Bar and Lattice Stitch

Summer holidays!!!! Woooohooooo!!!! 6 whole weeks with my little girl at home with me! Yay!!! Her brother is going to love having a play mate around. They get on ever so well, considering there is quite a gap between them. I think it’s probably down to my daughter’s unwavering patience and kindness. She really is fantastic with him and I can see why he follows her around and wants to do whatever she is doing!! Bless them.

So this summer, for me, I am hoping to perfect my 4ply sock pattern. There are some gorgeous 4ply knitting sock yarn around now and not really many patterns for crocheting them. Not sure why – guessing it’s because most people revert to knitting for socks, well challenge set and accepted! And I think I am doing well so far. It’s coming along nicely. The yarn I am using is from the most incredible HeyJayYarn. I’ve said it before and I will say it again – it’s some of the best sock yarn I have ever come across!! Maybe even the best!!! It’s so soft and just beautiful to work with. I have promised my Dad some already. Better get ordering some hadn’t I.

What do you think – just need to do the leg and the cuff at the top. This is the pair that I keep trying on my barefoot when I am out in public and get all sorts of funny looks! My problem will be when I need to design for different sizes – hoping my husband will be obliging with his foot! I’m sure Dad wouldn’t mind either. The skeleton of the pattern is from my slipper sock design, so hopefully any of you that has made those, will find this pattern quite easy. Well – that’s the plan anyway! So fingers crossed I can get this pattern perfected and written up for you guys. I know I’m wanting this one for Christmas pressies!

So this week my daughter finished another year at school. Another milestone in her little life. There was definitely a few parents feeling rather emotional about it all. They are only little for such a brief time and I know she will be flying off on her own adventures and spreading those wings of hers in the not so distant future. But by golly I am going to cherish every minute that she is under my wing before then.

As a thank you to the teachers that had her this year, I made them both Smiles Mini Monster. I think I showed you those last week. But when I spoke to her teacher, apparently her own children had been rather upset that Smiles was going back into school next year! Well, on hearing this, my daughter straight away was tugging on my sleeve, informing me that we needed to go home quickly so that I could make 2 more Smiles for the teacher’s children!!! Bless her! A heart of gold that one – but nothing like being put to work by her!! Haha! So here they are. Rather chuffed with the lilac coloured hair addition for the little girl.

Oh and what do you reckon to my PipsRainbow labels!! Looking quite good me thinks!!

On a totally different teaching/education note, these little toasty numbers we’re given to my old Head teacher who retired on Friday. She was such an incredible Headteacher. She always seemed to know, what to say and what to do. I will never forget her saying ‘If you were the parent – how would this make you feel?’ She was so right. It’s so different being on the other side of the fence. Definitely taking me a while to get used to going parent evening appointments, instead of giving them! Well anyway, here’s to a super retirement and some toasty toes on all your adventures.

Hope you have all had good weeks or in our case, last week of the school year!! Did you all enjoy last weeks Iris stitch? It was good, wasn’t it. Hope you enjoy this week – it’s an offer week this week! Well it’s 2 for the price of one stitch. These 2 go hand in hand with each other, so seemed daft not to introduce them together. They are called the Bar and Lattice Stitches. You’ll see why when you work them up.

Supplies –

Oooo, I have used one seriously deep, forestry green yarn this week. It’s from the wonderful Rowan range and it’s lovely and soft and keeps a super shape. Just right for this weeks Bar and Lattice stitches. Once again you will need about 30-40g of double knit yarn and not forgetting your 4mm crochet hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle to sew in the ends.

Stitches –

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

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.

Bar Stitch – The Bar stitch is a very simple stitch. So basically you chain 3, miss 3 stitches and then work 1tr in the next stitch. It’s as simple as that. (And basically it looks like a bar!!!!)

Lattice Stitch – Start by chaining 2, miss 1 chain/stitch, work 1dc in the next chain/stitch. Right so now chain 2, miss 1 chain/stitch, then work 1tr in the next tr stitch.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Right then, so start on the wrong side of your blanket and attach your yarn in the top of the chain 3 stitches from the row below. Now work 1dc in the same stitch. Followed by 1dc in the next 3 stitches. Now we are going to miss the chain stitch in the row below, this is where the arrow is pointing. (This is because these chain stitches would add 50 more stitches to our count.)

Now work *1dc in the next 4 stitches and then once again miss the chain stitch.*

Repeat this **across the row. After the last chain stitch, work 1dc in the remaining 4 stitches. (200)

2 – So turn your blanket, chain 3 and work 1tr in the same stitch, then chain 3, miss 3 stitches and work 1tr in the next stitch. This is your first Bar stitch.

Ok so now *miss 3 stitches and chain 3, then work 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row until you come to the end when you will be left with 3 stitches. So here we need to chain 2, miss 2 stitches and then work 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

3 – Now we can start the Lattice stitch. Once you have turned your blanket, start by chaining 5. (This acts as 1tr and 2 chain stitches.) Now miss this first stitch and work 1dc in the next chain. This is where the arrow in pointing.

Now chain 2, miss 1 chain, now work 1tr in the next tr stitch.

*Now chain 2, miss 1 chain, work 1dc in the next chain stitch. (This is where the arrow is pointing.) Right so now chain 2, miss 1 chain stitch, then work 1tr in the next tr stitch.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

You will be finishing with the last tr in the last stitch. (50 Lattice Stitches)

4 – So we are now going to work the next row with bar stitches. Start by turning your blanket and chain 3. Then work 1tr in the same stitch. Ok so now chain 3 and miss these stitches (2ch, 1dc, 2ch.) Now work 1tr in the next tr stitch. (This is where the arrow is pointing.)

*Ok so now chain 3, miss these stitches (2ch, 1dc, 2ch) and then work 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

You should end with 1tr in the last stitch. (200)

And there we have the wonderful and rather funky Bar and Lattice stitches. I like how the two stitches work well together, to create this lovely Lacey effect. Ooo, I am going to have to do some thinking as to what Stitch will accompany this one for next week. Hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. And also my 2 for the price of one stitch! Haha, I will have to think of some other double whammy stitches!!

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx