double crochet into next 12 sts, Sc 4. Ch 1 turn (20 sts)

Step 5: Row 3

Sc 4, 2 double crochet in each of next 12 sts (24 dc), Sc 4 , ch 1, turn (32sts)

Step 6: Row 4

Decr 2 sc, Sc 6, dc 1, 2 dc in each of next 10 sts (20 dc), dc 1, Sc 6, decr 2 sc, ch 1 turn (38 sts)

Step 7: Row 5

Sc around, ch 1, turn (38 sts)

Step 8: Row 6

Decr 2, sc 6, dc 18, Sc 6, decr 2, ch 1, turn (34sts)

Step 9: Row 7

This is where you start to see the pod shape taking form.

Decr 5 sc, decr 1 dc, dc 10, decr 1 dc, decr 5 sc, ch 1, turn (22 sts)

Step 10: Row 8

Decr 1, Sc 4, dc 10, Sc 4, dec 1 (20 sts)

Step 11: Attach 2" Ring

Ch 1, turn. Now we're attaching the 2" ring. Divide the first 20 sts in half as follows:

Slip stitch to 2" ring in a similar manner as we did with the 1" ring (or sc as I did on the video). sc 9 more, attaching the ring as you go. Slide stitches to the bottom of the ring; on the next sc, draw the yarn from the other side of the break in ring (3rd pic). Sc 9 more for a total of 20 stitches on the ring.

Now pull up 6 sc along first side as shown on the video and 2nd last pic.

Bring both metal rings together in the middle and sc 3 times around the middle of both rings to attach.

Sc 6 along final side. (35 sts).

Step 12: Joining and Finishing

This technique will give you an invisible finish without an ugly knot showing on the front of your work.

Slip to first stitch. Cut a long tail (8") and pull through loop on hook. Use a darning needle or fine crochet hook. Skip 1st st and draw through both loops of next st, bringing the yarn from back to front. Insert needle or hook into the back loop only of the second stitch on the right of where you left off and bring through yarn. Tighten or loosen to even tension and weave in the end on the inside of pod. Cut remaining tail.

Step 13: Hang and Enjoy

Because of the depth and shape of the pocket, these pods will hold any air plant you desire! You can hang then in groupings or individually. Here, I've got them hanging in a window suspended from S-hooks on a piece of fused glass art.

You can also use magnetic knobs to suspend them from metal like a fridge door (last two pics).

Step 14: Crochet for a Cure

If we place in the Fibre Arts challenge we will donate the equivalent of any winnings to Alzheimer's research to help find a cure!

But that's not all! Starting this year our, we're also fund raising for Alzheimer's through pattern sales in our new shop. Importantly, 100% of proceeds from all pattern sales will be donated to benefit Alzheimer's. So if fibre art is something you enjoy, please consider buying one of our patterns as a donation or help to spread the word by sharing this link. In our shop, you'll find our Kayla pillow cover (2nd pic), which kicked off our Crochet for a Cure Fundraiser. The Kayla pillow is dedicated in memory to both our Moms.

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