Year of the Stitches Week 52 – Fork Cluster Stitch

The time has finally come to say fairwell to this journey of stitches. Week 52 is here and is ready for you all to finish your blankets. 52 different stitches, with just over 52 different yarns. Wow. I hope you have enjoyed this journey, as much as I have. I now feel very excited about the possibilities with all these new stitches. There are so many to choose from. I think for crocheters and knitters alike, we can easily keep to our comfort zone and stick to stitches and patterns that we know. I know when I am in a rush to make something for someone, I will always go straight to a pattern that I am familiar with. But now I feel I can stretch my wings out and comfortably use a different stitch for a different design and texture. I hope I have given you that confidence too. Each weeks instalment will stay on my blog for you to refer to, but I am also hoping to create video clips for each of them to help you pick them back up quickly. I feel this would be a good reference guide for you all. So fingers crossed I can get to grips with those.

I have lots of new ideas for 2019 that I can’t wait to share with you. Hoping to publish another Crochetalong at some point too next year, but I don’t think it will be quite as epic as the Year of the Stitches. It’s definitely been a long one hasn’t it. I think the best thing I liked about it is the fact people could easily pick it up each week and spend half an hour with a cuppa and hook. I also love the fact you can snuggle up in it while you were hooking the next row. Loved the warmth on your legs. Think I might need to start another blanket!!

So how we’re all your Christmas’s? I hope you have all had a wonderful time. Christmas is such a special time of the year. It brings people together in a way that doesn’t seem to happen with any other time of the year. Families seem to organise and arrange months in advance as to where they will be eating for one particular meal!! Sounds rather bonkers when you put it like that!! Some will even have already decided where they will be a year before, basing it around some kind of Christmas meal rota!! Think we seem to be in one, but guessing it’s quite natural and feel very very lucky to be able to have so much lovely family that we want to spend Christmas with. We stayed at home with my parents and sister, which was lovely. My daughter and I managed to finish our stockings too, which we’re well received. These little stocking were made with my smallest children’s slipper sock pattern, but with a few rounds taken out of the length. Hope you like them.

I did manage to start a little bit of my Christmas West Yorkshire Spinner socks, but then started a hat for my husband which I had promised him. Oh well. Will start it again soon, I am sure.

Right then, we had better get onto this border now hadn’t we. Before we get started, I just wanted to say a huge huge thank you for all your support this year!!! It has been such a rainbow ride of yarny fun. This time last year, my life was a little different and PipsRainbow was just starting out. I feel that I have grown in confidence this year in my ability to design and create for you. My friend can tell you that I used to panic so much about publishing patterns and it would take me ages to proof read them. But now it seems to be second nature. I definitely feel like I can tackle most crocheting things now, which I can tell you is a lovely feeling to have. If there is ever anything anyone would like me to design, then please let me know! I am always up for exciting new adventurers and challenges!! Anyways. Happy hooking to you all for 2019. Here’s to to 2019 and all those crocheting projects we will all take on.

Ok Week 52 Year of the Stitches is now is session…

Stitches –

Chain (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

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.

Spike Stitch – So insert your hook through the dc stitch in the row below, yarn over your hook and then pull back through. (It will be easier if you work this loop up loosely) Now finish your stitch by yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Forked Cluster (fc) – So work 1fc stitch into the next stitch and following alternate stitch. So *{(Yarn over your hook, insert into stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through.) Repeat this ( ) twice in the same stitch. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 4 loops on your hook.}Now miss a stitch and repeat this {} in the next stitch. Then yarn over your hook and pull through 3 loops on your and finish off by working 2 chains.*

Supplies –

Right then. So for the very last time, here’s my choice of yarns for my border. Now I have plumbed for 3 different colours, as I wanted to give it a little depth. But you can use just one or even two colours, it is totally up to you. The cream yarn is from the wonderful baby merino/silk range from Rowan. The light silver is of course the wonderfully soft Sublime merino/cashmere yarn and the top is actually a tweed yarn from the Sublime range, which has an ever so slight yellow fleck in it. As always you can use any double knit yarn. I have used a ball for each of my colours, but only used between 30 – 40g of each. Don’t forget your scissors, 4mm crochet hook and blunt ended tapestry needle.

Ok so let’s go…

Now because of the nature of the blanket, I haven’t included a stitch count. Obviously the stitch count at both ends are 200 stitches, but up the sides will vary slightly according how you pick each stitch up. So don’t worry too much. Obviously with a normal blanket, you would have an exact amount, but because this involves so many different stitches I felt we could just keep it quite simple for the border and not worry too much.

