Locutus

Locutus

Free pattern for afghan square

(This pattern is still in testing stages and may contain errors)

8ply (DK), 4.00mm hook for an 8inch block (my 8 inch blocks in DK, normally size up to a 12” block when using worsted weight + appropriate hook)

US terminology used.

CHSP = chain space

SLST = slip stitch

CH = Chain

SC = Single crochet

DC = double crochet

TRC = treble crochet

yoh = yarn over hook

Make 10 chain, join with slip stitch to form a ring.

1. 3CH, 23 DC in ring, sl st to 3^rd loop 1^st chain (= 24 DC)

2. 1ch, 1SC in each stitch (= 24 SC)

3. 4 ch, 1 TRC in 1^st SC (3CH, 1TRC in next 2 DC)* repeat to end CH3 sl st to 4^th chain of beginning chain

4. Sl St in 1^st TRC, 2sl st in ch3space, CH4

TR Cluster1: [yoh twice, draw up loop in next stitch, yoh and draw through 1^st 2 loops on hook, yoh and draw through next 2 (leave loops on hook)]* 2 more times (4TRC ch on hook)

Skip next 2TRC into next ch 3 space

TR Cluster2: [yoh twice, draw up loop in next st ch, yoh and draw through 1^st 2 loops on hook, yoh and draw through next 2 (leave loops on hook)]* 3 more times, 8 loops on hook, draw through all loops.

[CH7 in next ch3space

TRC2, skip next 2TR and into next CH3sp TRC2.

(9 loops on hook) draw through all hooks. CH7] work this in each CHSP to end

Sl St in 4^th CH at beginning

5. Sl St into 7 ch loop, Ch1, 12 SC in 7 CH loop *(1SC, 1 HDC, 1DC,2 TRC, 6CH, 2TR, 1DC, 1HDC, 1SC in CH7 loop) 12 SC in next CH7 loop twice* repeat ** 3 more times. Last time 11SC in CH7 loop & join with slip stitch in 1^st beginning chain.

Change colour

6. Sl stitch at #7 stitch in 12 SC after the corner. 9CH stitch, skip 11,

[SC 8CH Into corner DC, 2CH, DC, 8CH, SC into 7^th stitch on arch, 8CH skip 11] repeat 3 times.

Slst into 2^nd loop original chain stitch.

7. 4CH, 7DC into 8CH space after corner, DC into SCstitch, 7DC into chain space DC into SC stitch, 8DC into chain space, in corner space DC 2CH DC

(8DC into 8CH space after corner, DC into SCstitch, 7DC into chain space DC into SC stitch, 8DC into chain space, in corner space DC 2CH DC) repeat 3 times

Slip stitch to first chain.

8. HDC in each stitch. Into corner space 2HDC, 2CH, 2HDC

9. Sew in ends and block

Enough Love to go around.

Enough Love to Go Around
US terminology
DK (8ply) hook F/3.75mm – gives an 8inch square (this is what would give me a 12” square in Worsted Weight)
This square requires blocking upon finishing to get proper shaping for corners.
All stitches are into a stitch unless indicated they are in a chain space.

The beginning chain three of each row can be replaced by a CHAINLESS DOUBLE CROCHET
*To perform a chainless double crochet please see
http://www.yoututbe.com/user/TxCr1cket#p/a/u/1/Yi3RR07OCVQ

1. Start with a magic loop
Ch3 (=DC), Ch1, DC, Ch1 , [DC, Ch1, DC, Ch1]*3 Join last chain to 1st DC

2. Slip stitch to first chain space.
Into chain space Ch3 (=DC), DC, Ch1, 2DC, Ch1, 2DC, Ch1 skip next chain + double crochet and crochet [2DC, Ch1, 2DC, Ch1, 2DC, Ch1] into following chain space, repeat [ ] 2 more times. (= 4 clusters)
Join last chain to first DC

3. Slip stitch into space between the two double crochet (ie between first pair of double crochet), then Ch3 (=DC) and DC in same stitch, Ch1,
Skip chain + double crochet and 3DC, Ch1 between the 2 double crochet of previous round,
Skip chain + double crochet then 2DC between 2 double crochet of previous round, Ch2
[Skip chain + double crochet, 2DC ch1 between next two double crochet, 3DC Ch1 between next two double, 2DC Ch1 between next two double crochet] x 3.
Join last chain to first DC

4. Slip stitch into second double crochet (ie between first pair of double crochet), Ch3 (=DC) and 2 more DC in same space, Ch1
Skip next chain + double crochet and in between the next two double crochet 2DC, in between next two double crochet 2DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between the next two double crochet 3DC, Ch2
[Skip chain space + double crochet, and between next two double crochet 3DC, Ch1, sk ch + double crochet and between next two double crochet 2DC, in between next two double crochet 2DC, Ch1, sk ch + double crochet and between next two double crochet 3DC, ch2] x 3.
Join last chain to first DC

