In ancient Roman mythology, Flora is the Goddess of Spring, and she represents the renewal and regeneration of the earth. Of course, her symbols are all the leaves, flowers and fruits that appear in spring and throughout the summer. Flora also appears in Celtic and European Pagan tradition, where she is known as the May Bride. Her male counterpart, the Green Man, falls in love with her and wins her hand, and their union blesses the earth and all its life. This marriage has been celebrated for centuries on Beltane (May 1) to help ensure a good harvest and healthy livestock. Flora’s festival, with its ancient roots, survives even today as May Day, which is a designated public holiday in many European countries.

The colors of spring may seem understated next to the brighter, more intense shades of the coming summer, but after the monochromatic landscapes of winter they look quite vibrant. These wristlets are knitted with the yellow-green of tender, new leaves and the delicate shades of the first spring flowers. Optional embroidery stitches bring the flowers to life. These wristlets look lovely without them, but the stitches are quite simple and instructions are included. If you have never embroidered on knitting before, please don’t be afraid to try it! It helps to remember to keep your stitches loose, and the wonderful thing is that if you don’t like the result, you can (carefully) remove it, and try again if you wish.

Wristlets are a fun, quick project to knit, and one of my favorite accessories to wear! Ornate colorwork or embellished wristlets can peek out from your sleeve like knitted jewelry, and add style and color to your outfit. I always get lots of compliments when I wear them. They also keep your wrists surprisingly warm, and the padding they provide is great for computer work. These wristlets can be knitted on double points, two circulars, or with the magic loop method. They’re also great projects for leftovers, as you need only small amounts of several colors. The pattern includes written instructions, and the colorwork is fully charted. The pattern is for one size (average adult) but is adjustable by gauge.

Skills required:
• Long tail or other elastic cast on
• Knit and purl stitches
• Knitting small circumferences in the round
• Stranded color stockinette knitting
• Bind off
• Simple embroidery stitches (straight stitch and French knots – instructions given in the pattern)