February 18, 2018 – PipsRainbow

Week 7 – Cabbage Patch Stitch

Hello all. Hope you have all had a lovely week. How did you get on with the raised popcorn stitch? It’s such a cool stitch and so fun to crochet. I keep thinking of all the different projects you could make with it. This week, I’ve been working on the blanket, but also enjoyed making some Super Ducks for the kids for easter. I’m using the wonderful Toft pattern, which is so quick and easy to follow. But I thought I would make them into super ducks by designing them some super capes and masks. S0 hopefully the kids will like finding them on their Easter egg hunt this year.

I also made some little crocheted snowdrops to remember my dear Grannie by. She loved snowdrops and as she passed away when they were out, it seemed only right.

So this week I would like to introduce you to the cheeky cabbage patch stitch. (It reminds me of those dolls you used to get!) I think the stitch gets it’s name from the resemblance to rows and rows of cabbages in a field!! It’s created by 2 rows being repeated, so it’s quite straight forward. I just love the texture it produces. Would be stunning worked in a cardigan for a little girl.

Right so on to the yarn. So once again I am using the stunning sublime yarn, but this week it is a beautiful mermaid blue colour. (Haha – well I think it’s called that!! My husband wasn’t so sure!! I’m sure I’m right!!!) So as this is such a wonderful colour, I would like to dedicate this one, to my wonderful mother-in-law. It was her birthday at the end of last week and she loves this colour. So this one’s for you!! I am one lucky girl to have such a wonderful mother-in-law. She is always up for an adventure and totally one of a kind. She has known me since I was 16!! So she is definitely my second mum. She loves turquoise and mints and purples. But I think this is one of her favourite colours. So here’s to you!

Stitches –

Chain (ch) – To make a chain stitch, make a slip knot on your hook and then place the yarn over your hook and pull through the loop. Repeat this action to make a row of stitches.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

Supplies –

So again you need to choose a double knit yarn of any kind. You roughly need about 30g/40g. Don’t forget your scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle. And of course your 4mm crochet hook.

1 – Ok so first of all we are going to reduce the stitch count a little. (Remember you are starting on the wrong side – so the opposite side to the popcorn stitch.) So attach your new yarn by pulling it through the first stitch and chain 1. Then work 1dc into the same stitch. Now work 5 more dc stitches, then work 2dctog with the next two stitches. Check the stitches information above, if you are unsure of how to work a 2dctog. The picture below is showing you how to pick up two dc stitches to work them together. *Now work 6dc stitches then 2dctog.* Repeat ** all across the row, but in the last stitches just work 6dc stitches. (209)

2 – Ok so now turn your work and chain 3. Then miss a stitch and work 1tr into the next stitch.

Then work 3 more tr stitches into the same stitch.

*Now miss 3 stitches and work 4trs into the next stitch.* Then repeat ** to the end of the row. There will 2 stitches left. So miss the first stitch and then work 1tr in the last chain 3 space. (209)

3 – Right so with this row we need to firstly chain 3 (this counts as your first tr). Now miss the next 3 stitches then work 1tr in the next stitch.

Now chain 2 and then you are going to work 1tr stitch into the first of the 3 missed stitches. This stitch is where the other crochet hook is pointing.

Now repeat the whole process again across the row. So miss 3 stitches, 1tr in the next stitch, chain 2 and then work 1tr in the first of the missed stitches.