RAR BLANKET CAL: PART 1

TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE (MAKE 5)

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US / 5 CANADIAN)

SQUARE SIZE:    The Layout Measurement of 20cm x 20cm (7.9inches x 7.9inches) for this square is based on the above yarn and hook size.  This measurement is also based on the Designer’s tension.   You may need to adjust your hook size up if you hook tightly or down if you hook loosely

NOTE:  The size of your square will depend on your choice of yarn thickness and hook size.   Should you choose to work exactly according to the RAINBOWS AFTER THE RAIN BLANKET layout, simply repeat the final round of the pattern until the square measures 20cm x 20cm.  Gauge is not too important with this blanket. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the blanket.

COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

SQUARES are worked in the round with Right Side Facing throughout.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet.

Foundation:  Start with a magic ring; alternatively crochet 3ch;   sl st into 3rd chain from hook to form a circle

Round 1:   5ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch),  (3dc into ring, 2ch) 3 times;  2dc into ring;   sl st into 3rd of beginning 5ch to close.

Stitch Count:  3dc each side and 2ch in each corner.

Round 2:   sl st into 2ch space;    3ch (counts as 1dc);  (2dc, 2ch, 3dc) into 2ch space;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc into next 2ch space) x3;    sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner.

Round 3:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groups;   3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into space between 3dc groups* Repeat *to* twice more;   ( 3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch Count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 1 x 3dc grouping each side.

Round 4:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc.  3ch (counts as 1dc) or crochet a standing dc,  2dc into same space;  *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to corner*  repeat from *to* twice more, (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch, 3dc into space between 3dc groupings;  sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.    Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 6dc (2 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 5:   Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   3ch (counts as 1dc ) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to start 3dc group, sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.     Break off yarn.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 9dc (3 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 6:  Join yarn with a sl st in space between 3dc groupings before any corner 3dc;   3ch (counts as 1dc ) or crochet a standing dc,   2dc into same space;   *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to next corner* Repeat *to* twice more;   (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into corner 2ch;   3dc into each space between 3dc groups to beginning 3ch,  sl st into 3rd of beginning 3ch to close row.     Break off yarn

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 12dc (4 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 7:  Repeat Round 6.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 15dc (5 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Round 8:  Repeat Round 6.

Stitch count:  (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in each corner and 18dc (6 x 3dc groupings) each side.

Little Flower Scrap-Along - WIP Wednesday

Wednesday really managed to run away from me......... I started out instructing the gardener to do this and that ..........then noticed that the roses needed deadheading and a light summer prune (I prefer doing this myself).   

By 11h00 I was only about a third of the way through the rose bushes, and was starting to MELT!       I spent most of the rest of the day in the pool trying to cool down and regain some energy after the morning's exertions.

Yesterday was too hot to even think about crochet or gardening!    I sat making cards for most of the day!   

Today is fixing to be another scorcher, so I thought I would quickly finish this post before I camp out by the pool with a light read and an iced mint coffee (YUM!)

Better late than never............ here are the WIP "Wednesday" snaps..............

Katie Garner was off to a good start, but had to take a break from crocheting as she has been under the weather!    Get well soon Katie!

Diane Bolt is using a more subtle palette for her scrapbuster blankie!

Gerda Collins is very serious about her scrapbusting and has almost finished her blanket!

I am adding motifs with the bits I have left as I finish other projects...

 

Such an explosion of COLOUR just makes me sooooo happy!

It is not too late to join in........ details of the Scrap-Along can be found HERE

Please post your progress photos on my Zooty Owl Facebook page so that I can share them in next week's post!

HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!!!!!

Kaleidoscope Blanket

During October I started making a Scrapghan using my POPCORN FLOWER HEXAGON!

I worked the scraps and leftover yarn from every WIP completed over the past few weeks into this kaleidoscope, retro-looking blanket!

Working on this blanket was so relaxing and so much fun!   Adding only a few hexagons every day as I finished other projects resulted in a complete mish-mash of colour!

When it reached a nice size for a lapghan I gave it a funky border, following the uneven edge made by the hexagons!

Voila!      A happy, retro kaleidoscope of colour reminiscent of the blankies my great granny used to make!

Love!   Love!   Love!