Now there are 3 round to your border. A normal double crochet rounds, a spike stitch round and a forked cluster round. They are all very simple, so no worries with this one. Remember you can use which ever colours you like and if you don’t want to do all the rounds, you could just do a simple double crochet edge or a double and a spike edge. The reason I did the spike edge, was to give a slight firmness to the border, so that it held its shape.

1 – Right then, so the first things first. Attach your new yarn in any stitch in the last row you worked and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch in the row.

When you come to the end, work 2dc in the last stitch in the row. This is to start creating a corner.

Now work your way down the side of your blanket, working 1dc in the side of each row in the blanket. Now if you find there is a large stitch, such as the V stitch or the pyramid stitch, then you might need to work 2dc stitches.

Remember when you come to a new corner, always work 2dc into the corner stitch. Once you have worked your way around the whole blanket, slip stitch into the first dc you created to complete the round. Now fasten off and sew in your ends.

2 – Now once again attach your new yarn into any stitch. Now you are going to work a spike stitch into the same stitch. If you remember, this is when you insert your hook into the stitch below. You can see this where my hook is on the photo below. Now yarn over your hook and pull back through and bring it back up to the height of the row. It’s easier if you do this loop loosely. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops on your hook. (It’s basically a double crochet stitch, but being worked in the row below.)

Now work 1 spike stitch in each stitch around the blanket. Now remember, at each corner, work 2 spike stitches into the corner stitch.

Once you have worked 1 spike stitch into each stitch around your blanket, slip stitch into the first spike stitch and then fasten off and sew in your ends.

3 – Ok so here’s the final part of your border and week 52’s Stitch. It’s called the Forked Cluster Stitch. Now for this stitch, attach your new yarn in any of the stitches from the previous round and chain 4. Now work a Forked Cluster (fc) stitch. So to do this yarn over your hook and insert into the first stitch, then yarn over your hook and pull through. Then once again yarn over your hook and insert into the same stitch, then yarn over your hook and pull through. (5 loops)

Now yarn over your hook and pull through the first 4 loops on your hook.

Now miss a stitch and do the same in the next next stitch. So yarn over your hook and insert into the stitch, then yarn over your hook and pull through. Then once again yarn over your hook and insert into the same stitch, then yarn over your hook and pull through. (5 loops) Now yarn over your hook and pull through the first 4 loops on your hook.

Now yarn over your hook again and pull through all 3 loops on your hook.

Then chain 2. This is your first forked cluster completed.

Ok so now work 1fc stitch into the next stitch and following alternate stitch. Here’s how to do it again. So *{(Yarn over your hook, insert into stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through.) Repeat this ( ) twice in the same stitch. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 4 loops on your hook.} Now miss a stitch and repeat this {} in the next stitch. Then yarn over your hook and pull through 3 loops on your and finish off by working 2 chains.*

Now repeat this ** around the blanket. When you come to a corner, instead of working 2 chain stitches, work 4 chain stitches and work the next fc stitch in the same stitch as the last part of the previous fc stitch. This will give you a lovely sharp corner.

Can you see in the photo below how I have worked the first part of the fc stitch into the same stitch, rather than the next one.

Now continue working all the way around the blanket as before.

At the end of the round slip stitch into the first chain 4. And that completes your border.

Once you have finished your blanket and sewn in your ends, it is time to block your blanket. Now I cannot recommend blocking enough. It is so worth it. It seems to let the yarn relax and fall into its natual place. So if your edges have gone a little wobbly, which they can do with this blanket or your tension was a little looser in one row than another, blocking will help, as it allows you to set the blanket in the shape you wish.

All you need is a large flat space, a pack of tall pins and some of these funky kids sponge mat tiles.

All you need to do is lay out the sponge tiles with enough room to pin your blanket around the edge. Now because the blanket is so big now, I have placed mine in a rectangle with a hole in the middle. Now you need to wet your blanket with some warm water, I just popped it in the sink/washing bowl and then ring it out with a towel, so that it’s not dripping. Now with your pins, pin it to the tiles, smoothing with your hands as you go, to create a nice straight edge to your blanket.

Then all you need to do is leave it to dry. Mine took about 24 hours to dry and then I hung it over the banister, just to make sure it was fully dry.

Hope that all makes sense! Now it’s time to pop the kettle on, snuggle up underneath your brand spanky new blanket and enjoy.

So in true New Year’s Eve style, here’s a few of my favourites from this year.


Here’s to an amazing 2019, filled with some serious yarny fun and happiness.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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Year of the Stitches Week 51 – Waffle Stitch

Happy Christmas Eve Eve lovely ones!!!! Yey!! Whoop whoop! Sooooo excited!!! It’s nearly here!!! There is some serious excitement going on in our house!! After some seriously late nights, I have managed to finish all the big jobs before I picked my girl up on Thursday. So we started the festive season with some serious Christmassy fun. Yesterday, we baked, painted, made, wrapped and crocheted. That’s some serious craftiness!! My list of ‘to do’ is definitely getting a lot smaller. Think I just need to concentrate on the food now. Still making little crocheted things, but nothing huge. Decided to whip up a little pair of rainbow slipper socks for daughter. They match my pair!!

I also finished my Dad’s hat yesterday, which I am rather chuffed with. I used my Weekend Hat pattern for this one.

So in true PipsRainbow fashion, my daughter, son and I have made our Christmas crackers for this year’s Christmas table. Hoping they will go down well. It’s was such a lovely idea of my daughter’s. They have both added little things within the cracker and she has even personalised them for each person. I bought a kit off amazon, as she was desperate for the proper cracker sound, but guessing you could make them with card without the crack bit. So my crochet hook has been going again ten to the dozen, as she thought we could make treats and pop them in a little christmas stocking for each person! Ekk!! Nearly finished them. Here’s one of them. Think I had better get a wiggle one with these!!!

We made these holly chocolate shortbread biscuits to pop inside. Some have been eaten though!!

I’ve even colour personalised each stocking for each person. I wonder what they will make of them. Wish we’d thought of this a little earlier, but what’s a Christmas without a last minute rush on the crochet hook!!!! Here’s my to do pile!!

Right we had better get onto the blanket and this weeks stitch. Now I know I say it most weeks, but this one is mega and oh so simple!! It’s rather fancy!! It’s called the waffle stitch and it’s a combination of 2 linked extended double crochet stitches and a chain stitch. Now we’ve seen the extended double crochet stitch before, so this is only a little bit different.

Stitches –

Chain (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

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.

2 Linked Extended Double Crochet ( 2 linked exdc) – Insert your hook in the first stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through the stitch. Then insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. (3 loops) Now yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops.

Supplies –

Well it just had to be red didn’t it this week. And this one is definitely a Christmassy red!!! Reminds me of red berries and mulled wine. This one is from the wonderful Extra Fine Merino range from Sublime and it is oh so soft!! You will need about 30g of double knit yarn and then a 4mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle to sew in your ends.

Ok so let’s go …

1 – Right then so start by attaching your yarn into the right side of your blanket and chain 2.

Now work a 2 linked extended double crochet in that first and second stitch. So to do this insert your hook into the first stitch, yarn over and pull through.

Then insert you hook into the second stitch, yarn over and pull through. You will now have 3 loops on your hook.

Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops.

Then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. This completes the 2 linked exdc. Now chain 1.

Now *work a 2 linked exdc over the next 2 stitches and chain 1.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row work a 2 linked extended double crochet in the last 2 stitches and then instead of working 1 chain, work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Right then turn your blanket and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 2 linked exdc in the next stitch and ch1sp. Then chain 1.

*Now work the next 2 linked exdc. Insert your hook into the middle of the exdc stitch from the row below (where the arrow is pointing.)

Yarn over your hook and then insert your hook into the ch1sp, yarn over and pull through. (3 loops)

To finish the stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops and then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops. Then finish by chaining 1.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row, work the last 2 linked exdc stitch and chain 1, leaving 1 stitch. And then in the last stitch work 1dc stitch. (200)

3 – So in this last row, chain 1. Now work your first 2 linked exdc stitch in first stitch and ch1sp. Then chain 1.

*Now work 2 linked exdc in the middle of the next exdc stitch from the row below and the next ch1sp. And then chain 1.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row, work the last 2 linked exdc stitch in the last 2 stitches and then work 1dc in the last stitch as well. Then fasten off and sew in your ends. (200)

And there we have the magnificent Waffle Stitch. Really hope you have enjoyed week 51 of my Year of the Stitches CAL. One week to go!!! Will be quite sad to see the back of this CAL. It has been so much fun to create and share with you.

Well Merry Christmas everyone!! Wishing you all a wonderful day filled with love, happiness, excitement, fun, laughter and above all, wool!!!

🎄 🧶

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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