Sunday, 23 February 2014

Eight Petal Granny Square: Pattern

I have been battling with an idea for an eight petal granny square since last weekend.     Trying to figure out the perfect square and the perfect colourway for a project!

My first few attempts were perfectly square - but that was really all they had going for them!     I just did not like them......


granny square
 
I have three very "heavy" colours that need to be the main focus of the project - grape, purple and bottle green.     Looking at the squares just made me feel claustrophobic!

Instead of finishing up one of my WIP's I sat obsessing about these squares!!   Then it hit me - all that heavy colour was literally "suffocating" the square.    I frogged the last two rows, and made them a bit more lacy


granny square

Tried a few different versions before I was satisfied - and would you BELIEVE it?  I actually wrote the pattern down as I went::

EIGHT PETAL GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN:

5ch, ss to form ring

Row 1:  Into the ring,  2ch 1dc cluster, 1ch;   *2dc cluster, 1ch* crochet *to* 7x (8 clusters), ss to close

Note:   a 2dc cluster is formed as follows - yarn over hook, work the first part of the stitch leaving 2 loops on your hook, repeat this once more (three loops on hook) Yarn over hook and draw through the loops on the hook to form your cluster

Row 2:  Into any 1ch sp,  2ch 3dc cluster, 3ch;   *4dc cluster, 3ch* crochet *to* 7x (8 clusters), ss to close

Note:   a 4dc cluster is formed as follows - yarn over hook, work the first part of the stitch leaving 2 loops on your hook, repeat this 3 x more (five loops on hook) Yarn over hook and draw through the loops on the hook to form your cluster

Row 3:  Into any 3ch sp, 3ch 4dc 1ch:  *into next 3ch sp, 5dc, 1ch*  *to* 7 x ss to close

Row 4:  Into any 1ch sp, 3ch, 2dc, 3ch *into next 1ch sp, 3tr, 3ch, 3tr, 3ch (corner);   into next 1 ch sp, 3dc, 3ch* *to* 3x;   into last 1ch sp, 3tr, 3ch, 3tr, 3ch;   ss to close

Row 5:  ss into first sp between dc;  3ch, 1dc into next sp between dc;   *3dc into 3ch sp;  1dc into the next two spaces between dc; 3dc, 3ch, 3dc into corner, 3dc into next 3ch sp, 1dc into each of next 2sp between dc* *to* 3x;  3dc into 3ch sp;  1dc into the next two spaces between dc; 3dc, 3ch, 3dc into corner, 3dc into next 3ch sp;  ss to close

Note:   this pattern was written in US terms

This pattern has not been tested by anyone other than me!    Please let me know if you find any errors or if something does not make sense (I do make mistakes!) 

I then played around with colours for the "flowers" until I came up with a combination that was just right for the project:


granny square

Of course by then I had a neat pile of squares (16 to be exact), none of which were exactly perfect having been frogged and rearranged a few times.  



granny square

Now what can I do with 16 squares?????.........

14 comments:

  1. Hi Zelna, I love them and I think they are so pretty! I love the design of the squares. I have not done any crocheting or knitting at all last week since I was so busy. I will need to feel that yarn in my hands this week and make time for it. Have a wonderful day.
    Julie at Julies Lifestyle

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  2. Thank you Julie! A week without yarn - you poor thing!! You have to make some time for it this week!

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  3. Hi Zelna
    Your squares are lovely. I have a question. After forming a ring, your pattern goes straight onto 1 ch space and clusters. How are you filling the ring? Am I making sense? I think you need a row before row 1.
    Regards
    Maria

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  4. Hi Maria - Thanks for noticing that. It should not read into 1 ch space - but into the ring! Hope that clarifies it (I am new to this pattern writing thing - trying to translate what your hands instinctively do into format that can be understood by others is a skill that I still need to master!)

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    1. Hi Zelna. Thanks for such a quick response! I must try this soon! Love the squares and your pattern writing is just fine, I am not very expert at crocheting, sometimes I need extra help! :D thanks a million!
      Regards
      Maria

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    2. You are welcome Maria! I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do!

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  5. Lovely! I like the grey colour to bring it all together, softens the overall look! Must try your pattern, it's super :)
    Pat xx

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  6. Hi Pat! I must say I am a big fan of grey (somebody suggested bordering the squares in the Rose Pink - I wonder how that will look??)

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  7. Lovely pattern - it would make a great cushion.

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  8. This is beautiful, thanks for sharing! And I absolutely love your color scheme!

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  9. Hi Zelna, I'm trying very hard to do the 3rd row, 5dc's in each chain space but it's not looking the same as your 3rd row. But when I do a treble it dose look more like it. :o(. Love this so much but cant seem to work out what's wrong. Please help lol!

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    1. My pattern is in US terms - it is a dc in US terms; In UK terms it is known as a treble - that might be where the problem lies.

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    2. My Facebook Page is Zooty Owl - It may be easier to chat there. I am online - you are welcome to message me and I will see how I can help you!

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  10. Thanks for posting this pattern. I am using it to make my daughter a throw for her bed in cream, hot pink, lime and aqua. regards, Shelley.

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