Hexagon Motif Pattern - Scrapbuster Hexagon Afghan

This Hexagon Motif Pattern is perfect for using up teeny tiny scraps - and the best part is that you do not have to add a main colour if you are planning on making a scrapbuster afghan.

Start; Round 1; Round 2 - follow the instructions for HEXAGON CROCHET MOTIF # 2
using 2 different colours (A & B)

Round 3:  

Using Colour C insert hook as shown into space between 2dc

3ch, 2dc;   *3dc into sp between 2dc* 11 times

ss to join (12 3dc clusters)

Round 4:

Continue with colour C

3ch, 1dc, 1ch into sp between 3dc

*2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into next sp;  2dc 1ch into following sp* repeat * to * 5 times

2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into last sp; ss to join

Use the join-as-you-go method described HERE to join your motifs

Once you start joining the hexagons you will be able to see a "line" try to keep to this line as you add on - it just makes it easier to keep form while you are making the blanket bigger.

I finished mine off with two rows of 2dc clusters following the shape of the hexagon

Hexagon Crochet Motif # 2 - Pattern & Tutorial

Ch 4, ss to join

Round 1
3ch, 11 dc, ss to join

Round 2
 ch 1dc into sp between dc;  

*2dc into sp between dc* rep *to* 11 times

= 24dc

 Round 3

 3ch. 1dc into sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp

*2dc into next sp between 2dc, 1dc into next sp*

Rep *to* 11 times

36 stitches

 Round 4
3ch, 1dc 1ch into sp between 2dc
*2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch;  2dc 1c into each sp between 2dc*
Rep *to* 5 times
2dc, 3ch, 2dc, 1ch into last sp between 2dc
ss to join

Use the join-as-you-go method to join your crochet hexagon motifs

Hexagon Crochet Motif #1 (Flower Hexagon) - Pattern & Tutorial

Here is the pattern for the motif used to make the HEXAGON #1 BLANKET

Ch 4, ss to join.   3ch, 11 dc, ss to join

 3ch, 2dc into sp between dc, 1ch;   

* miss next sp;  3dc into next sp, 1ch* repeat *to* 5 times

3ch, 2dc, 2ch, 3dc into 2ch sp; 

*3dc, 2ch, 3dc into next 2ch sp* repeat *to* 5 times

In sp next to corner 3ch, 2dc, 1ch:

*3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch in cnr sp, 3dc 1ch*

rep *to* 5 times;  3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch, ss to join

Start joining on a free corner - 3dc, 1ch into working hexagon

1 sc into cnr of completed "joining" hexagon

1ch, 3dc into working hexagon to complete cnr

1sc into next sp on "joining" hexagon

3dc into sp between cnrs on working hexagon

When you reach an "inside" corner where hexagons are already joined

3dc into corner of working hexagon, 1 ch

sc into first "joining" hexagon;   1 sc into second "joining"  hexagon

1ch, 3dc into working hexagon

The joined hexagons

 

A closer view - joining multiple crochet hexagons

Hexagon Crochet Motif #1 - Afghan

Just returned from the food hyper -  had to do a quick bit of grocery shopping.   Picked up some yarn too (really eeuwky colours - but that was all they had).    I'm sure I can challenge my brain to make something interesting (an idea is already forming)!

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for inspiration to use up a few skeins of red and dark brown yarn    I had inherited my Great Granny's crochet books, patterns, hooks and yarns when she passed away - so I snuggled into a sunny corner of my craft room with a cup of hot mocha chocolate and the wooden box full of Granny's handwritten / drawn patterns.

I was particularly delighted to find three patterns for hexagon motifs (which were not named but simply numbered).  

The motif I used for this Afghan was "Hexagon #1".    Granny's pattern did not stipulate colour change.   I just played around with the rows until I was happy with the result - using alternatively a single colour, and a different colour for each row:

You can find the photo tutorial and pattern for Hexagon #1 HERE

The start of the project - and some beautiful Roses from my youngest

I love the contrast of the Roses against the Hexagons

Starting to see a pattern

So warm and colourful!

A close up of the border

Very "country cottage"

These hexagons work up to a very warm and soft textured afghan.     I must say I am quite chuffed with the result.

Until next time ...... happy crafting!!