Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The 3-5-3-5-3 Crochet Square Pattern

I needed to make a 12 inch square for a charity donation. I decided to improvise my own design. Here's what I came up with... The 3-5-3-5-3 Square.

*Please be advised this is my own pattern. Although I am happy for you to use it for your own personal use, please do not reprint the pattern or use this pattern for items for sale. Thanks.*


Materials:
Carnival 8ply acryclic - Red
Size G / 4.25mm hook
Needle to darn in ends

*Pattern written using USA crochet terms*

Ch 50

Row 1: SC in 2nd chain from hook and each chain across (49 SC made).

Row 2: ch-1 and turn. #SC, ch-1 and skip next stitch# repeat from # to # across - ending with a SC in the last stitch.

Row 3: ch-3 and turn. #DC in ch-1 space, ch-1#, repeat from # to # all the way across, DC in last ch-1 space, NO CHAIN and then a DC in final stitch.

Row 4: ch-4 and turn. (skipping both the turning chain and the first DC of the previous row) #DC in ch-1 space, ch-1#, repeat from # to # all the way across ending with a DC in the last stitch.

Row 5: Repeat row 3.

THAT COMPLETES THE FIRST LOT OF "3" IN THE 3-5-3-5-3 PATTERN.

Row 6: ch-1 and turn. SC in each stitch across.

Row 7: ch-1 and turn. #SC, ch-1 and skip next stitch# repeat from # to # across - ending with a sc in the last stitch.

Rows 8-12: Repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3.

THAT COMPLETES THE FIRST LOT OF "5" IN THE 3-5-3-5-3 PATTERN.

Rows 13-14: Repeat rows 6 and 7.

Rows 15-17: Repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3.

THAT COMPLETES THE SECOND LOT OF "3" IN THE 3-5-3-5-3 PATTERN.

Rows 18-19: Repeat rows 6 and 7.

Rows 20-24: Repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3.

THAT COMPLETES THE SECOND LOT OF "5" IN THE 3-5-3-5-3 PATTERN.

Rows 25-26: Repeat rows 6 and 7.

Row 27-29: Repeat row 3, repeat row 4, repeat row 3.

THAT COMPLETES THE LAST LOT OF "3" IN THE 3-5-3-5-3 PATTERN.

Row 30: ch-1 and turn. SC in each stitch across.

Row 31: ch-1 and turn. SC in each stitch across, ending with 2 SC in the final stitch from the previous row.

FINISHING....
You will now continue along THE SIDE of the work - by rotating your square one quarter turn in a clockwise direction.

SC all the way along the side of the work. When you reach the end, ch-1 and turn. SC all the way back to where you came from. Finish off.

Now join with a slip stitch to the OTHER SIDE of the square. SC all the way along the side. When you reach the end, ch-1 and turn. SC all the way back to where you came from. Finish off.

Now just weave in your ends and your square is complete. Cheers!
*Please be advised this is my own pattern. Although I am happy for you to use it for your own personal use, please do not reprint the pattern or use this pattern for items for sale. Thanks.*

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Wherefore art thou, Dolly?

I recently sent a Christmas package to the US, which included some more items I made for my niece's American girl dolls (among other things). They told me they really loved the capes/shawls I previously made for their dolls, so I've decided to make them each another one.



For their birthdays this year I made them each a blanket. For Niece 6, I made a matching blanket for her doll. For Niece 9, I didn't have a chance to do it, but instead made her a little doll purse. To even things up, I've reversed it for Christmas. I made Niece 6 the doll purse, and Niece 9 will finally get her matching dolly blanket (to match her big blanket).




I 'designed' the doll purse myself - and seeing I hate joining things together, I made it so it is all in one piece. I only had to weave in the beginning tail and the ending tail, sew on the button and ta-da! I've called it the "I'm Bringing Frilly Back" doll purse. Look out Justin Timberlake!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Cat's Curlique Scarf

I recently finished this curlique (curlicue?) scarf for my good friend Cat who just moved to Florida. I'm not sure what the weather is like in Florida, but I'm guessing not that cold. This fun curlique scarf both suits her personality, and shouldn't be too warm as it's rather light.



As a side note, I've been have a bad run of luck lately in the way of yarn. I keep starting all these projects, thinking I have enough wool, and then running out before I am finished. This project was one of those as well. I was 97 percent done with the scarf and ran out of the coffee brown colour. A couple of days later I had a "Christmas miracle" and found a half a skein of the coffee hiding in a drawer where no yarn should be. I was so glad!




Stop Reading My Blog!

I've recently made something, about which I am quite excited. Unfortunately I can not blog about it because the gift recipient reads my blog. Guess I'll have to wait until after Christmas - hope the excitement hasn't worn off by then. :)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Pink, purple & pumpkin

Back in September? or October? when I was being a really good girl and getting a nice earlier start on my Christmas presents, I made my sister a scarf and beret. I chose a pretty pumpkin colour (it is not "orange" like it looks in the photos) to go with her warm colouring.


I decided I'd make my nieces similiar style scarfs to match their mum's so all "the girls" would have the same.



I'm intending, time permitting, to also make the girls berets as well, in the same colour as the outside shell borders of their scarfs.

If you look closely I wove in the darker outside colour through the middle of the scarf. I was quite pleased with this idea (go me!) as I think it gives it a more finished look. (Not to be mistaken with Finnish from Finlad - ha! ha!).