Crocheting – Page 48

Year of the Stitches – Week 9 Shell Network

Week 9 – Shell Network

Well what a week!!! Crikey!!! Can’t get over this weather. It’s been bonkers hasn’t it! Slipper socks are being worn with fleece & normal socks in this house!! I think it’s the wind more than anything!! Felt like we were in a blizzard after school the other day.

My daughter had a snow day on Friday which was great. So nice to just chill. We ended up making her little fairy garden with some hyacinths that my Dad gave me. It’s amazing how much a little girl can fit into one plant pot!! I would have loved this as a child. I remember playing with little figurines in the hedges at school on the playing field. We used to imagine there was a whole mini world in there! We would make little slides and homes for them! It was such fun. My daughter keeps adding things to hers, think we might need a second plant pot.

Have you all managed to get out in the snow? We’ve managed some sledging with family which was great and a lovely walk round the back of our house. Thankfully, no snowball fights! Not sure why, but i’m really not a fan of them!! It’s just so cold and it just hurts too much.

I wonder when these guys will make an appearance this year in our gardens?!?! Can’t wait to see their beautiful colours dotted around. I really hope this weather hasn’t killed them all off. Here’s hoping they will sprout their sunny little heads soon.

So this has been a week of slipper socks!! I’ve managed to make some for my Mum for Mother’s Day which I hope she’ll like, but then my daughter saw the colour of the wool & put in a desperate request for some too. I hadn’t made a children’s version of the pattern, but knew I needed to at some point! So challenge set and I am very happy to say that challenge was completed.

3 and half hours later and these little beauties were produced!! So chuffed! I hid them in our bedroom for her find! I can’t tell you how excited she was!!! She hasn’t taken them off!! Bless her!! I’m definitely going to create a pattern now for children’s sizes.

So this week I have chosen quite a delicate stitch called Shell Network. A shell stitch is another one of those cluster stitches that we’ve used before but it gives a fan like texture and the network part is because the fan is contained in an open column. It’s used quite a lot in baby clothes and blankets, because of its delicate open nature. So it’s made up of chains and treble stitches, rather than one special stitch. I hope you are going to enjoy this one. The only thing I would say to you is watch your count, you kind of need to concentrate a bit more on this stitch as it’s quite easy to miss part of the stitch and then get in a pickle in the next row!!

Stitches –

Chain stitch (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.

Supplies –

Right so this week I have chosen a beautiful delicate pale blue colour and once again it’s from the marvellous Sublime yarn range. It’s such a beautiful colour. It’s an ice blue colour for all the snow and ice that’s been keeping us company this week!! (It definitely couldn’t be a bright colour this week, could it!!) I have used about 30/40g of this DK yarn, but you can use any kind of DK yarn you wish. You will need your 4mm hook, scissors and blunt ended tapestry needle.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Right then so first of all chain 4 (This counts as 1tr & ch1.) Then work 1tr into the next stitch.

So now miss 2 stitches and work 5tr stitches in the next stitch. (Don’t forget to check the stitch information above if you are unsure of how to make a treble stitch.)

Now miss 2 stitches and work 1tr in the next stitch, then chain 1, miss a stitch and work 1 more treble stitch.

Ok so now *miss 2 stitches, work 5tr in the next stitch, miss 2 stitches, work 1tr, chain 1, miss a stitch and work 1 more tr stitch into the new room stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

When you get to the end of the row, work your last 5tr stitches and then you should have 5 stitches left.

So miss 2 stitches, work 1tr, then chain 1, miss a stitch and work 1tr into the last stitch. This completes the first row. (211)

2 – Ok so now turn your work and crochet 4 chain stitches. (This count as your first tr and 1ch stitch.) Then work 1tr into the next stitch. Now once again miss 2 stitches and work 5tr into the next stitch. (This is the top of the fan of stitches from the row below.)

Now *miss 2 stitches and work 1tr. Then chain 1, miss a stitch then work 1tr into the next stitch. Then miss 2 stitches and work 5tr into the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the whole row. Once you get to the end, as before finish off by working 1tr, chain 1, and work 1tr in the last chain space. (There isn’t a stitch to miss here like before!) (211)

3 – Ok so we’re now on the last row. Can you see the columns network appearing from your stitches? Right so once again start off with 4 chain stitches. (This counts as your first 1tr and chain 1 stitch.) Now miss a stitch a work 1 tr in the next stitch.

*Now miss 2 stitches and work 5 tr in the next stitch. Ok so as before miss 2 stitches and work 1tr. Then miss a stitch, chain 1 and then work 1tr in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

Once you get to the end of your row and you have worked your last fan of 5tr stitches, miss 2 stitches, work 1tr, chain 1, miss a stitch and work 1 tr in the last chain space. Now fasten off and sew in both your ends. (211)

And there you have it. The wonderful shell network! Such a decorative stitch and so versatile. I really hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks stitch.

Have a lovely rest of your weekend. Keep warm and stay safe.

Happy hooking!

🌈Xx

Year of the Stitches – Week 7 Cabbage Patch Stitch

February 18, 2018 No Comments

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.)

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.