Goodness, it has been such a cold week here in Durham. We have barely left the house, apart from the occasional walk for exercise, which I guess is no bad thing in this day and age. Nevertheless, we have been able to enjoy the snowy weather from our windows: with beautiful wintery views across the city to the cathedral and watching icicles growing in front of our windows. When we did go out, it gave me a chance to wear my easy cable crochet hat, which definitely did the trick and kept my head warm!
When inside I have been working on my 2021 Crochet Blanket and while it is not yet big enough to keep me warm while I work on it, I am looking forward to being able to snuggle under it once it is finished at the end of the year. I have been keeping warm under my Winter Jewels blanket, which feels appropriate as it was inspired by jewels on crisp white snow.
Here is hoping that your crochet has also been keeping you warm in this cold snap.
This week, I have put the final touches to make the square a proper square shape and then I have begun working additional corner pieces coming from the centre of the sides of the square.
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The blanket is worked in the round. You do not need to turn your work after each row and you continue working in the same direction as before.
[Stitches written in brackets like this are all worked into the same stitch.]
For the first stitch on each row: Chain 1 to move up to the next round if the round starts with double crochet. Chain 2 if the round starts with a half treble crochet, and chain 3 if the round starts with a treble crochet. These chains count as the first stitch in the row
Special stitches
Ch – chain
Dc – double crochet
Fpdc – front post double treble
Htr – Half treble
3trcl – 3 treble cluster
2dtrcl – 3 double treble cluster
Round 20:
Use Ocean and start in the corner ch-2-sp. [htr, ch 2, htr], 10 htr, 27 dc, 10htr. 4 times. (49 stitches per side).
Now place a stitch marker in the centre stitch on each side, i.e., stitch 25.
Corner pieces
The corner pieces are worked back and forward in rows.
However, when joining new yarn, start to the right of the centre stitch when you have the right side facing you.
You will repeat this process for all 4 sides.
Row 1:
Use Gold and start 3 stitches before the centre stitch.
Use Orchid and start in the stitch on Round 20 that is in front of the start of row 1.
Dc in round 20, dc into round1, 3dtrcl worked into the stitch on Round 20 that is after the stitch at the start of row.
From now work directly into Row 1. Ch 1, skip first ch-1-sp * [3trcl, ch 1, 3trcl, ch 1] into ch-1-sp. From * 4 times.
Skip next ch-1-sp and work 3dtrcl into the stitch on Round 20 that is in front of the stitch at the end of row 1, dc into next stitch in Row 1, dc in stitch on Round 20 that is behind the stitch at the end of row 1. Fasten off.
(10 clusters, 4 dc and 5 ch-1-sp)
Row 3
Use Sunshine and start in the stitch on Round 20 that is in front of the start of Row 2.
Dc intro Round 20. Now work into Row 2, dc *Dc into ch-1-sp, fpdc over cluster in row 2. From * 10 times. Dc into ch-1-sp, dc in final stitch of Row 2, dc into Round 20.
(25 stitches)
I hope that you have enjoyed week 6, which I think has been the most difficult part yet (and certainly the one with the most ends to sew in).
Hope that you all stay warm and have a lovely week ahead.0