5. Slip stitch into second double crochet (ie between first pair of double crochet), Ch3 (=DC) and DC in same stitch, then in between next pair of double crochet DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next pairs of double crochet 2DC, DC, 2DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next two double crochet 1DC, in between next pair of double crochet, 2DC, Ch2
[Skip chain + double crochet and in between next two double crochet 2DC, then in between next pair of double crochet DC, Ch1, Skip chain + double crochet and in between next pairs of double crochet 2DC, DC, 2DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next pair of double crochet 1DC, then in between next pair of double crochet, 2DC, Ch2] x 3 Join last chain to first DC.

6. Slip stitch into second double crochet (ie between first pair of double crochet), Ch3 (=DC) and DC in same stitch, in next stitch DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next pairs of double crochet 2DC, DC, DC, 2DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next two double crochet 1DC, then in next stitch 2DC, Ch3
[Skip chain + double crochet and in between next two double crochet 2DC, then in next stitch DC, Ch1
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next pairs of double crochet 2DC, DC, DC, 2DC, Ch1,
Skip chain + double crochet and in between next two double crochet 1DC, then in next stitch 2DC, Ch3
] x 3. Join last chain to fist DC.

7. From join of previous round into next chain space [make shell [shell = (Tr, Ch1) 7 times + one extra Tr all into same chain space], (ie. 8 Tr to make shell) slip stitch after 3rd double crochet stitch to join shell, make next shell [shell = (Tr, Ch1) 7 times + one extra Tr all into chain space], slip stitch into first stitch of 3 chain stitches.
2 SC into chain space, sl stitch into double crochet after 3chain stitch]. Repeat this entire procedure 3 more times. Join to fist TR.

8. Change colour.
Heart shapes are now complete and the top of the hearts will be referred to as left arch and right arch, please identify these before proceeding.

On left arch, skip treble, chain, treble and start in next chain, Ch2 (=SC), do another 9SC over arch (=10SC total) with the last SC going into the second last treble of the arch.
At corner 2Tr into first single crochet, DTr 2Ch DTr into middle single crochet, 2Tr into last single crochet.
Join to right arch at second chain (ie skip treble, chain, treble and start at next chain) with a SC, SC in next 9 stitches across arch (=10 SC in total), the last single crochet is into the top of the second last treble.
CH2, Tr into stitch in the middle of the V (ie the middle of the left and right arch), Ch2, skip treble, chain, treble then [10SC with the last SC going into the second last treble of the arch.
At corner 2Tr into first single crochet, DTr 2Ch DTr into middle single crochet, 2Tr into last single crochet.
Join to arch at second chain (ie skip treble, chain, treble and start at next chain) with a SC, SC in next 9 stitches (=10 SC in total), the last single crochet is into the top of the second last treble.
CH2, Tr into stitch in the middle of the V (ie the middle of the left and right arch), Ch2, skip treble, chain, treble] x 3. Join last chain to first SC.

9. Ch3 (=DC) in first single crochet on left arch, in 9 remaining single crochets across arch , HDC, SC, SC, SC, HDC, DC, DC, TR, TR then DTr, DTr, DTr, (2DTr, ch3, 2DTr) in corner chain space, DTR in double treble from previous round, then DTr, DTr, Tr, Tr, DC, DC, HDC, SC, SC, SC, HDC, DC, 2 DC in chain space, 2 DC in second chain space.
[DC in first single crochet on left arch, in single crochets across arch , HDC, SC, SC, SC, HDC, DC, DC, Tr, Tr, DTr, DTr, DTr, (2DTr, ch3, 2DTr) in corner chain space, DTr in double treble, then DTr, DTr, Tr, Tr, DC, DC, HDC, SC, SC, SC, HDC, DC, 2 DC in chain space, 2 DC in second chain space] x 3. Join last DC to fist DC.

10. Optional Change colour.
HDC in every stitch, 3HDC, ch2, 3HDC in corners.

** this point makes an 8 inch square with DK, to make a larger square in DK extra rows need to be added at this point.

The photo above the pattern is in DK with a 4.0mm hook and measures 8.5" square.

DK, 4.0mm hook.

This version of the pattern is done in Peaches and Creme worsted, with the recommended F size hook and measures 7.5" across. I liked the middle so much we just use it as a face cloth.

This version is done using a cotton DK on 3.75mm hook and measured a little more than 8" square. The added border is a DC in every second stitch with DC ch2 DC in corner spaces. The final row is SC. After blocking it is 9.5" square.

How's it looking?

I'm quite liking it.
And even if it looks patchy now, it will be all right, I promise, in the end.
I am thoroughly enjoying the process.
The lacey one still jumps out at me and I have plans to make a bedspread.

Retro Inspiration

I love this square.
It's a little too lacey for my rug, but I love this square. I'm still not sure why
I call it Locutus and I wrote this pattern down while I was making it. (Will type it up once the other pattern is sorted)
It was most certainly inspired by some of the old magazines I've been reading.

I had an idea

So I had an idea, hearts in a circle.
I sort of knew what I wanted so I just experimented (read tried and undid, recrocheted and undid, tried again and undid - you get the picture).
This is the end product.
I named it "Enough Love to go Around" in reference to hearts going all around - if you can't see them head to your optometrist immediately.
It's a little larger than my other squares, which means I'll have to add border rows to them. I'm not going to do this until I'm close to putting it all together i.e. the end of the year!
PS I am busy writing and testing this pattern at the moment and will publish it within the week.

Three colour square, not in three colours

I started with the pattern "Three color square" by Betty Barnden in the Crochet Stitch Bible, but I am pretty sure the stitches I used in it are not the same. I may have used double trebles and she used trebles, but don't quote me, I haven't got the pattern in front of me. I did this to make it larger so that I wouldn't need a huge border.

This pattern was a challenge initially, I couldn't seem to figure out what she was saying, but then I relaxed, slept on it and it just clicked.
I quite like it.

The Impossible Hexagon

Written by one of the lovely Australian Ladies, this Impossible Hexagon whipped up in no time.

These squares are consuming me now... they are all I want to do! Very satisfying as they take very little time to complete (normally) and often involve a little puzzle solving on the way.
I have lots of ideas floating around my head, I just want to sit with my hook and yarn.

Guardian Angel

In hunting around to find more block patterns I came across this little Angel.
I like the idea of having a guardian Angel in my blanket, to watch over who ever is under the blanket.
I did modify the pattern a little bit as I wanted it to feel more like the Angel is in a stained glass window.


It doesn't show much here, but the little Angel is dimensional.

Hooked

I have joined 2 crochet alongs (CALs) on Ravelry.
One has hundreds of people in it, one only a few. The big one is very multinational, the little very Australian.
I have chosen a very neutral palette in the hope that even though the patterns are different the neutralness of colour will not make it feel too busy.

So far, I haven't much liked the patterns in the International CAL, so haven't made any of the squares. The same can't be said for the Aussie one and I am well and truly hooked (boom boom) on the making of these squares.

Here is my first one. Octagon Medallion.

I won't mention that once I realised I wouldn't have enough yarn to do an entire QB blanket I undid part of the square to be able to use another yarn and this unfinished square is still sitting here waiting it's turn.

Also, as I'm using 8ply (DK) my squares are only about 8 inches square. This doesn't worry me, I don't want to make the border bigger (a 4 inch border I think is stretching the friendship), I'll just make more squares.

Sampler

I love this pattern. "Little Dahlia - 6" square" by Chris Simon
I plan on making an entire rug out of yarns that I have dyed.


I've just run out of dyed 8ply.

PS In 8ply (DK) the squares are only about 4 inches so I'll be making quite a few!

Christmas Presents

As part of the Australian Swappers Group on Ravelry I participated in a Christmas swap.
We had to keep the parcels under the tree until Christmas Day - this didn't prove as hard to me as I thought. I simply didn't open the parcel and hid it under the Christmas tree skirt... out of sight, out of mind. (It helped that I was frantically busy before Christmas).

My parcel was from the wonderful Samantha (her jewellery store Butterfly Beads is on Made It).

I love the ball of yarn she made me as a necklace. It has a red centre.
Isn't the purse gorgeous too? I keep my special things in it. I just luuurrrve the colour. :o)
There was also some lovely peppermint tea, some earth friendly stationery and it was all wrapped up in a nice red tea towel.

How cute are these earrings below? Mum ordered them from Sam and then she put them in our Bon-bons. Much much better than the usual plastic what-nots in bon-bons!
Sam does great work jewellery work and beautiful stitch markers.
It was a lovely Christmas present and I think it might have been the first one I opened! :o)

Christmas Competition

I'm a little late with the photos, but here they are.
Inadvertently I seem to have not taken a photo of the little winning plum pudding ornaments - might have been a late entry. :o)

I was thrilled with the number of entries and it was a very enjoyable end to the year.

I'll let you peruse the photos at your leisure. :o)

This beautiful stocking won second prize (it was a secret vote, all the entries had numbers and we wrote down which one we liked best).



And this Santa was third.




The prize bag overflowing with goodies - we had enough for a first, second and third prize.
Thanks to everyone who participated and donated, I hope you all enjoyed it too.